Helpful Hints and Tips
I don’t know
about any one else, but when the weekend comes I just
dread sitting down and trying to figure out my menu and
grocery list for the week ahead. New things are always
such a risk to try because we all know that kids don’t
like to try something different. This week I decided to
share a few recipes. Some I have not tried, but they all
come from daycare providers in my area, so they are
geared towards children with cost and time figured in.
The first two recipes can be used for breakfast or
snack:
Granola
You will need
4 cups rolled oats; ½ cup coconut; 1 cup nuts, chopped;
½ cup sesame seeds; ¾ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon
cinnamon; ½ cup honey; 1/3 cup vegetable oil; ½ teaspoon
vanilla; 8 oz. finely-cut dried apples or other dried
fruit; corn flakes or wheat flakes (optional). Preheat
oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl combine the rolled
oats, coconut, nuts, sesame seeds, salt and cinnamon. In
a separate bowl combine the honey, vegetable oil and
vanilla; mix thoroughly. Add the honey, oil and vanilla
mixture to the large bowl and stir. Place in a large pan
and bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add
dried fruit after mixture has cooled.
Apple Pie
Breakfast
You will need
6 flour tortillas; 3 cups apples, minced; 2 tablespoons
sugar (brown or white); ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Mix the
apples with the sugar and cinnamon. Fill each tortilla
with approximately ½ cup of the apple mixture and roll
them up. Heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds or
until warm. Serve with a glass of
milk.
The
next two recipes are main meals for lunch or supper:
Yummy
Roast
You will need
1 roast; 1 package Lipton Onion Soup Mix; 1 can cream of
mushroom soup; 1 16 oz. bottle of Pepsi or Dr. Pepper.
Add all ingredients to roast. Put in a slow cooker and
cook until meat is thoroughly cooked. Serve with rice.
Kids will love to help add ingredients or watch while
you make their Yummy Roast.
Magic
Macaroni and Cheese
You will need
one box of macaroni and cheese and some food coloring.
Prepare the macaroni and cheese as directed on the box.
Before serving put a few drops of food coloring in each
child’s bowl. Add a different color for each child. Put
the macaroni and cheese on top. When the children stir
their macaroni it will turn the color of the food
coloring. They will love their Magic Macaroni!
The
last two recipes can be used as snacks or sides for main
dishes:
Frozen
Fruit Cups
You will need
2 cans peach pie filling; 1 can crushed pineapple; 1 jar
maraschino cherries, drained and rinsed; 1 bunch fresh
grapes, cut in half; 1 can fruit cocktail; 1 can or
carton (8-12 oz.) frozen strawberries in juice. Mix all
ingredients together. Pour mixture into plastic cups and
freeze. Remove from freezer about 30 minutes before
serving so that they are slushy and the children can eat
it with a spoon.
Peach-Strawberry Smoothie
You will need
1 cup strawberries; 1 cup peaches; 1 cup plain or
vanilla yogurt; 1 tablespoon sugar. Place all
ingredients into a blender and process until smooth.
Pour into glasses, sprinkle with cinnamon and serve.
All of these
recipes are creditable with my food program for three to
six year-olds. If you use a state funded food program
you should check for credibility before serving and
check amounts for older or younger children.
