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Interesting Healthy Food Recipes for Your Kids

Veggie Pizzas

Kids love food, but to get the right nutrients into their body, it is important to make food look interesting. Mix some old recipes, add some quirky spins to your traditional dishes to create some tasty food items. Here is a list of ideas that you could use to make some healthy recipes for your children. Make tasty lunches and healthy dinners without spending more than half an hour preparing them in the kitchen. Read along to find out more:

(1) Oatmeal Pancakes with a twist of Banana

When you add bananas and walnuts to your pancake mix, the sodium content decreases, which keeps the blood pressure in check, preventing your kid from developing any heart diseases when he/she grows ups. You can sprinkle some confectioners’ sugar over those pancakes, and you wouldn’t need syrup. Instead of frying your pancakes on a sauté pan, you could bake them to give them a healthy twist.

(2) Veggie Pizzas of Personal Sizes

Add a lot of healthy vegetables, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, sweet corn, baby corn, etc. to bake crispy and golden crust and add a lot of sauce. Reinvent your pizza recipes into a savory meal. Slow cook the pizza to simmer all the tastes into one brilliant dish. Trust me, it will leave your entire family licking the plate, wanting for more.

(3) You might also want to try out some baked oatmeal, adding some fruits to taste. You could add tart apple, peaches, blueberries, etc.

(4) Apart from the personal pizzas, you can also try pizza wraps, with pepperoni placed in center of the tortilla and add some baked vegetables. Roll up along with the fillings and fold the sides. You could invite your kids into the kitchen to help you with the dinner.

(5) Which kid doesn’t like creamy mac ‘n’ cheese? Add some fresh vegetables to the mac ‘n’ cheese box and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. You could serve this creamy macaroni and cheese along with chicken roasted for an hour and maybe freshly steamed and salted veggies. This will be a complete package for dinner.

Try these finger smacking dishes, leaving the kids wanting for more. A little salt, a little spice, lot of vegetables and some chicken can help you create a fabulous meal for a really healthy dinner.

Come on, go to the store, get the ingredients today!




What all to Make for your Kid’s Playdate

Kids playdate

Food is an important aspect of any playdate. As a parent you have to make sure that your kids don’t go hungry while they are mingling with their friends. Because they won’t be able to make good friends on an empty stomach. So we bring to you a list of items that you could make to make the date a little more interesting. Bake away my dear readers, bake away.

  • Chocolate hazelnut cookies

Who doesn’t like cookies? You could also include your kids and your neighbors kids in the process of baking. Baking is a stress reliever. Let the kids roll out the cookies into their favourite shapes. Garnish with deliciously hot chocolate syrup.

  • Banana cake

Banana can be a healthy source of nutrition and energy for your growing kids. They need the right nutrition to give their best. Take mashed bananas, butter, vanilla and eggs to bake a delicious, sweet, healthy dessert to light up their day.

  • Black forest brownies

Another chocolate extravaganza that will accelerate the level of excitement among the kids. Ooh! Yeah! Pair it with some fruits like kiwi or cherry to give it a healthy twist.

  • Candy biscuits

Kids should have something to munch on so that their tummies are full and their attention is focused on having a joyous day. Hunger shouldn’t come in the way of fun. Candy biscuits are the the solution to all your problems.

  • Garlic bread

Now it is not necessary that every kid has a sweet tooth. To satiate the needs of everyone present you need to include salty savories to your menu of your kid’s playdate. Garlic breads are easy to make and tasty to eat.

  • Nachos

Nachos is an healthy snacking option because it is made of corn flour.Healthy nachos can be turned even healthier and tasty by making a salad by adding leafy green lettuce, luscious sweet corns and broccoli. This could be a way through which you can add some veggies to your kid’s daily diet.

  • Pasta

You all of heard and eaten the yummy red and white pasta. But have you ever tried mixing them? No. Mix the red sauce pasta and the white sauce pasta and add some healthy, sauteed veggies. Sprinkle it with some fresh basil and oregano to get the best ever pasta that you would have tried.

  • Strawberry smoothie

Include this deliciously fresh and healthy beverage to your kid’s diet to quench their thirst.

Choose from any of the above mentioned sweets and snacks to organize a wonderful playdate for your kids.




A Passion for Paleo: Decadent Desserts That Won’t Derail Your Diet

The Paleo Diet has become more and more popular over the years, and for good reason. The basic tenet of the diet is that you eat as our ancestors did: meats, vegetables, and unprocessed foods. The upshot to this is that you tend to eat “cleaner” on the diet than normal, which helps cut out preservatives that may be unhealthy for you.

The Paleo Diet also has a somewhat undeserved reputation for not allowing you to eat many sweets. Sugar and some flours are cut out of your diet when you start Paleo, so if you have a sweet tooth, good desserts may be hard to come by. Fortunately, there are recipes out there that you can find and use to make decadent desserts for all occasions. Here are some great ones to try out.Paleo Dessert

These are just a few recipes you can enjoy on the Paleo Diet. There are more you can learn from PaleoHacks.

Cookie Dough Fudge

If you find yourself reaching for the cookie dough before you even give it a chance to bake, you’ll love this recipe. It uses cashews and cinnamon, so it’s nutritious as well as delicious.

What You’ll Need:

Eight tablespoons of ghee, three cups of raw cashews, 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil, ¼ cup coconut flour, ¼ cup melted raw honey, ½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon and one cup of chocolate chips.

Melt the ghee and grind the cashews into meal using a blender or a mortar and pestle. Drizzle the coconut oil into the meal and mix until it turns into a dough. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Place the finished dough in plastic wrap and put in the freezer to chill for about 20 minutes.

Fold the chocolate chips into the chilled dough and then spread it in a nine-by-five inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Place back into the freezer. In another 20 minutes, the fudge should be ready. Cut into 15 pieces and enjoy!

Coconut Ice Creamcoconut is Paleo Friendly

Although our ancient ancestors didn’t have the chance to make ice cream, you can still enjoy the chilled dessert when you’re on the Paleo Diet.

What You’ll Need:

An ice cream machine, two eggs, one teaspoon vanilla extract, two cans of organic coconut milk, ½ cup of maple syrup, ¼ cup of chocolate chips.

Combine the eggs, coconut milk, maple syrup and vanilla using a whisk or a blender. Using an electric blender will make it easier. Pour the combination into your ice cream maker and turn on for 20 minutes. Add the chocolate chips and turn the machine on again for another 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into airtight containers and place in the freezer for about three hours. Once the ice cream sets, enjoy as often as you want to.

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

There’s always room for a great chocolate chunk cookie, even when you’re on a diet. Here’s a tasty recipe that’s easy to make.

What You’ll Need:

One egg, lightly beaten, one teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup coconut milk, ½ cup coconut sugar, one cup almond flour, ¼ cup coconut flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, three ounces of chocolate chunked, and sea salt to sprinkle.

Preheat your oven to 350ºF. In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, coconut oil, coconut sugar and vanilla extract. Then add almond flour, coconut flour and baking soda. Then, add the chocolate chunks and using a spoon or scoop, drop small balls of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in the oven and transfer finished cookies from cooking sheet to a wire rack to cool.

Angel Food Cake

You can bake cakes when you’re on the Paleo Diet! This is a recipe for a light angel food cake that’s good by itself or drizzled with fresh berries.

What You’ll Need:

Twelve large, room temperature eggs, one teaspoon fresh lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, one tablespoon vanilla extract, ¾ cup coconut or maple sugar, 1 ¼ cream of tartar, one cup arrowroot flour, 1 ½ cups cream, whipped.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place egg whites and lemon juice into a mixer and mix for 30 seconds, until foamy. Add the salt, cream of tartar and vanilla. Whip again until soft peaks begin to form.

Add the rest of the ingredients, sifting the flour, and transfer to an ungreased cake pan. Cook for 40 minutes or until a toothpick can be cleanly removed. Cool on a wire rack.

Eleanor Potter loves food, and creating new healthy recipes for her family is her weekend passion. She writes about food, healthy living and shares recipes around the web.




Coconut Lime Chex Mix #Recipe for Spring

Do you know how happy I am to finally see bright blue skies and green grass. Hopefully we won’t see another flake of snow till next winter and the freezing temperatures are gone for good.

It’s spring time.  That means time spent outside, grilling, sitting around the bonfire, enjoying fresher and tastier food and drinks and enjoying the new season.  With these changes come new attitudes and cravings.  I picked up a bag of limes from the farmers market and knew they were just the right thing to get everyone else into the same spirit as me.

Margaritas are always a hit for movie night but I wanted to shake things up a bit by switching out our typically snacks with something more refreshing.  This is where my Coconut Lime Chex Mix happened.Coconut Lime Chex Mix Recipe for Spring

Coconut Lime Chex Mix Recipe for Spring

A little imagination is all that was needed to make this fun and scrumptious treat. I always keep a good supply of ingredients on hand just for these special occasions.

The beauty of Chex Mix is the ability to create your own flavor combination.  Put your favorite tastes together for a delicious sweet or savory snack or even dessert. Coconut Lime Chex Mix Recipe for Spring

Coconut Lime Chex Mix Recipe for Spring

Coconut Lime Chex Mix

Ingredients

  • 6-8 cups Chex Cereal of your choice
  • 3-4 cups air-popped popcorn
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips or vanilla candy melts
  • 4 tbls coconut oil or butter
  • 1-2 tsp fresh lime juice
  • 1  1/2 cups coconut flakes
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tsp fresh lime zest

Directions

In a VERY large or 2 large plastic zipper closure bags add the cereal and popcorn mixture. In a microwaveable bowl or measuring cup melt the butter and chocolate chips till smooth and pourable.  Add the lime juice and immediately pour over the cereal.  Stir, shake and move till it coats as much of the mix as possible.

Add the coconut, sugar and lime zest and give the mixture another good shake or stir.

Let cool, add to large bowl and enjoy.Coconut Lime Chex Mix Recipe for Spring

The white chocolate gives it a little extra sweetness but it can be skipped.  I’d add a touch of vanilla to the melted butter though.

This is making another appearance for our upcoming girls night in as well as Easter dinner.  Come up with your own Chex Mix creations just by adding a little bit of this and little but of that.

What do you think you can come up with if you were given $50 to shop with? A lucky LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! reader will receive one just by simply telling me your favorite flavor combination of Chex Mix either already created or floating around in your creative mind.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above. Please note the changes to the entries and frequency, entries that don’t follow rules may be disregarded/ignored/deleted

  • SUBSCRIBE to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via NEW Email Subscription.
  • COMMENT on a recent Review/Our Life/Our Travels/Our Thoughts post, let us know where to find it
  • FOLLOW @Melinda & @ChexCereal on Twitter and TWEET this giveaway (1 time per day), please leave your twitter link each time: Create your own flavor of #ChexMix using @ChexCereal and #Win $50 GC from @melindababiak http://bit.ly/1Fi4Rhv
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Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Tuesday, April 21, 2015. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Contiguous US residents, age 18 or over. For complete rules please read our blog contest rules page.




Chex Mix Sweet and Spicy Snack for the Holidays

The stress is kicking in. I haven’t done enough prep to be ready for the holidays. I didn’t bake enough cookies, I didn’t make enough gifts, I didn’t assemble enough handmade ornaments. I DID however make another  HUGE batch of Chex Mix. This time I went with a Sweet and Spicy version that would be good for the whole family.  Rob loves spice but I wanted to make sure this one was tame enough for everyone to enjoy.
Chex Mix Sweet and Spicy Snack for the Holidays

Chex Mix is one of those holiday and party staples. It’s easy to whip up and even easier to create a flavor mix that suits the season and the crowd’s tastebuds.Chex Mix Sweet and Spicy Snack for the Holidays

Open up your cabinets and see what you have on hand and start building something that will be a hit for years. Just remember to write down how you made it.

Sweet and Spicy Chex Mix

Ingredients

  • 8 Cups Chex Mix (combo of Corn, Rice and/or Wheat)
  • 1 bag of popped microwave popcorn
  • 2 cups broken garlic bagel chips
  • 3 cups small pretzels
  • 1 cups nuts of choice
  • 4 TBLS butter
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 3 tsp sugar
  • 2 pinches cayenne
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1-2 tsp hot sauce (more if desired)
  • 2 TBLS olive oil

Directions

In a large microwave proof  bowl combine all of cereal, snacks and nuts.  In a small microwave bowl melt the butter and spices together, 30 seconds. Then add olive oil and hot sauce, stir and pour over the snack  mix.

Mix thoroughly with a wooden or rubber spoon to spread the seasoning blend.

Put the large bowl in the microwave for 4-5 minutes stirring thoroughly at each minute interval.

Stir Stir Stir

Allow to cool then enjoy.

*If you want more heat increase the hot sauce and cayenne pepper.

Chex Mix Sweet and Spicy Snack for the Holidays

Chex Mix Sweet and Spicy Snack for the Holidays

Chex Mix Sweet and Spicy Snack for the Holidays

This makes a giant portion, one that will lasts days for our family or for a get together. Package up individual treat bags to give as small gifts for teachers, neighbors or co-workers. Who doesn’t love a snack? If this recipe doesn’t sound good find many more on Chex.com or just click through to these delicious ideas

o   Chex Muddy Buddies (the original!)

o   Cinnamon Cider Chex

o   Peppermint and Chocolate Chex

o   Holiday Caramel Chex

o   Chex Brittle

o   Chocolate Mint Chex Mix

o   Gingerbread Chex Mix

Enter to win a beautiful Party Box (shown below) to use for the holidays and all year. Tell me what your ideal Chex Mix flavor mix will include.Chex Mix Party Box for the Holidays Giveaway

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above. Please note the changes to the entries and frequency, entries that don’t follow rules may be disregarded/ignored/deleted

  • SUBSCRIBE to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via NEW Email Subscription.
  • COMMENT on a recent Review/Our Life/Our Travels/Our Thoughts post, let us know where to find it
  • FOLLOW @Melinda & @ChexCereal on Twitter and TWEET this giveaway (1 time per day), please leave your twitter link each time: For Holidays & Everyday, Chex Mix Party Box #Giveaway from @ChexCereal @anddadtoo @melindababiak 
  • SHARE this giveaway & below image on Google +, leave your link in comments below
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Chex Mix Sweet and Spicy Snack for the Holidays #Giveaway

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Tuesday , January 6, 2015. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Contiguous US residents, age 18 or over. For complete rules please read our blog contest rules page.




Doctor Up Store Bought Ingredients

Creating meals and desserts from scratch might be the the best way to nourish your family but who really has time to home cook every single meal. Even though I work from home, meal plan and enjoy cooking and baking I can’t prepare everything for a meal homemade. When I can I do but when I can’t I doctor up store bought ingredients to make my own. These little cheats are a great way to create meals that are your own but without the hassle of too many pots, pans and ingredients when you’re low on time, budget and even interest.

Doctor Up Store Bought IngredientsI know my family would love the taste of a long, slow simmered tomato sauce for our pasta dishes but I just DON’T want to babysit something like that so I opt for my kitchen hack instead.

Create a wonderfully Spicy Pasta Sauce using what comes in a jar as a base. It’s easy to make it all your own with the addition of herbs, vinegar and browned meats. My little trick is to saute a lot of garlic, 5 cloves, in 1/4 cup of olive oil and 2 tsps of butter over low heat so it doesn’t burn. Let that go for a couple minutes, add 2-3 pinches of red pepper flakes, 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar then your jarred sauce. These couple little steps gives your sauce a whole new depth of flavor with very little effort.Doctor Up Store Bought Ingredients

With Holidays centered around the dining table you want to serve dishes that you are proud of. Boxed Stuffing mix can easily be elevated with the addition of sauteed diced veggies, chopped apples and cooked crumbled sausage. No one has to know you took a shortcut.

Instant Mashed Potatoes are not my favorite dish. I always have them on hand though. They make a delicious thickener for soups and stews and bulk up homemade smashed potatoes when I’m short on ingredients but making them taste good on their own takes a few extra steps.  Start with a flavorful stock instead of water and don’t be afraid to increase the butter to 4 tbls as well as 1/4 cup of sour cream. To get an extra creamy feel skip them milk and go for heavy cream.  Doctor Up Store Bought Ingredients

While we LOVE to use our smoker for pulled pork and wings and brisket I’m not big on BBQ Sauce. That doesn’t mean everyone else in my house isn’t. This means we always have bottled stuff in the house. This is one of the simpler things to spruce up.  With the addition of hot sauce, honey, Worcestershire and molasses you can prepare something that no one will ever expect came out of a bottle.

Homemade baked goods are the best things are earth, that is until it is you having to make them. There was a time when I loved baking cakes from scratch but these days I just don’t have the time. This goes for Frosting. Buy  what you can from the store and give a simple vanilla flavor a new life with the addition of 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, pinch of sea salt and a drizzle of heavy cream.  Chocolate frosting can be made better with non other than MORE chocolate. Mix 1/4 cup melted chocolate and 1/2 cup powdered sugar till you get the right consistency.  For a more gourmand experience top your sweets with chopped nuts, coconut or even chocolate chips.

A $.69 box of corn muffin mix is hard to pass up so don’t. With the addition of a 6oz plain or vanilla yogurt you’ll end up with a sweeter moist Cornbread.Doctor Up Store Bought Ingredients

If you went through all the trouble of making a beautiful roast chicken you should also serve a delicious Gravy on the side. Start with caramelized chopped onions and garlic, crushed thyme and pan drippings and top that off with a jarred gravy of choice to ensure you have plenty.

There was a time when Shae didn’t like my homemade mac and cheese. This broke my heart but she was little so I knew it would just take a little time to change her taste buds. In order to get the rest of the family to eat boxed Mac and Cheese I doctored it up by adding 1/2 cup shredded cheese and whole milk. This 2 little changes make a huge difference, enough to get the rest of the family to eat it once in a while. For a bigger treat top the prepared dish with bread crumbs and toss under the broiler for 2-4 minutes for a crisp crust.

This are just some of the shortcuts we take on our home. What do you do to get through meal time when time is of the essence? What is your best kitchen hack?




Coconut Almond Cranberry Granola Recipe

With the influx of holiday goodies coming up I’m trying to get ahead of the game and stock the house with healthy meal and snack options as well as cute & inexpensive handmade gifts for neighbors, teachers and friends. Breakfast is a great way to start so we made this Coconut, Cranberry and Almond Granola. They kids have been eating it on yogurt, ice cream and even dry from a bowl as an afternoon snack.

Coconut Almond Cranberry Granola Recipe

Granola is so simple and so easily customized to a family’s tastebuds. We used to make it weekly so that Rob and the kids had a healthy breakfast and snack option. We’d switch out the nuts and flavorings so it wasn’t the same old thing week after week. I’ve shared other granola recipes here to give you an idea of how easy to change it up.

Coconut Almond Cranberry Granola Recipe

This is one of our favorites by far. I love the chewiness of the cranberries, they get a toasty flavor from baking but they can be added later in the baking process or even at the end if you want something more tart. Switch them out for dried cherries for a really tasty treat. We can’t find dried cherries all the time so they’re treated like a gold when we do.

Coconut, Cranberry & Almond Granola

Ingredients

  • 4 cups old fashioned oats (not quick cooking)
  • 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup vegetable or coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 300°

Toss together oats, coconut, almonds and cranberries in a large bowl. In a glass measuring cup slightly warm the oil and honey in the microwave for 15-25 seconds just so the honey flows freely.

Add the vanilla to the oil and honey mixture and pour over the oats. With a wooden or silicone spoon thoroughly mix the ingredients so all of the oats are coated. This step take a minute or two.

Pour this out on a baking sheet in an even layer and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 8-10 minutes. Your granola should be golden brown.

Remove from oven, spread onto a sheet of parchment to cool and it will be crunchy and ready to eat in 10 minutes.

Coconut Almond Cranberry Granola Recipe

Pour the granola in jars and decorate with ribbon and tags and gift our to anyone that eats 🙂 I especially like this idea as hostess gifts for those that are putting on elaborate parties or dinners. Who wants to cook the next day? Add the granola along with a gorgeous bouquet or bottle of wine and be known as the unique and useful gift giver.Coconut Almond Cranberry Granola Recipe




Creamy Pumpkin Dip Recipe #kidsinthekitchen

With Thanksgiving right around the corner I’m thinking of what we’re going to cook and prepare. Honestly I don’t even know if I’m hosting it. I do know that i want to make a few desserts. Rob likes my pumpkin cheesecake and the kids LOVE Pumpkin Dip.Creamy Pumpkin Dip Recipe Kids in the Kitchen , Cooking with Kids, Thanksgiving Dessert

So Shae and I experimented with a new recipe for pumpkin dip to see if it is good enough for Thanksgiving. It was.  Adding everything into the mixer is always Shae’s job. This time though she learned how to use the can opener. She struggled a little but it’s another kitchen task she has down now.Creamy Pumpkin Dip Recipe Kids in the Kitchen , Cooking with Kids, Thanksgiving Dessert

Creamy Pumpkin Dip

Ingredients

  • 8oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 15oz can pumpkin puree
  • 1tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp clove
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg

Directions

Over medium speed whip the cream cheese till soft and slowly add the sugars till blended.

Add pumpkin puree and spices and mix till combined, scraping down the sides as needed.

Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. Serve with ginger snaps, graham crackers, apple slices, vanilla wafers or any other cookie or fruit.

Creamy Pumpkin Dip Recipe Kids in the Kitchen , Cooking with Kids, Thanksgiving DessertWhat’s on your menu for Thanksgiving?

Come join me and my co-hosts, Paula at Frosted Fingers, Sara at Sensibly Sara, Kate of Busy Bee Kate & Jeannette of EcoIncognito each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

You’ll find these and many more ideas for healthful and unique food fun on the #KidsintheKitchen Pinterest Board.

Follow Melinda Babiak’s board #KidsintheKitchen on Pinterest.

Linky Rules, #kidsinthekitchen
#KidsintheKitchen Weekly Linky






Cheesecake Pastry Pockets #kidsinthekitchen

Now that Halloween is over we’re emerging from our candy coma and enjoying some simple baking again. This past week we’ve had homemade carrot cake, mini peanut butter cookies and these Cheesecake Pasty Pockets. Shae of course took the reins on this dish and made it her own.Cheesecake Pastry Pockets #kidsinthekitchen #cookingwithkids

If it were up to me I would’ve added chopped frozen strawberries to the cheesecake filling, or served with a fruity dipping sauce OR dipped them in a melted chocolate sauce.

Making these was easy but even easier when you use premade pastry dough. These Goya discs are a great size, don’t need cutting, rolling or any prep.

Cheesecake Pastry Pockets

Ingredients

  • 8oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/3 cup plus 2 tbls of sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • pastry dough, thawed

Directions

In the bowl of a mixer beat cream cheese & 1/3 cup sugar till combined.  Add egg yolk, vanilla and salt and blend till smooth.

Add a heaping spoonful of cream cheese mixture to each pastry dough and fold and pinch closed.

Top with additional sugar sprinkle and bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes till golden brown.

Serve room temperature, topped with powdered sugar, fruit or caramel sauce.

Cheesecake Pastry Pockets #kidsinthekitchen #cookingwithkids

Cheesecake Pastry Pockets #kidsinthekitchen #cookingwithkidsShae had a little trouble with speed. She knew she had to be quick after adding the cheesecake filling so she could fold the dough.  I helped reinforce the pinch when she was done so we didn’t have any major catastrophes.Cheesecake Pastry Pockets #kidsinthekitchen #cookingwithkids

She’s really good at working the mixer lately. She’s learning how to lower the mixing head more gently and click the speed toggle one notch at a time. She’s so cute as she’s counting and measuring.Cheesecake Pastry Pockets #kidsinthekitchen #cookingwithkids

Cheesecake Pastry Pockets
Come join me and my co-hosts, Paula at Frosted Fingers, Sara at Sensibly Sara, Kate of Busy Bee Kate & Jeannette of EcoIncognito each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

You’ll find these and many more ideas for healthful and unique food fun on the #KidsintheKitchen Pinterest Board.

Follow Melinda Babiak’s board #KidsintheKitchen on Pinterest.

Linky Rules, #kidsinthekitchen

#KidsintheKitchen Weekly Linky






Potato, Mushroom & Sausage Bake Recipe

mom it forward It’s takes a drastic weather change to come up with new meal ideas. The cool weather that crept up on us the past couple of weeks brought on thoughts of layered casseroles, hearty soups, warm breads and sinful desserts. This latest meal, Potato, Mushroom and Sausage Bake hit the spot on a particular windy and rainy day.Potato, Mushroom & Sausage Bake Recipe #BringHillshireHome #ad

Shopping for ingredients is always fun but going out to the store in the rain isn’t what I wanted to do. I scoured my fridge and pantry for those just right items to warm up our bellies.Potato, Mushroom & Sausage Bake Recipe #BringHillshireHome #ad

Potato, Mushroom & Sausage Bake Recipe #BringHillshireHome #ad

Sausage of all kinds is one of our favorite meats. We grill it, saute it, crumble it on pizza and even roast it over the campfire. It made sense to create a meal surrounding it. Jimmy Dean Sausage is a staple in our house so with a roll of their Premium Pork Regular Sausage (Sage Sausage would be great too) and basic ingredients I made a meal that the family loved.

Potato, Mushroom & Sausage Bake

Ingredients

  • Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage Roll
  • 3 lbs potatoes, cut into 2″ cubes
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 1 lb baby Portobello mushrooms
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/4 red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 water
  • 1 cup finely chopped granny smith apple
  • salt, pepper, garlic powder as needed

Directions

In a large stock pot over medium heat cook & crumble Jimmy Dean sausage.
Remove & drain sausage and set aside. Wipe pan of excess liquid or fat. In same pan saute celery, onions, mushrooms and thyme till just tender.
Remove veggies and set aside.
In same pot, add potatoes, salt, pepper, garlic powder & water, cover pot and cook for 10 minutes over low heat.
Add red wine vinegar to deglaze pan and scrape up bits cooked onto pan. Stir in sausage, veggies and apple.
Transfer to large casserole dish and bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes at 350°.
Top should be golden brown and crisp.
Serve with steamed veggies of choice for a balanced dinner with the family.

****Don’t leave out the apple. It provides a touch of sweet and tart that goes perfectly with the saltiness of the sausage.Potato, Mushroom & Sausage Bake Recipe #BringHillshireHome #ad

Potato, Mushroom & Sausage Bake Recipe #BringHillshireHome #ad 

This served our family of 5 with some leftover. I had the best lunch the next day. This is a great make ahead meal. Do all the steps except baking. Bring to a potluck dinner, new family in the neighborhood or double the recipe to have another meal on hand for those busy holiday shopping days. In fact we keep cooked sausage in our fridge most of the time. It’s a simple way to create a healthy but quick pasta dish or bulk up an omelette for breakfast and of course as our favorite pizza topping.

Shop for Jimmy Dean Sausage at Safeway and don’t forget to grab this coupon and other valuable Hillshire Brands coupons from the Just For U center. Save money on your favorite brands such as Hillshire Farm, Ball Park and State Fair.Jimmy Dean Coupon #BringHillshireHome #ad

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Here are some MORE Hillshire Brand meals to give you some inspiration for tasty, wholesome and delicious meals.

Smoked Sausage with Peppers
Fried Rice
Kielbasa with Apples and Potatoes
Sausage Sliders with Broccoli Slaw
Easy Sausage Jambalaya
Chicago Style HotDogs
Mummy Dogs
Corn and Sausage Chowder

What kind of hearty meals do you prepare for your family in the cooler seasons?