My Fav Nick Jr. Cartoons (for kids of course!)

There are a few cartoons on TV that I really have a hard time with and that I avoid letting my 2 1/2 year old watch. I won't mention any specific ones, but words to describe them include crude, loud, busy, impolite and pointless.

There are a few cartoons that I have come to appreciate however and do not mind my child watching while I get some things done. Most of them are on Nick Jr. My favorite is Max and Ruby, a cute little show about a bunny and her little brother.

Sophie also enjoys Wonder Pets! and The Backyardigans which I also think are cute. Backyardigans is pretty amazing. The choreography and composition for a daily cartoon are incredible. It is obvious to me (someone who has taken dance classes), that there are talented choreographers and dedicated artists working on this show.

One of Sophie's favorites at the moment is Ni Hao, Kai-lan. I have a like/dislike relationship with this show. This one teaches more Chinese than Dora or Diego teach Spanish, which I like. And I have a soft spot for Chinese. Sophie is probably just too young for it though. They teach great lessons about dealing with your emotions. The thing is, Sophie doesn't get the actual lesson, she mimics the negative emotion that the cartoon is trying to address. Its kind of cute when she stomps around the living room saying, "I'm mad!" and making a mad face, but she doesn't get the part where they teach that when you are mad, you should take a moment to calm yourself down.

I am grateful for quality children's programming. There are a lot more that I haven't mentioned here, but as Kai-lan would say: It makes me super happy!

Recipe: Carrot Cake Cookie Bars with Butterscotch Cream Cheese Frosting

I am always taking recipes I find online and in books and adapting them to what I have on hand. One recipe I find simple, easy and yummy is the one for cake mix cookies. Below is a twist on that using a boxed carrot cake.

Carrot Cake Cookie Bars

1 carrot cake mix

1/3 cup oil+apple sauce mixture, you pick the ratios!

(I did a little less than 1/4 c. oil and the rest apple sauce)

2 eggs

1 c. coconut

1 c. walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix ingredients together in a bowl. Spray a 13x9 pan with cooking spray (I use the butter one for baking.) Spread dough in the pan and bake for about 12 minutes. Let cool.

Frosting

8 oz. Neufchatel (reduced fat cream cheese)

1 cup butterscotch chips

I'm sure there is a better way to do this as the butterscotch chips did not melt nicely, but the result was still great (luckily).

In a glass bowl, soften cream cheese in microwave (30 seconds on defrost). Measure out your butterscotch chips in a glass measuring cup and microwave for 1 minute. Stir chips and then add them to the softened cream cheese and stir until you have a smooth butterscotch frosting. Spread on cooled Carrot Cake Cookie Bars.

Note: The butterscotch chips did not come out all creamy and melted, but looked rather crumbly, but when I added it to the cream cheese it blended right in and became creamy goodness.

These are yummy and super easy. If you like carrot cake but are open to try it in a slightly different and denser form, try these!

Do you have a favorite variation on the cake mix cookie??