We had such a fun night with each other. I loved hearing everyone's ideas and what works for them. The best part was just having some girl time and eating good food!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tips on making Everyday Food kid Friendly
- Books are a great way to help make eating fun! Try some of the following ideas: 
* Goldi Locks and the Three Bears: Enjoy this fun story and then make your own
Goldi Locks porridge for your kids. Cream of wheat with a swirl of strawberry
or maple syrup makes a great breakfast. (My husbands Grandmother did this
for him as a kid and the tradition has continued, our kids LOVE their
Goldi Locks porridge)
* The very Hungry Caterpillar: Start with a cheese stick for the caterpillar and two
raisins for the eyes. Next, have slices and pieces of some of the healthy foods from
the story. At the end, let your child turn their caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly
with fruit wings!
* Green Eggs and Ham: What better book about trying new things!
* Check out some of the great kids cookbooks at your local library. Go through it
with your child and let them pick out some new and fun things to try.
- Use pizza cutter to turn everything into strips for dipping, it's amazing that something as simple as dip can appeal to nearly every kid!
- Let the kids help prepare, they are more likely to eat it.
- Let them see their favorite food go into the dish, my kids often get excited and reply "It's going to be so delicious!"
- Let them “watch” it bake in the oven
- Turn sesame seeds into “sprinkles” for Asian dishes
- Let them pick a side dish for the meal.
- If it’s a spicy dish, serve the “hot” on the side
- A blender can be your best friend. Puree foods so they don’t see them
(Example: I puree onions and bell peppers in my scalloped potatoes)
- Chop food small enough for kids to eat, they won't get as frustrated and it saves you time cutting up their food during dinner time too!
- Offer only one dinner for the whole family, being hungry does wonders for trying new things! Plus, you've worked hard enough without making more then one dinner :-)
Goldi Locks porridge for your kids. Cream of wheat with a swirl of strawberry
or maple syrup makes a great breakfast. (My husbands Grandmother did this
for him as a kid and the tradition has continued, our kids LOVE their
Goldi Locks porridge)
* The very Hungry Caterpillar: Start with a cheese stick for the caterpillar and two
raisins for the eyes. Next, have slices and pieces of some of the healthy foods from
the story. At the end, let your child turn their caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly
with fruit wings!
* Green Eggs and Ham: What better book about trying new things!
* Check out some of the great kids cookbooks at your local library. Go through it
with your child and let them pick out some new and fun things to try.
- Use pizza cutter to turn everything into strips for dipping, it's amazing that something as simple as dip can appeal to nearly every kid!
- Let the kids help prepare, they are more likely to eat it.
- Let them see their favorite food go into the dish, my kids often get excited and reply "It's going to be so delicious!"
- Let them “watch” it bake in the oven
- Turn sesame seeds into “sprinkles” for Asian dishes
- Let them pick a side dish for the meal.
- If it’s a spicy dish, serve the “hot” on the side
- A blender can be your best friend. Puree foods so they don’t see them
(Example: I puree onions and bell peppers in my scalloped potatoes)
- Chop food small enough for kids to eat, they won't get as frustrated and it saves you time cutting up their food during dinner time too!
- Offer only one dinner for the whole family, being hungry does wonders for trying new things! Plus, you've worked hard enough without making more then one dinner :-)
Fun Kid Food Ideas
-Hot dog mummy’s or octopus’ (wrap hot dog with cresent roll or slice hot dog into octopus legs)
- Chop up a package of hot dogs into bit size peices and toss into your cornbread mix. Bake in muffin tins for corn dog muffins!
- Mini pizza’s (cut english muffins in half and let kids to the rest)
- Cookie cutter sandwiches (use a cookie cutter to make cute sandwiches, use the left over bread for crutons or stuffing)
- Make spaghetti with macaroni noodles, for easier eating (you can use a mac and cheese box and toss in the cheese packet for cheesey spaghetti)
- Shish kabobs: raw veggies, meat and cheese, fruit or marinated meat and veggies for the grill (let them help, great way to learn about food prep and sanitation)
- Add Cauliflower to your mashed potatoes
- Add Sweet Potato to Pancakes
- Cauliflower or Carrot to Deviled Eggs
- Add Butternut Squash or Cauliflower or beans (navy, chickpease, or white) to Macaroni and Cheese
- Add butternut Squash to Quesadillas
- Chop up a package of hot dogs into bit size peices and toss into your cornbread mix. Bake in muffin tins for corn dog muffins!
- Mini pizza’s (cut english muffins in half and let kids to the rest)
- Cookie cutter sandwiches (use a cookie cutter to make cute sandwiches, use the left over bread for crutons or stuffing)
- Make spaghetti with macaroni noodles, for easier eating (you can use a mac and cheese box and toss in the cheese packet for cheesey spaghetti)
- Shish kabobs: raw veggies, meat and cheese, fruit or marinated meat and veggies for the grill (let them help, great way to learn about food prep and sanitation)
- Add Cauliflower to your mashed potatoes
- Add Sweet Potato to Pancakes
- Cauliflower or Carrot to Deviled Eggs
- Add Butternut Squash or Cauliflower or beans (navy, chickpease, or white) to Macaroni and Cheese
- Add butternut Squash to Quesadillas
Peanut Butter Apple Pizza
6 English Muffins, cut in half to make 12 mini pizzas
1 C. Vanilla Yogurt
1/3 C. Peanut Butter
1-2 Apples, sliced and chopped small
Walnuts
Cinnamon and Sugar
Mix the yogurt and peanut butter well. Spread over english muffin halves. Layer apples on top with a few chopped walnuts. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
Variations:
Try plain vanilla yogurt with different fruits and sprinkle with granola
Try scrambled eggs and top with cheese
1 C. Vanilla Yogurt
1/3 C. Peanut Butter
1-2 Apples, sliced and chopped small
Walnuts
Cinnamon and Sugar
Mix the yogurt and peanut butter well. Spread over english muffin halves. Layer apples on top with a few chopped walnuts. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
Variations:
Try plain vanilla yogurt with different fruits and sprinkle with granola
Try scrambled eggs and top with cheese
Pic-Nic Bread
Dissolve:
1 pckg. yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
1 TB. Sugar
1 C. warm water
Add:
3 C. flour
1 egg
1 Tb. Melted butter
1 tsp. Garlic Salt
Mix well then knead for 8 minutes (a kitchen aid with the dough hook works great for this). Add flour as needed. Let rise until double. Roll into rectangle and stuff center of bread. Slice edges crosswise then fold over center in braid like fashion. Cover with wet towel and let rise until double. Bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes.
Yeild: 2 loaves of bread, each loaf is the length of a cookie sheet. You can fit both loaves on the cookie shee together.
Stuffing Suggestions:
Ham and Cheese with Broccolli:
2 C. Chopped Ham, 3/4 - 1 C. chopped cooked Broccolli, 1 jar Ragu Cheddar Sauce
Cream Cheese with chopped jalapenos
Your favorite pizza Toppings
Marinara with meatballs, bell pepper and mozzarella cheese
Turkey, cream cheese, cranberry sauce
Chicken Salad
Sloppy Joes
Apple Pie Filling
Let your imagination run wild!
1 pckg. yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
1 TB. Sugar
1 C. warm water
Add:
3 C. flour
1 egg
1 Tb. Melted butter
1 tsp. Garlic Salt
Mix well then knead for 8 minutes (a kitchen aid with the dough hook works great for this). Add flour as needed. Let rise until double. Roll into rectangle and stuff center of bread. Slice edges crosswise then fold over center in braid like fashion. Cover with wet towel and let rise until double. Bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes.
Yeild: 2 loaves of bread, each loaf is the length of a cookie sheet. You can fit both loaves on the cookie shee together.
Stuffing Suggestions:
Ham and Cheese with Broccolli:
2 C. Chopped Ham, 3/4 - 1 C. chopped cooked Broccolli, 1 jar Ragu Cheddar Sauce
Cream Cheese with chopped jalapenos
Your favorite pizza Toppings
Marinara with meatballs, bell pepper and mozzarella cheese
Turkey, cream cheese, cranberry sauce
Chicken Salad
Sloppy Joes
Apple Pie Filling
Let your imagination run wild!
Chicken Nuggets
(These nuggets may be green from the spinache we used but they were fantastic. Everyone agreed to try them on their kids for St. Patricks day!)1 - 1 1/2 lb. Chicken Breasts, cubed
1/2 C. Flour
1 C. Milk or blended veggies
1/2 C. Flour
1 C. Milk or blended veggies
(spinache, sweet potatoes, broccolli, carrots - We did 1/2 C. Milk and 1/2 C. spinache)
1 Egg
2 C. Bread Crumbs, Panko, or cracker crumbs (try goldfish, ritz, wheat thins)
Your favorite seasoning (try cajun creole, italian seasoning, garlic)
Cube chicken, salt and pepper then place in tupperware with flour. Shake to evenly coat all chicken. Next, mix the egg with the milk or veggies. In a ziplock bag mix bread crumbs and seasoning. Dip chicken peices in egg mixture then place in bag. Once all chicken is dipped seal bag and shake to coat each peice evenly. Spread onto cookie sheet. Lightly spray with olive oil if you want a bit of a crunchy breading. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes until juices run clear.
1 Egg
2 C. Bread Crumbs, Panko, or cracker crumbs (try goldfish, ritz, wheat thins)
Your favorite seasoning (try cajun creole, italian seasoning, garlic)
Cube chicken, salt and pepper then place in tupperware with flour. Shake to evenly coat all chicken. Next, mix the egg with the milk or veggies. In a ziplock bag mix bread crumbs and seasoning. Dip chicken peices in egg mixture then place in bag. Once all chicken is dipped seal bag and shake to coat each peice evenly. Spread onto cookie sheet. Lightly spray with olive oil if you want a bit of a crunchy breading. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes until juices run clear.
Sweet Potato Quesadillas
Sauté in Oil:
1 Tb. Garlic
¼ C. Chopped Onion
Add one can drained Kidney beans and mash with ¼ C. Water.
Add one can drained sweet Potatoes and mash. (or pumpkin if you prefer)
Add:
1 Tb. Chili Powder
½ tsp. Cumin
1 tsp. Prepared Mustard
1 Dash Cayenne
1 Tb. Soy Sauce
Place one tortilla in skillet over medium heat. Spread mixture over tortilla and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. lay another tortilla on top. Grill on both sides until cheese is melted. Cut into slices and serve, yumm! Can roll like a burrito as well and warm in oven.
1 Tb. Garlic
¼ C. Chopped Onion
Add one can drained Kidney beans and mash with ¼ C. Water.
Add one can drained sweet Potatoes and mash. (or pumpkin if you prefer)
Add:
1 Tb. Chili Powder
½ tsp. Cumin
1 tsp. Prepared Mustard
1 Dash Cayenne
1 Tb. Soy Sauce
Place one tortilla in skillet over medium heat. Spread mixture over tortilla and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. lay another tortilla on top. Grill on both sides until cheese is melted. Cut into slices and serve, yumm! Can roll like a burrito as well and warm in oven.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins
2 C. Flour
½ C. Sugar
1 Tb. Baking Powder
½ tsp. Salt
½ C. Peanut Butter
2 Tb. Cold Margarine
2 Eggs
1 C. Milk
Jelly
In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in peanut butter and margarine. Beat eggs and milk and stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Fill muffin cups 1/3 full, place 1 Tbs. jelly in center of muffin dough. Cover to fill muffin tin to 2/3 full. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
Yeild: 18 muffins
½ C. Sugar
1 Tb. Baking Powder
½ tsp. Salt
½ C. Peanut Butter
2 Tb. Cold Margarine
2 Eggs
1 C. Milk
Jelly
In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in peanut butter and margarine. Beat eggs and milk and stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Fill muffin cups 1/3 full, place 1 Tbs. jelly in center of muffin dough. Cover to fill muffin tin to 2/3 full. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
Yeild: 18 muffins
Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies
1 package fudge Brownies
1 14oz. Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 C. Peanut Butter
Bake brownies according to package in 9X13 pan. While the brownies are cooling mix the sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter. Once the brownies are cool spread the mixture on top. Let set up in fridge and enjoy!
1 14oz. Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 C. Peanut Butter
Bake brownies according to package in 9X13 pan. While the brownies are cooling mix the sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter. Once the brownies are cool spread the mixture on top. Let set up in fridge and enjoy!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
February 2009 : Kid Food
This month we will be learning about kid food. There's nothing fancy or complex but we hope to learn a variety of fun and simple ideas to make every day food a little more kid friendly!
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