Food Adventure Friday- Week 7

About a month ago, I saw an idea for a North Pole Breakfast on the site Little Pumpkin Grace. I was so inspired, but also totally in awe and a little bit intimidated! I decided to file this idea away for "sometime," in the, likely distant, future.

Then, two nights ago, I was in Dollar Tree and I saw these amazing candy striped cups and I started thinking... maybe, just maybe...  I decided that these would be perfect for a breakfast smoothie! The cups came with twisty straws but I knew that the smoothies would get stuck so I bought some wider straws to use instead.

I knew that I needed a table covering but the tablecloths at Dollar Tree were very thin and not very cute. I decided, instead, on an extra-long roll of wrapping paper.

Spotting some bells, I decided that I'd call my breakfast a "Jingle Bell Breakfast." I made invitations for the kids to leave at their bedsides telling them to wear their bell and wait to be called downstairs.

The kids were super excited when they found their bells and notes, unfortunately, they had a short wait because I underestimated the amount of milk we were going to need (you mean you need milk for the pancakes??!!) and had to run out to the store!

They noticed the cups right away- I don't think they even noticed anything else at first!  They immediately starting drinking their smoothies : 1 T Chia soaked in 1/2 cup water for @30 minutes, 3 frozen bananas, @ 1 cup frozen strawberries and raspberries, and enough milk to get the right texture.  This is the first time I added Chia to the smoothies, no one noticed and I do think it did a good job helping them to feel full because they ate fewer pancakes than usual and no one was "still hungry," after breakfast.

I requested candy cane pancakes and, I must say, my pancake maker really outdid himself!

I also made homemade hot chocolate using coconut sugar. It definitely wasn't as sweet as the hot chocolate they're used to, but I didn't want to start the morning with a huge sugar rush.  My daughter made a face on the first sip, but then she swirled her candy cane in her cup and didn't say another word as she drank the rest of it down! The boys didn't even seem to notice- they were just thrilled to have "hot chocolate!"

Everyone was "all smiles," after breakfast. I'm thinking that this will become a yearly tradition!

Surprise Giveaway!


Congratulations to JDaniel4sMom- Winner of a $100 Restaurant.com Certificate!!


Just for fun, everyone who links up or comments on this post will be entered in a giveaway for a $100 Restaurant.com gift certificate!  If your comment doesn't have a link to your blog, or is not connected to an e-mail address, send me an e-mail at info (at) teachinggoodeaters.com so that I'll know how to contact you if you win! The winner will be chosen randomly Saturday evening.