FOR KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN ITALY, these three are pretty jazzed about celebrating the 4th of July. Actually, they’re mostly excited about these little star shaped cheeses (thanks, veggie cutters!). Fireworks and parades? Our kids have no idea those are part of the package, yet. But boy I sure do.I still get a little…
baked scrambled eggs
EGGS + MILK + HAM + ONE BUG PAN = a whole morning of fun. Since the sun has come out, we’ve started eating breakfast outside on the patio and these little buggy egg cups fit right in. It’s essentially a mini omelette. Just beat some eggs, pour in a bit of milk plus any…
15-minute cheesy pasta with chicken & spinach
THIS PASTA DISH IS A 3-BOWLER. At least it was for Phoebe, our 5-year-old. Okay, okay. I admit it. I also found myself eating at least another helping, standing next to the sink while I pretended to “clean the kitchen” after dinner. It’s just that kind of pasta dish. And there’s even better news: the recipe is…
homemade blackberry creamsicle ice pops
NOPE. There’s no sugar in these babies. Just milk, yogurt, a dash of maple syrup and fresh blackberries–though you could use any fruit you (and more importantly, the kids) like. With summertime in full swing around here (read: 90 degree days) homemade ice pops hit the spot. That’s good news because thanks to help from…
how to make mini marshmallow flowers
SHHH. There’s a very small person sleeping right next to me, which is the only reason I’m able to post today’s cupcake recipe and how to make mini marshmallow flowers tutorial. That, and even on Father’s Day, my brave husband has taken all three of our “bigger” kids out to breakfast and to church. Alone….
4th of july fruit skewer flag cake
I CAN’T DECIDE WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS FLAG. It’s 100 percent fresh fruit. It’s easy to make. It’s a festive snack for the 4th of July. There could be other reasons too but because I get up twice every night now, my brain can only come up with these three. For this version you need…
3 simple frozen treats your kids will love
IT’S 90 DEGREES IN NORTH CAROLINA TODAY–that’s 99 degrees in pregnant lady temperatures. With my due date for baby #4 officially a day behind me and my stomach WAY out in front of me, I can think of no better reason to share a few of my favorite popsicle recipes for kids. Each is low…
fresh, fruity summer porridge, a recipe from “The Family Cooks”
Summer porridge? It may sound like an oxymoron, but this hearty mix of raw oats, yogurt, and fresh fruit is cool and tangy. Spoon it into pretty glasses or mason jars, pop them into the fridge, and let chill overnight so the oats soften and all the flavors get to know each other. The next…
honey-sweetened banana muffins, a recipe from “The Family Cooks”
A muffin is a tiny cake! And sometimes not so tiny. Cake for breakfast? No wonder kids like muffins! Pssst, parents! Although these are treats, they use whole-grain flour, fruit, and unrefined sugar. And cinnamon is a trickster spice that makes sweets taste sweeter. Reprinted from “The Family Cooks” by Laurie David. Copyright (c)…
5 kid-friendly ways to cook with chia seeds
WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT CHIA SEEDS? A lot! At least Dr. Oz says so. “The nutritional benefits of chia include fiber, omega fatty acids, calcium, antioxidants and much more – even protein!” I like that you don’t need many seeds to add a punch of nutrition to an already successful dish (why mess with a good…
moroccan couscous made kid-friendly
REMEMBER WHEN YOU USED TO EAT ETHNIC FOOD? If you haven’t had a zesty international flavor from somewhere other than Taco Bell since before the kids were born, this one’s for you. I actually love Moroccan food but wondered how all those unfamiliar spices and unexpected ingredients would go over with my three knee-highs. So we…
low-sugar muffins with berries & ricotta cheese, a Food 52 Makeover
MOTHER’S DAY IS A TRICKY ONE. At least for me. I know the customary “gift” is something along the lines of breakfast in bed, but the only time I’ve eaten breakfast on a tray since becoming a mom has been inside a hospital, right after giving birth. Otherwise it’s off to the races starting around dawn ever since….
fruit flavored water: how to get the kids off juice
IF YOUR KIDS ARE HOOKED ON THE SWEET STUFF, this may be a good substitute. It’s simple, tasty and best of all, a smart solution for weaning even the biggest juice fans off it for good. What’s wrong with juice? It’s just so full of sugar, basically the equivalent of soda, which is obviously not great…
perfectly flavored london broil (aka, meat your kids will eat!)
THE OTHER DAY I MADE CHICKEN CUTLETS for dinner and when I saw my four-year-old dunking each bite in her water glass, I had to ask… “This makes it softer on my teeth,” she told me. Note to self: Don’t overcook the chicken. My three small kids aren’t always the biggest meat fans but when it’s…
Very Pickly Egg Salad
I NEVER LIKED EGG SALAD GROWING UP. But our kids totally love it, especially this way. Inexpensive, simple and even considered “brain food“, I’m happy to whip up a batch of egg salad once every couple of weeks. Our favorite ways to serve these sandwiches are simply on whole wheat bread, cut into quarters or…
coconut pineapple mini-muffins, a Serious Eats recipe makeover
WE’VE BEEN MAKING A LOT OF LUNCHES around here. Foodlets Friday Lunch is a teeny, tiny pilot program that we started this spring. Every Friday I make lunch for the kids at Phoebe’s preschool and parents who are keen to buy one simply cover the costs. It’s not catering, not yet, but I hope it…
one giant easter egg, coming up! just start with sugar cookie dough
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER EASY IDEA FOR EASTER. You may not realize just how big this cookie is and I couldn’t take a photo with the munchkins nearby for fear of one toddler’s roaming fingers. But don’t worry about those guys, they’ll dig in soon. This cookie is more than a foot long, totally impressive in…
baby carrots in pots, a step-by-step tutorial
COMBINING CUTE IDEAS WITH FRESH VEGETABLES is just about the best. These carrots are one more super simple way to get kids eating more veggies. Here’s just how you do it. 1. Gather your materials. Baby carrots, preferably the thick kind (some are whittled extra thin) Curly parsley Toothpick Terra cotta pots (mine are actually a…
how to make hens out of hard boiled eggs
I KNOW, I KNOW. I just said no thanks to any projects that make me feel worse about myself than the crafting boards on Pinterest already do. But as we continue our internet-inspired Easter roundup, I’m happy to report these little chicks are surprisingly simple to make. True story. And if I can do it, you can too. Here’s a…
easy brownie bird nests
I’M NOT USUALLY A FAN OF CULINARY ORIGAMI. Yes, I’ve been known to roll up a sandwich or two, and maybe even use a muffin pan to produce “castle” casseroles as a treat for the kids (read: to get them to try something new) but those things take all of an extra 35 seconds, and even…