ideas for kids

Check out this great site that a friend sent to me, lots of cooking ideas for those with kids of all ages.

http://weelicious.com/

Breakfast on the go

Just made these, i used one packet as suggested then the other pack of rolls in a mini muffins. the mini ones worked out so good. It was part of a Pillsbury bake off contest.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 (8 ounce) cans Pillsbury garlic butter crescent rolls
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
  
• 3 eggs
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 (9 ounce) box spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray muffin cups with Cooking Spray.
2. Separate each can of crescent dough into 8 triangles. Press 1 triangle on bottom and up side of each muffin cup.I used one triangle for two mini's
   
3. In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in onion, spinach, salt and pepper until well mixed. Fold in cheese. Fill each cup to the top with egg mixture (do not overfill).
4. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean and edges of rolls are golden brown. Remove from pan. Serve warm.

Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese

So haven't been putting anything on for a while as quite frankly we don't eat complicated meals anymore. Dave's on his diet and i make all my meals for the kids and i just eat one or the other. Not very organised, but the diet is too restrictive for the kids. Anyway enough rambling, everyone else is eating and with the snow outside i am posting some comfort food. Saw this on Rachael ray yesterday, it looked so good.

The list looks long but basically it's pasta, spinach, artichoke and cheese, with other basics that you probably have. I am making this next pot luck..... All i need is a party

Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese

• Salt
• 1 pound regular or whole wheat penne
• 2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 2 cups milk
• A few grates fresh nutmeg
• 1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and wrung dry in a kitchen towel
• 1 10-ounce box frozen chopped artichokes, defrosted and wrung dry in a kitchen towel
• Ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 cups shredded Italian Fontina cheese, plus additional for sprinkling on top
• 1 1/4 cups grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, plus additional for sprinkling on top

Make pasta

While the pasta is cooking, place a medium pot over medium-low heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons, and the butter. Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook the veggies until very soft, about 10 minutes.

Turn the heat up to medium-high and sprinkle the flour into the pan. Cook for about 1 minute then whisk the wine into the pan, cooking for another minute to burn off the alcohol. Whisk the milk into the pan and bring up to a bubble. Add the nutmeg, veggies, some salt and pepper to the sauce, and simmer until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Add the cheeses to the sauce and stir until melted.

Turn the heat up to medium-high and sprinkle the flour into the pan. Cook for about 1 minute then whisk the wine into the pan, cooking for another minute to burn off the alcohol. Whisk the milk into the pan and bring up to a bubble. Add the nutmeg, veggies, some salt and pepper to the sauce, and simmer until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Add the cheeses to the sauce and stir until melted.

Toss the prepared sauce with the cooked pasta and transfer to a casserole dish. Sprinkle some more Fontina and Parmigiano over the top and bake until the cheese has melted and the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Cake in 5 minutes....

A friend sent me this, haven't tried it yet but thought i would share - cake in 5 minutes, mmmmmm


5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE.
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

Yummy Apple Cake

2¼ cups sugar
1¼ cups oil (or oil substitute)
2 eggs
3 cups flour
2 tsps vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
4 cups apples (peeled 1 tsp salt and diced)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts or almonds

Mix 2 cups sugar, oil, and eggs. In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

Add gradually to first mixture and add vanilla. Fold in apples and half of the nuts.

Place in a 13x9x2-inch greased and floured pan or two 8- or 9-inch round pans.

Sprinkle remaining ½ cup of nuts and ¼ cup of sugar over top. Bake at 325 for about 1 hour.

Cannelloni tubes!

So last week i was making meatballs but the only pasta we had was macaroni and so i came up with this idea instead, tasted good! Use your own meatball recipe or try this one, not very adventurous just what i had in the house really!

1/2 lb ground turkey or beef
1 egg
bread crumbs, about 1/2 a slice
herbs
garlic
1/2 a cup of grated cheese
Lasagne sheets, the flat kind
Pasta Sauce

Mix the turkey meat with the egg, crumbs, herbs garlic and cheese. then divide into the number of tubes you'd like, i made 6 for us, 3 for daddy, 2 for me, 1 for the boy. Roll each bundle of meat into a sausage shape.

Soak the pasta sheets for a few mins in boiling water so they are flexible. then wrap around each sausage. Place in a pan and cover with your favourite sauce.

Bake in oven for about 30 - 45 mins at 375.

Vegetable curry

Another curry recipe. This one is vegetarian, but i add chicken in sometimes. I am busy making this right now for recipe club. Hoping to come back with some yummy recipes too

Vegetable Curry

1 lb onions chopped
14 oz can of diced tomatoes, or can use 1/2 lb fresh
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp coriander
1tsp cumin
1 tsp turmeric
2 cloves garlic
vegetables of choice, cauliflower, carrots, sugar snap peas are all great
optional - raisins

Brown the onion and garlic in a pan, and chicken if you so wish, then add spices and vegetables and allow to simmer for 10 mins. meanwhile cook some rice.

At the very end add the raisins. you can mix in the rice for a biryani type dish or leave it separate.

Easy Curry

I have lots of curry recipes but this one is really quick, you can sub the chicken for veggies of your choice or use both.

1 tspn Olive oil
1 medium onion chopped
3 cloves of garlic
1 lb of chicken
3 tspn Curry Powder
1/2 tspn thyme
16 oz can of stewed tomatoes
1 cup of fat free broth of choice
2 tbspn raisins

Saute onion and garlic in a pan, then add chicken
Once the chicken is cooked add the curry powder and the thyme. and simmer for a few minutes
then add the tomatoes, broth and salt and pepper.
reduce heat and simmer for 20 mins. Cook the rice
add raisins and stir in gently.

Bettycrocker.com

Caribbean Chicken Kabobs

Juicy fresh pineapple chunks and jerk seasoning will turn this chicken dinner into a taste of the tropics. Don’t forget your shades and the sunscreen! Prep Time:15 min Start to Finish:35 min Makes:8 servings

1 3/4	pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1/4	cup vegetable oil
3	tablespoons Caribbean jerk seasoning (dry)
1	small pineapple, rind removed and pineapple cut into 1-inch cubes
1	medium red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1	small red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces

1.	Brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat.
2.	Brush chicken with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Place chicken and jerk seasoning in resealable plastic food-storage bag. Shake bag to coat chicken with seasoning. Thread chicken, pineapple, bell pepper and onion alternately on each of eight 12-inch metal skewers, leaving 1/4-inch space between each piece. Brush kabobs with remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
3.	Cover and grill kabobs over medium heat 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in center. This recipe is from Bettycrocker.com

Crockpot anyone?

OK a different post this time....Do you own a crock pot? I saw an article or two on this women who had had enough and so as a new years resolution she decided she would make a different homemade meal everyday of 2008 in her crockpot and would post an entry on her blog everyday. The blog contains each days recipes and pictures. If you have a moment and are looking for a new idea you should check it out she has all sorts on there including enchiladas, vegetarian and deserts.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Seen as this disappeared rapidly at the recent party thought i better give out the recipe.

Dressing
Juice from one lemon
2 tbspns white wine vinegar
2 tbspns sugar
1 tbspn vegetable oil
1 tspn poppy seeds

Salad
1/4 cup almonds, sliced
8 oz strawberries quartered
cucumber, sliced and quartered
1/4 red onion chopped
6 oz baby spinach.

Combine all the ingredients for dressing and store until ready to serve.

place spinachin a bowl and then add in other ingredients and toss.

Chicken Finger Subs

Ingredients:
Breaded Chicken Fingers
Sub Rolls
Lettuce
Tomato
Provolone Cheese
Blue Cheese Dressing (I prefer Kraft)
Frank's Red Hot Sauce (I don't put this on)
Optional: Onion


Bake chicken fingers according to package. Lightly toast open rolls. Put a generous helping of blue cheese on then provolone cheese, and then all other ingredients. This one is a NY thing. You pretty much can get them at any sub shop by where I grew-up and it is one of my favorite to eat!!!

Raspberry summer drink

3 cups rasp and cranberry juice
2 pints or 1 quart raspberry sorbet
1 litre sprite

let the sorbet sit out to melt slightly then mix altogether and serve.

for extras add some fresh rasberries or a scoop of sorbet on top.

You can easily change it to a lemon or on orange drink too.

Garden pizza

2 packages of refrigerated pizza crust (10 ounces each) or one large pre made pizza dough

1/2 cup mayo

1 package (2 ounce) ranch seasoning and salad dressing mix

1 garlic clove

8 oz grated mozzarella cheese

1 cup broccoli

1 red bell pepper

1 carrot

1/2 cup pitted black olives



roll out dough, i usually make individual pizzas.
In a bowl mix the mayo, garlic and ranch dressing then spread over the pizza base(s).
Add chopped veggies, (i add what ever i have) and the olives and then top with the grated cheese.
Bake in 400F oven for about 20 mins.

Alfredo Sauce

you can easily add just pasta or veggies, some chicken, whatever you have.

1/4 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 1/2 cups freshly grated cheese

Melt butter in a medium pan over a low heat.
Add cream and simmer for 5 mins, then add garlic and cheese and mix together.
Then add any other ingredients

Cashew Nut Roast

tried this the other week it was so good although a little buttery might cut back on it a bit.

2 sticks of Butter ( I would maybe just use 1 1/2 sticks now)
2 large onions, finely chopped
3 cups unroasted cashews
1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
3 large cloves of garlic
1 cup water or vegetable stock
salt and pepper
Italian seasoning, or seasoning of choice

Line a loaf pan, or grease well.

Melt butter in pan and then saute garlic and onions.
Grind the cashews in a food processor with the bread add to the onions, garlic and butter, together with the water or stock, salt, pepper and seasoning.
mix together and heat in oven at 400F for 30 mins.

Lots of Carbs

Crumb Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 vegetable oil

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 egg

½ cup milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix the first 5 ingredients together. Take out 1 ½ cups of the mixture and add 2 teaspoons cinnamon. With the other remaining ingredients, add 1 egg and ½ cup milk, stir. Pour this into a non-greased 8 inch pan and then sprinkle the cinnamon mixture on top. Bake for 25 minutes or until done.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

3 very ripe bananas

1 cup sugar

½ cup butter- softened (do not use margarine)

1 egg

3 tablespoons sour milk

2 cups flour

1 scant teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

¾ cup broken walnuts (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream sugar and butter together, add bananas and beat. Then add egg and milk. Lastly add dry ingredients- mix only until blended. Add nuts last. Bake in 9 in pan for about 30 minutes. Test with toothpick.

(I usually double the recipe and put it in a 13 by 9 in pan for 45 minute-60 minutes.)

Blueberry Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

¾ cup sugar

2 ½ teaspoon baking powder

¾ cup teaspoon salt

¼ cup butter

¾ cup milk

1 egg

2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Topping:

½ cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ cup butter softened

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, grease a 9 inch pan. Blend the first 7 ingredients together. Beat vigorously ½ minutes – stir in berries carefully. In a separate bowl, mix the topping ingredients with a fork or pastry blender until completely crumbly. Spread the batter mixture into a greased 9inch square or round pan, top with topping and bake for 40-50 minutes.

Caramel Corn Recipe (I actually won a school contest on this one!)

1 cup butter

2 cup brown sugar

½ cup light corn syrup

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp. baking soda

6 qt popcorn (I use 3 bags of microwave extra butter popcorn)

Make popcorn and put in a turkey pan or deep pan. Boil the first 4 ingredients without stirring. Take off the heat and add the vanilla and baking soda. Pour over the popcorn and bake at 250 degrees stirring every 15 minutes. Cool on parchment paper and then store in tight container. Enjoy!

Spice mix

I use this spice mix on lots of things to rub into chicken to mix in a sauce for heat, to make curries, to BBQ or in chili. I usually double the quantities below and then store it.

2 tbsp Curry Powder

2 tbsp of Ground cumin

2 tbsp Ginger

2 tbsp Ground Pepper

1 tbsp All Spice

1 tbsp Cayenne Pepper

1 tspn salt

1 tspn Cinnamon

Italian Vegetable Soup

This is so easy, sorry Laura i know there are more than 5 ingredients AGAIN but i swear you will probably have most of them already honest!

30 fl 0z low sodium broth
1 potato
1 onion
1 carrot
2 sticks of celery
1/2 cup of frozen peas
1 tsp Italian mixed herbs, (if i have it is use fresh herbs)
1/2 cup of small shell pasta
1 large can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes
salt and pepper

• In a large saucepan, combined the chopped veg, broth and herbs and bring to the boil


• Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.


• Add the pasta and tomatoes; cook till pasta is ready

Avocado and Corn Salad

Avocado and Corn Salad

1 packet of lettuce, romaine good but others work too.
1 small can of corn
½ red onion diced
1 cup or cherry tomatoes halved
1 avocado
2 tablespoons of lime juice
¼ teaspoon of chili powder

Place lettuce, corn, tomatoes and onion in a bowl and mix.

Cut the avocado into cubed and place ¾ of them into the bowl.

Take the remaining avocado, lime juice, chili powder and ¼ cup of water and puree together.

Season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over the salad and toss together gently.

Am I doing this right?

This is my very first blog post and I don't know if I am even doing it right. How is everyone doing? I do have some great recipes to share so let me know if you get this one. Cheers~

Lentil and rice bake

2 3/4 cups vegetable broth
3/4 cups dry lentils
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cups brown rice
1/2 cups dry white wine (or sherry, or red wine, or I use water)
1/2 tspn rosemary, 1/2 tspn basil, 1/4 tspn oregano, 1/8 tspn garlic powder,
1/4 tspn salt, 1/4 tspn thyme, 1/8 tspn pepper
8 oz Swiss cheese

Combine broth, uncooked lentils and rice, onion, wine and seasoning. Shred 1/2 the cheese and stir into mixture.Pour into 1 1/2 qt casserole and bake covered at 350 for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Top with remaining cheese at end and leave in oven just long enough for cheese to melt.

There's a lot of seasonings i just typically put in what i can

Here goes......

OK so when we met up the other week, granted Katie you weren't there, we were all talking about how we needed ideas for dinners. So i have created this blog so we can all enter any great dinner ideas. Not sure if it will work or not but hey might as well give it a go...

Kathleen