How to Get Your Kids Involved in Preparing Holiday Meals, with Ragu Sauces!

Sharing time in the kitchen is a highlight of holiday meals. Here are a few ideas to get your kids involved in holiday meal preparation using Ragu pizza and pasta sauces!

Pizza Bites are an appetizer kids can help make!
Divide four hamburger buns in half and lay cut side up on a baking sheet.
Spread two tablespoons of Ragu Quick Traditional Pizza Sauce on each portion.
Top with a slice of Provolone cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until bubbly.
Cool slightly and cut each into fourths.

Why not try kid-friendly macaroni-and-cheese as a side dish this holiday?
For a nutritious seasonal twist, cook and coarsely mash a butternut squash.
Combine squash with 3 cups of cooked macaroni and a jar of Ragu Cheesy Double Cheddar Sauce.
Top with 1 cup bread crumbs combined with 2 T.
Parmesan and bake in a 350 degree oven until golden.

Let your children make breadsticks!
Thaw ready made bread dough.
Roll in melted butter and a little garlic powder and bake.
Serve hot with Chunky Ragu Mama’s Special Garden Sauce.

Malfatti, Italian spinach-cheese balls – Your kids will love helping with this recipe!
Cook enough frozen chopped spinach to yield one cup.
Squeeze in a potato ricer until thoroughly drained.
Combine with 1-1/2 cups ricotta cheese, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1 cup bread crumbs, 1 t. basil, and one garlic clove, pressed. Combine.
Chill for 1 hour.
Bring a large pot of water to simmering.
On a heavily floured surface, roll mixture into walnut-sized balls.
Drop into the water and simmer 3-5 minutes until they float.
Lift out with a slotted spoon.
Serve with Ragu Old World Style Marinara sauce.

Make a Santa Pizza!
Spread Ragu Old World Homemade Style Pizza Sauce on a pre-made pizza crust.
Arrange grated mozzarella to form Santa’s hair and beard.
Leave some red showing for his hat and his rosy cheeks.
Use sliced green olives or pepperoni to make his eyes and nose, and other toppings as desired.

Kids enjoy time experimenting in the kitchen with their parents while preparing holiday meals!

Share your favorite recipe that kids can participate in, in the comments below!

Connect with Ragu

Connect with Ragu and the “Moms The Word on Dinner” Ambassadors on Facebook here.
Connect with Ragu on Twitter here

Read my previous Ragu “Moms The Word on Dinner” posts here:

Disclosure: This is part of a campaign for which I am an Ambassador for the Ragú® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program. Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.