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Recipes
Busy day, busy schedule, family members going in ten different directions. We understand what it is like for a growing family. Sometimes all you need is an idea on what to have for dinner. Well - here's the place.
Each month, we'll refresh this place on the site with new ideas and recipes for meals and snacks. So come back for new ideas and new ways to please your family.
Gobble Me Up
Need a snack to tide the kids over until the big Thanksgiving feast? Here's a healthy option they can have fun making themselves.
What You Need:
Directions:
1. Arrange apple and clementine or navel orange slices on a plate as shown, and lay a cored pear half on top.
2. Use scissors to halve a dried apricot, then snip small triangles from each half and tuck them under the pear to form the feet.
3. Finally, use peanut butter or softened cream cheese to attach mini chocolate chip eyes, a nut beak, and a dried cranberry snood.
Courtesy of Disney Family Fun
Homemade Refrigerator Pickles
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels and lightly sprinkle with coarse salt. Slice 4 small cucumbers into thin slices. Arrange sliced cucumbers in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, and sprinkle with salt.
2. Cover with another layer of paper towels. Let stand for 15 minutes, then pat dry.
In a medium saucepan, combine vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard seed, turmeric and celery seed. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt.
3. Arrange cucumber slices and fresh dill fronds in a jar. Pour hot brine into
the jars to completely cover the cucumbers and seal the jar. Refrigerate.
You can eat these in as soon as two hours or up to a week from now. The flavor will grow stronger if you let them marinate for a few days.
Scooter Snacks
Feel like building a little fun into after-school routines? Let the kids help you construct these nutritious scooter snacks to rev up their homework efforts or tide them over 'til suppertime!
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. For each of four axles, thread two zucchini slices through a pretzel stick, leaving a 1-in. space in the center. For each scooter, position string cheese between two axles.
2. Attach a pretzel rod with cream cheese to each scooter; top each with a pretzel stick for handlebars. Add tomato hubcaps and olive headlights and taillights with cream cheese. Yield: 2 scooters.
Source: Taste of Home
Pear and Cranberry Crisps
Pears make a good choice for these single-serving fruit crisps because their skins are so soft, your child won't even need to peel them. Plus, their sweet flavor combines nicely with the tangy cranberry sauce. This recipe teaches kids how to dice fresh fruit and how to blend butter-crumb topping with their fingertips.
Ingredients:
FILLING:
CRISP TOPPING:
Directions:
1. Show your child how to grease four 1-cup ovenproof custard cups or crocks, smearing the butter with crumpled waxed paper to keep her hands clean. Place the cups on a baking sheet.
2. If your child is old enough to use a knife, have her dice the pears. Halve the pears first and then hollow out the cores with a spoon. Place the pears flat side down on a cutting board and dice them. Measure 3-1/2 cups of the diced pears into a mixing bowl. Enjoy any extra pieces as a snack. Tip: When dicing pears, show your child that it's important to keep her fingers away from the blade and to cut straight down, not on a slant.
3. Add the remaining filling ingredients to the bowl with the pears, mixing well. Divide the fruit measure evenly among the 4 custard cups or crocks.
4. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Meanwhile, combine all of the topping ingredients except the milk in a large bowl. Have your child rub together the ingredients with her fingertips to create large buttery crumbs. Drizzle the milk over the mixture to moisten it, then divide the topping evenly among the cups, patting it down lightly.
5. Bake the crisps for 30 to 35 minutes or until they start to bubble and the topping is golden brown. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack for at least 20 minutes before eating. Serves 4.
Source: FamilyFun Magazine
Marshmallow Snowman Healthy Christmas Recipe
Need a snack to tide the kids over until the big Thanksgiving feast? Here's a healthy option they can have fun making themselves.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Tie licorice tightly around marshmallow mid-section to separate "head" and "body" section of snowman.
Trim, if necessary, to make scarf.
Roll one gum drop flat for "brim" of hat; use decorator gel to attach remaining gum drop for "bowl" of hat.
Make face with decorator gels; use decorator gel to attach hat to snowman's head.
Let stand at room temperature to dry.
Recipe makes one Marshmallow Snowman.
Source: Fitness and Freebies
Gobble Me Up
Need a snack to tide the kids over until the big Thanksgiving feast? Here's a healthy option they can have fun making themselves.
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. Arrange apple and clementine or navel orange slices on a plate as shown, and lay a cored pear half on top.
2. Use scissors to halve a dried apricot, then snip small triangles from each half and tuck them under the pear to form the feet.
3. Finally, use peanut butter or softened cream cheese to attach mini chocolate chip eyes, a nut beak, and a dried cranberry snood.
Source: Disney FamilyFun
Ingredients:
Directions:
Source: Disney Family
Ingredients:
Directions:
Fold aluminum so that there is a double layer. Put ground beef (about the size of a small hamburger) on foil, in the center. Drizzle a small about of oil on it (about 1/2 tsp). Place carrots and potatoes (to your liking) and then onions. Fold over foil edges to make a flat packet. Be careful to fold over any edge so the package doesn't leak. Use tongs and place right on the coals. When you hear it "sizzle," flip it. Flip it often and cook for 7-10 minutes. Open carefully (the foil will be hot!) and poke a potato with a fork. When it pierces it easily, supper is ready. Serve with seasoned salt and catsup.
Source: dnr.wi.gov
In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, why not spread out a buffet of all green food? All of these foods are healthy, nutritious and there are no dyes, preservatives or added sugars - just good food!
Can you think of any more?
Sparkling cider turns this fresh fruit cup into a fizzy soda fountain-style treat. For the best results, chill all the ingredients.
Ingredients:
1. Alternately spoon the grapefruit sections and the sliced strawberries into 6 goblet glasses until you have enough fruit in each to make a nice serving.
2. Slowly pour enough sparkling cider over the fruit to almost cover it. Add a sprig of mint to each goblet, and your treat is ready to eat. Makes 6 servings.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories 137
Carbohydrates 34.1g (11% DV)
Total Fat .3g (0% DV)
Saturated Fat 0g (0% DV)
Cholesterol 0mg (0% DV)
Sodium 0.5mg (0% DV)
Vitamin A (28% DV)
Vitamin C (187% DV)
Fiber (10% DV)
Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Source: Family Fun
Vitamin C Lemonade
Ingredients:
Mix all the juices together, then, while stirring, slowly pour in the water as well. Pour into a glass and add the ice cubes. Enjoy the Vitamin C goodness! Serves 1 person. If you want to serve a whole pitcher, multiply the whole recipe by 10.
Orange Julius
Ingredients:
Blend all ingredients in a blender for 30-40 seconds, pour in glasses, and serve this delicious drink.
Source: Easy-Kids-Recipes.com
Here's a treat that looks old-fashioned but is made with two favorite modern-day sweets: marshmallows and chocolate.
Ingredients:
1. Set the chocolate-striped cookies stripes down on a wax-paper-covered tray, spacing them well apart.
2. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave or double boiler.
3. One at a time, stick a wooden toothpick into a marshmallow, dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate, and promptly center it atop a cookie.
4. Using a second toothpick to lightly hold down the marshmallow, carefully pull out the first toothpick.
5. Chill the hats until the chocolate sets, then pipe a yellow decorators' frosting buckle on the front of each hat.
Recipe courtesy of Disney Family Fun
Don't throw away the seeds when you carve your pumpkin for Halloween. They taste great when roasted and you can add a flavoring of your choice. They make great snacks and are very nutritious, rich in vitamins and fiber.
Ingredients:
1. Pre-heat oven to 300°F.
2. Remove as much pulp from the seeds as possible but don't rinse the seeds.
3. Toss your seeds in a bowl with the oil and the seasoning of your choice. Make sure they are all coated. You can use just salt or choose from the list of flavorings here:
garlic salt
chili powder
Italian seasoning
cayenne pepper
cumin
soy sauce
4. Spread seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes.
6. Allow to cool. These can be stored for up to a week in an airtight container.
For ultimate freshness, prepare this treat right before serving. Present it with toothpicks for spearing the fruit and a bowl of your favorite dip, if desired.
Ingredients:
1. Hull and halve 29 large strawberries and set them aside.
2. Arrange 30 large blackberries, as shown, in the upper left corner of a serving tray or cutting board (it should be at least 8 by 13 inches).
3. Cut 58 banana slices, 3/4-inch-thick, into a bowl. Sprinkle on lemon juice and toss the slices gently with a rubber spatula to keep them from browning.
4. Assemble the banana slices in rows as shown and top each slice with a strawberry half.
Recipe courtesy of Disney Family Fun
Ingredients:
Take any type of circular bread or cracker (English muffin, rolls or bagels cut in half, boboli, pita, ritz, rice cake) and allow children to create their own pond. A variety of ingredients to choose from adds to the descriptive pond vocabulary. Suggestions are: cream cheese (tinted blue), grated cheese, olives, black olive slices (old tires), sprouts, and pinches of dried spices such as fennel, dill weed, celery seed and basil. If a hot pizza is desired, substitute tomato sauce for cream cheese and heat in a 350° oven for 8 minutes.
Facts About Lakes and Ponds:
• Lakes are large bodies of water found on many part of the earth's surface.
• Lakes usually are made up of a depression, called a basin, that is filled with water. Lakes form in many ways. Some formed as the result of movement in the earth's layers from a volcano or glacier. Some lakes were formed from rivers when trees, brush and other debris clogged up the river, making the river back up to form a lake.
• Water gets into a lake or pond through rainfall, water run off, or by a river flowing into the lake.
• Ponds are small, still pools of water. Ponds can be formed when people or beavers dam up a stream. A pond is a fresh-water habitat with many kinds of plants and animals.
• Small lakes and ponds can dry up and disappear if the weather is very hot and there is little rainfall, or if the river that feeds it changes course.
Source: Incredible Edible Geography by Veronica Getskow PhD & Bruce Pierce, published by Thomas Bros. Maps® Educational Foundation
Ingredients:
Option 1: Core seeds from the cucumber with a sharp knife, leaving a tunnel through the center of the cucumber. Firmly insert or push a straight shaped peeled carrot in the cucumber tunnel. To serve up a slice of healthy earth, slice the cucumber in 1/2 inch circle slices. This will create a cucumber wheel with a carrot center. The carrot represents the core of the earth; the white, light green area of the cucumber the mantle; the outside skin of the cucumber the crust.
Option 2: In the center of each orange slice, place a raisin. For the apple circle slices, remove the seeds and seed chamber and replace with a raisin or nut. Give each child a "slice of earth" and discuss the layers prior to eating.
Earth Layers: Facts About The Earth
• Scientists believe that out Earth is made of layers of rock. The hottest part is the core, at the center. Around the core is the mantle. The outer layer, the crust, ranges in thickness from 3-1/2 miles to 42 miles. It is thicker under the continents than it is under the oceans.
• Scientists now know that the Earth's crust is cracked, like the shell of a hard-boiled egg that has been dropped. The cracks are called faults.
• Huge sections of crust, called plates, divided by faults, are able to move. An earthquake occurs when the plates move.
Source: Incredible Edible Geography by Veronica Getskow PhD & Bruce Pierce, published by Thomas Bros. Maps® Educational Foundation
Here and idea for healthy fruit kabobs that are easy for children to make and will work well for a patriotic Inauguration party. You can use it for a dessert or an hors d'oeuvres.
Ingredients:
Alternate these three ingredients on your skewers.
You can add more fruit depending on what is available in your local supermarket. Here are some suggestions:
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. Roll out the cookie dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Set the cardboard pattern on the dough. With the point of a sharp knife (parents only), cut out the reindeer's head. Bake as directed.
2. Let cool. Break apart the pretzels to form antlers and attach them at the top of the reindeer's head with dabs of frosting. Add M&M eyes and don't forget the red hot nose. Makes 40 Rudolph cookies.
Source: FamilyFun.com
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. Line cupcake tins with the liners. Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full with the batter and bake the cupcakes as directed in the recipe.
2. Mix a drop of red and black food coloring into the frosting to make it a pinkish gray brain color.
3. Using the pastry bag, pipe the frosting in a squiggly pile on half of each cupcake top (brains have two hemispheres, you know). Now pipe the frosting in a squiggly pile on the other half of the cupcake top.
Source: Epicurious
Ingredients for Ghost Cupcakes:
Ingredients for Spider Cupcakes:
Directions:
1. Coat each baked cupcake with chocolate frosting and partially insert a Nutter-Butter cookie into the top. Frost the remaining cookie with vanilla frosting. Draw a spooky expression on each ghost with the decorator's icing. Makes 24.
2. Make the spiders by combining the chocolate chips and milk in a glass bowl. Microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until smooth. Stir in the peanuts or cereal and chow mein noodles.
3. Drop by teaspoons onto waxed paper. Stick on extra noodles for spider legs and chill. Frost the cupcakes white. Then top each cupcake with a spider. Makes 24.
Source: FamilyFun.com
Ingredients:
Directions:
Frost the cupcakes with white icing. Smooth the surface.
Place a candy eye in the center (or draw one with black frosting).
Use red gel frosting to drizzle squiggly lines from the center of the cake to the edges, giving the top of the cupcake a bloodshot look.
Source: EveningEdge.com
Ingredients:
Foods for dipping:
Directions:
1. Stir together the peanut butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl.
2. When thoroughly mixed, pour into a smaller bowl for serving.
3. Have an adult help you cut celery, carrots and apples into sticks and slices.
4. Collect together all your dipping ingredients and serve.
This makes a great after school snack.
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. Place your pita on the plate.
2. Add the cheese slices and tomatoes to the pita.
3. Put the plate inside the microwave and close it shut. Set it for 30 seconds. (Parents may need to help here)
4. Cut the pizza into 4 slices and it's ready!
Source: Kaboose.com
Ingredients:
Directions:
Place graham crackers in a plastic sandwich bag and crush with a rolling pin.
Add a few chocolate sprinkles to make ants, then seal the bag.
Give them to the kids to take outside and eat or let them pour it into a small bowl and eat at the table--using their fingers, of course.
Variations: Add raisins (call them beetles), red hots (ladybugs), or mini chocolate chips (spider eggs).
Source: Healthy Treats and Super Snacks for Kids
Ingredients:
Directions:
Wash celery and cut off ends.
Fill celery with your favorite filling and decorate with raisins.
That's it!! Serves 1.
Source: That's My Home
Mother Nature never tasted so good!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Source: Family Fun
These luscious ladybugs, from the kitchen of Barbara Beery, founder of Batter Up Kids, Inc. cooking school in Austin, Texas (www.batterupkids.com), are always a crowd-pleaser, and a snack parents won't mind their kids filling up on.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Source: Family Fun
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425. Line a shallow pan with foil. Using a sharp knife, slice away the tip and end of each carrot; peel each completely. Cut carrots in half cross-wise, then cut length-wise, then cut length-wise again.
In a mixing bowl, combine the carrot sticks, oil, rosemary, salt and pepper. Stir till all are evenly coated. Place carrots in pan, spreading sticks out as much as possible. Bake for 20 minutes or until carrots are tender. Serve hot or at room temperature. Makes 4 servings.
Source: http://www.thatsmyhome.com/recipes-for-kids/carrot-fries.htm
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. Check with a grown-up before you start.
2. Cut a rectangle in top of hoagie bun. It's also called a sub roll, grinder, hero, sandwich roll - what do you call it? Peel off the rectangle and hollow out the bun. The ZOOMers made a convertible.
3. Cut four slices of cucumber 1/4" thick. These are the wheels.
4. Cut two baby carrots in slices. Slide toothpicks through each half. Be careful not to poke your fingers!
5. Next, slide carrot halves through the center of each cucumber slice. The carrots are like the hubcaps.
6. Then attach the wheels to the bun.
7. Next, stick two olives to the front using toothpicks. These will be the headlights.
8. Then take a piece of celery and use that for the backseat.
9. Now you're going to make your dip. In a bowl, mix 1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt, 1/4 cup light sour cream, 2 teaspoons honey, and 2 teaspoons of spicy brown mustard.
10. Then scoop the dip into the hollowed out part of the car.
11. Finish off your car with a pretzel for the steering wheel and a piece of broccoli for the driver.
Here's a desert that:
Ingredients:
Directions:
Put mixture in the freezer. As it begins to set, stir it a little to prevent it from getting lumpy. When it is half frozen, give it one more mix.
Serve it frozen from a scoop. When ready to serve, drizzle with honey and garnish with fresh berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries or cut up strawberries) and a sprig of mint.
Recipe courtesy of Abegail Natenshon, a psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. For more information visit: www.empowerredparents.com and www.treatingeatingdisorders.com
