Create mealtime magic by making meals fun for kids

(ARA) - Cooking a meal should be fun for both children and adults. By engaging your children in food preparation, you can demonstrate valuable food lessons all while enjoying time well spent with your family.

By including everyone in the preparation, you can introduce your children to how fun cooking and eating together can be. Not only will they learn a little bit about navigating the kitchen, but they will also discover how it can serve as the perfect platform for a math lesson or an art project.

Here are a few tips for making your family meals fun and child-friendly:

* Get your kids involved in cooking preparation from an early age. Your little ones will get a kick out of doing something as simple as dumping a cup of flour into a mixer and watching you use everyday kitchen tools. You can also use the measurements that go into recipes as a teaching opportunity for your child with a built-in math lesson. Children can also lend a hand by setting the table or designing placemats for the family meal. 

* Make food fun. Keep your kids engaged by experimenting with different colors, shapes, and sizes of foods they know. For example, Barilla Piccolini bite-size classic pasta shapes are just the right size for little hands - and with a quick cook time of just seven minutes, you can add excitement to favorite family pasta dishes. Children can even make inexpensive and unique decorations using the pasta.

* Create excitement for dinnertime. A great way to make sure kids look forward to mealtimes is to participate in fun activities as a family. Theme nights are a great way to engage children around the dinner table. You can prepare traditional meals from around the world, or cook a meal inspired by your family's favorite movie or vacation spot. Visit http://www.barillaus.com/Pages/Recipe-Landing.aspx for lots of great kid-friendly recipes using Barilla Piccolini.

Why is Nutrition Important for Your Child's School Success?

Nutrition is one of the single most important factors when it comes to a child’s development. Proper nutrition is essential for children to succeed in school. By feeding your children a proper diet, you are helping them to be able to function properly in school in addition to fostering their growing mind and bodies.

Family Living Ideas has a new post with tips for helping your child succeed in school through better nutrition. Find tips for great sack lunches and really good dinner ideas that your kids and family will love.

Back to School Nutrition – Why It Is Important for Your Child’s Success at School

How to Save Money on Groceries

Get my FREE report now and start saving money on the groceries your family needs and wants while still making the good food they love!

Let me share with you some delicious and easy recipes that will feed a family of four for under eight dollars...all FREE.

http://familynichemarketing.com/cutyourgrocerybillebook.html

Need a healthy meal idea? Just open the cupboard

(ARA) - Putting healthy, nutritious meals on the table for your family every day often feels daunting, but it can be as easy as opening your pantry. Even on busy nights, when you may be tempted to hit the drive-through, cooking at home with simple ingredients from your pantry is a more nutritious, cost-effective and quicker solution when dinnertime rolls around.

Make summer super with potluck-perfect recipes

(ARA) - From block parties to backyard barbecues, summer is when people get together and enjoy the delectable tastes of the season. The classic American potluck is always a favorite gathering, especially when friends, family and neighbors bring out their best dishes for everyone to enjoy.

The perfect recipes for summer parties are ones that are quick and easy - providing maximum flavor for minimum time spent in the kitchen. When it comes to cooking for a crowd, go with something that will reliably get rave reviews, while keeping in mind whom you're cooking for. If it's a crowd with a more sophisticated palate, you can try something a little more adventurous. If it is a group with notoriously picky kids, go a little more mild with kid-pleasing classics.  If it's a big enough crowd, you might even want to try both.

Easy Ground Turkey Skillet Dinner

1 T. minced onion
1/2 c milk
1-1/2 lbs ground turkey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c quick cooking oats, uncooked
2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
browning and seasoning sauce to taste
1 c pasta sauce
1 c pinto beans

Pour milk into bowl and then add minced onions, let soak for a couple of minutes. Mix in the turkey, egg, oats, salt and pepper. Shape into a round mound in a large skillet. Cut into wedges right in  the skillet and brush with sauce. Meanwhile, mix pasta sauce and beans, pour over meat. Let simmer, uncovered, for about 30 minutes. Serve each wedge individually. Goes great with cornbread.

Four Recipes Using Refrigerated Crescent Rolls

If you have refrigerated crescent rolls on hand, and are tired of
having them as a side dish at dinner, try one of these recipes to
prepare something different for dinner tonight. Crescent rolls
are very versatile and can be used in casseroles, as crusts, and
even in desserts.

One Dish Breakfast

1 can crescent rolls
1/2 lb. ground sausage
1 1/2 cups hash browns, thawed
3 eggs
1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese

Spread crescent rolls on cookie sheet. Seal all seams and curl up
edges slightly. Pour over rolls the drained and cooked sausage,
then uncooked hash browns, beaten eggs, and cheese. Season to
taste. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes.

Quick and Easy Pizza Burgers - With Video

Here's a video with a recipe for Quick and Easy Pizza Burgers. I think I may try this one this week :o)

CHEESY POTATO & EGG FRITATTA

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large baking potato, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
6 eggs, beaten
1/2cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium high heat. Spread
potato slices across bottom of the pan and cook, turning once, until
golden on both sides. Remove slices from pan and drain.
When all potato slices have been cooked, return them to the pan. Turn
heat to high. Pour on the beaten eggs and season with salt and pepper.

Tilt the pan so that the eggs flow to the bottom of the pan. Turn heat to
medium low. Cover pan with a plate and flip pan so that frittata is
turned out onto plate. Slide the frittata back into the pan with the
uncooked side down. Cover and let cook another 2 minutes.
When frittata is finished cooking, remove it from the pan and drain
briefly on paper towels before serving.

Cheeseburger Pizza to Go

1 can refrigerated pizza crust
1/2 lb. ground beef
Onion
1 cup spaghetti sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 425. Grease 12 inch pizza pan. Unroll dough, place in greased pan; press out dough from center to sides. Bake 7-9 minutes or until light golden brown. Brown ground beef and onion, drain any grease. Spread sauce over partially baked crust. Top with ground beef and cheese.
Return to the oven; bake an additional 12-18 minutes or until bubbly.

Easy Cheeseburger Crescents

1 pound hamburger meat
Velveeta cheese
1 large can Crescent rolls

Brown ground meat and season to taste. Drain grease. Remove crescent roll whole from package and roll out flat. Put ground meat and cheese onto surface of crescent roll directly down the center. Fold sides and
ends of crescent roll over ground meat and cheese to form something like a pizza pocket. Bake according to package directions. Bake at 350* Cooking Time: 30 minutes total Servings: 2-3

Five Easy Meatloaf Recipes

Meatloaf is an easy family-friendly, budget-friendly main dish.
There are many different recipes you can try to see which your
family enjoys most. I have included five different recipes for
you to try.

You can make meatloaf with ground beef or ground turkey. Ground
turkey is a healthier, lowfat alternative to ground beef.
Meatloaf is also a great way to use ground meat you pick up on
sale.

Several meatloaves can be made at one time. You can freeze them
either before or after they are baked. To bake a frozen, uncooked
meatloaf, bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 1/2 hours (do
not thaw out first). To bake a frozen, cooked meatloaf, bake at
350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool completely before freezing.

Basic Meatloaf Recipe

1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
3 slices bread
1 large egg
1 c. milk
1/4 c. onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. sage
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 c. catsup OR barbeque sauce OR chili sauce
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all the ingredients except
the catsup together. Spread the meat mixture into an ungreased
loaf pan, 9 x 5 x 3-inches or shape into a loaf in an ungreased
baking pan. Spoon catsup onto the loaf and bake, uncovered, for 1
to 1 1/4 hours or until done. Drain off the excess fat and serve
sliced on a heated platter.

Olive Meatloaf

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 c. chopped onions
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 bacon slices, halved
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. each: basil, oregano and salt
1 can (6 oz.) pitted black olives, drained
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce

In large bowl, mix all ingredients except olives, tomato sauce
and bacon. Mix in olives, reserving 5 for garnish. In a 9x12-inch
baking pan, shape mixture into a 4x12-inch rounded loaf. Pour
tomato sauce over loaf. Lay bacon slices across loaf. Bake in 350
degree oven 1 hour and 15 minutes. Garnish with reserved olives.

Turkey Meatloaf

2 lbs. ground turkey
1 env. Lipton onion soup mix
1/4 c. ketchup
1/2 c. bread crumbs
4 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 c. ketchup

Mix first 4 ingredients. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking
spray. Divide the meat loaf in half. Place half in the pan and
put grated mozzarella cheese on top of the mixture. Place the
rest of mixture on top of cheese and seal edges. Spread 1/2 cup
ketchup over the top. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45
minutes or until done.

Italian Style Meatloaf

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 (6 oz.) hot Italian sausage or spicy bulk sausage
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) Italian style stewed tomatoes
1 c. fresh bread crumbs
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped green pepper
1 egg, beaten

Combine all ingredients; mix well. Place in loaf pan (4 1/2x
8-inch). Bake at 350 degrees 1 hour; drain.

Crock Pot Meatloaf

2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 lb. sausage
2 med. onions, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, chopped
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 c. sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 c. bread or cracker crumbs
1 1/2 c. milk

Soak bread or cracker crumbs in milk. Mix meat, seasonings, and
soaked crumbs thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix sour cream and
mushroom soup. Make meat mixture into loaf and pour the sour
cream-soup mixture over top. Bake in crock pot 10 to 12 hours on
low.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of
What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick
easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, gardening, organizing tips,
home decorating, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative
Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com/.

Fun Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas - Mexican Pizza and Mexican Tortilla Dinner

I love sharing quick and easy recipes with people who really need them. You know who you are; the rushed folks who want to eat at home but not spend forever cooking every day. Over the years I've published recipes that are family favorites and everyday comfort foods like soup and casseroles, slow cooker recipes, quick breads and holiday desserts.

My favorite recipes to share, however, are the fun recipes that kids love to help fix and of course eat. That's why I've found two great tasting Mexican-style recipes (since Mexican is my favorite cuisine) that will hopefully break-up the weekday monotony and make dinner fun. Hope you enjoy supper and spending some special time with your family.

Easy Mexican Cornbread Pizza

1 (8.5 ounce) package corn muffin mix
1 pound ground beef
1 (1.25 ounce) package Taco Seasoning Mix
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

Mix corn muffin ingredients as directed on package. Spread batter into greased 12-inch pizza pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Brown meat; drain. Add Seasoning Mix and 3/4 cup water; prepare as directed on package. Sprinkle 1 cup cheese over baked crust. Top with meat mixture and remaining cheese. Bake 4 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with your favorite taco toppings such as shredded lettuce, chopped fresh tomatoes Thick 'N Chunky Salsa, Guacamole and Sour Cream. You may like to spread a layer of refried beans over the pizza crust before topping with the cheese and meat.

Easy Beef Tortilla Dinner

Onion flakes
2 lbs. ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can mild Rotel tomatoes
1 tsp cumin seed
1 tsp chili powder
1 dash garlic powder
4 oz. processed cheese, melted
¼ cup sour cream
4 flour tortillas
tortilla chips
2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Brown beef and onion together. Mix all ingredients except for chips, tortillas and cheddar cheese together over medium heat until just bubbling. Spray 13x9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Slice tortillas into 2 inch strips and layer bottom of dish Layer tortilla chips in dish with chicken mixture. Place a layer of tortilla strips on top. Cover with grated cheddar cheese. Bake in oven 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Feed your family well and spend less time cooking. Find out how at 'Quick and Easy Family Recipes' and 'Family Crock Pot Recipes'

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_Frewerd

3 Family Favorite Potato Recipes to Try

Do you get tired of the same old boring mashed potatoes for dinner every week? Although I’m sure my youngest child could eat his potatoes mashed every time, I’m just as sure that the rest of the members of his family would certainly enjoy something a little different. With that said, I’ve come up with three easy and delicious alternative potato recipes that will surely win over even the most die-hard mashed potato enthusiast.

Jen’s Cheesy Red Potatoes

8 medium red potatoes
¼ cup butter
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 – 8oz. bottle ranch dressing
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ jar bacon bits

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Boil potatoes until tender. Drain, cool and cut into bite sized pieces. Put potatoes in a 13x9 inch baking dish. Dot with butter and add salt and pepper. Pour ranch dressing over potatoes and sprinkle cheese and bacon bits on top. Bake for 45 minutes. Serves 8.

Amy’s Easy Potato Side Dish

16 potatoes, peeled and cooked
2 cups sour cream
8 oz cream cheese, softened
¾ cup milk
½ cup butter, softened

Whip the potatoes in a mixing bowl. Add the sour cream, cream cheese, milk and butter and beat until smooth. Spoon into a slow cooker and cook on Low for up to 3 hours or until ready to serve. Serves 10.

Sherry’s Pizza Potatoes

4 cups sliced raw potatoes
1 lb ground beef
½ cup chopped onions
1 – 10 oz can cheddar cheese soup
½ cup milk
1 – 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp oregano
½ tsp sugar
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread the potato slices evenly in a greased 9xs13 inch baking dish. Brown the ground beef with onions and drain. Combine the cheese soup and milk in a small bowl; mix well. Add the soup mixture to the skillet; mix well. Pour the ground beef mixture evenly over the sliced potatoes. Combine the tomato sauce, oregano and sugar in a small bowl; mix well. Pour the tomato sauce mixture evenly over the ground beef mixture. Bake , uncovered for 1 hour. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake for 15 minutes longer. Serves 4.

Find more quick and easy dinner tips and ideas at 'Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas' http://quickandeasydinnerideas.com
For easy crock pot recipes visit 'Family Crock Pot Recipes' http://familycrockpotrecipes.com

Fun ways to create lasting family traditions

(ARA) - Whether you’re a family of two or 10, there is no time like the present to create lasting family traditions. Like families, traditions come in many forms -- from cooking to storytelling -- and making new memories is easy and fun. Here are a variety of creative ways to get started.

Gather for a family baking day

Help ensure your tried and true family recipes continue on for generations with a family baking day. Have everyone meet in a central location and bring their favorite recipe and the ingredients to make it. Everyone will have the chance to learn about cherished recipes and leave with a goodie bag of treats.

Plan a family reunion

Annually, or every few years, gather relatives far and wide for an enjoyable time to reminisce, share photos, cook and eat together. Use the time to share favorite family stories and swap recipes. Make sure to take a group photo and share it with the participants and those who couldn’t be there.

Get tech-savvy

Get everyone involved in building and contributing to a family Web page or blog that highlights recent get-togethers, news, photos and favorite recipes. Online sites provide a great way to connect and keep long-distance relatives up-to-date and involved year round.

Host international family dinners

Pick one night a week to take the family on a culinary journey to another part of the world. From France to Italy to Greece to Thailand, there are countless meal options waiting to be explored. Experience more of the culture by learning some phrases associated with the meal, play authentic music and include some decorations. Bon appetit.

Make movie magic

Host monthly movie nights as a way for family to catch up and experience old classics and the latest blockbusters together. Include an ice cream sundae bar and movie snacks and schedule intermissions to talk about the movie and characters.

The J.M. Smucker Company believes in bringing families together to share memorable meals and moments, and wants to hear about your family recipes and traditions. Visit Smuckers.com to enter the "Spreading Smucker's Traditions" contest and share your family-favorite recipes and memories. Until Oct. 12, you can enter a family recipe that has been handed down for at least two generations for a chance to win a five-day, four-night family trip for eight to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 states and Washington D.C., 18 years of age and older and is void where prohibited. See Web site for official rules and complete details.

Last year's winning recipe, Nana's Apple Butter Cake has been passed down for three generations.

Nana's Apple Butter Cake

Ingredients:

Cake:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup water
3 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup Smucker's Apple Butter
2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced into about 16 wedges
1 teaspoon cinnamon combined with 1/4 cup sugar

Streusel topping:

2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup baking mix
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, softened
Powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix, water, eggs, oil and apple butter. Beat at low speed for one minute, to blend ingredients, and two minutes at high speed. Pour mix into greased/floured 9- by 13-inch pan.

Slice apples into a bowl and add cinnamon/sugar mixture, mixing until apples are well coated. Place apple slices (round side out/core side in) in the batter until just the top shows, in two rows of eight, the length of the pan.

Make streusel topping by combining brown sugar, baking mix, cinnamon and butter. Cut butter into mixture with pastry blender until crumbly.

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle streusel topping over cake and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

For more recipes and to enter the "Spreading Smucker's Traditions" contest, visit www.Smuckers.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Grab your one-week meal plan and grocery list...

Have you ever stopped to think what you would do if you had 2 hours free to spend any way you want, every week? I did, and was surprised how hard it was for me to come up with ideas. I guess it's been THAT long since I had time all for myself.

Well, I want YOU to start making plans for two free hours. No, I'm not coming over to clean your house, LOL! But I am giving you a free meal plan and grocery list good for one week of dinners and side dishes,plus 2 brunch recipes and 2 desserts. It's a sample from Dine Without Whine.

So for the next week, you won't have to make your own meal plan and food shopping list. Not only do you get to use this time to do something else, but by meal planning and shopping with a list, you will:

- save big bucks (the average family saves $60 a week by eating at
home!)

- help your family eat healthier

- enjoy relaxed family dinners, which make for healthier, smarter and
more relaxed family members :-)

- save time and money when food shopping

Go ahead and grab your one-week meal plan and grocery list here: http://tinyurl.com/nvoo3m

...there's no charge or any obligation of any kind.

Enjoy your sample meal plan - and those two extra hours!

All the best,
Sherry

PS: This is a no-obligation sample from Dine Without Whine. You don't have to give your name or Email address to get it, and you don't have to try the paid service - if you don't want to. All you have to do is go to this page and download your gifts: http://tinyurl.com/nvoo3m

Easy Cheese and Broccoli Rice

(Serves about 6)

Ingredients:
1 small onion, diced
½ c celery, diced
10 oz broccoli, cut up in florets (you can also use frozen broccoli)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup Minute Rice (uncooked)
¼ lb Velveeta cheese
¾ stick butter

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 8” square casserole dish.

In a large skillet, melt the butter and sauté the onions and celery, until the onions are translucent. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until the cheese starts melting.

Pour mixture into the greased casserole dish and bake in the oven for about 40 minutes.

This is a very easy rice dish to make. Serve immediately with a tossed salad.

Generations draw together through family-published cookbooks

(ARA) – In 1913, a young Polish couple crossed the ocean aboard a ship and arrived in America in search of a better life. Since that time, four generations of Lyczak, Pilck and Grywalsky offspring have grown and thrived in the United States, and although many miles separate the family members today, they still make an effort to remain close. One such effort is evident in their recently published family cookbook called "Flavors of the Generations."

Sandy Broom is one of the "baby boomers" from the family. She initiated the cookbook and coordinated the project with G&R Publishing in Waverly, Iowa. Broom hopes it will preserve a piece of her family's history in a permanent way.

"All the cousins in my generation of our family developed a special bond as we grew up together and heard the family stories," she says. "We want our children and grandchildren to share those bonds too."

Across the melting pot of America, families are self-publishing cookbooks that celebrate their family’s unique culinary heritage. Generations come together to contribute recipes for favorite dishes rich in tradition, sentiment and cultural significance.

For this family, like many others, holidays and family gatherings have often centered around meals and traditional ethnic foods. As the generations spent time together, crowded around a huge table at grandma's house, the older members told stories and shared important family traditions. Laughter and a warm sense of belonging mingled with the delicious aromas of home cooking wafting from the kitchen.

Flipping through the pages of the family cookbook offers a touching glimpse into that kitchen and brings back fond memories for the whole family.

"Some of the traditional Polish foods were only prepared and eaten at Christmas or Easter and they were truly comfort foods," Broom says. The cookbook preserves in print these old traditional recipes that had been handed down verbally from mother to daughter through the years, such as Christmas Eve Hubi Soup and Paska (Easter bread).

But the cookbook also includes modern, easy-to-use recipes for today's busy families. Family members shared all their favorite recipes so the dishes in the book truly span the generations and keep up with today's changing lifestyles.

With the help of G&R Publishing, the book is also a historical scrapbook. At the front of the book, Broom included a family tree covering eight generations and important highlights of the family's history, written in story form.

"We dedicated the cookbook to the memory of our matriarch, Apolonia Lyczak Pilck Grywalsky and all of the other relatives who helped create our family traditions," she says. The back pages feature memorials with photos to pay tribute to loved ones who were the backbone of the family through the years. Broom hopes these extra features will help the younger children and grandchildren learn about and hold onto their family roots.

The group considered compiling the family history and recipes in a simple pamphlet to share at their triennial family reunion, but they decided a professional cookbook would be a more lasting and meaningful tribute to their heritage. Broom sees the book as a practical keepsake that will be used regularly for everyday meal preparation. Each time family members look at the photos or create each other's favorite dishes in their own kitchens, their sense of family connections is reinforced.

G&R Publishing has helped customers create custom cookbooks for families, churches, schools, nonprofit groups, businesses and fundraisers for 35 years. "I had checked out other companies," says Broom, "but G&R was the most affordable and they were the only ones willing to put together the book we really wanted. They were so helpful and willing to make it work for our family."

Broom says that the cookbooks will be circulated at their upcoming family reunion and she's sure they'll be a big hit. The proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to cover the costs of this reunion and future ones, ensuring that family bonds can continue to grow strong. Besides using the book for everyday cooking, she envisions youngsters even using it as a resource for school projects on their family history.

"I am confident that ‘Flavors of the Generations’ will help preserve our humble beginnings and keep our family connected as we reminisce and cook together across the miles," she says.

For more information on custom cookbooks for families, visit http://www.gandrpublishing.com, or call (800) 383-1679.


Polish Meatballs
(Submitted by Janet Prymas for the "Flavors of the Generations" cookbook)

11/2 pounds ground beef
1 clove garlic
1 medium onion, chopped
3/4 cup uncooked rice
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
1 medium can or jar sauerkraut, rinsed and drained

Combine all ingredients, except caraway seeds and sauerkraut. Form small balls and brown in light oil. Reduce heat, cover with sauerkraut and caraway seeds. Cook slowly for one hour.

Courtesy of ARA Content

No more excuses: Quick tips to make family dinners work

(ARA) - As SPF numbers give way to arithmetic and time spent building sand castles is now dedicated to proper sentence construction, school has surely started again. Despite the fact that family life tends to be busier, there is still hope for parents looking to spend a little quality time with the kids. It’s called dinnertime and families everywhere can make it work for them.

Dinnertime? No, not the few minutes stuck waiting in the drive through or warming up yesterday’s leftovers. The one where everyone sits down for 30 minutes, passes food from left to right, eats and talks to one another without the TV turned on. Sometimes this interlude even pays some homage to the food pyramid.

Research shows that small children who eat family dinners more frequently have healthier eating habits. Columbia University research also shows teens who have fewer than three family dinners in a typical week are more than twice as likely to do poorly in school and 20 percent of teens who have infrequent family dinners report receiving mostly C’s or below in school. However, 64 percent of teens eating with their family five more times per week receive mostly A’s and B’s.

Beyond boosting brain power and nutrition awareness, dinnertime is an easy way for families to catch up on the day’s activities and actually talk to each other. Here are a few good ways to kick the excuse habit and get your tribe around the same table at the same time at least a few times a week:

Excuse 1: “There’s too much going on to get together.”

There’s so much to do because all those outside activities were prioritized on the calendar. Plan early, make some dinner dates and add them to your priority list before something else gets scheduled. It doesn’t matter if you use up restaurant gift cards or stay in and empty out the cupboards. Just pick some days, write them on the calendar and do it.

Excuse 2: “I’m a horrible cook.”

So you’ve found a way to burn water. It happens. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so keep trying, and don’t be afraid to call in some reinforcements -- like your family. Try cooking together or perhaps divvying a few of the week’s meals. It doesn’t just have to be mom or dad’s job. Remember, the idea is to spend some time together, whether that’s making, burning or eating dinner.

Excuse 3: “Nobody eats the same thing.”

Men are from the butcher’s counter, women are from the produce aisle. Kids, well, no one has really figured that out. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to eat out now and again. It doesn’t have to break the bank and there are solid options. Take, for instance, Noodles & Company. Everything on the menu is customizable to please even the pickiest eaters. So you can add or drop vegetables, proteins or change the type of noodles. And with standards like spaghetti and meatballs to Pad Thai, plus soups and salads, nobody will leave hungry.

Excuse 4: “I have no idea what my kids are talking about.”

Remember, your parents didn’t understand the Beatles or MTV. Getting old immediately prevents you from being cool; it’s just part of the job. What’s also part of that job is talking with your kids. If that means figuring out what Facebook and Twitter are all about, there are online groups to help. (Better yet, discuss it at dinner and ask your kids to teach you).

Days are busy and nights are crunched, but everyone has to eat. So carve out some time in the house or at a restaurant and spend it together. Don’t let the school year go by without giving family dinners a try.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Simple Recipes Your Family Will Love

Looking for simple and easy to prepare recipes that not only taste awesome but give the perception that you spent a lot of thought and effort creating the dish? Here are numouers dishes that are very easy, but extremely delicious.

Oriental Stir Fry
One of the simplest recipes that are incredibly satisfying is Oriental stir fry. You can make an Oriental stir fry with chicken, pork, beef or without any meat. Using one simple frying pan or wok, a variety of vegetables (fresh, canned or frozen), some stir fry sauces and a side of rice- you’ve got a great supper.

Oriental Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients:
1 pound of chicken breast (cut into cubes or strips)
2 cans of oriental style vegetables (usually includes water chestnuts, green beans, broccoli, baby corn, carrots, etc)
4 to 8 ounces of stir fry sauce (sweet or salty your choice)
4 servings of rice
Olive Oil

Directions:
Cook boil in bag rice on the side as directed. In an oiled frying pan or wok add cut chicken, cook moderately and then mix in vegetables. Stir frequently with a wooden spoon adding a few spoonfuls of sauce every few minutes. Stir fry for about 10 minutes or until cooked completely through. Serve on a bed of rice.


Maple Ham Steak
Ham steak is incredibly easy to make and for many families an awesome meal. You can buy individually cut ham steaks sold in many grocery stores. Or if you prefer, you can buy a big ham and slice it into ½ to ¾ inch thick steaks.

Ingredients:
4 Ham Steaks
4 ounces of brown sugar
8 ounces of maple syrup
4 Yams (sweet potatoes (fresh or canned)

Directions:
Rub 1 ounce of brown sugar into the ham and set it in an oven for about 25 to 30 minutes at 400 to 425 degrees F. (or as directed). A few minutes before the ham steak is complete, you can drizzle some maple syrup on top of the ham steak or cautiously warm the syrup in a microwave and serve as desired. Ham steaks go great with yams (sweet potatoes). You can cook them in an oven with your ham steak, starting them about 15 minutes before you begin cooking the ham.

BLT Sandwich
One of my family favorites is the BLT sandwich. While bacon is perhaps not the healthiest food available, you can choose to swap good old fashioned bacon with turkey bacon or even chicken bacon. These products aren’t as bad as they sound and actually quite flavorful.

Since the BLT sandwich is very easy and only includes bacon, lettuce, tomato, bread and mayo, make sure you buy only top quality ingredients including nice thick bread and fresh lettuce and tomatoes.

Ingredients:
1 Loaf of White or Rye Bread
1 head of lettuce
4 beefsteak tomatoes
1 pound of bacon

Directions:
On a griddle cook one pound of bacon. Pat dry removing any excess grease. Now add mayo to two pieces of bread and then top with a sliced tomato and some lettuce. Garnish with a pickle, some olives and some pretzels or chips.

Enjoy!


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Sample Menu Plan