Experiment with us this 4th of July!

We'll be hosting a party on the 4th for the Peas family and friends and have decided to grill up Peas products! That's right, grilled Peas pizzas, grilled veggie fries, grilled Puffets!

Have you grilled pizzas before? Frozen ones? French fries?
We found a couple online resources, as this will be our first time:

• Grilling frozen pizza
• controllingmychaos.com/2009/07/pizza-on-grill-fresh-or-frozen.html
• use a low setting on a gas grill or coals that are on their way out.
• cook with the BBQ lid ON.
• use a higher rack, or loft a second rack to encourage even cooking.
• Grilling frozen french fries
• Cooks. com
• we plan to omit their flavorings and use our recipea instead.
• puncture the foil pouch so steam can escape and fries will get crispy!

What will you be grilling up this 4th of July? If you decide to grill our pizza, fries, or Puffets; DO share photos and tips with us!

Sleepy-time Treat

When it's time for bed and someone in your family isn't feeling tired yet, what do you do?

Having a small snack of the right foods can help. Foods rich in calcium, magnesium, and/or tryptophan can promote restful sleep. Examples include bananas, dates, figs, milk, nut butters, tuna, turkey, whole grains and yogurt.

Next time there's a restless one in your house, whip up this tasty treat to relax the whole family.

Sleepy-time Pop
1 cup of milk (cow's milk, almond milk, soy milk, etc.)
2 dates, pits removed
1 banana
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon of almond butter, peanut butter (optional)

In a blender, whiz the milk with the dates until mostly smooth. Add the banana, vanilla, and nut butter (if using) and blend until smooth.

Pour mixture into an ice cube tray, dixie cups (or popsicle tray if you have one) and place in the freezer, adding popsicle sticks when the mixture it frozen enough to hold them upright, after about 30 mins. Freeze throughly.

In a pinch, the unfrozen blend makes a tasty, drinkable shake.


Source:
* Balch, Phyllis A., CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd Edition, Penguin Putnam Inc., 2000.

Baked Oatmeal

Have you noticed how expensive cereal has gotten lately? Break the cold-cereal-cycle without breaking the bank by making this reci-pea for our baked oatmeal. Using inexpensive pantry staples and almost any fresh fruit, this dish comes together while the oven preheats and then cooks unattended, no stirring required! Heart-healthy, whole grain oats, complete protein from milk and eggs, and seasonal fruit will have your family going strong all morning long.

Baked Oatmeal
• 1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, light or dark
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups of fresh fruit -like berries, cherries, chopped peaches/nectarines, sliced bananas
• 1/2 cup toasted nuts, sliced or chopped (for garnish, optional)

Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease a glass or metal loaf pan (8.5" x 4.5" x 2.75").

In a medium sized bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, sea salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, egg and vanilla.

Scatter half the fruit into the greased loaf pan. Cover with all of the oat mixture. Dribble all of the milk mixture over top. Scatter with remaining fruit.

Bake about 30mins until the oatmeal is lightly browned and mostly set. (A little free running milk will be absorbed during cooling). Cool for about 5mins, then cut slices and serve (with toasted nuts if you like).

Leftovers microwave perfectly, it's great to have in the fridge for quick weekday breakfasts.

What We're Into Right Now

We love crafts that repurpose things we might otherwise recycle or trash, so after reading this post on makeandtakes, we've been collecting pieces of ribbon and paper for a kid-friendly craft: scrap gift bows! 
Check out this post from http://www.makeandtakes.com !

"Supplies for Easy Scrap Gift Bows:

• scraps of patterned paper
• newspaper or used wrapping paper
• tulle
• ribbon
• ric rac
• string
• buttons
• flowers

Scrunch paper(s) in the middle so it resembles a bow. Sometimes I like to fold my paper like a fan for added dimension. Layer scrunched “bows” of different sizes. Tie them in the middle with a piece of ribbon.

Layer a few more pieces of ribbon in the middle of the bow and tie on with same ribbon. 

Wrap a long piece of ribbon or tulle around the gift. Lay your bow in the middle and tie ends of long ribbon around to secure. Finish with a bow, or secure a flower or button in the center. Voila!"

We've got a box of scraps going. How about you? Do you have a project in the making?

Info from:

http://www.makeandtakes.com

Highlight of the Week

It's been awfully busy around Peas HQ lately. Woo hoo, gettin' it done here in the house of PEAS!

Taking a luxurious, deep breathe and a moment to read the glowing (unsolicited, we swear!) review of our cheese pizza on ducttapeweddingring was the clear highlight of our week, so we wanted to share it with you.

Here's the taste portion (below) of the review, but do check out the full review and also keep up with ducttapeweddingring for the honest yet super playful comic relief that we're totally hooked on!

"This was the best frozen pizza — bar none — that I’ve ever had. Ever. Seriously. (I’m out of easy ways to add emphasis. Damn.) The crust, after about 10 minutes in the oven at 425 degrees, came out perfectly crispy (like most other decent pizzas, sure) but the taste was what really put this thing into a realm of it’s own. Know how there’s carrots and whatnot baked into the crust? Well, you’re not going to taste them (sorry if that’s disappointing) as what you’re going to taste is a golden wheat crust lightly brushed with olive oil. Really. If you know someone that abhors carrots, this is the best way to sneak ‘em by them. The sauce is an absolute treat — it tastes like actual tomatoes and not some sugary, ketchup gloop. And the cheese…my goodness, the cheese. For a light mozzarella, it was sharp and full of flavor, and it really made the pizza pop.

I don’t say this lightly or with any measure of hyperbole. This seriously was the best frozen pizza I have ever had — and I didn’t feel like crap after I ate it."

Kamut Krispies

Here's a fat free, whole-grain remix on a classic sweet treat: Rice Krispies!

We like to make them in a large microwavable bowl instead of on the stove, but the stovetop method works fine too.

5 cups puffed kamut cereal
3 cups mini marshmallows
2 teaspoons honey

Spray an 8" or 9" square baking dish/pan lightly with cooking spray. Prepare a 1-foot length of waxed paper, also sprayed lightly with cooking spray.

Heat the mini marshmallows and honey in the microwave until melted, checking frequently to avoid scorching. When completely melted, stir in the kamut cereal to coat evenly. Working quickly, transfer mixture to prepared pan. Place the waxed paper sparyed-side down (toward the kamut) and press down to distribute. Let cool to room temperature, cut and serve. They will get crispier as they cool.

Store leftovers in an airtight container.

*Note: This healthier version may not be as crispy as their rice predecessors.

Pack These in Your Children's Bento Box

You will be the coolest mom during lunchtime when you pack your child one of our 'multi-sandwiches' in their lunchbox. Little will they know that there was much thought put into your sandwich choices as each sandwich provides an important nutrient for a successful school day; iron for heathy blood cells, protein for muscles, veggies for health and wellness, B vitamins for brain function. 

Make each of these 4 sandwiches on Sunday, cut them in quarters, and put the multi-sandwich together by picking one quarter of each of the unique sandwiches. (yields 4 lunches)

The Multi Sammy

Iron (Waldorf Tea Sandwich)
• Cream cheese
• Leftover cooked chicken
• Sliced apple (drizzled with lemon juice)
• Walnuts

Protein (Curried Tuna Tea Sandwich)
• Canned tuna
• Plain yogurt (instead of mayo)
• Mustard
• Curry powder
• Raisins

Veggies (Egg Salad Tea Sandwich)
• Asparagus Pesto (see reci-pea below)
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Havarti cheese

B Vitamins (Halava-Banana Tea Sandwich)
• Slice of Halava (sesame butter confection)
• Sliced banana
•Drizzle of honey

Asparagus Pesto
• 1 bunch of asparagus
• 1-2 TBL lemon juice
• 2 TBL chopped basil
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 TBL of reserve water from steamed asparagus
• salt/pepper to taste

Wash asparagus and trim off the woody ends. Chop into thirds and put into a steamer for about 5 minutes, until tender-crisp. Drain the asparagus and reserve 2 TBL of the steaming water. Put asparagus, lemon juice, basil, parmesan cheese, and asparagus water into a food processor and pulse until a rough puree forms. Add salt and pepper to taste.