As a parent you try to make your kids happy especially when it comes to meal time. You and your spouse however wonder how you could stand another meal of hot dogs or hamburgers. If you decide something different like a spicy dish, your kids will rebel.
You need to realize that you and your kids are not the same age. They will develop tastes for different foods over a period of time. Think about it. Did you like every meal that was placed in front of you when you were a kid? I’m sure that your answer is no.
At meal time you may want to fix healthy dishes despite your kids craving for fatty foods and sweets but not sure how to. Don’t worry help is on the way. It is possible to serve healthy dishes that interest your kids.
Kids’ meal – buttered noodles with roasted chicken. Adults’ meal – brown butter with roasted chicken and pasta covered with Mizithra cheese.
Kids’ meal – cheese and ham sandwiches (grilled/cold). Adults’ meal – Reuben sandwiches.
Encourage kids to help prepare the dishes. Kids are always eager to get their hands dirty and they will show off their end result proudly. Finally meal time has become a happy time. Adults get to see their kids eating healthier and they don’t have to indulge in their greasy habits. Kids get to eat something they helped prepare and they can finally sit down to a meal that they like.
Here are a few great website resources for parents of picky eaters:
Does your picky eater have a favorite meal you’d like to share with our readers? Do you have a tips for parents of picky eaters? Leave it in the comments below.
Sebastian trying a Rice Krispies Treats star with raspberry sorbet filling
As you may know, I am a Rice Krispies brand ambassador and am participating in Rice Krispies latest Recipe Challenge along with 9 other great bloggers. We have been asked to come up with a Rice Krispies Treats(TM) recipe that includes something refrigerated or frozen – and the winning recipe will be featured on www.RiceKrispies.com and on the Rice Krispies® Facebook page!
Our recipes are due by June 24th, but because I am leaving for Orlando Tuesday, my kids and I worked for about 6 hours Sunday.. no kidding, making several Rice Krispies Treats recipes. The kids didn’t complain.. in fact Sebastian loved being a Rice Krispies Treats taste tester and Madelyn loved stirring the gooey marshmallow mixture and cutting out the star shapes with the cookie cutters.
Rice Krispies Treats are an experience.. not a snack, to me. When I want a snack I grab some Cheddar Bunnies but when I want a treat.. something special.. I want a Rice Krispies Treat or ice cream..or a swiss cake roll..or all three. Ok, I have to stop! When I was asked to be a Rice Krispies brand ambassador for their current Rice Krispies Treats Recipe challenge I was excited, nervous, and happy. Happy mostly because this gives me a REASON an EXCUSE for making tons of Rice Krispies Treats and did I ever! I went through almost all of our glass plates, spoons, knives, and wax paper in the last 6 hours.
I get to submit only one of my Rice Krispies Treats recipes and I can’t decide which one to submit so I’m letting my readers decide for me –thank you very much! 🙂
So here are my 3 Rice Krispies Treats recipes:
#1 – Rice Krsipies Treats bowl with chocolate rim, raspberry sorbet, cool whip, and fresh berries
Make Rice Krispies Treats as usual
Melt 3 tablespoons butter in large pan on medium heat
Mix marshmallows in and stir constantly until completely melted
Remove from heat
Stir in 6 cups Rice Krispies
Transfer mix into a pan coated with cooking spray – let cool
When Rice Krispies Treats are cool, line a small glass bowl with 1/2 thick layer of Rice Krispies Treats
Push firmly to pack Rice Krispies Treats into bowl and make sure there aren’t any holes
Melt chocolate candy in microwave or in double boiler
Take Rice Krispies Treats bowl out of glass bowl – the Rice Krispies Treats bowl should be firm and cool by now
Dip Rice Krispies Treats bowl into the melted chocolate to cover the rim
Fill the inside of the Rice Krispies Treat bowl with raspberry sorbet (substitute with your favorite flavor sorbet, frozen yogurt, or ice cream)
Top with Cool Whip, strawberries, and blueberries
Garnish the plate with fresh fruit and serve
#1 - Rice Krsipies Treats bowl with chocolate rim, raspberry sorbet, cool whip, and fresh berries
#2 – Rice Krispies Treats stars with raspberry sorbet, cool whip and fresh fruit
Make Rice Krispies Treats as usual
Melt 3 tablespoons butter in large pan on medium heat
Mix marshmallows in and stir constantly until completely melted
Remove from heat
Stir in 6 cups Rice Krispies
Separate Rice Krispies Treats mix into two 13×9 inch pans to make two thin layers
Refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour – not necessary, but keeps the sorbet from melting quickly
Cut Rice Krispies Treats with star shaped cookie cutter and put stars on wax paper
Coat 1/2 of the Rice Krispies Treats stars with raspberry sorbet (substitute with your favorite flavor, ice cream, or frozen yogurt)
Place a star on top of the sorbet covered Rice Krispies Treats stars
Top with Cool Whip, strawberries, and blueberries
Garnish the plate with fresh fruit and serve
#2 - Rice Krispies Treats stars with raspberry sorbet, cool whip and fresh fruit
#3 –Rice Krsipies Treats bowl covered with chocolate, filled with vanilla ice cream, topped with cool whip, and fresh berries
Make Rice Krispies Treats as usual
Melt 3 tablespoons butter in large pan on medium heat
Mix marshmallows in and stir constantly until completely melted
Remove from heat
Stir in 6 cups Rice Krispies
Transfer mix into a pan coated with cooking spray – let cool
When Rice Krispies Treats are cool, line a small glass bowl with 1/2 thick layer of Rice Krispies Treats
Push firmly to pack Rice Krispies Treats into bowl and make sure there aren’t any holes
Melt chocolate candy in microwave or in double boiler
Take Rice Krispies Treats bowl out of glass bowl and place on a plate right side up – the Rice Krispies Treats bowl should be firm and cool by now
Use a spatula to cover the outside and rim of Rice Krispies Treats bowl with melted chocolate
Place Rice Krispies Treats bowl, on a plate, in freezer to set for about 15 minutes – do not put the Rice Krispies Treats bowl back in a glass bowl yet!
Take out of the freezer and place Rice Krispies Treats bowl back into the glass bowl
Fill the inside of the Rice Krispies Treat bowl with vanilla ice cream (substitute with your favorite flavor sorbet, frozen yogurt, or ice cream)
Top with strawberries and blueberries and serve
#3 - Rice Krispies Treats bowl covered with chocolate, filled with ice cream, and topped with Cool Whip and fresh fruit
Disclosure: This is part of a paid campaign sponsored by Rice Krispies® cereal.
Which of these Rice Krispies Treats recipes looks yummiest to you? Please tell me in the comments below.
Add a Touch of Luxury to Mother’s Day with these sweet and simple treats that provide a welcome change from traditional gifts.
Wow Mom on her special day with these simple (and sweet!) homemade gifts. With just a few ingredients and easy to follow instructions, both treats can be made easily even by young children – with just a little supervision from Dad. And, because they contain Nielsen-Massey Vanilla, the finest pure vanilla in the world, the gifts will give Mom the touch of luxury she deserves.
Used by professional chefs in the world’s most acclaimed kitchens, Nielsen-Massey Vanilla has a delicate and distinctive flavor and aroma.
Whether in a creamy dessert or a luscious body scrub, Nielsen-Massey Vanilla will let Mom know just how much she is loved.
Pots de Crème
For a creamy, sweet dessert that is quick and easy to assemble, try chocolate Pots de Crème featuring Nielsen-Massey Vanilla. With just five ingredients and three steps, it is a simple but delicious dish that school-age children can prepare with help from Dad.
Ingredients:
1 pkg. (6 oz.) chocolate chips
3/4 c. milk 1 egg
Dash of salt
1 tsp. Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions:
With help from an adult, scald the milk on the stovetop. (Scald milk by heating it in a sauce pan until it is almost boiling.) Remove from the stove.
Put all the other ingredients in a blender, chocolate chips first. Add the hot milk last. Blend on high for 2 minutes.
Pour immediately into 4 or 5 small cups, dividing equally. Put cups in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or more.
Top with whipped cream just before serving.
Note: For an added chocolate flavor, add Nielsen-Massey Pure Chocolate Extract to the whipped cream to taste.
Mom’s Sweet Treat Vanilla Body Scrub
Younger children can help assemble this Mother’s Day spa-at-home treat that adds luxury – without calories! This luscious body scrub will show Mom how much she’s appreciated, and the calming scent of vanilla will make Mother’s Day the relaxing day she deserves.
Ingredients:
1 Cup Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 or 2 drops of an essential oil such as lavender, eucalyptus, etc.
Decorative, waterproof container
Instructions:
Mix ingredients together in a bowl.
Spoon into a decorative, waterproof container.
Wrap in decorative paper.
Instructions for use: Apply a small amount to damp skin while in shower or bath. Gently scrub skin with a soft washcloth. Rinse thoroughly.
Enjoy these great recipes from Nielsen-Massey Vanilla!
Along with back to school time comes birthday parties, school functions and holiday events calling for home baked cupcakes. I’ve already made one batch for the new families picnic at my daughter’s preschool. One thing I’ve learned from my first cupcake experience is that you need the right tools to make cupcake baking and decorating an efficient and fun experience. Of course you can pay $3 a pop for the bakery made cupcakes, but you can also buy the pre-made mixes from LA’s Sprinkles Bakery. They are famous for their red velvet cupcakes and the cupcake mix is sold at Williams Sonoma.
I’ve found that using the correct tip for icing and decorating can save time and frustration. For perfectly swirled frosting that is peaked at the top use a Wilton tip #1M. Wilton has instructions for everything you wanted to know about cupcake decorating here. Another essential for icing cupcakes is an offset spatula. It has a small bend that gives you the correct angle for applying the frosting. It has made my cupcake experiences so much more enjoyable. Once you’ve decorated your fabulous cupcakes you’ll want to transport them safely. A quality cupcake carrier will keep your cupcakes from getting smashed or falling over.
Get 15% off purchases at Williams Sonoma with coupon codes here.
Playing with kids can be a chore for parents. Kids play by their own rules and often with toys that are missing pieces which gets very frustrating for me. If you are looking for something more structured, fun, and educational to do with your young kids, look no further than Kids Central Kitchen. My kids LOVE to help me cook and love the end result even more.
Kids Central Kitchen has 7 different baking mixes including Flap Jacks, Propellar Energy Bars (my favorite), and Brownies.
You provide minimal ingredients, mostly water, milk, oil, and/or yogurt and the rest is in the baking mix.
These baking mixes provide an easy, fun way for older kids to work on basic skills like measuring and reading.
Simple yes, full of yummy delicious flavor.. yes!
You'll also find kitchen utensils, bakeware, and baking supplies at Kids Central Kitchen and while you're there check out the Kids Baking Party in a Box!
COUPON CODE: MOMMY15 – get 15% off your order (expires 12/31/09)
GIVEAWAY:One lucky reader will win a $25 Kids Central Kitchen gift certificate! Leave a comment below telling me what color the BIG mixing bowl on the Kids Central Kitchen homepage is and your email address will be entered in the giveaway drawing! GET TWO ENTRIES when you tell me a short story about a funny cooking experience you've had in the comments area below.
As a parent you try to make your kids happy especially when it comes to meal time. You and your spouse however wonder how you could stand another meal of hot dogs or hamburgers. If you decide something different like a spicy dish, your kids will rebel.
Mom’s Sweet Treat Vanilla Body Scrub