If you own a Traeger or really any smoker, one of the go to recipes you just have to try is pulled pork. This is the best Traeger pulled pork recipe! It’s so simple. You just have to make sure you have enough time to get it done before your guests arrive. Pulled pork is a great recipe to feed a crowd, but it also makes great leftovers.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission at no additional cost you you.
How long must you smoke a pork butt at 225 degrees F?
It depends on the size of your pork butt, your smoker and the weather. It also depends on weather or not you wrap it. If you follow my recipe and have a 6-7 pound pork butt and warm weather (-70 degrees F) it should take about 12 -14 hours.
What tools do you need to make the best pulled pork?
Apple or hickory pellets (Or better yet, a mixture of both)
Trim your pork the night before you want to smoke it. Remove excess fat but it is not necessary to remove all of the fat since by the time the pulled pork is ready, the fat will be mostly gone and fat adds flavor.
Season your pork with Traeger Pork and Poultry rub. Place it in the refrigerator overnight.
Seasoned and trimmed pork butt
In the morning remove the pork from the refrigerator and preheat the Traeger to 225 degrees F. When the Traeger is preheated, place a meat thermometer in the pork and place it directly on the grate. Close the Traeger and monitor the temperature.
Once the thermometer reaches 160 degrees (~6 hours). It is ready to wrap.
For the wrapping stage, warm up the apple juice in the microwave so it is warmer than the pork. Remove the pork from the Traeger and place it in a foil pan. Alternatively, you can use butcher paper or just foil. Sprinkle on the dark brown sugar, drizzle with honey and add the warm apple juice to the pan. Cover the pan with foil, put the meat thermometer back in the meat. You can stick it right through the foil on top.
Pork seasoned with honey, brown sugar and apple juice. Ready to cover.
Continue to smoke for 6-8 more hours at 225 degrees F or until the internal temperature reaches 205 degrees F. Remove the pan from the Traeger and allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes before pulling it.
Pulled Pork – ready to serve.
You can use 2 forks to pull the pork, but if you have room to store them these meat shredder claws will get the job done faster.
What is the best sauce to add to pulled pork?
I like to wait to add sauce to my pulled pork because it’s better to allow each guest to choose a sauce they prefer. It’s also better for leftovers. You can get more creative if you do not add the sauce. Try these amazing pulled pork street tacos!
Sheet pan pancakes are a quick and easy way to feed a crowd in the morning without having to stand by the stove for hours. They also make great leftover breakfast for easy weekday mornings. This sourdough sheet pan pancake recipe is also great for using up some extra discard. This recipe can also be used to make regular sourdough discard pancakes and waffles.
Sourdough discard – If you don’t have sourdough discard you can replace it with 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup of buttermilk or milk.
Sourdough discard sheet pan pancake ingredients
2 Cups All-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup sourdough discard
1 and 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 large eggs
1/2 cup fresh blueberries, washed and patted dry
5-6 fresh strawberries, washed patted dry, and sliced
1 banana, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup of chocolate chips
Sheet Pan Pancake Directions
Mix all of the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar) in a bowl. Crack the eggs and whisk them a bit before adding. Add the discard, milk, vanilla, melted butter and eggs to the dry ingredients and mix well. It’s ok if the batter is a little lumpy. Pour the batter on a greased or parchment lined 18 x 13 inch sheet pan. Allow the batter to sit for 20-30 minutes before baking.
Meanwhile, prepare your fruit. Make sure your fruit is patted dry.
Add the chocolate chips and fruit to the top of the batter.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Wait 1-2 minutes before slicing.
Sheet pan pancake mix-in and topping ideas
Mix-ins:
Fresh blueberries
Fresh strawberries
Fresh raspberries
Fresh black berries
Bananas
Chocolate chips, or any chip e.g. white chocolate, butterscotch etc..
Fresh thin apple slices, with cinnamon
Cinnamon and brown sugar
Nuts e.g. walnuts, pecans, cashews
Toppings:
Maple syrup
Powdered sugar
Strawberry syrup
Whipped cream
Nutella
Jam
Can you use this recipe to make regular pancakes or waffles?
Yes you can use this same recipe to make sourdough pancakes and waffles.
Find this cute pumpkin waffle maker here. These mini waffles fit perfectly in a standard toaster and make a quick and easy breakfast. Just make the waffles on the weekend and you will be ready for a busy week.
5-6 fresh strawberries, washed patted dry, and sliced
1 banana, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup of chocolate chips
DIRECTION
Mix all of the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar) in a bowl. Crack the eggs and whisk them a bit before adding. Add the discard, milk, vanilla, melted butter and eggs to the dry ingredients and mix well. It's ok if the batter is a little lumpy. Pour the batter on a greased or parchment lined 18 x 13 inch sheet pan. Allow the batter to sit for 20-30 minutes before baking.
Meanwhile, prepare your fruit. Make sure your fruit is patted dry.<br>Add the chocolate chips and fruit to the top of the batter.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Wait 1-2 minutes before slicing.
NOTES
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Smoked Pork tenderloin is so easy. It’s easy to prepare, and simple to smoke. Add a couple of tasty sides and you have one of the easiest family dinners possible. Many side dishes can be smoked at the same temperature along with your pork tenderloin. Here’s how:
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission at no additional cost to you.
Preheat your Traeger to 225 degrees F. Place the seasoned pork tenderloins on the Traeger. Place a meat thermometer in the center of the largest tenderloin.
Smoke for 1.5 – 2 hours for 145 degrees. Smoke for 2 – 2.5 hours for 160 degrees. The smoke time varies depending on the size of your tenderloins and the weather.
How to smoke vegetables and potatoes on the Traeger
Smoke up some veggies along with your pork tenderloin. You can smoke most veggies at the same temperature as the pork tenderloin. Just add them after the first 1-1.5 hours of smoking.
Baked potatoes need to be smoked at 400 degrees for ~ 1 hour depending on the size of the potato. If you want to serve them with your smoked pork tenderloin, put the potatoes on first at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, then turn the heat down to 225 add the pork. The potatoes will finish cooking at the lower temperature over the longer time. I usually add a few extra potatoes and use the leftover smoked potatoes to make potato salad. Find the best potato salad recipe here.
Back-to-School is viewed as expensive time of year, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of ways to save money on school supplies. When we send our kids to school they are taught to reduce, reuse, recycle. Unfortunately, they forget all about that during back-to-school shopping and want all new stuff. Use this time to teach them how to save money on school supplies by reusing items that are still in good shape.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission at no additional cost to you.
Lessons learned when kids reuse their backpack
Kids learn to be thrifty. Reusing a perfectly good backpack teaches kids that they don’t need to spend money on new things all the time. Show them the back-to-school budget. Show them the things that they actually need, maybe it will be new shoes or new clothes. Have them help shop for the things they need.
Kids learn that they don’t always get everything they want. This is an important lesson for kids. I always offered my kids the option to put a new backpack on their birthday or Christmas wish list if they were really sad about using their old backpack, but it never made the list. Sadly, because backpacks are so cheap in November. I could have saved big on those Christmas items.
Kid’s learn to reuse! This is a great lesson in being a good steward of our Earth. What happens to all of those discarded backpacks? You can hardly even give them away. Even charities want new backpacks. They probably end up in a landfill. Prevent that by reusing those backpacks!
When is it time for a new backpack?
The backpack is too small
You can’t buy an adult size backpack for a four-year-old. A pre-school backpack can be used through first grade, maybe second grade. Eventually the kid will be too big for the bag, or the stuff they need to carry will not fit in the bag. This is a reason for a new backpack.
The zipper broke
This is a big problem for the licensed character backpacks you will find in many of the big box stores every year. I never bought these backpacks for this reason. We did receive a free brand new Nemo backpack from a friend. Of course we used it, but it only lasted a year and a half. Much less time than the quality pre-school backpacks my other kids used. My advise, buy quality!
The pattern is too babyish
This need is avoidable. Once again, do not choose character backpacks. Not only will they wear out faster, but the kids will outgrow the fascination with the character on their backpack. Of course, I’m not suggesting that you send your kid to school to get bullied for their baby backpack. I’m suggesting that you use your judgement and buy something with a design they will not out grow right away. Tie dye instead of My Little Pony. Stripes instead of Sonic. Save the fun characters for items that will not last, like shoes, T-shits, pencils or notebooks.
The straps broke
This is the most common breaking point on a backpack. In my experience the straps or top handle were the first thing to go. The next most common wear point is the side “water bottle pocket”. Look for strength in these areas.
The backpack was lost or stolen
Things happen, kids are human and humans are not perfect. It is possible to lose things. This is somewhat preventable if you teach responsibility, but even responsible kids make mistakes. I do not recommend highly desirable brand names for backpacks because they do increase the chance of theft. I really love Under Armor and North Face products, but choose not to buy backpacks from them because of the increased chance of theft. It’s fine to buy T-shirts, sweatshirts and other items, but if your backpack is stolen, everything inside is also stolen. It’s just not worth it. Better to choose a less “cool” brand name for a backpack.
How many backpacks do kids need form Pre-K-12th grade?
Four or five backpacks should be plenty. One back pack every 3-4 years, should be enough. Hopefully the last bag will stick with them through college and beyond if you buy quality. It’s best to start out with reusing backpacks as early as possible because that way reusing will be the expectation.
What to look for in a quality backpack
First choose the right size for your child:
4-6 years: ~15 L or 900 cubic inches – Skysper Kids Backpack or Pottery Barn Kids size small
Look for a water bottle pocket that does not have mesh. Mesh will wear out. It’s also nice to have 2 water bottle pockets, incase one wears out. This is hard to find. JanSport has a great one. Find it here. I have found the JanSport brand to hold up for several years. They also have a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. They only problem with JanSport is that they do not make a backpack small enough for a 4 year-old.
Shop luggage brands and hiking brands for quality backpacks. I found that once my kids were adult size, there were many backpack options that were high quality in luggage and hiking brands. My son liked to carry his backpack by the top handle. This is a feature that is made stronger in some luggage brands. Samsonite has a very strong handle on the top of the bag. It has held up to this way of carrying for several years.
Osprey is a hiking brand that makes a laptop backpack. This is a brand we have a lot of experience with. They make a quality bag that holds up well.
Take an inventory of the school supplies you have
Don’t feel like you need to buy your child a whole new wardrobe just because they are starting a new school year. Go though their backpacks and their closets. Determine what still fits, and what still works. For example, if their backpack is still in good shape, they can use it again. If their pants are too short add them to the shopping list.
Next Compare what you have to what you need
Obtain a school supply list from your child’s school, if available. The most expensive school supplies are often reusable. Here are some things that you can often reuse for several years:
Save money on Reusable School Supplies
Save money on reusable school supplies by reusing them, handing them down from one kid to the next, or if needed these item tend to have huge price drops after school starts. Try to hold off if possible and buy these items in October or November.
Scissors
Pencil box
Backpack, if you buy quality
Lunchboxes, if you buy quality – Find some great bento box lunch ideas here.
Save money on School supplies, you will need every year
Most of these consumable items are on mega sale at most big box retailers every year. These items should not break the bank, especially if you shop early, and shop around. For the best savings on consumable school supplies shop early and shop around.
Pencils
Pens
Markers, only in younger grades
Glue sticks, only in younger grades
Colored pencils
Notebooks
Filler paper
Graph paper
Erasers
Composition Notebooks, wait to buy these until you know which one your child’s teacher wants them to have.
Classroom supplies: Clorox wipes, paper towels, etc…
Shoes
Clothing, especially for growing kids – Find out how to save on clothing here.
This sourdough discard strawberry shortcake is to die for! So flaky and delicious. The perfect mix of sweet and sour. You will not want to make it any other way. Included below you will find directions for making the shortcakes, strawberry topping, and homemade whipped cream. You can also use Redi whip if you prefer. As always, I do not like to turn on the oven in the summer, so I’ve included directions for baking the shortcakes on the Traeger.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission at no additional cost to you.
1/3 cup sourdough starter discard (straight from the fridge)
1/3 cup milk
Shortcake directions
Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Use a cheese grater to grate approximately half of the butter into the flour mixture. Tip: use the butter wrapper to hold onto one end of the butter while grating. Mix the grated butter into the flour mixture.
Melt the other half of the butter. Add the discard, milk and melted butter to the dry ingredients and mix until dough forms.
Shape the dough into 6 shortcakes. Place the cakes on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bake the cakes for 17-18 minutes or until lightly browned.
Allow the shortcakes to cool if desired.
Strawberry Topping Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
Strawberry topping directions:
Wash the strawberries, and remove the stems. Slice the strawberries into bite size pieces. Place the berries in a bowl. Add the sugar and mix. This mixture can be added to the shortcakes right away, or if you prefer softer strawberries with more syrup, wait a couple of hours before serving.
Homemade whipped cream ingredients
2 cups heavy cream or whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Homemade whipped cream directions
Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Whip with a hand held mixer or stand mixer with a whisk attachment until peaks begin to form about 3-4 minutes. Do not over whip!
Homemade whipped cream is best used right away, although it can be stored for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. If you choose to pipe your whipped topping onto the strawberry shortcake, I recommend the Wilton 8B tip. Otherwise, it tastes great if you just spoon it on!
How to assemble the strawberry shortcakes
Cut the shortcake in half. Place the bottom half in a bowl, layer with strawberries, then whipped cream then the top half then whipped cream then more strawberries. Yummy!
Can you bake strawberry shortcake on the Traeger?
Yes you can! Preheat the Traeger to 425 degrees F. Place the parchment lined cookie sheet with shortcakes on the Traeger. Bake/smoke for 17-18 minuets or until lightly browned.
Shortcakes on the TraegerShortcakes baked on the Traeger.
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Recipe By Kristin
Course: Dessert
Cusine:American
Difficulty:Easy
Servings
6 minutes
Preparing Time
5 minutes
Cooking Time
18 minutes
Calories
kcal
INGREDIENTS
2 cups All-Purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) of cold butter
1/3 cup sourdough starter discard (straight from the fridge)
1/3 cup milk
Strawberry topping
Whipped cream
DIRECTION
Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Use a cheese grater to grate approximately half of the butter into the flour mixture. Tip: use the butter wrapper to hold onto one end of the butter while grating. Mix the grated butter into the flour mixture. Melt the other half of the butter. Add the discard, milk and melted butter to the dry ingredients and mix until dough forms.<br>
Shape the dough into 6 shortcakes. Place the cakes on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bake the cakes for 17-18 minutes or until lightly browned. <br>Allow the shortcakes to cool, if desired.
Melt the butter and add the seasonings to the melted butter. Mix well.
Use a silicone brush to coat the corn cobs with the seasoned butter.
Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F. Place the corn cobs on the grill. After 25 minutes flip the cobs. Continue to smoke for another 50 minutes. The total smoke time is 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Use tongs to remove the corn from the smoker. Allow them to cool for at least 1 minute before eating.
What goes great with smoked corn on the cob?
Honestly any summer grilled or smoked meat would be perfect for a side of corn on the cob! Smoked sausage pairs really well with smoked corn on the cob because it smokes for almost the same amount of time at the same temperature! If you are smoking a larger meat that needs more space the corn can smoke on the top shelf. Try it with these tasty ribs.
Try adding this smoked corn to smoked succotash! Just cut the corn from the cob and mix it in instead of using canned corn. Four corn cobs is approximately equal to one can of corn. A perfect side for any smoked meat.
Many vegetables are great smoked. Try this amazing smoked asparagus.
Melt the butter and add the seasonings to the melted butter. Mix well. Use a silicone brush to coat the corn cobs with the seasoned butter.
Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F. Place the corn cobs on the grill. After 25 minutes flip the cobs. Continue to smoke for another 50 minutes. The total smoke time is 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Use tongs to remove the corn from the smoker. Allow them to cool for at least 1 minute before eating.
NOTES
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2 – 15 ounce cans of sweet corn, drained (or corn from 8 smoked cobs)
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
4 tablespoons butter
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
Directions:
Place the lima beans in a saucepan, add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tender ~ 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Place the mixture in a foil pan and put it on the Traeger at 225 degrees F for about 60 min.
When ready to serve, remove from heat and stir in the cooked bacon, tomatoes, and fresh basil.
Note: When you smoke the succotash, you are essentially just adding smoky flavor and heat. The temperature and time can be adjusted. This is part of the reason why this is such a great side for smoked meat. You can add this side for the last hour of smoking at any temperature between 180-225 degrees F. Alternatively you can smoke this side while your meat rests. If you want to warm it faster you can smoke ate 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes.
Can you prepare Smoked Succotash ahead of time?
Yes, you can! You can prepare it the night before. Refrigerate overnight, but bring it to room temp before smoking it. If you want to heat it straight from the fridge, you will need to increase the temperature and cooking time. From cold, smoke at 350 degrees F for 30 min. No matter how you choose to smoke it, wait to stir in the tomatoes, basil and cooked bacon until ready to serve.
Does smoked succotash make good leftovers?
It sure does! So great my daughter eats it for breakfast. I mean, why not? It does have bacon!
What goes great with Smoked Succotash?
Smoked succotash is a great summer side for burgers and brats! Try it with Smoked Ribs, brisket or pulled pork!
Place the lima beans in a saucepan, add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tender ~ 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
This easy stuffed pepper recipe is a great meal to prepare ahead or bake right away. I usually make it when peppers are on sale, which is usually in the summer. I don’t like to heat up my house with the oven in the summer so, I’ve included directions for smoked stuffed peppers. These stuffed peppers also make great leftovers for packed lunches and this meal is freezable. Basically the prefect family meal!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission from qualified purchases at no additional cost to you.
Best pepper characteristics for making stuffed peppers
similar in shape and size
level bottom, so they stand up straight
tall and thin vs. short and fat – to fit in the baking dish better
4 bumps on the bottom rather than 3, because the stand up better on their own
Choose peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom.
Stuffed Pepper Ingredients:
8 bell peppers, any color
1 pound ground beef
1 package of taco seasoning + water needed per package directions
1 cup rice, cooked according to package directions (~ 2 cups cooked)
1 medium onion, diced
2-3 garlic cloves, minced or grated
1 15.5 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 14.5 ounce can of fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 4 ounce can of diced green chilis
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
fresh cilantro for garnish
How to make stuffed peppers
Cut the tops off the peppers. Remove the stems, but keep the remaining flesh from the top. Remove any remaining seeds and as much pith as possible. Place the pepper bottoms in a Pyrex deep 9×13 inch baking dish and dice up the tops.
Prepare the rice according to package directions. Set aside.
Brown the ground beef, drain and add the taco seasoning according to package directions. Set aside.
Add the tomatoes and green chilis, mix until well combined.
Add the black beans and mix.
Finally add the cooked rice and mix until well combined.
Remove from heat and mix in the taco meat.
Stuff this mixture into the pepper bottoms.
Top with shredded cheese. Pour about 3/4 cup of water into the bottom of the baking dish. Just enough to cover the bottom of the dish.
Cover with aluminum foil.
Smoke/bake covered 30 minSmoke bake uncovered 10 min
Preheat the Traeger or Oven to 400 degrees F. Bake/smoke covered for 30 min. Remove the foil and continue to bake/smoke for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Garnish with fresh cilantro.
Are smoked stuffed peppers good re-heated?
Yes, stuffed peppers make a great leftover meal. They are perfect for packed lunches too. They fit perfectly into a mug Pop-in for easy reheating!
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More Great smoked meals:
Try this amazing smoked Shepherd’s Pie. This recipe includes both directions for baking and smoking the pie.
1 package of taco seasoning + water needed per package directions
1 cup rice, cooked according to package directions (~ 2 cups cooked)
1 medium onion, diced
2-3 garlic cloves, minced or grated
1 15.5 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 14.5 ounce can of fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 4 ounce can of diced green chilis
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
fresh cilantro for garnish
DIRECTION
Cut the tops off the peppers. Remove the stems, but keep the remaining flesh from the top. Remove any remaining seeds and as much pith as possible. Place the pepper bottoms in a baking dish and dice up the tops.
Prepare the rice according to package directions. Set aside.
Brown the ground beef, drain and add the taco seasoning according to package directions. Set aside.
Add the tomatoes and green chilis, mix until well combined. Add the black beans and mix. Finally add the cooked rice and mix until well combined.
Remove from heat and mix in the taco meat.<br>Stuff this mixture into the pepper bottoms. Top with shredded cheese.
Pour about 3/4 cup of water into the bottom of the baking dish. Just enough to cover the bottom of the dish.
Cover with foil.
Preheat the Traeger or Oven to 400 degrees F. Bake/smoke covered for 30 min. Remove the foil and continue to bake/smoke for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
If you enjoy sourdough bread baking you must have tons of discard waiting to be used up. This sourdough discard mini pita bread recipe is a great way to use up that discard. Mini pita bread is great for dipping! It’s great paired with hummus or tzatziki sauce. Kids love them for making mini pita sandwiches. Perfect for bento boxes or other packed lunches.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission on qualified purchases at no additional cost to you.
First combine the water, sugar, salt, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Next add the sourdough starter. Finally, mix in the flours until well combined.
Form the dough into a ball. Knead it for 5 minutes. Add additional flour a couple tablespoons at a time if it is too sticky.
Cover the dough ball and allow it to rise in a warm spot until it has doubled in size ~ 1 hour. I usually use my Ninja Foodi on the Proof setting set to 90 degrees for this step.
Before risingAfter rising
Punch down the dough and cut it into 24 pieces. Roll each section into a ball, then use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into a 3-4 inch round disk (between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick).
Dough ballsDough disks
Heat up a non-stick pan to medium-high. Flip the disks into the pan. Cook until bubbles form ~ 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another minute or two.
Wait for bubblesFlip and cook another 1-2 min.
Remove from heat and place the mini pitas on a cooling rack. If the pitas stick, you can add a very small amount of olive oil to the pan.
So fluffy and delicious!
What can you use mini pita bread for?
Mini Pita bread is great for dipping
Try serving the mini pita bread with hummus or tzatziki sauce for a tasty appetizer. Find a great homemade hummus recipe and other great appetizers here.
Tzatziki and mini pitas Hummus and mini pitas
Make a mini pita sandwich
Mini pitas can be topped with sandwich toppings! You can eat them open faced or top with a second mini pita. Try a gyro sandwich on a mini pita.
Printable Recipe for Sourdough Discard Mini Pita Bread
First combine the water, sugar, salt, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Next add the sourdough starter. Finally, mix in the flours until well combined.<br>
Form the dough into a ball. Knead it for 5 minutes. Add additional flour a couple tablespoons at a time if it is too sticky.<br>Cover the dough ball and allow it to rise in a warm spot until it has doubled in size ~ 1 hour.
Punch down the dough and cut it into 24 pieces. Roll each section into a ball, then use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into a 3-4 inch round disk (between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick).
Heat up a non-stick pan to medium-high. Flip the disks into the pan. Cook until bubbles form ~ 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another minute or two. Remove from heat and place the mini pitas on a cooling rack. If the pitas stick, you can add a very small amount of olive oil to the pan.
NOTES
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Are you ready for some Summer fun? Time to enjoy that pool! Are you tired of Marco polo? Here are some really fun toys, games and tips to make pool time even more fun!
Disclaimer: Always have a swimming buddy or parent supervision when playing in or around water. This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission at no additional cost to you.
Sharks and Minnows
Equipment required: none
How to play: Choose a player to be the shark. All other players are minnows. The minnows start at one end of the pool. The minnows must swim to the other side of the pool, without being tagged by the shark, to win. The shark must close his or her eyes and attempt to catch the minnows as they swim across the pool. If a minnow is tagged (caught by the shark) they are out. The minnows can climb out of the pool and walk to the other end, but they too can be caught by the shark. If the shark yells “fish out of water” when a minnow is out of the water, that minnow is out.
Variations: For younger kids, you can choose to have the shark keep his/her eyes open. You can also choose caught minnows to become additional sharks – last minnow wins.
How to play: This game is best for strong swimmers. Each player will don a mermaid tail and line up at one end of the pool. Then the players use the mermaid tails to propel them to the other end of the pool. First player to the other end wins.
Noodle Races
Big Joe Zzoodles
Equipment needed: One pool noodle per player. I suggest the Big Joe Pool Noodle or Zzoodle for kids. Our Big Joe Zzoodles have lasted 4 seasons already and they are still in good shape.
How to Play: Each player starts on one end of the pool with their noodle. Players must mount their noodle like a horse. They must keep the noodle between their legs while racing to the other side of the pool. First player to the other side of the pool wins!
The Category Game
Equipment needed: none
How to play: One player is “it.” All other players line up on deep end of the pool. The player who is “it” stands on the side of the deep end of the pool, with their back to the pool. The player who is “it” chooses a category. For example: Who is your favorite super hero? Each player chooses their favorite super hero, but keeps that information secret. The player who is “it”, starts listing super heroes. If they say Superman, and that was your hero, you must begin swimming to the other end of the pool. It’s difficult to swim quickly and quietly. If the player who is “it” hears someone swimming they can turn around and jump in to catch the other player before they reach the other end of the pool. The winner of this fun pool game is the first person to reach the other end of the pool without being caught.
Other Category Suggestions: Favorite color, favorite pizza topping, favorite ice cream flavor, favorite Taylor Swift song etc…
How to play: This fun pool game is best played while wearing goggles. Players go underwater and toss the torpedo back and forth underwater. The torpedo glides through the water up to 30 feet!
How to play: Two or more players toss the ball around without letting it touch the water. Count how many passes you can make before the ball hits the water. Try to improve your score each time you play.
Variations: To play with an odd number of people, throw the ball in a triangle, or one person can be the monkey in the middle. If the ball is dropped, the monkey takes the place of the person at fault.
Ball Tag in the Pool
Equipment needed: A soft splash ball or beach ball. If you choose a beach ball, you can get one for whatever you party theme is. For example choose a patriotic beach ball for an Independence Day party.
How to play: Ball tag is similar to regular tag, but you must tag the other players with the ball. This is why it is important to choose a soft ball. Choose a player to be “it”. They must tag another player with the ball. Players can choose to swim away or duck underwater to avoid being hit. If a player is hit, then they are “it”. The game keeps going!
Find the “invisible” water bottle game
Equipment needed: An empty clear plastic 2 Liter bottle or water bottle
How to play: Remove the label, cap, and plastic ring from the empty clear plastic bottle. Fill the bottle with pool water and allow it to sink to the bottom of the pool. The bottle will be nearly “invisible” to swimmers in the pool. Try hiding the bottle before your friends arrive. Once everyone is in the water, ask them to find it. You can play this fun pool game play too since the bottle will move around, you will not know where it is either.
Note: If the pool water is still and you are looking down into the water from outside the pool, you can see the bottle. Make sure players are inside the pool before they start hunting for the bottle.
How to play: Toss the dive toys into the pool. Wait for them to sink. All players jump in and collect dive toys. The player with the most dive toys recovered wins!
How to play: All players stand in a circle in the shallow end. The first player tosses the ball straight up in the air claps once then catches the ball. If successful, they pass the ball to the player to their left. This player tosses the ball straight up in the air claps twice and catches the ball. If successful, they pass the ball to the player to their left. Continue passing and increasing the clap requirement until someone fails. That player is out. The next player starts over at one clap. The game continues until only one player remains. The winner!
How to play: Similar to the regular game of around the world. You choose 3 locations for players to shoot from. There is not a good way to mark the locations in a pool, instead use locations near the edge of the pool. Place a toy maker at each location. Dive sticks work well for this. Players line up and one by one they attempt to shoot a hoop from each location. If successful they move to the next location. If they fail, they go to the back of the line. The goal is to successfully make a basket form all three locations.
Rubber Ducky Race
Equipment needed: One rubber ducky per player. A random assortment is best so each player knows which duck is theirs. If they are all the same, use a sharpie to number them. This way there will be no fights.
How to play: All players and ducks start at one end of the pool. Players may not touch the ducks. They can only splash their duck to move it across the pool. Players may also choose to splash, but not touch other players ducks backwards. The winner is the first duck to reach the other end of the pool. Pure chaos and tons of fun!
Equipment needed: Various pool toys: Floats, Dive Toys, underwater rings, noodles and balls.
How to play: This is a really fun pool game that boosts creativity. Use the pool toys you have available to make your own obstacle course. For example: Start by jumping in the deep end and retrieve a dive toy from the bottom of the pool. Next swim up though a ring and kick to a noodle. Climb out of the ring and ride the noodle like a horse to the end of the pool. First player to the end wins!
Note: You can add plenty of other steps to your obstacle course. Another fun one is adding rings to swim though.
Remember adult supervision is recommended when children are playing in the water.
Other Fun Games
If you have a rainy day and are in need of an indoor game, check out this post for fun family games for all ages.
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