Rainy Day Activities

Last week, we got a bunch of rain in the Midwest. Streets, parking lots, and many homes and businesses were flooded. We had two leaks in our basement. We were lucky and didn’t get a lot of water down there, but it was enough that our carpet got wet and we had to move furniture out of the way. We also had to rip into the drywall and paneling in our finished basement in order to patch the wall where there were leaks. This was an unexpected expense. The good news is it gave my husband the excuse he needed to re-do the paneling in our basement. He has never liked the paneling that was put up on the bottom portion of our walls by the previous owners. Now he has the opportunity to put up paneling he likes, and the way he wants it done. I think in the end, he’ll be happy.

Areas where we had the two leaks in our basement. This was before the wall guy came out to fix it.

While my husband has been worrying about the basement, I’ve been keeping our daughter and my nephew busy, as usual. I’ve been doing art projects with them, playing games, and working with them on color and shape sorting. I’ve also been buying new materials to help with teaching them to learn how to write letters/numbers, draw shapes, cut simple shapes out of paper, identify opposites, etc. I’ve been a busy little bee.

New workbooks

The Alex Toys Ready, Set, School set.

The contents of the set. Workbooks, crayons, a shoe to lace, scissors, stencils, etc.

One day last week, I had them use stamps to make a picture. I brought out the number stamps so I could take the opportunity to work with them on identifying numbers. Of course, they were more interested in putting the stamps in the ink than learning numbers, but it’s still worth the effort.

A picture Alex was working on.

At night before bed, my daughter has been doing color and shape sorting. I’m amazed at how well she is doing compared to just a few weeks ago. The great thing is she thinks the sorting is a game, so I have no issues with getting her to do it each night.

In the bedroom, we also have a word wall where I put up words that I’m working with Kayla to become familiar with and learn to recognize. Part of our bedtime routine is to go over these words.

I’m looking forward to nice weather where I can get the kids outside for a change, but until then, it’s nice to have some rainy day activities to do.

Benefits of gymnastics and other sports/activities for young kids

There are many benefits of physical activity for young kids, and kids of all ages. Physical activity is a great way to develop fine motor skills, as well as social skills. Fine motor skills are a prerequisite for learning and mastering the movements and coordination required in sports. When kids start these activities early (at a young age), they are better able to acquire the skills necessary to achieve higher levels of success. More importantly, when you encourage your children to start these activities when they are young, they still have that fearless mindset that allows them to be able to explore these activities without the fear of getting hurt. Sure, as their parents, we have to worry for them and try to make sure that they are learning in a safe environment, but their fearlessness is an asset.

Between the ages of 3 and 6 is a good time to start paying attention to what sports and activities your child is interested in. During this period, if a child’s interest in a certain sport or activity goes unnoticed, they may have a difficult time achieving higher levels of these skills later in life. (This differs with every child, of course.) At the end of the day, the most important thing is to find activities that your child enjoys doing. If they aren’t having fun, then it isn’t worth it. I think we all just want our kids to be happy.

Here are 10 ways boys and girls of all ages benefit from gymnastics from the USA Gymnastics’ Guide:

1. It’s fun
2. Develops strength
3. Develops flexibility
4. Develops coordination
5. Teaches listening skills
6. Gains self-esteem and confidence
7. Provides social interaction with peers
8. Teaches goal setting
9. Develops cognitive abilities to help in the classroom
10. Develops skills to enhance other sports

Gymnastics will also help enhance a child’s social skills. During a gymnastics class, children will able to observe, practice waiting their turn, follow directions, respect each other and listen. All of these skills are very important for a child to practice to enhance their social skills. As a child achieves new skills and is encouraged by their coach/instructor, they increase their self esteem, gain a sense of control over their body’s movements which then increases healthy self empowerment and body awareness. These are valuable skills for young children to learn.

The minikickers soccer class my daughter is signed up for advertises that they aim to use soccer as a medium for children to develop their balance, agility, coordination, color recognition and numerical learning, along with increasing their confidence and social skills. These are just some of the benefits of being involved in sport activities. Each sport offers unique skills and benefits to children, along with keeping them active and healthy.

Take the time to ask your children what interests them. If they say they would like to take a karate class, look into signing them up for one at your local karate studio or through your local park district. As parents, we sometimes want to pick and choose what activities we’d like our kids to be interested in, but it’s important to get their input and let them pursue their own interests. Let your child find their own passion for sports and other activities. There are a wide range of activities young children can get involved in. Just do the research for activities in your area. Most areas seem to offer dance, softball, gymnastics, soccer, karate, crafts, basketball, swimming, tennis, etc. Some areas may even offer things like horse riding lessons, junior farmer camps, nature classes, and baking/cooking classes. When kids are really young, usually under 3-years-old, most classes will require parent participation. This a great way to bond with your child.

Some tips for exposing younger children to sports and other activities:

- Provide a wide variety of experiences that improve object handling skills and promote hand-eye coordination.

- Focus on gross motor skills at first, such as standing, balancing, walking, running, etc. Remember that skill learning takes time, practice and repetition. Choose some activities that are directed, and others undirected. An undirected activity would be one where a child is free to use their on imagination or do free play without being directed to do it a certain way.

- Focus on activities that your child shows a natural interest in, and encourage them.

- Provide plenty of positive reinforcement to encourage self esteem to reduce the fear of failure in physical activities.

- Check with your local parks and recreation district to find affordable sports and activities for your child. You can also look into local studios, companies, and gyms that specialize in a certain sport or activity, such as a dance studio or your local aqua center.

- Make sure the activity you choose is taught by coaches/instructors that are good with kids and have a good reputation in your community. Above all, we want our kids to have positive experiences.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about any activities my daughter has been involved in. I would be happy to share our experiences with you. Over the past year, we have attended storytimes at local libraries, taken a dance class, and she is currently taking gymnastics and soccer. I strongly believe that if your child doesn’t enjoy a particular activity, don’t force them to do it. These experiences should be about having fun while doing something new.

Kayla at the library after storytime.

This was taken last fall during her dance class.

Toddler gymnastics and soccer

Kayla having fun at Tumblebear Open Gym at Patti’s All American in Indiana.

It’s amazing to me how fast this month has been going by. I’ve blinked and it is already the middle of the month. The last several weeks have been extra busy for us, and I can’t seem to find the time to keep up with my blogs…writing my own blog posts, and reading posts from other bloggers. I keep telling myself every day that I will find the time to write a post, and then I don’t. I’m disappointed with myself, but life has a way of taking over at times.

With that said, we’ve been busy doing lots of fun and exciting things, so that makes up for it. I pride myself on exposing Kayla to new experiences and activities. I think it’s important for kids to be exposed to various activities in order to be well rounded. I love taking her to the zoo, to children’s museums, to kiddie amusement parks, to different stores and restaurants, etc. I also enjoy getting her involved in a variety of classes so she has an outlet to burn energy, to learn something new, be around other kids her age, and experience something she may end up developing a passion for someday. (You know, just because I homeschool, doesn’t mean I don’t believe in socialization. I just believe in going about it in a different way.) It’s also quality mommy/daughter time since at this age (two-years-old), parents are required to participate in most activities.

Over the last couple of weeks, Kayla has started taking a gymnastics class at a local gymnastics gym, and taking soccer through a local park district. We’ve also attended two open gyms at other gymnastics gyms (besides the one where she is taking a class). It feels like for the past two weeks, I’ve been driving around all over the place taking her to different activities at different places. It’s fun, but it takes its toll.

I’ve been thinking about signing her up for a gymnastics class for awhile now. She’s extremely coordinated for her age, she’s bursting with energy, and she’s a bit of a daredevil. Gymnastics seems perfect for her. A friend from high school recommended a gym (Gym-Kinetics) to me last year, and I did a lot of research before signing her up for a gymnastics class. I wanted to make sure I picked a good gym with great coaches that work well with children. To my delight, she loves it. It seems to be a perfect fit for her. She bounces around like a bunny the whole time, full of energy. By the end of class, I’m a little tired myself. Who knew spotting a toddler and following her around a gym could be so much work? Kayla seems to get more hyper from being in class, and I’m ready to take a nap afterwards. Go figure. The gymnastics coach is young, playful, and the kids seem to adore her. So far, I am happy with how the class flows, and I can already see Kayla learning new things. I do worry a little bit about safety, but they have the place pretty well padded with all types of tumbling mats. I think toddler gymnastics is a great idea for parents looking to get their kids out of the house and doing something active. Plus, it gives kids their first glimpse into the world of gymnastics. Kayla loves watching the older kids do flips. She watches them in awe. Only time will tell if Kayla has any skill as far as this sport goes, but for now it’s all for fun. Having fun is the most important part anyway.

Gymnastics class at Gym-Kinetics in Illinois.

I was thrilled when I found a soccer class for young children a few weeks back. One of our local park districts offers Mini Kickers Soccer for kids 5 and under. The class is taught by a British company that works with the park district. I thought for sure Kayla would enjoy this class because she absolutely loves kicking balls and running around. The week leading up to our first class, we practiced kicking the ball everyday and she got pretty good at it considering her age. Kayla would ask me every single day if we could practice. The day of our first class, she woke up excited about going. Once we got there, it was another story. She was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the class. The way the class works is they eventually divide the kids up by age, or at least that’s what the description of the class says. They are supposed to put the 2 and 3-year-olds in one group, and the 4 and 5-year-olds in another group. When we arrived at our first class, there were about 15 kids running around a big gym kicking balls with 4 coaches hanging around. As we walked farther into the gym, we saw all the parents/caregivers, remaining kids in the class, and younger siblings sitting in the bleachers. There was a massive amount of people there for this one little 45 minute class. Kayla was looking around at all of the people and her enthusiasm seemed to slip away. We sat down on the bleachers for a few minutes so she could observe her surroundings before class started. I encouraged her to go and kick a ball around with the other kids. She didn’t want to venture too far away from me. Once class started, she got excited again and did really well for about 30 minutes. After that, her attention seemed to start slipping away and she seemed to be overwhelmed by the amount of people moving around in the gym. I will admit it was a bit chaotic, and I hope the coaches are able to rein things in a bit in the future.

Observing the other kids when we first arrived for soccer class.

The soccer class was the biggest class we’ve taken so far. Most of the classes we’ve taken, and the storytimes we’ve attended, have had 10 kids or less, plus one parent for each kid. This soccer class had about 20-25 kids, plus some kids had two parents with them and younger siblings. I can see how a toddler would have a hard time adjusting to this type of class size. She also seemed confused by the fact that there were four coaches. She didn’t seem to understand who she was supposed to be looking to for directions. I think she’ll do fine once she gets used to it. Once the first class was over, she was ready to leave. Usually I have to practically drag her out of a place after class is over. This was a new experience having her grabbing my hand and leading me toward the door. The fact that she still wants to practice kicking the ball at home gives me hope that she’ll still want to go back each week.

On days when we don’t have anything else going on, I’ve been taking Kayla to open gyms. Some of the local gymnastics gyms have open gym once a week where members and non-members can come in to use their equipment in a supervised environment. Some of the open gyms are for all ages up to 18-years-old, and others are only for younger kids. The first open gym we went to was at a very nice gym, but it was crowded with older kids. We didn’t have any issues with the older kids. They mostly kept to themselves and were considerate. From watching them, I would say most of them were students at the gym, and they seemed very focused on what they were doing. The majority of them seemed to be there to practice and have fun with their friends. With all the older kids around though, I had to watch Kayla very closely to make sure she didn’t get in anyone’s way or get hurt. Most of the equipment was geared toward older kids, so Kayla was limited on what she could use. Not to mention, she doesn’t have much patience for waiting her turn. The open gym was on a Sunday, so there were a lot more people there than if it would have been during the week. I would recommend to this particular gym that they do a separate open gym for younger kids.

Walking around at the open gym at United Gymnastics Academy in Illinois.

Inflatable at open gym

The second open gym we went to was on a Wednesday afternoon and it was only for kids 6-years-old and under. All of the equipment they had set up was for younger kids. They had a very friendly coach in there supervising. Kayla seemed to like the coach right away. It was a welcoming and caring environment. I was surprised by how much I liked this open gym compared to the first one we attended. This particular gym is known for being a gym that focuses on classes and development for young kids. The decor is kid friendly, the staff is inviting, and they have a wide variety of unique classes offered there. I’ve been considering signing Kayla up for a few classes there, but was hesitant about doing it without seeing the place in person. If I’m going to drive 25 minutes or so to take Kayla to a class, it better be worth my time and money. This place would definitely be worth it. It’s a wonderful environment for kids.

Tumblebear open gym at Patti’s All American in Indiana.

I don’t want to fill up our schedule too much, but I am glad that Spring is here and we’re finally getting out of the house again to have some fun. I no longer have to worry about cold and flu season. (We got sick 4 times in 3 months at the end of 2012. Whatever Kayla gets, mommy gets too.) It’s so nice to get back to doing some activities outside of the house besides shopping and going out to eat. And Kayla loves being able to see other kids. She lights up when she sees all the other kids running around. She sees one of her cousins a few times a week, but there is nothing like seeing a bunch of other kids her own age. I can’t wait until all the June dance recitals are over so that I can get her back into a dance class. That was a class we could both enjoy. Until then, gymnastics and soccer will keep us very busy.

Easter Sunday, Easter weekend

Me and Kayla

Our Easter Sunday wasn’t as hectic this year. My sister hosted Easter brunch at her place, so I only had to bring a couple of casseroles over to help out. When Kayla woke up in the morning, she looked at her Easter basket from the Easter Bunny. Then she looked at her basket from mommy and daddy, and her gifts from grandma. She searched for the hidden plastic eggs around the living room and put them all in her big purple bucket. Once she was done finding the eggs, I got her dressed and headed to the kitchen to pop the casseroles I prepared the night before into the oven to bake. We had a very laid back brunch at my sister’s house, then headed home for a nap. (Yay for naps!) Later on, we made salted caramel chocolate nests for dessert. Kayla tried to help out, but she was busy stealing the jelly beans that go on top of the nests as a decoration. All in all, we had a great Easter Sunday.

Basket from the Easter Bunny.

Gifts from grandma (my mom)

Basket from Mommy and Daddy

The salted caramel chocolate nests are a fun dessert to make with kids, but prepared to get a little messy. It’s worth it though, because these are a great treat. If you want the recipe, check out my other blog at: http://kaylakakes.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/salted-caramel-chocolate-nests/

We had a busy Saturday before Easter. We took Kayla to a Helicopter Easter Egg Drop at a local entertainment place for kids. It was an outside event with pony rides, inflatable jumpers, and a tractor ride. I don’t think it was worth the money, but Kayla had a great time. We met up with her Aunt (one of my husband’s sisters) and one of her cousins at the event. It was kind of neat watching all the plastic eggs fall from the helicopter and blow all over the field. If I was a little kid, I would have been impressed. Afterwards, we headed to lunch at McDonald’s (something Kayla rarely gets to eat), then to my in-law’s house for a visit. Since we were spending Easter with my family, we decided to take Kayla to see her grandparents (my husband’s parents) the day before. She had a blast running around with her cousin and acting silly. At night, Kayla and I colored Easter eggs together. She did a lot better this year and was very proud of her eggs. The best part was when she was talking to the eggs because she was convinced there were baby chicks inside. This kid cracks me up.

Even though we had a nice weekend, I am glad it’s over. It’s nice to just sit down and relax, and not have to think about another holiday for a few months. I’m off to bed now. I hope everyone had a Happy Easter with their family and friends.

Easter Projects, Egg Hunts, and a New Car

I have a few partially written blog posts that I just haven’t had the time to complete. It’s been a busy couple of weeks. We bought a new (used) car last week. It took a few weeks of research, looking up cars at dealerships, and going in for test drives before I decided on the one I really wanted. My husband traded in his very old Pontiac Grand Am, and he is now driving my old car, a Chevy Trailblazer. I am now the proud owner of a 2012 Dodge Journey SXT with AWD, and only 26,000 miles on it. So far, I love my new car. It’s one of those crossover vehicles that kind of looks like a SUV, but it handles like a car. It has plenty of storage space and can seat up to 7 people. This thing is about as close to a minivan as I’m ready to deal with at this point in my life. I’m looking forward to having this car for the next 5-10 years.

Since Easter is right around the corner, I’ve been doing Easter projects with Kayla and my nephew. Today, they did a do-a-dot egg picture, a chick hatching coloring page, and they decorated foam bunnies. Kayla already did a foam bunny last weekend, but she was still excited to do another one with her cousin. They always like doing projects together.

Last weekend, I took Kayla to an Easter Egg Hunt hosted by a local park district. The weather was actually decent outside that day, so it was great to get out and enjoy some fresh air. The only thing Kayla was really interested in was going up to the Easter Bunny and giving him/her a big hug. As soon as she saw the bunny, she kept pulling me until we got close. Then after she saw the bunny once, she had to go back again before we left. I was happy to see her excited, since last year she was a little unsure about the extremely tall bunny we saw at a local mall. Of course, the bunny from last year wore glasses and clothes, so maybe that seemed odd to her. This bunny was just a simple white bunny with no attire. Maybe she prefers the Easter Bunny to be in his/her birthday suit. Who knows.

This has been a fun week preparing for Easter. We’ll be attending another Easter Egg Hunt this weekend with some of my husband’s family members. Kayla should have a blast hanging out with some of her cousins she doesn’t see as much. I’m currently trying to make out my grocery list so I am ready to start preparing food Saturday night. Thankfully, my sister has offered to host Easter at her house this year, so all I have to do is bring a few dishes. I loved hosting it last year, but we just have too much going on this year. Happy Easter!

Homemade Coco Wheats, and some winter fun.

The Midwest was just hit with a snow storm yesterday. I think when it’s over, we’ll have about 9 inches of snow. That’s on top of the couple inches we already had from last week. There is something about a cold winter’s day that puts me in the mood for a hot breakfast. It’s nice to wake up in the morning and warm up with a bowl of hot cereal. My personal favorite is Coco Wheats. Not everyone is a fan of this chocolate flavored morning treat, but it was one of my favorites when I was little. My daughter isn’t a fan of the traditional boxed version, but she does enjoy my homemade version. It’s quite simple to make, and doesn’t take much time.

Coco Wheats Recipes

2 cups water
2 – 2 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/3 – 1/2 cup farina/cream of wheat
1 pinch of salt
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sugar or brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon butter (optional)

1. Whisk the cocoa powder into the water in a pot.

2. Heat the water over medium heat until boiling. Add in cinnamon, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt. Whisk together.

3. Add in farina/cream of wheat slowly and stir constantly for 2-3 minutes. This will prevent lumps. (Add in farina/cream of wheat to your desired thickness.)

4. Turn off heat and cover with lid. Let sit a few minutes.

5. Uncover. Stir in milk, sugar, and butter. I like to add just a little milk at the end to make it creamy.

This is a tasty homemade morning treat. If you don’t like using sugar or brown sugar, you can use honey to sweeten it up a bit. And you can always skip the butter all together. My mom always made ours with milk, sugar, and butter…so that’s how I prefer mine. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

Since it’s been cold and snowy out, Kayla and I have enjoyed some fun indoor and outdoor activities. We’ve made homemade butter cookies, and we’ve gone outside to play in the snow. Kayla absolutely loves making cookies. She gets super excited and likes to watch them cook. She’s a little impatient, but what can you expect from a two-year-old? To take her mind off of the cookies, it’s fun to take her outside and let her run around in the snow. It’s amazing how much she has changed since this time last year. A year ago, she was afraid to even walk in the snow. Now she takes off running as fast as she can manage. As a mom, it’s bitter sweet. I miss my baby from a year ago, but I love seeing her grow up and explore new things.

Yes, we used a Christmas tree cookie cutter. It was the only one I had out that I didn’t have to go find.

You can find the butter cookie recipe we used at: http://www.landolakes.com/recipe/2217/best-ever-butter-cookies

Two of my dogs standing on the back porch unsure about going out into the snow.

The third dog who loves the snow was having fun barking at people outside shoveling their snow.

Valentine’s Day

Four years ago on Valentine’s Day, my husband proposed to me. It wasn’t a huge surprise. We talked about getting married and I knew he was getting me a ring. I just didn’t have any idea when he was planning to give me the ring. He proposed in a very cute way, and a little less than 5 months later, we were married on a beach in Hawaii.

Now days, with a 2-year-old daughter, Valentine’s Day tends to not be as romantic as when we were dating. I’m not complaining by any means. I kind of enjoy the laid back Valentine’s Day rituals we’ve settled into over the last few years. Yesterday, my husband went to work like any other day. Around 11:00, the doorbell rang and the FedEx guy delivered a Build-A-Bear for Kayla and a box of flowers for me. Kayla was super excited to receive her first box that was actually addressed to her. Kayla also enjoyed getting her other small Valentine’s gifts from me and from her grandma (my mom). She got four books, a box of Scooby Doo candy, a light up Scooby Doo cup, and a Scooby Doo box.

Once Kayla was dressed, we went with my mom over to my sister’s house to drop off some small Valentine’s gifts for my nephews. Kayla was very proud of the finger-paint Valentines she made herself, and the Scooby Doo Valentine’s that she scribbled on. Kayla got a few small gifts from my sister and her family. My nephew is currently recovering from strep throat, so it was a very short visit. Afterwards, we stopped off at a bakery to pick up some special after dinner treats, and then we went out to lunch. The bakery we went to had some cute little heart-shaped cakes with strawberries on top. I couldn’t resist.

When my husband got home from work, we had Valentines left out on his desk to surprise him (along with a blueberry danish from the bakery). My husband suggested we get soup and sandwiches from Panera Bread. We called in an order and he picked it up. We had a very filling dinner, and waited till later to eat our special treats from the bakery. We spent some quality time together as a family watching TV and playing. And my husband and I were even able to find a little bit of time to ourselves, which doesn’t always happen. We may not have gone out to a fancy restaurant, but it was a nice day. I went to bed happy.

Valentine’s Day is about spending time with people you love. Sure, the romantic stuff can be nice, but sometimes a quiet evening at home with your family is just as sweet. I hope everyone had a great Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day Projects

I may not be in a hopelessly romantic mood this year, but I still feel like it’s important to teach Kayla about every holiday that we celebrate. I put together some activities and projects for Kayla and my nephew to do over the last week. I think Kayla enjoyed doing the Finger-paint Valentines the best.

I hope everyone has a great Valentine’s Day. Spend it with your loved ones.

The Easiest Spaghetti and Meatballs Ever – Made with the Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System

Ok, so this is my third post with a recipe using my new Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System. I got this easy spaghetti recipe from the cookbook that came with my Ninja. I really wasn’t expecting to be impressed since making regular spaghetti isn’t that hard. You boil pasta, drain it, add sauce and meatballs, and you’re done. No big deal. Simple. But somehow this easy recipe from the cookbook managed to impress me. And it doesn’t even use fresh meatballs. The recipe calls for frozen meatballs. (Even though you can easily do this with fresh ones, if you want.)

The recipe has only four ingredients. You put them in the cooking pot, set the unit to oven, and let it cook for 25-30 minutes. When you take the cover off, you have this delicious spaghetti dinner that took NO effort. Seriously, it takes no effort at all to make. If you have older kids, they can make this meal for the family with no problems.

Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

- 4 cups water
- 1 lb uncooked spaghetti noddles, broken in half (Or just put them in whole.)
- 1 jar pasta sauce
- 1 package (24 oz.) frozen meatballs

Pour 4 cups water into pot. (I used 4 1/4 cups because the pasta soaks up all the water and I didn’t want it to burn.) Stir in spaghetti, sauce, and meatballs. (The recipe says to break spaghetti in half, but I put it in whole.) Put unit on OVEN at 300°F for 25 minutes. (I suggest 30 minutes. When I checked at 25 minutes, not all of the pasta was tender yet.) Cover and cook until pasta is tender and meatballs are hot, stirring occasionally. NOTE: When using thinner sauces, use 3¾ cup water. For whole grain and thicker pastas, increase cooking time by 2–4 minutes, or until pasta is tender. Serve immediately.

All the ingredients in the pot and ready to be cooked.

About to stir it and check to see if the pasta is getting tender.

Ready to eat. Yum!

That is literally all it takes to make this meal. I let my Ninja pre-heat while I got my ingredients out. I added the water to the pot and put the spaghetti noodles in without breaking them in half. I put a little sauce directly on top of the noodles, then added the meatballs, and covered the meatballs with the remaining sauce. I stirred it all together, just a little bit, then covered. It is important to stir this at least once during cooking to make sure the pasta is cooking evenly and isn’t sticking together. Other than that, there is nothing else for you to do. Just sit back and let it cook.

There is no need to drain any water. The pasta soaks up all the water. The spaghetti noodles are infused with the pasta sauce. I was a little surprised with how well it turned out, even with frozen meatballs. I think my daughter said it best when she said, “mmmm…yummy!” Yes, it was quite yummy.

This is a wonderful recipe for busy parents. You can easily come home from work and still serve a great meal in only 30 minutes. This is something that you can even have your teenage kids prepare for you so that there is a ready-to-eat meal when you get home. As a mom of a toddler, I appreciate easy recipes that can be made in a short amount of time. I am at home with my daughter, but you would be surprised how fast the day goes by when you’re taking care of your home. This recipe will be going in my collection of go-to recipes when I need to make something quick.

Note: You can make this recipe in a regular slow cooker, but it will take longer than 30 minutes and you will have to watch closely to make sure it doesn’t burn.

Game Day Chili for the Whole Family – Turkey Chili with Corn Bread Crust made in the Ninja 3-in-1

As stated in my previous post, I recently got the Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System and I am currently trying out different recipes from the cookbook. I ordered my Ninja through QVC and it came with the cookbook, Cooking Easier, Healthier & Better. I will be posting my thoughts and opinions about how the Ninja performs and about the recipes. My intent is to stick pretty close to the recipe instructions in the cookbook so that I am getting a good feel for whether the recipes are good, bad, or okay.

Since this is Super Bowl weekend, I thought it would be fitting to do some Game Day food. One of the first things that comes to mind when I think of game day food is Chili. My husband enjoys eating a big bowl of chili with tortilla chips. It’s the ultimate game day meal. I’m not really into football, but I do appreciate game day food. And I love a bowl of chili on a cold winter day.

The cookbook has a few chili recipes, but I opted to try out the Chili with Corn Bread Crust. (It had me at corn bread.) The recipe calls for using either ground beef or ground turkey. I used ground turkey in an attempt to make this a little bit healthier. I made a few other minor changes and/or additions, but I stuck fairly close to the recipe.

This chili screams comfort food. The corn bread baked on top of the chili is a genius idea. I’ve baked biscuits on top of soup before, but never thought to use corn bread on top of my chili. (Silly me!) What makes it even better is the fact that it was easy to make and didn’t take much prep work. My favorite part was being able to cook the turkey and veggies in the Ninja cooking pot on the stovetop setting, then just add the remaining ingredients to the pot and switch it to the slow cook setting. There was no need to cook the ground turkey on the stove, then transfer it to a slow cooker. That is the beauty of the Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System. Everything can be done in one pot. (Woo Hoo!)

Chili with Corn Bread Crust Recipe

- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (I used olive oil.)
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef or turkey
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green pepper, diced (I used red, yellow, and orange bell peppers.)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 can (about 15 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained (I used two cans instead of one.)
- 1 can (about 15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 package (8.5 ounces0 corn muffin mix
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/3 cup milk

Additional ingredients I added

- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic pepper
- Dash of hot sauce (I like a little kick to my chili.)

Pour oil into pot. Set unit to STOVETOP HIGH and heat oil. Add ground beef/turkey, onion, and pepper to the pot. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes or until beef is browned or turkey is no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Spoon off any fat. Add chili powder and cinnamon to the pot. (This is when I added in my salt and garlic pepper.) Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir tomatoes, beans, and tomato paste into the pot. (This is when I added a dash of hot sauce to the pot.) Set it to SLOW COOK HIGH for 4 to 5 hours. Cover and cook.

After 4 1/2 hours cooking time, stir corn muffin mix, egg, and milk in a bowl. Uncover pot and spoon batter over chili. Cover and cook 30 minutes or until corn bread is cooked through.

This chili was awesome with the corn bread crust on top. The chili and corn bread alone is a great meal. The cookbook suggests serving it with sour cream and cheddar cheese. I did try it that way, and it made a great meal even better. It was hearty and satisfying. Just thinking about it is making me want to climb out of bed and go fix myself a bowl. Mmmm… Thankfully, I have some self control.

I understand that the recipe would have been healthier without my addition of the salt and pepper, but I personally couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of not having the extra seasoning. I like my food very flavorful, and I know from experience that ground turkey can lack some natural flavor. Sorry, but I am going to have to agree with all the TV chefs when they say that meat needs salt and pepper to bring out the natural flavors. This is just my opinion. If you want to stick to the original recipe to keep this healthier, please do so. I’m sure it is great either way. The hot sauce addition is just something I always add to chili. I considered not adding it, but then I couldn’t help myself. Chili has to have a little kick, right?! Maybe it’s just me.

I was happy with how fast the Ninja heated up on the stovetop setting. The ground turkey and veggies cooked up without a problem. I could see steam coming from the pot and hear the food sizzling. Once I switched it over to the slow cooker setting, everything settled down and it was ready to cook like a regular slow cooker. I didn’t have any issues with the liquid evaporating too much while cooking the chili. But I will say that once you add the corn bread, it seems to make most of the liquid disappear. If you are someone who prefers a chili with more liquid, you may want to add some water to the pot. I don’t have much of a preference between a chili with lots of liquid and one with hardly any, so this wasn’t a big deal to me.

This was a satisfying meal that left me wanting more. The first thing my husband said when I told him what I made for dinner tonight was, “Mmmm, that sounds good.” And then the next thing he said was, “is it spicy?” I was glad I decided to add the hot sauce to the chili. Apparently, he’s like me and likes his chili with a little kick. This chili was the perfect way to kick off Super Bowl weekend in our house.