Month: January 2016

KUNG FU PANDA 3 MOVIE REVIEW

~ Jenny ~ 1 Comment

Panda PosterMy family was able to attend a special premiere of Kung Fu Panda 3 this past Saturday. The event was held at our local Cinemark and was sponsored by a local radio station. It was a super fun event that we all enjoyed. We each got our own set of panda ears before the movie and a movie poster to take home (which proudly has a place on my son’s wall).  Before the movie the kids got to pick out their own balloon animals (each picked a panda of course) and we got some complimentary popcorn and drinks. There were a few Make a Wish kids in attendance and we were able to cheer for them as they walked the red carpet that had been set up and got their pictures taken by a photographer.

Panda Balloon

The movie brings back the lovable and funny character Po (voiced by Jack Black) and other favorite cast members like Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, and Lucy Liu. Po is enjoying life as the Dragon Warrior, when Po’s long lost father returns and they journey together to the secret panda village. There’s a new villain Kai, who is determined to gather all the Kung Fu master’s “chi”, including Po’s.

We were able to see the movie in 3D. There are some movies that I have really enjoyed in 3D and others that I thought weren’t worth the expense. This one was excellent in 3D. So many of the sequences were really fun and enhanced by the 3D experience. The movie’s bad guy, Kai, uses axes on chains as his weapon of choice and those were again really fun to watch in 3D.  Our 2 year old had a hard time keeping the glasses on, so I wouldn’t recommend the movie in 3D if you have ones younger than 3 (our 4 year old loved the action in 3D).

Overall we thought the movie was really fun and enjoyable. I feel like it’s  suitable for any age. The villain wasn’t a scary character. My husband felt like it was a little more predictable than the other two movies and not his favorite. When we were discussing that it wasn’t quite as good as the first two afterwards, my son chimed in that he thought it was awesome. I think it will for sure be a hit with the kids and fun for parents too. Kung Fu Panda 3 opens Friday, January 29th in theaters.

 

SCHOOL LUNCH PEANUT BUTTER BARS

~ Jenny ~ 1 Comment

If you are trying to avoid sweets as part of your New Year’s resolutions, then you should probably avert your eyes. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. These peanut bars will for sure not be fitting into your diet anytime soon. But, you really should make them anyways. Because they are that good!  I got the recipe from my mother-in-law and these are tried and true delicious. It’s one of those recipes you will make over and over again. The recipe makes a whole half sheet pan’s worth, so when you make them you have plenty to share (and sharing keeps you from taking small pieces of them here and there until you realize that half of the pan is gone-oops). These peanut butter and oatmeal bars are perfect for a large gathering and are quick to put together. We had them most recently at a baby blessing at the beginning of the month and they were a hit.

School Lunch Peanut Butter Bars. Delicious peanut butter and oatmeal bars with chocolate frosting. Recipe at everydayjenny.com

School Lunch Peanut Butter Bars. Delicious peanut butter and oatmeal bars with chocolate frosting. Recipe at everydayjenny.com

School Lunch Peanut Butter Bars. Delicious peanut butter and oatmeal bars with chocolate frosting. Recipe at everydayjenny.comSchool Lunch Peanut Butter Bars

Bars-
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups old fashioned oats

Frosting-
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons milk
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs, peanut butter and vanilla and mix until smooth. Add the flour, baking soda, salt and oats. Spread into a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper (or greased). Bake for 12-14 minutes till top is lightly brown.

For the frosting- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Turn the heat to low and add the cocoa powder and milk; stir to combine. Gradually add the powdered sugar a cup at a time and stir to incorporate. Pour the frosting over the warm peanut butter bars and spread.

Allow the bars to set up for about an hour for slicing. They will seem very soft when you get them out of the oven, but you do not want to over bake them. They are supposed to be nice and soft.