Posts Tagged ‘kids recipes’

Mornings are tough on any family, especially when it’s the beginning of the school year and routines are still hard to settle into. Finding the time to make a healthy and delicious snack that you know your kids will love is almost as hard as finding the socks that your dryer eats. Thankfully, most kids not only love, but beg for cereal in the morning, and there are hundreds of quick and easy ways to make great snacks and even full meals using just a few handfuls of your favorite morning munchable.

Cheerios of any variety and Cinnamon Toast Crunch has been a staple in my house for years. Something about the wholesome goodness of those little O’s and the sweet warm crunch of the cinnamon squares just makes every day a little brighter. These next two recipes will inspire you to go far beyond the traditional bowl, milk and spoon, with plenty of  tweaks to customize for picky eaters and allergens.

Cinnamon Nut Crunch
French Toast

This recipe is perfect, and because it take just 10 minutes to bake, you can be up, fed and out the door in no time. The sweetness and texture of the cereal and nuts over the soft warmth of the whole grain bread soaked in egg is just incredible in the morning, and I’ve never met a kid who didn’t like French toast. This recipe makes enough to serve 3 people but can easily be doubled or tripled.

You Will Need:
3 eggs
¼ cup of milk
½ tsp ground cinnamon
5 or 6 slices of whole grain bread
1-3/4 cup of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
1/4 cup of sliced almonds

Heat oven to 450*. Beat eggs, cinnamon, and milk together in a shallow bowl. Pour the  cereal and sliced almonds into a small Ziploc bag and crush gently, a fun task for the youngest in your family.

Coat both sides of the bread in the egg mixture and then press the cereal mixture into the bread. Lightly grease a cookie sheet and line up the slices of bread on the sheet. Bake the French toast in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cereal and bread is golden brown.  Serve as you would regular French Toast with syrup or honey and butter.

ALLERGIES: WHEAT, ALMONDS, EGGS, MILK, CINNAMON

Some pretty obvious changes that you can very easily make to this recipe; substitute a different kind of nut for the almonds or eliminate them altogether. Sprinkle brown sugar over the freshly baked Toast. Use a French baguette or challah bread for a more classical variation.
The whole grain bread and almonds will help to keep your kids focused and alert during the school day, and the super easy addition of the yummy cereal makes a good breakfast a great one. This is a recipe that your kids can easily learn to prepare themselves with just a little help from mom with the oven.

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Cheeri-ola

My mom made every variation of this snack since I was old enough to pick up a Cheerio and put it in my mouth. We called it Cheeriola because it wasn’t quite Cheerios and it wasn’t quite Granola. It can be made in huge batches on Sunday night, prepackaged for the whole week Monday morning and save you lots of time when assembling school lunches or thinking about a scrumptious after school snack. It’s also a great recipe to show your kids, teaching them the use of a mixer, a cookie sheet and a timer.

You will need:
1 egg*
¼ tsp salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 cups of Cheerios any variety
½ cup of chopped nuts
½ cup of instant oats (optional)
1 tbsp honey

*To get started, let me show you a great way to quickly and easily separate egg yolk and egg white, because this recipe only requires the egg white. Crack your egg, but keep the two halves upright with the contents of the egg split between them. Over a bowl, carefully switch the egg yolk back and forth between the two halves of shell until all the white is in the bowl, and only the yolk is left in the shell. Toss the yolk, or do what my grandfather use to do, swallow it whole…. :-/

Anyway, first thing you have to do is make the coating for the Cheeriola. Preheat your oven to 350*. With your mixer on high speed, beat the egg white until it is frothy, meaning a whole lot of bubbles. When it reaches that stage you can slowly beat in the brown sugar and salt and cinnamon.

Keep beating at a high speed until the mixture is a beige color and very smooth and glossy looking, it doesn’t take very long.

Gently add the cereal, nuts and oats into the egg mixture, and mix until everything is evenly coated. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper or very lightly spray it with cooking spray.

Spread your Cheeriola in the thinnest layer possible onto the wax paper and bake in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes. After it is baked take the entire sheet of wax paper with the Cheeriola still on it and set it aside, away from the heat. Drizzle the honey over the top and let it cool for 30 minutes.

The end result is a slightly browned and sweet smelling snack that is delicious any time of the day, and great for after school because it will fill you up until dinner.

 This is so simple to make, and if you keep it in a sealed container in the fridge it can keep for a week. You can mix other things with it like candy pieces or whole nuts and use it as trail mix, or even pour warm milk over it and eat it like oatmeal.

Allergies: EGGS, WHEAT, MILK, NUTS, OATS

If you like the little glass cups that I use to measure and display ingredients click HERE for a look at Williams-Sonoma’s site. I also bought my mixer from them.

For more great recipe ideas and cereal nutrition info click HERE.

Nothing hits the spot on a cold windy fall day like a steaming bowl of baked macaroni and cheese. The blend of creamy cheeses, succulent noodles, and usually a crumbly brown topping all combine to make any problem any issue any heartache instantly disappear. Moms have wielded the power of the classic family baked macaroni and cheese recipe for years, and even if you’re family doesn’t have one, there are hundreds of moms out there who are willing to give you theirs, or challenge you to a taste test.  Macaroni can be simple, it can be classy, it can be quick, it can take hours, it can be sweet, salty, spicy, its a truly customizable dish. Below is a collection of recipes that give you a basic mac n cheese recipe, then add a twist, be it a special ingredient a unique flavoring, or just a different way to cook it!

Mac N Four Cheese

A sumptuous blend of four cheeses combine with hearty noodles and a wonderfully decadent sauce making this easy recipe both heartwarming and satisfying.

Mac N Ham N Cheese

Chunks of salty ham blend perfectly with a classic mac n cheese recipe.

Spicy Mac N Cheese

Peppers and chili powder add a bit of kick to this yummy recipe, with just enough heat to take away the winter blues.

Mac N Corn

Sweet tender chunks of crispy corn give a bit of texture to the enduring mac n cheese in this traditional recipe.

Mac N Peas

Add a nutritious and flavorful veggie to your everyday baked noodles and cheese sauce for a bit of variety and extra vitamins.

Homemade

Mac N Cheese the way Mom used to make it.

Mac N Beer

Mac N Cheese the way Dad wants Mom to make it.

Mac N Oysters

Give seafood a try in this simple but elegant take on the traditional Mac.

Mac N Chicken N Broccoli

Empty the contents of your frozen leftovers for a great bit of variety in your weekly Mac recipe.

Mac N Queso

A blend of mexican spices, chunks of ground beef,  yummy green chiles, and salsa adds a south of the border flavor that your kids will love.

Set It and Forget It Mac N Cheese

Add all of your ingredients, set your timer, and come home to warm bubbly cheesy goodness, just in time for dinner!

Italian Mac N Cheese

Of course I had a contribution to this post, I love Mac N Cheese, everyone in my family loves mac n cheese, even my six month old son loves the cheesy sauce, so when I was faced with a shortage of cheddar and an abundance of mozzarella, I quickly adapted the recipe for an Italian flair.

You Will Need:

1 box rotini pasta
1 can black olives (sliced)
1 tsp minced garlic
1 cup ricotta cheese

1/4 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup italian bread crumbs
1 tsp oregano
4 fresh basil leaves minced or 1 tsp dried basil

Preheat your oven to 400*F.
Boil pasta according to package directions, drain well. The less water in the pasta the more sauce it will absorb, and the tastier it will be.
While the pasta is draining, slice your olives, your basil and shred your mozzarella. Mix your ricotta and heavy cream together.
In a large glass baking dish add your pasta, ricotta cream blend, olives,  garlic, oregano, basil and 3/4 of the mozzarella. Mix it all really well then top with bread crumbs and the last of the mozzarella.
Bake at 400* for 15 minutes or until bubbly and browned.

HAPPY COOKING!

Fall Recipes For Kids

  The crisp chill of autumn is in the air, the Harvest Moon has shown its face, and the beautiful season that is Fall is upon us, with all of the craziness that comes with it. Fall is a busy time for any family, especially ones with kids, thanks to the start of the new school year, Halloween costumes and parties, Thanksgiving dinner,  family visiting, decorating for the season, and holiday shopping.    

  Cooking and baking for this time of year is in full swing, and there are thousands of recipes all over the ‘Net that work just perfectly for Mom to squeeze into her busy life. With the school routine pretty well established by now, moms also have to start thinking about school functions and parties that recognize some of the holidays that occur this time of year.    

Kids have a great eye for color and style, and with a few seasonal touches these recipes can become the highlight of any classroom party or family dinner. They can all be easily doubled or tripled for more guests, and your kids will have a great time making and decorating these treats.    

Here are a few recipes that you and your kids can quickly and easily put together to make your season more memorable.    

Corny Cookies
These cute little treats are as simple as sugar cookies to make, and the easy decorating is great for little fingers. They are also non holiday specific, so they are great for classroom treats where you might be uncomfortable serving something more orthodox. If you find green candy leather hard to come by you can use Green Fruit Rollup, or, for the more advanced Mommy/Chef, green colored fondant.
  
Spider Cupcakes
If youre looking for an adorable snack that will impress every kid in the class, these cute little Spider cupcakes will definitely do the trick. Easily customizable and perfect for a batch of store bought cupcakes, you can whip these up in no time and still make it to soccer practice the night before the party. Try different types of candy and frosting for different effects, let your kids be as creative as they want, and serve them up with pride.     

Dirt Cake
This messy and fun-to-eat cake is perfect for a smaller get together, like a Halloween party or family picnic, and I’ve never seen a kid turn down the opportunity to eat a little dirt. This recipe can also be served in individual dishes, like foil cupcake wrappers, for classrooms or take home snacks. Go wild with this one, turn it into a spooky cemetery with gray frosted vanilla wafers, or load up on gummy worms, candied grasshoppers, and chocolate sprinkle ants to please the little insect lover in your life. You can even use yellow cake mix, Golden Oreos, and buttercream frosting to give it a “beachy” theme for those end of the summer celebrations.    

Eerie Eyeballs
So you’re a little nervous for your kids’ teacher, because everyone is sending their kids to school with a big plate of sugary stuff…  and you know all too well the chaos induced by a binge of cookies, cupcakes, and candy. These neat little snacks are perfect for the healthier side of dessert, made of yummy dried fruit, and you can frost them with a tasty cream-cheese spread if you’d like. You get an A+ and eternal gratitude from the teacher for this nifty snack.    

Caramel Apples
Its not fall without this classic treat, and the kid-friendly experts at NickJr give you an easy and fun recipe that you and even your littlest helper can make. Just be sure to watch out when using hot caramel, and cover your working surfaces with wax paper to prevent a huge mess. Enjoy, and don’t forget to lick the spoon!     

Microwave Apple Crisp
Even the most experienced mom can have a tough morning, and when the chill is in the air you need something quick and tasty to warm you up before a big day. Problem is, kids quickly get tired of the same old instant oatmeal or grits. This apple crisp is wholesome, filling, and so easy to make, you don’t even need your oven!    

Turkey Rollups
So you’ve made a practice Turkey to get ready for the big day… now what to do with all of those leftovers? You can easily send them to school in your kids lunchboxes with this finger food favorite. Crunchy sesame sticks and tasty turkey sliced very thin are perfect for little hands, and you can throw in a packet or two of honey mustard or mayonnaise to dip in. This is a healthy and nutritious snack that will please any picky eater.    

Mommy & Me  Halloween 1986   

Funny Face Decorating Book
Learn all about the art of cake and cupcake decoration, and let your creativity guide you by experimenting with different and unique types of candies. Cooking.com offers this great book that will enhance any baker’s kitchen, and the big pictures and fun subject matter will be so much fun for your kids.   

 Cooking for Kids
Was your child’s first word, “Bam!” ? Do you find that instead of Nickelodeon they would rather watch the Food Network? Does every morning begin with a pancake battle of the mini-Iron Chefs? You might have a little chef on your hands, and what better way to cultivate that talent than with kid friendly recipes from William Sonoma. This collection of snacks, treats, and even full meals is perfect for younger kids as they learn there way around a kitchen. Just remember to always supervise when cutting with a scissors or sharp knife, or using a hot stove or oven. You could have your own Food Network Star in no time!    

Make the most out of your Fall season, and let the blessings of close friends and family bring you together in the warmth of your home.    

Thanks to:
AllRecipes.com   Cooking.com        NickJr.       Williams Sonoma       EatingWell.com