As previously advised, our First Lady, Michelle Obama is on a mission to fight childhood obesity.  In this week’s newsweek, she wrote an article about the idea behind her campaign ‘Let’s Move’:

“Let’s Move is about families making manageable changes that fit with their schedules, their budgets, and their needs and tastes. It’s about giving parents the tools they need to keep their families healthy and fit, and getting more nutritious food—more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and less sugar, fat, and salt—into our nation’s schools. It’s about helping grocery stores serve communities that don’t have access to fresh foods, and finding new ways to help our kids stay physically active in school and at home.”

Next week during our eco-week, we will be showcasing more recipes that are nutritious and healthy.

Allrecipes.Com Dinner Spinner

Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner is a cooking app with a twist spin (I had to!). Boasting 1000’s of recipes, Allrecipes.com allows you to choose your meal, ingredients and the time involved to cook it (Believe me when I say I checked for a zero minute option, no such luck). The great thing about this app is that you also get to see the ratings and comments of others people who have tried the recipes. This lets you know about variations/suggestions for the meal. You can also turn on filters for vegetarian, gluten-free and other special diet restrictions.

Overall, it is a good cooking application.

Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner is available for free [iTunes link].

20 Minute Meals With Jamie Oliver

If you like Jamie and would like him to cook with you in the kitchen, then this is the app for you. This gives you a more personalized experience and it is more costly than most cooking apps but it makes up for it with an sleek look intuitive feel. I personally like the videos included (it comes with 21); Jamie chats on topics such as knife skills, how to make the perfect steak, and how to properly use your cutting board. Each step in the recipe comes with a picture. ( a plus so you can compare and confirm you aren’t making a disaster) It also gives you an easy-to-use shopping list and allows you to toggle portion sizes by number of guests. All of the recipes are installed in the application so you don’t need to connect to the Internet. The one negative to this application is the lack of recipes, with only 55 included (though you can access more recipes via integration with Jamie’s website).

Overall, if you like Jamie Oliver’s cooking techniques, then this is the app for you.

Jamie Oliver’s 20 minute meals is available for 7.99 [iTunes link]

iFood Assistant

This is app is delivered to you by Kraft so their product placement in the app is thick. You can easily substitute these for any brand you prefer however, I found it to be a bit too much. You choose your recipe by the kind of meal you want to prepare (either snack, breakfast, entrée etc), and then your main ingredient. Most of the key functions can be accessed offline but you will need access to the internet for initial set-up.

Browse through recipes, be inspired by the recipe of the day or check out their recommendations for Dinner Tonight. Even smarter, check out their BudgetWi$e section (currently available in the US only) for scrumptiously affordable meals and the secrets to restaurant-style faves you can make at home. I like the no-hassle shopping feature which enables you to get the shopping list and directions to the nearest store (again US only) and it also tells you which aisles to go to so you’re out of there fast. (no more searching for honey in the syrup aisle)

You can organize the recipes by prep time, reviewer rating, total time or name. This makes finding a quick meal fast and efficient. The application has over 40 cooking videos, which give you tips, but the video quality is low. The recipes range in difficulty from beginner to advanced, so there’s a bit of everything.

Overall, just ok but not quite up to the standard of these other apps.

iFood Assistant is available for $0.99 [iTunes link].

Look and Taste

I am so used to telling the kids, look but don’t touch that I welcomed this app with open arms. Look and Taste is an application that gives you plenty for your money. Its clean, easy to use interface allows you to seamlessly pick which recipes you want to cook. Watch over 250 step-by-step videos-many recipes also have video included on how to cook the meal (as opposed to other applications that only use video to show you some tips). There are also videos on various glossary terms, food items and chef tips. The recipes can be chosen by cooking time, difficulty, ingredients and main ingredient. See a recipe you like, cooked or enjoyed? Click one button and its added to your favorites. Featured recipes are updated every week  and there are an additional 50 text recipes available.

Overall, loads of information for cooks of all levels and is well worth the price tag.

Look and Taste is available for 4.99 [iTunes link]

Epicurious

I try not to save the best for last but it always works out that way. Introducing Epicurious, a cooking app with over 27,000 recipes, a shopping list and ratings from others who have tried the meals. If you are going to pick just one cooking application, Epicurious would fit the bill. A vast array of recipes to choose from allows for a lot of versatility in the kitchen. Best of all, it’s free!

Recipes in this app come from Bon Appetit, Gourmet and renowned cookbooks and chefs. When you’re ready to cook, turn your iPhone on its side to view recipes step by step. I often browse through just to inspire my inner chef! You can also email any recipe to yourself or to a friend-last minute dinner party? No problem!

Overall, I like the look, the price and the recipes in the cocktails selections. Martini anyone?

Epicurious is available for free [iTunes link]

IHOP restaurants nationwide will be offering anyone who walks through the door a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. as part of a fundraising effort for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

If you can’t make it, be sure to let me know how you celebrated this major holiday! I think I will be making pancakes for dinner tonight. If only Ihop sold that mix, it would be heaven!

What’s your favorite flavor of pancake? Do you do all the fruits or are youa  simple girl like me and enjoy the good ol’ buttermilk kind?

How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier? SKM is here to help. Join us tomorrow, Wednesday February 17th at 7pm for our Blog Talk radio show as we chat with certified personal trainer, nutritionist, cook and mom, Sylvia Melendez-Klinger on how to create the authentic and flavorful dishes using lighter ingredients. You’ll also have a chance to win a lovely Crisco basket with all the essentials to create a light and healthy meal!

Crisco partnered with Sylvia in this effort to create wholesome meals without sacrificing taste. Crisco combines familiar Latin flavors in its delicious recipe for Lime Tortilla-Crusted Snapper with tangy cilantro sauce, which takes just 10 minutes to prepare and serves four.

A registered dietitian of the American Dietetic Association and a licensed dietitian nutritionist, Melendez-Klinger provides expert advice and healthier meal options ina  practical and easy way. She helped develop the Criscotraditional Latin American recipes as part of the Abre tu Despensa al Mundo Crisco (Open Your Pantry to the World of Crisco) program, featured on www.criscoenespanol.com.

“I serve fish to my family because it is a great source of protein and has fewer calories than other meat options,” says Melendez-Klinger.  “Many fish are rich in omega 3 fatty acids proven to be good for the heart.  And, best of all, my family loves this recipe because it features delicious Latin flavors like cilantro, lime, tortillas and garlic.”

 “To make the cilantro sauce, you will need Crisco 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil, garlic, cilantro, salt and lime juice,” Melendez-Klinger explains.  “For the fish, you’ll need Crisco Pure Vegetable Oil, corn tortillas, ground cumin, lime juice, white fish fillets, salt and pepper to taste and some lemon wedges.”  Snapper, tilapia, bass or grouper can be used for the fillets.

During the radio show we will give away a gift basket provided by our friends over at Crisco to one lucky listener. Tune in for your chance to win! Here’s the link to our show. Sunkissed Mommy on Blog Talk radio

• Bear Naked; These nutrient dense cereals are all-natural and are a favorite in my house.

• Mom’s Best Naturals; Some are high in sugar and the younger ones love these. The whole grains help make up for the sweetness.

• Barbara’s Bakery; with just-right sweetness, the Puffin Multigrain is low in calories yet high in fiber and vitamins.

• Quaker Oatmeal Squares; Hands down my favorite. I enjoy them even more without the milk. These have all the fiber of regular oatmeal and are good sources of calcium and other nutrients.

• Kashi Go Lean; Seven whole grains make up this mix of wildly different shapes and textures. And it’s rich in fiber and protein.

Erin McKenna is a baker on a mission. BabyCakes, is a vegan sweet shop that started in New York City and recently opened in Los Angeles. You won’t believe that the deliciousness coming from the ovens such s their tender cupcakes, moist crumbcake and delicate cornbread, aren’t sweetened with sugar and are free of allergens like wheat, gluten, dairy, caisen, and even eggs. The primary sweetner is raw agave nectar which is a healthier alternative to sugar. Deliciously good for you.

Based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Zingerman’s, has combined both delicious food with philanthropic efforts. They were the first for-profit business in the US to launch a food bank. They operate on an “act local” philosophy that nurtures relationships with the community as well as independent producers who provide many of their ingredients. Their pecan pie, made with unrefined brown sugar, ships in a sturdy, (and reusable) box.

I have always wanted to be a preserve making girl alas, Casey Havre of Loulou’s Garden has it down to a science and all I need to do is order. She uses produce grown mostly on her northern California farm and handmakes pantry specialties like preserves, jam, pickles and chutney. Her belief in eco-friendly extends to her shipping practices: recycled cardboard boxes and biodegradable cornstarch packing chips that dissolve under running water. A favorite around these parts is her Calimyrna fig jam which is seasoned with garden thyme and Meyer lemons.

Miette’s Megan Ray was an early contender as far as baking with organic ingredients. She too act locally by buying locally milled flour, milk from certified-organic Strauss Family Creamery and seasonal, regionally-grown fruit from San Francisco’s Ferry Building Marketplace. Organic can be beautiful, local and whimsical too!

Image Source: Sprinkles.com

This coming Sunday, February 7th, is Super Bowl Sunday where the Indianapolis Colts will meet the New Orleans Saints down in sunny Miami, FL. While my team is not playing (I go wherever Kurt Warner goes) I am still excited for the game, even more excited for the commercials. I normally host a party for a few friends and family but no one enjoys it more than the kids. The excitement of setting the table, helping to prepare the food, just the buzz of an event gets them wild.

So tonight, we are baking our Super Bowl Cupcakes ahead of time because we have tons to do to get ready for our party. Cupcakes are an ideal food for a Super Bowl party because everyone can help themselves, and there is no mess to clean up afterwards. The focus will be on the decorations tonight since I already make great cupcakes anyway and you won’t be able to taste them to tell the difference.

In order to see how our baking and decorating session goes, you will have to tune in tonight at roughly 7pm to my Ustream channel and watch me bake with the kids. Yes, a rare opportunity and who knows, if it goes well, we may just do it again. ( I am secretly praying baby girl does not have any of her high drama moments)

In the meantime check out the pics and tips below I found for some cupcake ideas to inspire your own for game day. Be sure to check back with me and let me know if you baked anything for the big game. If all else fails, check to see if you have a Sprinkles Cupcake Bakery in your area, order your delicious desserts online and pick them up or have them delivered! Yum!

Go Saints!!

Super Bowl Cupcake Ideas

• Frost cupcakes with team colors- Use white frosting to pipe the numbers on the cupcakes that correspond to your favorite player or to the starting lineups of each team.
• Draw football shapes on each cupcake- This time use brown decorator gel to draw a football on each cupcake. Use white gel to pipe on the football’s stitching.
• Brown M&M footballs- Use the brown M&Ms (right before serving) to make a football shape on top of your cupcakes.
• Mini Football helmets- You can find small football helmets corresponding to each team competing. Frost the cupcakes with team colors, and then place a helmet on top.

Tip: You can make a football field on your table using one sheet of green poster board and white tape to mark the field lines (for small display tables) or cover your party table with green butcher paper and use white paint, or adhesive tape to make the grid iron. The kids will enjoy helping out with this too!

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

If you want, you can watch the show right here!

Live TV by Ustream

“Natural, preservative-free snacks, made with an artisan blend of real cheeses golden baked to bubbly perfection on top of a thin, crispy, crunchy cracker. Four Cheese is made with Aged Cheddar, Parmesan, Romano and Asiago, while Italian Herb is seasoned with flavorful herbs and spices.”

Yup-what they said.

Talk about simplicity! This tip will be sure to get rave reviews from friends and family, and it is only as intricate as you make it. Turn white chocolate-covered Oreos (available at grocery stores this time of year) into yummy ornamental treats. Use tubes of decorator icing to make loops, lines, dots, and to “glue” on candy decorations such as silver dragees and candy-coated sunflower seeds.

Get the kids involved to make their own fancy ornament.  After you all have created your masterpieces, place them in mini cupcake papers to display on your holiday dessert table.

Holiday Mini Cupcake Papers; 4.95; crateandbarrel.com

Pomegranate

November is National Pomegranate Month. This is the perfect time to try this nutrient-rich fruit. To open, cut off the crown, then slice the fruit into sections from top to bottom. Put the sections in a bowl of water and remove the juicy pods, called arils, with our fingers. Eat them fresh or check out our recipe group for delicious recipes.