Finally! HERE'S What To Do With Those Leftover Wonton Noodles!

We eat a LOT of Chinese food in this house and every time, I'm left with many packages of wonton noodles. You know, those crispy fried noodles you dip in duck sauce. Okay, so they're probably not the healthiest food in the world, but being the frugal mom that I am, I have trouble throwing anything out. Yes, I've given the noodles to my kids instead of chips, but I FINALLY used my noodle to come up with a recipe to use those left over ones. I vaguely remember doing something like this in my Home Economics class eons ago, so this recipe is definitely based on that. 

Here are the noodles I'm talking about:

I believe these are called wonton noodles.  If you know them by another name, please email me so I can correct this post.

And the recipe is called: 

Candied Wonton Noodles

Ingredients:

A few packages of wonton noodles

One half package (6 ounces) of Wilton Candy Melts in whatever flavor you want

Pam or non-stick spray

An 8x8 or so pan

Any other goodies you want to add (see suggestions below)

Directions: 

1,  Spray your pan with non-stick spray.

2.  Melt the candy melts in the microwave (in a glass bowl and microwave them for a minute, stir them, and if they're not melted, microwave them for 30 seconds at a time, checking them after each interval).

3.  Mix the candy into the noodles, making sure the noodles are mostly covered by the candy.

4.  Spread the resulting mixture in the pan, add any toppings (optional), and freeze for about 5 minutes.

5.  Take the candy out and either pick at it with your fingers or cut it with a knife.

Here's what it looks like.

I could see adding nuts, caramel, marshmallows, or sprinkles (like I topped the mix with above). I think I'll add whole flax seeds for additional (or any) nutrition the next time I make it.

This is a great recipe for kids to help with since it doesn't involve baking. With many of us going out for Chinese food on Christmas (my husband tells me that's what a lot of Jewish people do), there are going to be lots of leftover wonton noodles. Don't throw them away! Use them to make this delicious candy! It combines crunch with sweetness and has been a big hit in my house.

Merry Christmas! 

Is This The Mug That Will Save Your Kid's Lunch?

Need a mug for your kid's lunch?  Read on...

Early in September, my son announced that he will be bringing his lunch to high school every day. Apparently, the cafeteria is too far from where the freshmen eat and, knowing his school, I believe him.  I want to give him hot lunches some days and he (gasp!) will not use the thermos I've been using for his sister (What? A 14-year old is too cool for a Dora mug? Unreasonable!). What to do?

So I purchased a Sistema To-Go Soup Mug from my local grocery store.  This 22.1 ounce plastic mug:

• Is BPA free.
• Has a large handle, so it's easy to grasp.
• Holds a whole can of soup (it's really big).
• Has easy-open clasps around the top (as opposed to my daughter's thermos where she has to get some help from a teacher).
• Has a vented lid so you can heat up food in the microwave.
• Is freezer and dishwasher safe.

All of those are wonderful features. I heated up some soup, sealed the mug, and turned it upside down – no leaks. Of course, when my son took it to school, it had somehow leaked all over his lunch bag. Yuck! I've read other reviews of this product and many people found the same thing. Also, food does not stay hot for very long, which is fine because my son has an early lunch period and, honestly, the thing is plastic so it's not meant to keep food hot. 

Soup in this mug may not be a good idea for your kid's lunch.

So is the Sistema To-Go Soup Mug a waste of money? If you plan on sending your kid to school with soup, yes, unless you place plastic wrap or foil under the cover so the soup stays inside. I also place the item in a Ziploc bag, just in case it does leak, and send my child with extra napkins. 

What the mug is REALLY good for, however, are non-liquidy things like mac and cheese, a thick chili, salads, mushy cake, and macaroni dishes. As long as the food doesn't ooze, you're good.

Does this replace a costly metal mug? No, but it's handy for, again, non-soup lunches. And with a price point of about $6 at my supermarket, it was worth a try. Find more about Sistema products on their website, http://sistemaplastics.com.

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Thanks for reading....check back in later this week for some free, Halloween printables!