Chocolate-Covered Basketball Strawberries

Adorable dipped strawberries decorated in a sports theme… just in time for a March Madness party or the upcoming Father’s Day. They look like something you would pay top dollar for from one of the large mail order companies but actually cost significantly less and are fun to make!

Making the sports themed strawberries is very easy and only requires five ingredients. To see step-by-step instructions and get the recipe, read below.

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Finger Food for your Super Bowl Party!

Sunday is the Super Bowl and you are most likely going to someone’s house to watch the game or you are throwing the party! Here is a fun recipe adults and kids love, and can be a great hostess gift or your “go-to” finger food for your soirees.

Panko-Crusted Chicken Bites with Apricot-Mustard Sauce Recipe

Serves: 12

INGREDIENTS:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds), cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 cup apricot jam or preserves
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves

DIRECTIONS: 

1.    Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and fit with a wire rack. Spray with cooking spray; set aside.

2.    Place flour in a large bowl and season very generously with salt and pepper. Whisk eggs in another large bowl with 2 tablespoons water until well combined. Place the breadcrumbs in a third large bowl, and drizzle with olive oil; toss to coat. Stir in cheese and cayenne and mix well.

3.    Place chicken pieces in the seasoned flour and toss to coat. Working in 3 batches, shake off any excess flour from chicken pieces and transfer to egg mixture; stir to combine. Transfer coated chicken pieces with a slotted spoon to the breadcrumb mixture and toss until completely coated. Place the breaded chicken pieces on a rack-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Repeat process until all the chicken is breaded. Bake until golden brown and chicken is cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes.

4.    In a small bowl, stir the apricot jam, mustard, and thyme together until combined. Allow chicken to cool 10 minutes before serving with apricot mustard mixture.

CHECK OUT LE TOP CHILDREN’S CLOTHING AT
www.letop-usa.com

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Superbowl Brownies – Healthy too!

This Sunday is the big game – Giants versus the Patriots – and that means lots of kids, lots of TV sports watching and lots of food! Entertain your little ones with these semi-healthy sweet treats at superbowl for dessert! They are also great to nibble on during the game, I mean, aren’t we all big kids?

p.s. – these are great for a next day kid-friendly lunch-box treat!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Timing: 45 minutes
(includes cooling time)
Yield: Makes 16

Chewy Oatmeal Blondie Brownies

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  (not quick-cooking)
• 1 ½ cups of baking mix (see below)

Baking Mix Recipe: (whisk together and store in a sealed container for next time!)

• 6      cups of all-purpose flour
• 3      cups of sugar
• 2      tablespoons baking powder
• 1      tablespoon of salt

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush an 8-inch square baking pan with butter. Line bottom and two sides with a strip of parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on both sides. Butter paper, and set pan aside.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, and beat until combined. With mixer on low, gradually add Baking Mix; mix just until combined. Mix in 3/4 cup oats. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Using an offset metal spatula or table knife, smooth batter evenly. Sprinkle with remaining oats, pressing gently to adhere. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pan 30 minutes.
4. Using overhang, transfer blondie (still on paper) to a wire rack to cool completely. Place on a cutting board (peel off paper); using a serrated knife, cut into 16 squares.

CHECK OUT LE TOP CHILDREN’S CLOTHING AT
www.letop-usa.com

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Monday Night: Football and Easy Recipe Kids will Love!

Okay forget the hamburgers, grilling outside, sweating to make patties small and cute for your little ones. We all know it is football season – yes, I stayed up until past midnight for the first Sunday night football last night and I’m exhausted today. I am sure your little ones will want to eat whatever daddy is eating while he watches his Monday night football. Here is an easy and delicious take on pizza (semi-from-scratch) that will satisfy the hunger in your kiddos and hubby! It’s packed with flavor, protein and is a hearty meal going into fall!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Cook Time: 30 minutes (yay!)
Serves 4

Hamburger and Grape-Tomato Pizza 
Special note for the chef – To ensure even cooking, gently roll and stretch the dough to an even thickness. You don’t have to shape it into a precise rectangle — rounded corners are fine.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, such as safflower
• All-purpose flour, for work surface
• 1 pound frozen pizza dough, thawed
• 3/4 cup store-bought marinara sauce
• 1 cup grated provolone cheese (4 ounces)
• 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
• 1/4 pound ground beef chuck
• Coarse salt and ground pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Rub a large rimless baking sheet (or a rimmed one, upside down) with oil.
2. On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin and your hands to roll and stretch dough into a 15-by-11-inch rectangle (if dough becomes too elastic to work with, let it rest a few minutes). Transfer to prepared sheet.
3. Spread sauce evenly over dough, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Top with provolone, tomatoes, and if desired, onion; scatter beef over top. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Bake until crust is golden, beef is cooked, and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

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Darling of the Day: Ryland

Le Top model Ryland (3 years-old), holding brother Lucas (3 months), is mommy’s lil helper and loves to make his baby brother smile at him. Awe! His favorite hobbies are playing transformers and dancing to music especially Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.

Mom had her boys all dressed up for this photo in Le Top’s “T-Rex Touchdown” collection outfits. Score!

Ryland, keep looking out for your little brother and congratulations for being the Le Top Darling of the Day!

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It’s a boy and a girl for Peyton Manning!

Cathy Kightlinger/The Indianapolis Star/AP

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his wife of 10 years, Ashley, have added to their family in a big way. On March 31st in Indianapolis they welcome twins Marshall Williams and Mosley Thompson into their lives according to The Neshoba Democrat, the hometown paper of Manning’s mom, Olivia Manning.

These tots would look adorable in Le Top’s “Sunny Ducky” stripe sleeveless romper (for Marshall) and the matching “Sunny Ducky” flower print sunsuit top and ruffle panty (for Mosley).

Peyton’s brother, Eli’s baby is only a couple weeks old. How great is it that the cousins will be the same age. It certainly makes play dates easier.

Le Top "Sunny Ducky" stripe sleeveless romper and the matching “Sunny Ducky” flower print sunsuit top and ruffle panty.

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Eli Manning is a Daddy!

Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic

Giants quarterback Eli Manning, 30, welcomed a baby girl with wife Abby on Monday, March 21.

Baby girl Ava Frances wasn’t due until April but arrived early, weighing 7-pounds, 4-ounces. This is the couple’s first child.

The college sweethearts married in April 2008 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. According to the NY Post, the couple has expanded their home by adding a “baby wing” to accommodate their new family member. Congratulations to Eli and Abby!

You know this baby will be gorgeous. We think our Rabbitmoon “Geranium” capri jumpsuit would complement her beautifully this spring!

Rabbitmoon "Geranium" capri jumpsuit

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3 Delicious Super Bowl Finger Food Recipes

Super Bowl is this Sunday and on top of cleaning the house and prepping for your big party – make it easier on yourself and cook simple finger foods to entertain and feed your guests. Here are 3 recipes that are sure to please the football madness at your home – and even the kids!

This post has been moved to our website. To see the full post go to: http://blog.letop-usa.com/?p=15542

CHECK OUT LE TOP CHILDREN’S CLOTHING AT
www.letop-usa.com

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The Quarterback and the Supermodel equal one Super Baby!

Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press

Tom Brady, three time Super Bowl winning quarterback for the New England Patriots, has confirmed the happy news – he and supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen are expecting a baby due in December.  In an interview on Sports Center Tom shared the news with ESPN’s Chris Berman.  Tom is also dad to a two year old son John Edward Thomas with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan.

Tom is ready to participate, including attending Lamaze classes with Gisele.  He had one request “I told her no Sundays!  It couldn’t be harder than training camp, so I’ll be prepared.”

Everyone here at le•top congratulates the expectant parents – we are sure the baby will be coordinated AND beautiful!

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Are You Ready for Some Football???

The sun is dipping lower in the sky and the nights grow just a bit cooler…do I see the hint of color in the leaves?  Fall is in the air!  With the fall season fast approaching there is excitement brewing here at le•top!  It’s Back to School!  Well, we do get excited about Fall fashions, but there is something else that stirs the senses – FOOTBALL RIVALRIES!  Yes, this cute and cuddly children’s clothing company is home to some serious fans – so while we are busy shipping our FABULOUS Varsity Blues collection to waiting retailers our football fanatics are ‘showing their colors!’  Since le•top is available in retailers across the United States we thought we would ask a few ‘fans’ here in the office where their loyalties lie.

Sarah and Diana in Their Team Jerseys

Sarah, our le•top assistant designer loves her team!  Sarah, growing up in Montana, really had the freedom to choose any team in the country – they are not ‘next’ to anything!  She relates that her mom, a native of North Dakota has always favored their ‘neighbor’ – The Minnesota Vikings.  Her Dad went with the Chicago Bears – but Sarah had to break with the family and choose the Indianapolis Colts.  Why???  Peyton!  She fell in love with football when Peyton Manning hooked her with his ‘Hail Mary!’  Now she is here in the San Francisco Bay Area…Niners? Raiders?  She maintains “I’m a Colts fan for life!’

Diana, our customer service specialist extraordinaire, took at little different path to loyalty…She grew up in Los Angeles – a ‘city girl.’  The Raiders, based in LA during her childhood, gained Diana’s loyalty as she watched football with her older brother.  She followed football just because she idolized her brother, and football was the common bond. When Diana, a ‘Navy Brat’ moved to the Bay Area (her father was stationed at Treasure Island) found out that the Raiders were moving back to the Bay Area there was celebrating in her family!  She can’t wait until September…Go Raiders!

If you are “READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!” check out the le•top Varsity Blues collection – you fans and dads will love it!  And as for me…NINERS RULE!

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