HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD Playmobil Set

I received a sample from Playmobil to facilitate this post.

  HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD premiered last month and my family was treated to a special viewing of the movie. This movie is one that I enjoyed. The special effects of the movie were awesome and I was glad that I saw the movie. I think my favorite part of the movie was when Hiccup and Toothless discovered the Hidden World. This scene was so breathtaking to watch. This is a movie that I recommend for families to see. I included the trailer for the movie and a brief Synopsis below.

 Watch the trailer of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD
https://www.howtotrainyourdragon.com/

SYNOPSIS:  From DreamWorks Animation comes a surprising tale about growing up, finding the courage to face the unknown ... and how nothing can ever train you to let go. What began as an unlikely friendship between an adolescent Viking and a fearsome Night Fury dragon has become an epic adventure spanning their lives. Welcome to the most astonishing chapter of one of the most beloved animated franchises in film history: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

Check out this cool playset from Playmobil

 To make the magic of the movie last longer for kids, Playmobil created a Hiccup and Toothless with Baby Dragon playset. This fun action set has many fun pieces so kids can reenact the movie and soar through the ski with Hiccup, Toothless, and Baby Dragon. The figurines let kids create their own adventure! Kids can battle with Hiccup’s flame sword and watch Toothless fight with illuminated back spikes and fire charged markings! The adorable baby dragon helps out too! This set includes Hiccup, Toothless, blue fire darts, baby dragon, flame sword, helmet, and other accessories. My boys thought the Playmobil set was pretty cool and were so excited to check it out the toy.  They thought it was cool that the dragon was able to shoot arrows. This set has 19 pieces and is made for kids ages 4+. This cool set will make a wonderful present for kids.

Have you seen HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD?

Spring Clean Your Lunch With Vaya

Tired of packing the same old lunch?

         I received products from VayaLife to facilitate this post.

  My kids and my husband pack lunches every day. The kids choose to pack the same things every day as it makes things easy. The husband, on the other hand, complains about packing his lunch as he gets tired of the same food day after day. The problem with packing lunches is having to pack foods that don't need to be heated as how is one suppose to heat up food at school or at work when you don't have access to a microwave. I remember using a thermos as a kid but they only worked for liquid foods like soup. So I am glad that I discovered these lunch boxes that keep food hot or cold for up to 6 hours. So now my family can spring clean the lunches that they pack and have way more options in food choices.

Last nights leftovers make a delicious lunch

  My boys love pasta and pizza but don't like it cold. With the Vaya lunch containers, they can now bring last nights leftovers and have a warm meal at lunchtime. All my boys have to do is warm up things like pasta and pizza in the microwave in the morning. Then they place the hot food in the insulated food containers and pack the containers into their lunch sack. These eco-friendly containers keep the food hot for 6 hours and they can enjoy a hot lunch at school. These BPA Free containers are also leak resistant so they would be great for a sweet cold dessert like dairy-free chocolate avocado pudding or salted date caramels.

Designed for Flexibility

 The containers come in three sizes and are equipped with handy partitions so that you can pack two foods into one stainless steel container. My son started thinking of food combinations like pretzels and peanut butter that he could put into one container, peanut butter pie in another, and fruit in another. While I started thinking of fresh veggies and dip in one container, a sushi burrito in another and Spaghetti Squash Spring Rolls in the last container. Both boys like the stylish look of the lunch container. My youngest like that the lunch container came with a shoulder bag to carry everything in, including his drink. This unique bag also transforms into a table mat. So my boys would have a clean place to set their lunch on.

 Designed for traveling and special diets

 For folks who have food sensitivities or allergies, The Vaya food containers are smart for traveling. I could pack my plant-based BBQ jackfruit pulled "pork" tacos in these containers and have a hot meal when I travel. These food containers would make life so much easier for those on the keto meal plan. These smart eco-friendly containers would make it easy to pack allergy-friendly food on vacations. They would keep my dairy-free jalapeno cheese bread fresh. You need to go check these Vaya Lunch Box food containers out as they come in so many cool colors and designs. Packing lunches are now exciting for my family.

What foods do you like to pack for lunch?

Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Health

         I received samples of the mentioned products to facilitate this post.

 A couple of days ago, we all changed our clocks for Day Light Savings. Losing the hour of sleep was tough for some but at the same time, it brought an extra hour of sunshine. That extra sunshine was a blessing for those who suffer from the seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or the winter blues. Day Light Savings also encourages me as it meant spring was on the way. Spring for me means warmer weather and more time outside. That time outside in the warm sunshine does wonders for my mood. It also means I get to change out my clothes and start wearing things like shorts. I no longer dread getting dressed every day as I have a whole new wardrobe to select from. All these changes uplift my mood and I start thinking about spring cleaning.

Did you know that spring cleaning can be good for your health?

 You may have seen challenges online about decluttering your home and have thought about cleaning your house. If you are like me, the thought of spring cleaning just overwhelms you. If cleaning is not your thing and decluttering makes you go crazy, don't worry as you can do some better spring cleaning and it will not take away hours from your life that you will never get back.

 One does not have to do go crazy with cleaning to get some health benefits but a few simple things can do wonders for your health. I am talking health that pertains to body and mind. I am not talking about decluttering the house or cleaning the windows but instead, I like to think about things that I can do for my body. So here are some simple things that you can do for a healthy spring cleaning. Now can be a good time to revaluate your New Years goals and not be a resolution drop out.

Go for a walk

 Now that the weather is warmer and it stays lighter outside, take advantage of it. Take some time to get outside and get some exercise. A 15-minute or longer walk around the neighbor can do wonders for your body. This can reduce stress and lift up your mood. Grab a friend or listen to some music and enjoy the warm weather. For me, just looking at the blossoms on the trees makes me happy. Make sure to protect your skin from the sun and apply some mineral based sunscreen. Invest in a cute fashionable wide-brim sun hat that will protect the delicate skin on your face and neck from the harmful UV rays. How do I look in my new summer hat? I love that this hat from Wallaroo Hats Company rolls up so I can pack it in my suitcase for my vacation. This cute hat has UPF 50+ fabric and blocks 97.5% of ultraviolet rays. This hat will be perfect for working in the garden too.


Think about how good you will feel after a brisk walk

Change what you eat

 Spring is a good time to incorporate healthy foods, like fruits and veggies into your day. The stores seem to have more variety and better prices so take advantage of that by buying more produce. Things like strawberries are on sale so buy some and make strawberry shortcake for dessert or start your day with a healthy gut happy smoothie. Toss some fresh blueberries in a blender and add a berry flavored prebiotic digestive health blend. This delicious vegan smoothie will help control your hunger and help with regularity.

Refresh your skin

 Winter can leave your skin dry and dull. So treat your skin to a rejuvenating face mask. that will restore your skin. A facial mask can also moisturize your skin. My favorite face masks are peel-off masks that clarify and hydrate. I am really loving this pink Peel-Off Mask from Biovene as it has activated charcoal, strawberry collagen & argan oil that helps firm my skin. It is also pink so it brings a smile to my face as I use it. Biovene also makes this unique magnet mask that will recharge, purify and revitalize your skin. I love that it includes a magnet to remove the mask from the face. My face felt so soft and tighter after I used the pink mask.

 Experience a hydrating natural moisturizer 

 Winter can dry out your skin so treat it to a retinol facial moisturizer that has powerful anti-aging ingredients.  OZNaturals Pure Retinol Cream is an effective cold-pressed natural moisturizer that is made with cruelty-free, plant-based ingredients. I love that this face lotion has natural ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and vitamin C and is all gluten-free. So I love that I can nourish my dry skin and fight those fine lines at the same time with natural botanicals. My skin gets a healthy glow this spring

Change out your home decor

 It is amazing how simple changes in your home can lift your mood. The other day I was at a home decor store and I bought a new rug for my kitchen as well as an artificial spring plant for my family room. Those two items just lift my mood every day. You don't have to spend much money if any to freshen up your home for spring. Simple things like fresh flowers or a plant can make a room look nicer. Even opening up the curtains and letting in the sunshine can lift your mood.

Wear new clothes

  Dig in your closet and start wearing clothes for warmer weather. A cute spring dress in pastel colors can do wonders for your mood. So kiss the heavy clothes goodbye and say hello to lighter clothes. Now is the season to let your skin show and wear lighter fabrics.

Open the windows

Take advantage of the warm weather and open up a window. The fresh air will not only air out the house from winter but it may lift your mood. When spring starts, I always open a window in my bedroom as I love waking up to the sound of the birds. I can't wait to fall asleep to the sound of crickets. The fresh air may do wonders for your sleep. If you have problems sleeping, you need to check out these Ten Tips To Get A Better Nights Sleep.

Buy yourself some flowers



 The next time you are at the store, treat yourself to some flowers. When I think of spring, I think of flowers. Some fresh flowers in a vase will brighten your day. So go ahead and splurge on a bouquet of fresh cut flowers.

What will you do to spring clean your health?

Savory Everything Spice Rosemary Chickpea Crackers

Frustrated by the price of gluten-free crackers as well as the small amount of crackers in the box? Learn how easy it is to make your own gluten-free crackers with chickpeas. Chickpea flour is the perfect ingredient for these savory grain-free crackers

 I love crackers and snack on them quite often. So I decided to see if I could make my own grain-free crackers as I wanted a cracker with more nutrition. Since I had a bag of dried chickpeas in my pantry, I decided to make some garbanzo bean flour as I knew it would be the perfect gluten-free flour for my crackers. 

 Garbanzo bean flour is loaded with protein and fiber so this would make my savory crackers a nutritional snack. Garbanzo bean flour is so easy to make at home. All you need is a high-speed blender or coffee grinder and a bag of dried chickpeas.

Savory Everything Spice Rosemary Chickpea Crackers Are

~ Gluten-Free

~ Grain-Free

~ Made with Healthy Ingredients

~ Loaded with Protein

~ Crunchy 

~ Full of Flavor

~ Easy to Make

~ Dairy-Free

~ Nut-Free

Rosemary adds awesome flavor to many recipes

 Making crackers was easier than I thought. Once all the ingredients are combined, you form it into a nice grain-free dough. The cracker dough is then rolled out on a baking sheet. Baking the crackers is super simple and the result is crispy, delicious gluten-free crackers. 

These crackers are addictive by themselves or can be dipped into your favorite dips. The fresh rosemary gives the crackers some amazing flavor. I love using rosemary in my recipes and I am glad that I have a rosemary bush in my yard for year-round spices. This wonderful spice adds a unique flavor to my Lemon Frosted Rosemary Sugar Cookies. 

 If you like salty crackers, then make sure to sprinkle the cracker dough with some coarse salt before baking. For even more amazing flavor, sprinkle a Homemade Everything Spice Blend on the cracker dough before baking.

Ingredients Needed

~ Chickpeas

~ Olive Oil

~ Rosemary

~ Spices

A moist dough is best for rolling

Simple Steps to Make the Crackers

~ Mix ingredients into a dough

~ Roll out the dough

~ Bake

~ Cut into Crackers

 The chickpea cracker dough takes patience to roll out. After combining the ingredients together, make sure to press them into a firm, moist ball of dough. If the dough is too dry, add more water as a moist dough is best. I like to first press the dough with my hands into a flat circle before rolling it flat. A slow firm roll with the rolling pin works best and if the dough cracks, just use your fingers to press the cracks to close them. 

 You can moisten the dough if needed, or if the rolling pin sticks to the dough, just sprinkle it with some garbanzo bean flour. It does take time to get the dough rolled out thinly but it is so worth it for delicious crackers.

Get my recipe for DIY homemade Garbanzo Bean Flour HERE

Check out this recipe for Homemade Crunchy Gluten-Free Carrot Crackers

Make sure to save this recipe on Pinterest and follow MOMKNOWSBEST on Pinterest for more delicious recipes

Yield: 5 servingsAuthor: Mom Knows Best

Savory Rosemary Chickpea Crackers

These savory crackers are made with a grain-free flour that is loaded with protein and fiber.

prep time: cook time: total time:

ingredients

• 1 cup chickpea flour
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary - finely diced
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• coarse salt or Everything Spice Blendfor sprinkling on top of the cracker dough

instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients except the coarse salt until combined.. Using your hands squeeze the mixture until all combined and a stiff 'dough' has formed.  Add more water if needed. A moist dough is best.
3. Place a sheet of parchment paper or a silicon sheet on a baking pan.
4. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a thin layer.  Use your hands to press down the mixture if needed, making sure that the dough does not crack.
5. If the dough does crack, use your fingers to merge the dough back together and carefully roll it out again with the rolling pin. If the rolling pin sticks to the dough, just sprinkle some of the garbanzo bean flour on it. 
6. Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes or until lightly brown.
7. Remove from oven and let it cool. Gently crack the big cracker into small little ones. 
8. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

NOTES:

Note: Nutritional information below is for the whole recipe

Calories
627.26

Fat (grams)
39.90

Sat. Fat (grams)
10.12

Carbs (grams)
58.35

Fiber (grams)
4.98

Net carbs
53.37

Sugar (grams)
3.44

Protein (grams)
9.32

Sodium (milligrams)
1180.26

Cholesterol (grams)
0.00

Created using The Recipes Generator

Easy Sweet Shortcake Biscuits For Dairy Free Strawberry Shortcake

Looking for a easy to make recipe for strawberry shortcake? These sweet biscuits are dairy-free and delicious. They are perfect for strawberry shortcake recipes.

 I am waiting for the warmer days of spring. I have been thinking about spring desserts, and the one that I have been wanting to make is strawberry shortcake. It must have been from seeing all the fresh strawberries in the store. My youngest son was with me last time I went shopping, and he, too, was getting excited about fresh strawberries and asked if we could make strawberry shortcakes for Sunday dessert.

 I told my son, yes and he then grabbed several containers of fresh strawberries. My son started looking for shortcakes but could not find any in the store. I am not sure why stores only sell those little shortcakes in the summer. I was ok with the store not having any shortcakes, as they are usually overpriced and bland. So I told my son that we would make some sweet homemade biscuits and use them for our strawberry shortcakes. My son liked that idea and asked if he could help make the biscuits.

Easy Sweet Drop Biscuits For Strawberry Shortcakes Are

  ~ Dairy-free

  ~ Delicious

  ~ Easy-to-make 

  ~ Perfect for dessert

I love that my son enjoys cooking
  

My youngest son is ten, and he is becoming a great cook. He loves to bake cookies and other sweet treats. He has even learned how to use the stove and makes his own grilled cheese sandwiches. I love teaching him how to cook other foods.

The other day, I called him from the gym and enlisted his help for dinner. So while my husband and I were exercising, my son thawed the fish and roasted the potatoes. When I got home from the gym, my son helped me bread the fish and cook it in the air fryer. I am thinking of letting him cook the fish all by himself next time, so I can come home to dinner after working out. My husband also loves coming home to dinner after the gym.

Ingredients Needed For Dairy Free Strawberry Shortcake

~ Flour

~ Sugar

~ Baking powder

~  Salt

~  Vegan butter

~ Plant-based milk

Sweet biscuits need sweet balsamic-glazed strawberries

 These sweet biscuits are delicious by themselves, but are even tastier when topped with sweet balsamic sliced strawberries. One would think that balsamic vinegar would give a strange taste to strawberries, but instead, it brings out an enticing sweet flavor. These strawberries are perfect for a spring dessert like a strawberry shortcake. Get the unique recipe for glazed strawberries HERE.

Don't forget the dairy-free coconut whipped topping

 Strawberry shortcake needs a delicious homemade whipped cream, and you can make a dairy-free version with a can of coconut milk. The secret is chilling the coconut milk overnight. Chilled coconut milk whips up into a deliciously creamy dairy-free topping that is perfect for a dairy-free dessert like strawberry shortcake. Get the unique recipe for Homemade Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream HERE.

Here are the links for the other recipes to make this delicious dessert.

  ~ Sweet Balsamic Strawberries 
https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/03/sweet-balsamic-strawberries-for.html

  ~ Homemade Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream
https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/03/homemade-vegan-coconut-whipped-cream.html

Yield: 6 biscuitsAuthor: Mom Knows Best

Easy Sweet Drop Biscuits For Dairy Free Strawberry Shortcake

These sweet drop biscuits are perfect for strawberry shortcake

ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup cold vegan butter
• 1 cup plant-based milk

instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in vegan butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually stir in plant-based milk until a soft dough forms.
2. Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls into six-eight mounds on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
3. To use for strawberry shortcake, split the biscuits in half and place the strawberries on the bottom half of the biscuit. Then top with whip cream and the other biscuit half.

NOTES:

Calories
257.72

Fat (grams)
8.86

Sat. Fat (grams)
5.41

Carbs (grams)
38.65

Fiber (grams)
1.13

Net carbs
37.52

Sugar (grams)
4.29

Protein (grams)
5.81

Sodium (milligrams)
502.97

Cholesterol (grams)
23.60

Created using The Recipes Generator

Homemade Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream That Is Dairy Free

This vegan whipped topping is perfect for strawberry shortcake

 Making dairy-free whipped cream is so easy. All you need is a can of coconut milk. This easy, step-by-step recipe will make a delicious coconut whipped cream! Perfect for topping vegan and non-dairy desserts. The secret to this amazing topping is chilling the coconut milk in the fridge in the unopened can. The coconut milk then separates into liquid and coconut cream solids. It is the solid part of the chilled coconut milk that whip into the dairy-free topping.

Perfect for strawberry shortcake

  This creamy vegan whipped topping is perfect for strawberry shortcakes and more. It is also the perfect topping for a bowl of fresh sliced strawberries. Once you see how easy it is to make this homemade plant-based whip cream, you will never buy store-bought again. You will be happy to be saving some money.

Chill the can of coconut milk

Start with a can of unsweetened coconut milk and place the can in the fridge for 8 or more hours. Do not open or shake the can. After eight hours, carefully open up the can of coconut milk with a regular can opener, as you want to take off the whole top lid. Once the can is open, you will see the solid coconut cream. Use a spoon and remove the cream to a chilled metal bowl.

Chill a metal bowl for best results

To get a creamy and stiff whip cream, place a metal bowl in the fridge or freezer for an hour or more. It is also best to chill your mixer beaters too. This will help the topping become nice and creamy.

Vanilla paste gives the dairy-free topping a nice look

  I like using vanilla paste in place of vanilla extract as it gives the whipped topping the enticing vanilla bean look as well as great flavor. Vanilla paste has specks of vanilla beans in it and that is what makes the look that says vanilla.

Here are the links to get the recipes to make a delicious dairy-free spring strawberry shortcake dessert.

Sweet Balsamic Strawberries 
https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/03/sweet-balsamic-strawberries-for.html

Easy Sweet Drop Biscuits
https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/03/easy-sweet-drop-biscuits-for-dairy-free.html

Yield: 4Author: Mom Knows Best

Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream

A dairy-free topping that is perfect for strawberry shortcake

ingredients

• 1 (14 ounces) can unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla paste or vanilla extract

instructions

1. 1.  Place the can of coconut milk in the fridge for at least 8 hours.
2. 2.  An hour before you make the whipped cream, place a metal mixing bowl and your mixer beaters in the refrigerator or freezer so they get cold.
3.  3. Open your can of coconut milk by removing the whole top lid, taking care not to shake it. Scoop out the coconut cream solids into the cold mixing bowl. 
4.  4. Beat the coconut cream with an electric mixer with chilled beaters on medium speed; turn to high speed. Beat until stiff peaks form, about 7 to 8 minutes. Fold in the sugar and vanilla paste and beat 1 minute more. Taste and add more sugar if desired.

NOTES:

Calories
41.53

Fat (grams)
1.21

Sat. Fat (grams)
1.07

Carbs (grams)
6.70

Fiber (grams)
0.00

Net carbs
6.70

Sugar (grams)
6.53

Protein (grams)
0.12

Sodium (milligrams)
3.12

Cholesterol (grams)
0.00

Created using The Recipes Generator