BLOG
The
Gingerbread Coffee Creamer
Gingerbread Syrup
3/4 cup white granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon molasses
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients. Bring to a soft boil and cook until the sugar dissolves, stirring the entire time.
Transfer to a heat-proof container to cool to room-temperature. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
Now to make the creamer….
2 cups milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
1/4 cup gingerbread syrup
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients. Cook until the sweetened condensed milk has completely melted into the milk, about 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool before serving. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Healthy Apple Muffins
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature
2/3 cup pure maple syrup, at room temperature
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups shredded/grated apple (about 2 peeled apples)
Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray 12 count muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and salt together until combined. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, applesauce, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla together until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stir a few times, and then add the shredded apple and pecans/walnuts. With a silicone spatula, fold everything together gently just until combined. The batter will be very thick.
Spoon the batter into liners, filling them all the way to the top. If using, sprinkle tops evenly with coarse sugar. Bake for 5 minutes at 425°F, then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F Bake for an additional 16–18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Make at Home Granite Cleaner
🍂Save this video if it blows your mind 🍂
I will never buy granite cleaner again!
Here’s how you make it at home.
1 part isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
3 parts distilled water
Thats it!
(The measurements don’t have to be precise- just approximate is fine).
Alcohol is a disinfectant without having a citrus qualities which will eat your granite.
Cost per bottle is probably about 2 cents vs the $10+ for fancy countertop cleaners.
(Always test a small area just to double check on your countertops)
Things to do with Kids in Wyoming
This year our out west adventure brought us to the area of the Snowy Mountains and it was one of my favorites so far.
These are the hikes we did - we found that 4 miles was just about perfect for our 3 year old. She would hike about half of the trail and ride in her pack about half of it.
Silver Lake & Meadow Falls Loop. This was my favorite hike of the trip. You get some challenging elevation and a beautiful view the entire time. It goes up high so you can overlook the area and there are also areas you can be right down at the lake.
Lake Marie. This lake has really fun fishing and a beautiful hike. You can go up to the peak but its pretty rocky so we turned around about 2/3 the way up and headed back down to do some fishing.
Rick Martin Memorial Park. This park is in Riverside - about 30 minutes from the Snowy’s but if you are in the area its a super nice spot to let the kids run. It has a huge old school metal slide, a full set up for disc golf and a full size horseshoe set up for the adults.
Bear Trap Pizza in Riverside is hands down the best pizza I have ever had. We probably ate it 4 times.
There are so many hiking trails and side-by-side trails in the Encampment/Saratoga/Snowy Mountain area that you will not be short for things to do.
The app All Trails helped me a ton when picking trails that would be good for my little one.
Links:
Child Timberland Boots (I’ve actually bought these 4 times for her as her feet have grown - I love them THAT much)
Women’s Waterproof hiking boots - I’ve had these for 3 years and LOVE them.
Women’s Hiking pants - I have 4 pairs of these and they hold up so well.
Water Reservoir - saves from taking lots of bottles of water water and littles can reach it while they are riding in the pack for quick drinks of water.
Pumpkin Spice Creamer
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, half-and-half, or whole milk
2 Tablespoons pumpkin puree
2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 – 1 teaspoon store-bought or homemade pumpkin pie spice
1 – 2 cinnamon sticks
In small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together heavy cream, pumpkin, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice. Add cinnamon sticks and increase heat to medium-high.
Bring to boil, whisking occasionally, for 1 minute, then remove from heat and let creamer cool in pan 5 minutes before using in your coffee. Add sugar to your coffee if you take it that way. You can also add whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon too.
Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake well before using.
Favorite Fall Chili
1 sweet potato cubed and baked for 30min at 350 so its tender
1 teaspoon olive oil
1lb lean ground turkey
1 medium white onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1Tbsp chili powder
touch of salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1, 15oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1, 15oz can tomato sauce
Instructions:
Brown ground turkey and drain fat.
Add oil, onion, pepper and garlic to a large saucepan.
When softened add in ground turkey.
Cook for a few minutes
Add all seasonings except parsley and stir and cook for 1
minuteAdd kidney beans and tomato sauce, bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook for 15-20
minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in cooked sweet potato cubes.
Harvest Stuffed Acorn Squash
If you want to make this ahead do the bolded part below ahead of time then cook your squash day-of and fill it with the filling that you had prepared.
3 medium acorn squash
2 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
8 sage leaves, chopped
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1/2 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped plus more for serving
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper, plus more for serving
1 1/2 c. cooked rice
1/3 c. heavy cream
1 c. grated fontina or monterrey jack cheese
For the squash: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Carefully cut the squash in half. Scoop out the seeds. Place on a baking sheet cut-side up. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle
generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 30 minutes. Flip each half over, placing them cut-side down, and continue to roast for 15 minutes or until very tender. Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. While the squash is roasting, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium- high heat until very hot. Add the sage and cook for 30 seconds or until dark green. Add the sausage to the skillet. Cook until fully browned, breaking up the sausage with
the back of a spoon as it cooks, about 10 minutes. Transfer the sausage-sage mixture
to a bowl.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the mushrooms, onion, garlic,
thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms release their
liquid and the onions are softened, about 7 minutes.
Stir in the cooked rice and heavy cream. Stir in 1/2 cup fontina cheese until well
combined. Stir the sausage back into the mixture. Let simmer for a couple of minutes
then remove from the heat.
Flip the squash cut-side up and divide the filling among each squash half. Sprinkle with
the remaining 1/2 cup fontina. or other cheese. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the
cheese is melted and everything is warm.
Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
Ingredients
1/4 cup plain nonfat greek yogurt (or use vanilla!)
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any milk)
1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 teaspoons chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 c pumpkin puree
In a medium bowl, mix together greek yogurt,
almond milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla and 1 tablespoon
maple syrup until well combined.
Stir in oats, chia seeds and pumpkin pie spice. Taste
and add more maple syrup if you want it sweeter.
Pour into a glass jar or container and place in fridge
for 4 hours or overnight. Makes 1 serving of
pumpkin overnight oats.
Fresh Autumn Morning Routine
As schedules and the weather changes a fresh morning routine will help you feel alive, refreshed and ready for the new season.
Wake Up. 40oz water infused with supplements.
Press play on workout.
Shower. Skincare. Get ready.
Coffee. Plan day.
Do at least one thing that makes you
happy + moves you toward a goal.Turning on ambience to set the tone for the day.
Use code HeatherJohnson for 15% off your supplements and 30% off your fresh skincare routine.
Maple Cream Coffee Topping
For an extra cozy fall treat make this coffee topping and store in the fridge. Scoop out a little bit on any morning where you want to feel that little extra fall ahhhh.
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream or coconut cream
1 tablespoon high quality maple syrup
Using an electric mixer, whip the cream until soft peaks
form.
Add the maple syrup and whip once more until combined
and fluffy.
Store in the fridge. Use as a topping of your favorite
coffee.
Pumpkin Cold Foam
Ingredients
1 cup heavy whipping cream
½ cup sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tablespoon pumpkin puree
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Whisk together the whipping cream, sweetened
condensed milk, and vanilla. Whisk in the pumpkin
puree and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Cover and
place in refrigerator until ready to use.
Pour over cold coffee when you are ready to enjoy!
Tips for traveling with kids.
Keys to kids not being stressed and acting crazy while traveling? US not being stressed out while traveling.
After 30+ flights with my little nugget I’ve learned and observed a few things (plus there is always room for a little prayer and a little luck).
Set them up for success - to me that looks like:
We don’t use the iPad for a movie until we are on the plane - not in the airport while we are waiting. It’s really not fair to ask them to sit in an airport then sit on a plane - their bodies just are not made for that kind of stillness yet. We call it “getting the wiggles out”.
In the airport go on an “adventure”, hunt for things, our favorites is escalators and we will ride them over and over.
NO SUGAR. I saw a dad and son traveling yesterday - dad was super stressed - kid was watching some high color bounce off the walls show while sucking a lolly pop BEFORE we boarded - thats a recipe for disaster friend.
Have snacks - lots of snacks.
Have “mess free” coloring books - so when the color outside the lines they don’t accidentally mark on the airport chairs or plane.
Stickers are your best friend - especially puffy ones. Even if they stick them on the folding tray they peel right off.
Chewing gum and juice for their ears is always a great idea - but be mindful that their juice cups get pressure in them and will spray out on the plane (this actually happened yesterday 🤣).
Express the dangers to them. I am not for scaring my little girl but I do tell her the truth to the level she can handle and understand it. I take the time to tell her the importance of staying close and holding hands in the airport, that there can be bad people that hang out in the airport that would want to take her away. I don’t want to throw rules at her - I want her to understand WHY.
Stick up for them and don’t apologize for the space they take up. If my daughter is walking slower than others then I let them pass her, I don’t pull her to the side, children have as much right to travel as adults do. When we apologize for them being there we are automatically saying that an adults presence is more important than theirs. I encourage her to speak to the flight attendants, to order her own drinks and to ask questions when she wants to.
What other tips would you add?
Hearty Fall Bowl
Ingredients:
Kale
Italian dressing
Pomegranate seeds
Sweet potato
Blue cheese
Red onion (optional)
Chicken
Dried cranberries
Instructions:
Cook chicken and cut into cubes
Cube sweet potato and bake in oven until soft
Mix kale with a few tablespoons of Italian dressing to
soften the kale.
Assemble the bowl: kale, top with sweet potatoes,
pomegranate seeds, sweet potato cubews, blue cheese
crumbles, red onion slices, cubed chicken, dried
cranberries.
Autumn Clean Out & Organize
If you have felt like you are scrambling with your house set up it could just be as simple as needing an Autumn clean out.
When schedules change our needs change. Grab and go sports equipment, premade meals, clothes in the drawers that fit your littles - all of that makes life so much easier.
Here is a short list if you have just a little time today or a full list with a supplies list is in the Autumn Toolkit if you are ready to overhaul your home.
Morning Routine
Best supplements Use code HeatherJohnson for 15% off
Skincare Use code HeatherJohnson for 30% off