Food-Themed Road Trip Bingo {Free Printable}

This Food-Themed Road Trip Bingo has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TwizzlersSummer #CollectiveBias

Have you hit the road yet this summer? We are lucky enough to have gone camping, done quite a few staycations and taken a couple small in-state road trips to visit family and friends. It's been a fun summer-season on the road without any added games, but I decided to twist things up and create one for some added laughs, healthy competition and new way to make our time in the van go by a little faster. Since I love most things related to food - it was a no-brainer that I needed to make my own Food-Themed Road Trip Bingo. This game of bingo requires you to keep your eyes open and always on the lookout for food related places and things such as a Fruit Orchard, Coffee Shop or Picnic Area Road Sign. It's fun for all ages and sure to keep your passengers hungry for another food-related sighting!

There 6 bingo cards included in the Food-Themed Road Trip Bingo PDF {link at end of post...}, helping to make the chances of a tie highly unlikely. Let me share with you how to get these fun bingo cards ready for game-time! First, print out the cards at the end of this post. I like to use photo paper to help see the print more clearly and to add a shiny touch.

15 Food-Themed Board Games

This post for 15 Food-Themed Board Games contains affiliate links.

We are a family that loves playing games! There are all types of games to play {computer, sports, mind, word, etc.} but we just love, love, love board games. It's something we can do on a rainy day, at night or when the weather outside is so hot we are in fear of melting if we step outside. Board games are our go-to activity when we are looking for a little fun and quality family time. While browsing on Amazon for a new board game I came across a couple food-themed games and got completely giddy. Giddy enough to make a list of 15 Food-Themed Board Games that look like a blast to play with the family! I've got #2 on order and can't wait for it to arrive in the mail {in 2 days, thank you to Amazon Prime!} to start a Food Truck Fiasco.

1. Food Fight

Amazon

2. Frankie's Food Truck Fiasco

Amazon

10 Must-Have Cookbooks for Young Chefs

A few years ago I bought my son {age 3 at the time} his first cookbook. He loved it! We would pick out recipes for us to make together, or just enjoy flipping through the pages while looking at pictures and talking about what we were seeing. So, I bought another one. And another one. They are some of his favorite books now and I will catch him reading them all on his own! {3 years later} He's totally into food, how it's made and he even comes up with his own recipe ideas. I think it's awesome! It's definitely true that if kids are surrounded by something, they will learn it - so I say start them off young and teach them lessons that can last a lifetime! This list of 10 Must-Have Cookbooks for Young Chefs is a round up 10 of the funnest, tastiest, brightest, creative cookbooks for kids that I could find. Even if your kiddos can't read yet, these books have fun photos/illustrations that would pique their interests and still create hours of fun learning time together!

1. Cooking Class: 57 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love to Make (and Eat!)

Deanna F. Cook

2. Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cook Book

Better Homes and Gardens

Stonyfield Organic YoKids Squeezers {and Disney on Ice}

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events.

If you already know how awesome Stonyfield products are - you beat me to it! I guess I've been in a yogurt-rut, just buying the same yogurt every week and not paying attention to the other selections being offered at my go-to grocery store. It wasn't until Disney on Ice {DOI} was coming to town did I actually hear about Stonyfield Farm {or just Stonyfield} as they are presenting the 2015 DOI show! After scouring the Stonyfield website, checking out their products and what they are all about, I instantly changed up my yogurt game and decided I needed to make the switch to Stonyfield. I absolutely love that they do NOT use high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors, plus the fact that their products are certified organic is a MAJOR bonus! So, I headed down to my trusty grocery store to pick up some Stonyfield YoKids Squeezers and what do you know? There is an offer for 50% off of the Disney on Ice show on the box!

I love that a company with healthy standards is presenting the 2015 Disney on Ice show!

If you are a Disney-lover yourself and near the Sacramento area - you won't want to miss the Disney On Ice shows between February 11-16, 2015 {there are 11 show-times!} at Sleep Train Arena. It’s one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends at Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! (Presented by YoKids Organic Yogurt) This show has a fantastic line-up that is sure to please all ages, there are more details about which characters you can expect to see on their site.

Come join the celebration you’ve been waiting for when Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! skates into your hometown! For tickets and more information about shows in your area, visit the Disney On Ice or Ticketmaster site.

Butterfinger Granola Bars and Packing Lunches with Nestle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #MyGoodLife

I can't believe that the time is here for me to start packing school lunches for my kiddos! Although we do homeschool and I don't necessarily need to pack them a lunch, it is something that they like me to do for them - so I do it. (I'm a sucker...) They absolutely love the thrill of opening up their lunch boxes and being surprised with what was packed for the day - and I love being able to watch the delight in their eyes when they do so. I don't get fancy with their lunches and I don't have a drawer-full of gadgets to make their lunches appear like something off of Pinterest. I am SO not that mom. (No offense, I just don't have time for it.) I am all about keeping it simple but still making it awesome.

My oldest (at 5 years old) son's #1 question to me when he eats food I've given him is, "Did you make this, Mom?" If I say no, he shrugs and says "HM" (disapproval much?? ha!) if I say yes he gets a huge smile and tells me I am such a good cook. (That's #MyGoodLife!!) Now if that isn't incentive for me to want to make EVERYTHING homemade, I don't know what would be! I think it really does make a difference to him, so I like to include something homemade in his lunches - one of our favorites (yeah, mine too...) is homemade granola bars. I recently made a batch of Butterfinger Granola Bars that turned out fabulous and did not disappoint in the lunch box department one bit!

Not only are these Butterfinger Granola Bars a Butterfinger-Lover's (Bart Simpson totally pops into mind!) dream, they are seriously a cinch to make.

Most of the ingredients for this recipe can be found in our pantry, the only ingredient I needed to put on the shopping list was Butterfinger bars. I ended up getting a small bag of Fun Size Butterfinger bars for this endeavor. The fun size candy bars also work great for a sweet surprise in your kiddo's lunch box if you don't have the time to make something homemade. (Hey, it happens to the best of us!!) This recipe only calls for 6 Fun Size Butterfinger bars - so you'll have plenty leftover to have on-hand for back-up. ;)

Oh, and just take a moment to think how cool your kids will think you are for making a Candy Bar Flavored Granola Bar. Coolest Mom on the block, handsdown.

Butterfinger Granola Bars
(PRINTABLE RECIPE)
Ingredients
⅔ cup light corn syrup
heaping ½ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups quick-cook oats
2 cups crispy rice cereal
½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup chopped Butterfinger candy bars, divided (about 6 fun size bars)
Directions
1. Add corn syrup, peanut butter and brown sugar to larger microwave-safe bowl. On high, microwave for 1 min and 30 seconds. Stir to combine.
2. Add cocoa powder, vanilla extract and quick-cook oats to corn syrup mixture and mix well.
3. Add rice cereal in two batches, pop back in the microwave for 30 seconds if needed.
4. Stir in mini chocolate chips and ¼ cup Butterfinger pieces.
5. In 9x9 parchment-lined square pan, press down granola bar mixture. I put another piece of parchment paper on top of granola mixture then use my fingers to get mixture somewhat evenly spread, then I use a spatula to really flatten it out.
6. Sprinkle top with remaining Butterfinger pieces. Press down into mixture using same technique as in step 5.
7. Let bars set in fridge for at least 3 hours, I usually let mine sit overnight.
8. Cut and serve! I wrap any unused bars in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator in a resealable plastic container. Either freeze or enjoy within 7 days!
recipe adapted from Averie Cooks

To make these granola bars lunch box friendly I just wrap them individually in plastic wrap. Then we store these in the fridge in a sealable plastic container. I've never had any last more than 4-5 days (due to the animal-like eating behavior at my house), but I imagine you wouldn't want to keep them for longer than a week due to the chocolate starting to break down. Freeze any bars that you don't plan on consuming in 4-5 days just to be safe! 

Here is an example of what my kiddos' lunches look like on any given day. Veggies, Fruit, Nut (or trail mix), Protein, Whole Grains, 100% Fruit Juice (I am in LOVE with Juicy Juice for their goodness and my kid's think the boxes are SO cute!) and of course something that is sweet and made with love! ♥ (and a napkin too, always with the hope it will be used!! haha)

I must give a huge shout out to Nestle for making my lunch packing days a little sweeter and helping to serve up smiles. With Juicy Juice boxes (6.75 oz) my kiddos can drink in the goodness of 100% juice and with 8 different flavors of juice offered I can keep my kids being surprised at lunchtime. Also, I will be the first to admit that sometimes a lunch gets put together with all store-bought items because there just isn't the time to whip up something homemade. For those moments I turn to Fun Size Butterfinger and Crunch candy bars - both are family favorites and it shows my kids I was thinking (sweetly) about them. :)

As you may already I know, I practically live at Walmart... So, that's where I ended up purchasing ALL of these lunch products. With Halloween around the corner, you may need to check seasonal aisles for the candy bars!

Related Posts

Monsters University Popcorn Mix with Juicy Juice

Butterfinger Tres Leches Cake

Caramel Apple-Popcorn Balls with Peanuts

To celebrate Good Cook's Free Popcorn and Popcorn Giveaway on Facebook, as part of a sponsored post for Good Cook, I made Caramel Apple-Popcorn Balls with Peanuts. #goodcookcom

One thing I love about Fall is our family's trips to Apple Hill. Apple Hill is a group {55 to be exact} of apple orchards in El Dorado County. It's the cutest place with awesome things to do with kids in the Fall, such as a fishing pond, pony rides, pumpkin patch(es), hay rides and more. One of my favorite things to do in Apple Hill is visit the fudge shop and buy delicious caramel apples to celebrate the Fall season. They are so beautiful and delicious - it really doesn't matter how sticky my hands or face get while enjoying a classic Fall treat!

When I was recently asked to create a recipe using homemade popcorn balls, the decision came all too fast - Caramel Apple-Popcorn Balls with Peanuts. The popcorn balls include chopped dried apples, peanuts and cinnamon; all held together with a homemade sugar syrup that I colored green with food color. I then rolled them in melted caramel {I had no idea and feel silly knowing now how easy this is to do!} and let them set in the fridge. So easy and so tasty! I made two batches, one with and one without peanuts, both were wonderful but I did prefer the addition of the peanuts.

Let me share how easy these beauties are to make!

First you need some popcorn. 6 cups to be exact.

In a heatproof bowl, spray with cooking spray and add the popcorn, chopped dried apples, peanuts and cinnamon. Mix well. Set aside.

Over high heat, bring sugar, light corn syrup, water, vinegar and salt to 260 degrees.

Remove from heat and add food coloring. {I made two batches and liked the color of 7 drops of green the best.}

Immediately pour over popcorn mixture and start to mix. I used a Good Cook rubber spatula which worked wonderfully! The idea is to get every piece coated.

Next, it was time to shape the popcorn into balls. Since this will be done easiest while syrup is still warm, do it as fast as possible!

I used a Good Cook Popcorn Baller which not only made perfect balls, but also made working with the hot mixture an easy feat. Just put some popcorn in the baller and press the lid down. Easy as pie. :) {If you are interested in your own Popcorn Baller, use coupon code: POPCORN to save 25% on one at goodcook.com or go check out their Free Popcorn and Popcorn Baller Giveaway on Facebook!}

Then insert popsicle sticks and let set in fridge for 30 minutes.

In a microwave-safe bowl add 14oz caramels {the individually wrapped ones} and 2 tablespoons of milk. Microwave, on high heat, for 1 minute then stir and cook for an additional minute. Stir again and let sit for about a minute and start rolling the popcorn balls in the caramel. It will be extremely hot, so please be careful! Place on parchment paper and set in fridge for an additional 30 minutes.

Look how cute these Caramel Apple-Popcorn Balls with Peanuts look in these Good Cook treat bags! I am totally going to make these for a Halloween Party that we attend every year. So cute and the kids are in love with the characters on the bags.

Caramel Apple-Popcorn Balls with Peanuts
(PRINTABLE RECIPE)
makes 4 servings
Ingredients
6 cups white popcorn, popped
1¼ cup dried apples, chopped
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup light corn syrup
⅓ cup water
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
green food coloring
4 popsicle sticks
14oz caramels {the kind you need to unwrap}
2 tablespoons milk
Directions
1. Spray heatproof bowl with baking spray and add popcorn, apples, peanuts and cinnamon. Mix well.
2. Over hight heat, bring sugar, corn syrup, water, vinegar and salt to boil. Heat to 260 degrees.
3. Remove from heat and add food coloring.
4. Pour syrup over popcorn mixture and mix well until all popcorn, apples and peanuts are coated.
5. Shape into balls. {I used a Good Cook Popcorn Baller which worked wonders!} Insert sticks into each ball. Let set in fridge for at least 30 minutes.
6. In microwave safe bowl, add caramels and milk. Heat in microwave for 1 minute, then stir. Heat for another minute, stir and let sit for a minute.
7. Roll popcorn balls in melted caramels. Set on parchment paper, on a flat surface and chill in fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Sully Fur Balls and Monsters University Pre-Order at Walmart

To celebrate the Pre-Order of Monsters University from Walmart, as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias® and Disney Pixar, I made Sully Fur Balls as a fun MU-themed dessert! #MUPreOrder #cbias

A few weeks back, I posted a recipe for Monsters University Popcorn Mix that was inspired by the new Disney movie, Monsters University. The idea was to get my kids excited for the release of Monsters University - and it worked. We had a monstrous afternoon full of Monsters University toys, watching Monsters, Inc, and snacking on the popcorn mix while drinking Monsters University themed Juicy Juice boxes. It was great fun and got all of us in Monster-mode!

My kids are huge Pixar fans and the Monsters franchise is no exception. I can't blame them, they get it honestly. Monsters, Inc. was the first Pixar movie I ever purchased - I bought it the day it was released and then raced home to watch it, for the first time. It's crazy to think that it was about 11 years ago that I first found out what a 2319 was...

I already planned on buying Monsters University when it was released, but then I heard that Walmart was doing pre-orders - so I got in line. Literally. :) Let me tell you why it is awesome to pre-order a movie that you already plan on buying...

First, the movie is mailed to you when it is released. That is just too easy-peezy, plus I love getting mail that isn't a bill. Inside the empty Blu-ray box you receive when purchasing the pre-order is a piece of paper with a code on it. All you have to do is go to vudu.com and redeem the code for access to Disney previews and to receive a Collector's Edition of Monsters University which includes a Blu-ray, a DVD and a digital copy that is available only through VUDU.

Second, inlcuded in the box is $8 in Movie Cash that can be used for Monsters University, The Lone Ranger or Planes (releases 8/9/2013) and a $1.50 off coupon for Juicy Juice.

Have you seen the Monsters University themed Juicy Juice boxes? So cute!

And of course, I couldn't help but come up with another Monsters University creation. Have you seen all of the great ideas that are being posted throughout the blogsphere? I am considering throwing my kids a Monsters University birthday party just because I have seen so many awesome creations!!

My husband actually came up with the idea for Sully Fur Balls - I thought it was so darn cute that I picked up the ingredients while picking up our pre-order of Monsters University. If you want to see all the goodies I found at Walmart, check out my Google+ album. There are a couple new items I found that I can't wait to try!

Alright, let's get to baking these Sully Fur Balls!!

First, I colored coconut flakes. I put the flakes in a food processor and added food coloring until they were the colors I wanted.

Next, I baked mini cupcakes, using chocolate cake mix. Any flavor would work since they will be covered up. Notice the one missing? There are a lot of little fingers around here just waiting for sweets to be set out. :)

Then I made a marshmallow creme and coated each cupcake fully. Last, I loaded them with the colored coconut. Since I was worried about the creme setting too fast I didn't take any pictures of this step. Silly me. It won't set for an hour, maybe more.  

Marshmallow Coating
(PRINTABLE RECIPE)
Ingredients
1/2 ounce gelatin powder
10 ounces water, divided
7 ounces light corn syrup
18 ounces sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1. Combine gelatin and 5oz of water in stand mixer. Mix well with fork to ensure no lumps.
2. In saucepan, combine remaining water, corn syrup and sugar. Heat over high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Bring temperature to 240F, then turn off heat and then let cool to 210F. Add to gelatin mixture. With whip attachment, turn stand mixer on 3 until fully combined - then kick it up to 8 and let it whip until the mixture is fluffy and had at least tripled in size. My stand mixer was on for over 10 minutes - so just let it do the work while you kick back. ;)
3. Use immediately - will set up in about an hour.
*adapted from Serious Eats

Come join me and follow Disney-Pixar on Facebook and Twitter!

Chicken Fry Skewers with Smoky Citrus Dipping Sauce #ChickenFryTime

To create a quick chicken dinner for my kiddos, as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias® and Tyson, I made Chicken Fry Skewers using Tyson Homestyle Chicken Fries. All opinions are 100% my own. #ChickenFryTime #cbias

Have you ever noticed that although the days of summer are longer, it seems there is so much packed into the days that there still isn't enough hours of sunlight for everything? It seems that I am all too often wishing that I had more hours in the day to get everything done - so this summer I have vowed to make our family's meals quick to cook and easy to prep to help alleviate that feeling. We need more time for running through sprinklers, exploring bugs in plants and creating chalk mosaics on sidewalks - those are the things that summers are made out of!

My kids love chicken nuggets. I am talking L-O-V-E. So when I saw Tyson Homestyle Chicken Fries, I knew my kids would go crazy for them. They are basically chicken nuggets in the shape of fries. Not only are they perfect for little fingers to grab and for dipping, they are also a quick chicken dinner - which is what I am aiming for these next few months. 

Since we spend most of our summer evenings outside, next to the fire pit, I decided to skewer up the Chicken Fries and let the kids have at cooking their own dinner. The Chicken Fries are fully-cooked, so no need to fret about the kiddos getting salmonella. Skewering the chicken was so easy; just let the Chicken Fries defrost and insert skewers. I put them in the fridge, on a plate, until we were ready to heat them up over open fire.

I also made a dipping sauce for the kids to dip their Chicken Fry Skewers in, an easy-to-make sauce that doesn't require the food processor. The Smoky Citrus Dipping Sauce screams summertime to me - from the in-season citrus fruits used to the smoky flavor that reminds me of BBQ'ing. Soy sauce and sesame oil are also included, giving the sauce an Asian flair. Delicious!!

Smoky Citrus Dipping Sauce
(PRINTABLE RECIPE)
Ingredients
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
Directions
1. Whisk all ingredients together, chill for at least 20 minutes before serving.

I measured out the ingredients and had Bubba mix them all together. He is not always interested in helping out in the kitchen, but when he is - I am all about it!! At the tender age of 4 he has already mastered cracking eggs and using the can opener, two things that still make me hold my breath every time he does them.

After I skewered up the Chicken Fries and Bubba helped make the Smoky Citrus Dipping Sauce - the boys took to the outdoors. These kids are insane when it comes to playing outside - they do not care that it is over 100 degrees with no breeze, if it's time to play - it's time to play! One thing I have noticed about when they play hard in the summertime is that they will eat like teenagers when they are done playing. Yes, my 2 & 4 year old will eat like ravenous beasts before hitting the shower and crashing down for the night. It amazes me every time.

When it is that hot our county puts a ban on any uncovered fires - so no fire pit on this night. Bummer! Instead I fired up the little BBQ and laid the skewers on the grate. It was way too hot for my sons to stand by the BBQ and roast their own Chicken Fries, so instead they played nearby while entertaining me with their crazy antics. I love those kids. :)

The Chicken Fry Skewers took hardly any time to heat up - about 5 minutes total. These would be great for a quick appetizer to a grilled meal due to their fast heat time. I served the skewers and dipping sauce alongside fresh fruit and an all-natural Edamame Salad - both of which I found at Sam's Club. I posted my shopping trip on Google+, if you want to check out my shopping journey!

My kiddos sat on the sidewalk, in the shade, and enjoyed their quick chicken dinner. You can always tell how good a meal is by the amount of talking done during meal time. There was nothing. Just silence. Haha, I love it! (Yes, my kids eating everything I cook makes me giggle with excitement!)

And let's be honest - how awesome is the novelty of having Chicken Fries on skewers?

For more information on Tyson Homestyle Chicken Fries, check out Tyson's website at http://www.tyson.com. They also have a twitter account to follow and a facebook page to LIKE. Soon, on Tyson's Facebook Page, you will be able to enter for a chance to win free Sixs Flag tickets for a family vacation. Now that sounds like fun!

Monsters University Popcorn Mix with Juicy Juice #MUJuice

To celebrate the release of Monsters University, as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias® and Nestle, I made a Monsters University Popcorn Mix using Juicy Juice Fruitifuls #MUJuice #cbias

To get my kiddos ready for the release of Monsters University, we had an afternoon filled with Monsters, Inc. themed fun - including a Monster Popcorn Mix, Monsters University-branded Juicy Juice healthy drinks, Monsters University toys and, of course, we watched Monsters, Inc.- for the umpteenth time. ;)