I was inspired by watching "Good Eats" on food net work this evening Alton was making some very random casseroles. All I could think is BEEN THERE DONE THAT You can go a few ways here from elaborate homemade raviolis and sauces to store bought.. I admit I usually don't have that kind of time. So feel free to use the easy version if you like! this is a crowd pleaser! And According to my 8 year old who is the pickiest kid in my kitchen its "Bomb Bomb Bomb"
Ravioli Bomb Bomb Bomb Casserole
1 8oz package Frozen Cheese Ravioli (we like Rising Moon Organics)
2 cups steamed broccoli (you can use frozen if you like)
Alfredo Sauce *you can use jarred we use Simply Organic mix which you will need milk, butter & Parmesan cheese*
1 1/2 cups cooked cubed chicken
1 cup mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, Cook Ravioli according to package directions and drain. Combine Broccoli, Alfredo sauce & chicken in a large mixing bowl and toss in carefully Ravioli. Transfer mixture into a casserole dish and bake for 15 minutes, Then top with mozzarella cheese and cook for additional 15 minutes or until cheese is nice and melty.
We serve this with a nice salad & Garlic bread
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Taco Tuesday!
Taco's and pretty much anything Mexican gets lots of cool points for mom around here. Taco's are quite versatile and give kids lots of choices for their fillings. Cady (21 mts) is happy with just beef, sour cream and pico de gaio (no shell) Morgan (5 years old) pretty traditional soft taco, beef, cheese, lettuce, sour cream & taco sauce, Aria (8 yrs old) is all about hard shell with beef or chicken with cheese & sour cream. Erynn (11 yrs old) Beef, beans, cheese, lettuce & ranch. I always give lots of topping options and not always beef, ground turkey & chicken. Sometimes even Mexican rice & guacamole make it to the "Taco Table" as the kids call it. My one major gripe with tacos is the mess. Anything to avoid messes gets an A+ around here. So we came up with mini taco pizza's.
Mini Taco Pizza's (makes 12 mini pizzas)
1 Package whole wheat English muffins
1 pound ground beef (chicken or ground turkey are good as well)
1 package taco seasoning (we like simply organic)
Salsa (you can make your own or we like Newman's Own Salsa)
Shredded Cheddar cheese (we like extra sharp)
sliced black olives (I leave these off mine I am not an olive lover but all my kids adore them)
toppings of your choice such as guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, beans etc.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350, brown meat and follow directions on taco seasoning.
Split English muffins and spread about a table spoon of salsa over them, then cover with beef, then cheese & place olive slices on top. Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until cheese in well melted. Then add what ever toppings you like. By placing the cheese over the beef you cut down on pieces of greasy meat hitting your nice clean floors.
With out additional toppings added you can freeze these and you can pop them in the toaster oven for a nice afternoon snack. Or even defrost and warm up in the oven on a cookie sheet. My kids like these as is with out the extra toppings. I like to double or triple most of my recipes so that on nights when we need something quick I have a few go to favorites on hand.
Mini Taco Pizza's (makes 12 mini pizzas)
1 Package whole wheat English muffins
1 pound ground beef (chicken or ground turkey are good as well)
1 package taco seasoning (we like simply organic)
Salsa (you can make your own or we like Newman's Own Salsa)
Shredded Cheddar cheese (we like extra sharp)
sliced black olives (I leave these off mine I am not an olive lover but all my kids adore them)
toppings of your choice such as guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, beans etc.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350, brown meat and follow directions on taco seasoning.
Split English muffins and spread about a table spoon of salsa over them, then cover with beef, then cheese & place olive slices on top. Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until cheese in well melted. Then add what ever toppings you like. By placing the cheese over the beef you cut down on pieces of greasy meat hitting your nice clean floors.
With out additional toppings added you can freeze these and you can pop them in the toaster oven for a nice afternoon snack. Or even defrost and warm up in the oven on a cookie sheet. My kids like these as is with out the extra toppings. I like to double or triple most of my recipes so that on nights when we need something quick I have a few go to favorites on hand.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Make it Monday (lunches)
Taking a moment here to talk about lunch. School lunches are pretty well BAD. Watch Jamie Oliver's food revolution if you don't believe me. I don't even know the cost of a school lunch but I recall in my day they where a $1 and well.. you get what you pay for. The schools have tried to improve and make more healthy options. Of course moms lunch is always going to be better. Packing 3 lunches a night for children with different request can be a bit daunting but doable!
I LOVE my kids lunch boxes its easy and fun. laptop lunch boxes are well worth the purchase. I try to cover the basics with lunch while making it fun & healthy at the same time. Protein, fruit/vegetable & grains and the occasional treat are the basics here. I am lucky that my kids see fruits or fruit leathers as treats and they are not expecting twinkies.
Now packing lunches if well planned can be a very smooth process. I like to plan a few days in advance and I like to cook things in groups for example I might make banana muffins, banana waffles, banana leathers and banana pudding all at once to use up bananas. Now I wouldn't want to over kill them on bananas all in one week so I think about things that freeze well to. I also know that kids bore easily with the same old sandwiches and salads so I try to think of new things. Sandwich's can be very versatile make them on bread, pancakes, waffles, wraps, pitas, english muffins, bagels etc. You can change up salads to My husbands makes an awesome cilantro lime dressing which is wonderful on spinach salad with craisens. YUM. My older daughter loves Cesar salad. Just take a walk through your produce section and inspiration will find you.
I LOVE my kids lunch boxes its easy and fun. laptop lunch boxes are well worth the purchase. I try to cover the basics with lunch while making it fun & healthy at the same time. Protein, fruit/vegetable & grains and the occasional treat are the basics here. I am lucky that my kids see fruits or fruit leathers as treats and they are not expecting twinkies.
Now packing lunches if well planned can be a very smooth process. I like to plan a few days in advance and I like to cook things in groups for example I might make banana muffins, banana waffles, banana leathers and banana pudding all at once to use up bananas. Now I wouldn't want to over kill them on bananas all in one week so I think about things that freeze well to. I also know that kids bore easily with the same old sandwiches and salads so I try to think of new things. Sandwich's can be very versatile make them on bread, pancakes, waffles, wraps, pitas, english muffins, bagels etc. You can change up salads to My husbands makes an awesome cilantro lime dressing which is wonderful on spinach salad with craisens. YUM. My older daughter loves Cesar salad. Just take a walk through your produce section and inspiration will find you.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Spicy Sunday (Jambalaya Rice Cakes)
When cooking for my crew I have a lot of different needs to meet. Their is always one kid in the bunch it seems that is really picky and doesn't like anything or like to try new things. We call her Aria lol. She does love Jambalaya so we make it often. However giving rice to a 21mth old is asking for a huge mess of rice everywhere. I had to think on this. How can I make this family favorite with less mess for mom to clean up after wards. And then it hit me and Jambalaya rice cakes where born. These are by no means mess free but it's much easier to clean up little chucks of rice cakes then individual grains of rice. This recipe is so loved though most of it goes from plate to belly which makes me a happy mama.
Jambalaya Rice Cakes.
You Can use zaternas however its loaded with sodium and other unhealthily additives. Or you can use your Favorite Jambalaya recipe
1 pound smoked sausage or kielbasi sliced and cubed (you want small pieces that are toddler friendly)
2 green peppers diced
1 onion diced
3-5 garlic cloves minced (depends on how much you like)
2 cans diced tomatoes
1TBSs chili powder
1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
5 whole bay leaves
1 can tomato paste (small can 6 oz I think?)
1 cup uncooked brown rice (you can use if you like)
1/2 cup chicken stock or broth (more inf needed to thin out some)
in a large skillet over med heat cook sausage, onion, peppers, and garlic (do this until sausage is starting to crisp and onions are translucent)
stir in remaining ingredients except for broth, rice & tomato paste simmer with lid on for about 15-20 mins. then add tomato paste, rice & broth and simmer for 20 more minutes you may need to add more broth to thin out you don't want it to be 2 wet though..
Now for cakes
you will need to allow your rice to cool a bit (I stick it in the freezer lol)
for this part you will need 2 slightly beaten eggs & 1/2 cup bread crumbs, and oil to cook (we use whole wheat bread crumbs)
simply mix in the eggs and bread crumbs into the rice. heat some oil on med/high heat in the skillet use a 1/4 measuring cup to form rice cakes. this is the perfect size for the cakes and simply brown each side for 2-3 minutes. Jambalaya of course is fine on its own but this is a little twist on it that kids love because you can just pick them up and eat them.
this makes about 12-14 cakes and they do freeze well so I generally will double or triple this recipe.
enjoy!
**also you can reduce the amount of spices to 1/4 tsp if you have milder taste buds, my 21 month old loves these as is but not all toddlers have the same likes**
Jambalaya Rice Cakes.
You Can use zaternas however its loaded with sodium and other unhealthily additives. Or you can use your Favorite Jambalaya recipe
1 pound smoked sausage or kielbasi sliced and cubed (you want small pieces that are toddler friendly)
2 green peppers diced
1 onion diced
3-5 garlic cloves minced (depends on how much you like)
2 cans diced tomatoes
1TBSs chili powder
1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
5 whole bay leaves
1 can tomato paste (small can 6 oz I think?)
1 cup uncooked brown rice (you can use if you like)
1/2 cup chicken stock or broth (more inf needed to thin out some)
in a large skillet over med heat cook sausage, onion, peppers, and garlic (do this until sausage is starting to crisp and onions are translucent)
stir in remaining ingredients except for broth, rice & tomato paste simmer with lid on for about 15-20 mins. then add tomato paste, rice & broth and simmer for 20 more minutes you may need to add more broth to thin out you don't want it to be 2 wet though..
Now for cakes
you will need to allow your rice to cool a bit (I stick it in the freezer lol)
for this part you will need 2 slightly beaten eggs & 1/2 cup bread crumbs, and oil to cook (we use whole wheat bread crumbs)
simply mix in the eggs and bread crumbs into the rice. heat some oil on med/high heat in the skillet use a 1/4 measuring cup to form rice cakes. this is the perfect size for the cakes and simply brown each side for 2-3 minutes. Jambalaya of course is fine on its own but this is a little twist on it that kids love because you can just pick them up and eat them.
this makes about 12-14 cakes and they do freeze well so I generally will double or triple this recipe.
enjoy!
**also you can reduce the amount of spices to 1/4 tsp if you have milder taste buds, my 21 month old loves these as is but not all toddlers have the same likes**
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Kitchen full of Kids!!
I decided to start a new blog devoted to being a mom. As we all know this is a full time job. 90% of my days are spent with my 4 beautiful daughters. Truly they are a handful but they bring so much joy. We do a lot of cooking and my girls are the best little sous chefs. Even my 1 year old loves to pour and stir ingredients. Cooking healthy and nutritious meals that are family friendly is a passion of mine. With 4 very opinionated children finding the right balance is key. You can't please everyone all the time but I sure try. My husband is a chef so that brings a lot to the kitchen however after cooking delicious meals for others all day long he often doesn't want to "work" at home. This forced me to start learning how to cook more than boxed meals and spaghetti. Now this blog wont be just about cooking but a vast majority will be. My hope is that I can help other Mothers make cooking easy & fun with their children. I hope you enjoy this blog and find some helpful things.
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