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In this tin: Organic celery, deli ham, cantaloupe, kiwi, organic vanilla yogurt, grapes
Muffin Tin: Vintage Wilton

I'm still struggling with what I like to call "organic guilt". I so wish I could make 100% of my purchases organic, fresh, and local. Until then, I am just resolving to do my best for my family with the means we have.

Now, it's your turn! What did you make for Muffin Tin Monday?

That's all! Make sure you
me!

I promised myself I would not break out the Fall decor until after August was over. For the first time in years I am excited about the advent of the Fall season.


JamieOliver.com Savor the End of Summer with these flavored water recipes- Add fruit and veggies to water for an extra healthy flavor boost. Cucumbers, sliced orange, watermelon, honey dew, mashed up strawberries

Nuturing Naters: Love this Fall/Thanksgiving-themed sensory bin for preschoolers. (this makes me excited for fall)

Brooklyn LimeStone: Banana Toffee or "Banoffee" Pie made with easy homemade toffee!

**For more creative ideas all week long, visit my pin boards on Pinterest

It's Muffin Tin Monday! School starts for us next week. We are a little misty-eyed that this is the last week of Summer 2011, but also so very ready for school to begin. During the school year, Muffin Tin Monday will still be going strong.

Here are some sweet links!

Parents.com: Make these adorable Sweet heart kabobs (or is it kebabs?)Perfect for back to school lunches or after school!

Joy's Hope: I love this "art of the go" kit, as part of Little Blue Boo's What would you make?

Almost UnSchoolers: Orange slice and grape butterflies - perfect for muffin tin monday. If you use it, be sure to bookmark it so you can give credit later. :)

Me and my Insanity: Find paper flower cup bling at the showcase of her daughter's fairy party. So many fun ideas!

A Pocket Full of Buttons: Wow your friends and family with this easy Veggie Pizza recipe. Looks so yummy!

*photo credit: A pocket full of buttons

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I'm nominated for a Parents.com Best Food Blog Award for 2011

I would love your vote.I don't get anything for winning, just a little extra cool points. :)  It asks you to sign up, but you can decline all the newsletters if you wish. And if you are already a member of the Better Homes and Gardens site (which I am -love their room designer), you are good to go.

Here is a round up of super muffin tin ideas:
Arts and crafts holder (pictured above)

Succulents garden

Sorting activities for preschoolers

Beads and bracelets

Melt crayons

Advent calendar

Use to dye Easter eggs

Molded mini taco bowls

Serve food for kids

What kind of uses for a muffin tin can you think of?

Your taste buds will thank you after you sample some if this delicious white chocolate peanut buttery goodness. This recipe is my take on my friend Sugar Jones' Aiming Low Award-Winning "White Trash" recipe.  This is meant to be a sweet treat and is definitely not organic Although, I am wondering if my new friend The Recipe Renovator might be able to work her magic?

You'll need:

• large bowl & mixing spoon


• Muffin tin


• 1 pkg white chocolate/almond bark


• 1/2 cup peanut butter


• 1 1/2 - 2 cups cereal as desired

Melt 6 squares of white chocolate (aka almond bark) and about a half cup of peanut butter in the microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds. Stir until the it's smooth. (micro at 15 second intervals if still not melted through).

It was the summer of 2008. I was searching online for something. I can't remember exactly what it was. Maybe it was a recipe, or craft activity. I can't remember. I had 2 small children, I could barely remember my own name! Whatever it was, it led me to a kids craft blog that I absolutely adored. Kiddio.org. I remember thinking to myself: I could do what she's doing. I could start blog. I could turn my passion for kids and creativity and writing into something online. So I began scouring blogs. Any blog about moms, parenting, crafts, kids and food.

Then I happened upon an interview by Janice and Susan of 5 Minutes For Mom of Michelle of Scribbit. That one interviewsealed the deal for me. Michelle's perspective gave me wings. So, I decided spread my wings and see if I could fly. Since that summer almost 3 years ago to to the day, I cultivated a career for myself and have been able to stay home with my kids. I get to help families make mealtime fun! My journey to being Muffin Tin Mom has been filled with a lot of hard work, but it has been so worth it.

To add to my fulfillment I am a part of a great group of local women who all support each other on their blogging journey. I count myself fortunate to be among them. Collectively, we support each other and local businesses along the way. My favorite little cupcake shop is a local business that I have been able to support though not only my patronage, but also through social media avenues like Facebook and Twitter. And our local farmer's market? That's like local business heaven!

So now, Intuit is helping small businessesachieve their dreams by awarding $25,000 each month to a local business! $25,000!


So I’m curious to know: What dream business would you love to start? A Blog? Cupcake shop? I want to know! By replying you will be entered to win an iPad 2!  (Yep, you read that right.)

*This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Intuit’s Love A Local Businesscompetition. The opinions and text are all mine. Contest runs August 10 to September 1, 2011. A random winner will be announced by September 6, 2011. Official Contest Rules

That's all! Make sure you
me!

Welcome to Muffin tin Monday. We are all about creating fun lunches for kids in a muffin tin. We call it the Muffin tin Meal. Simple and fun for kids and parents. Muffin Tin Monday is the weekly blog link up that showcasesreader submitted muffin tin meals.

Muffin Tin Meals  are great for breakfast. Whether it's french toast dippers, mini pancakes, cereal sampler or yogurt add-ins, muffin tins are a fun way to serve breakfast for kids.


For yogurt add-ins: Start with a bowl of organic yogurt. Add strawberries, granola, berries and other assorted add-ins of your choosing. Drizzle some local organic honey in your yogurt for a little sweet treat. Do your kids eat yogurt? Do They like it plain? Do they like add-ins?

Yesterday, my kids and I were invited over to my friend Ellen's house to can fresh plums with her. I had never canned before and while the visit originated as a way for my kids to have a fun experience canning, I ended up being the one who delighted in the process the most. Her plums are out of this world delicious. And we got a little taste of the water bath canning process.

Making and canning jam isn't as hard as it seems. Maybe it was because Ellen patiently walked us (me) through the step by step process. Or maybe it was that she had all the right tools for waterbath canning and everything prepped. Whatever it was, I walked away, wanting to can more!

We picked the plums from Ellen's gorgeous Santa Rosa Plum Tree....So yummy!


She had the jars,the lids, the pectin, sugar, the stock pot, and the jar lifter. We were set!


I was so enthralled with the process that I forgot to take down notes for a tutorial. We cut the fruit, added pectin, boiled it down, adding in sugar, poured it into the jars, sealed them, put them in the boiling water, etc. You can probably find step-by-step instructions at pickyourown.org (although even they make it sound more complicated that it really is.)

Ideas for plum jam:

• Spread on scones, bagels, and breakfast breads
• Slather it on pork roast (Ellen's suggestion)
• Cookie, ice cream and jam parfait
• I am thinking of using my jam to make this (below) delectable stuffed french toast with plum jam and cream cheese!

**Originally posted on August 17th, 2010

Summer is winding down for us. And that means back to school shopping, getting the class supply list, back pack, and lunch box figured out before school starts. School may start soon for some of you. Hope you are inspired by these creative lunch boxes. All of these lunchboxes offer up not only a creative alternative to the brown paper bag, but are a great way to help reduce lunchtime waste.

Many of you have asked me how you can take Muffin Tin Meals on the go. These are great options!





*Disclosure: I was not provided with any of the products mentioned in this post. This is purely editorial.