WHEN EMILEE ASKED FOR A PINK TEA PARTY, her mom, Amanda, put together an event straight out of Steel Magnolias (minus any of the sad parts). Pink and pink! From handmade paper flowers to homemade strawberry preserves and scones to his and hers dress up stations, this was a tea party every pirate and princess…
easiest breakfast ever: yogurt parfaits
YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM WITH MORNINGS? Everyone’s tired (and by everyone I mean Paul and me) and everyone’s “so hungry” (and by everyone I mean the kids). I love having a couple of muffin options in the freezer ready to reheat, but my go-to breakfast, the one that the kids actually cheer for, and sneak…
roasted lemon chicken with vegetables, the perfect make-at-nap-time dinner
RIGHT AROUND 5PM THINGS GET ROUGH at my house, maybe even 4. There’s too much whining and not nearly enough wine. That’s why I love to make dinner earlier in the day and let it just hang out — or in this case, roast away — until we’re ready. When the cranky hour arrives I…
no-bake oatmeal chocolate chip energy cookies
I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING–Why would my kids need more energy!?–and I hear you. About the 50th time I’ve scooped George off the kitchen counter each day, or looked down only to find something like this happening, I have the same thought. And also this one. Who can make such a mess with toothpicks?
healthier fish & chips for kids
THE LAST TIME I HAD FISH & CHIPS–AND THE FIRST TIME THE KIDS EVER HAD IT–WAS IN LONDON. Doesn’t that sound lovely? Except, the rest of my memories include being very, very sick. No, not food poisoning, just the flu. But the worst flu, and even worse timing. We were actually moving from Rome to…
double berry cream puffs, a step-by-step recipe for kids
I’M A BIT OF A SUCKER FOR VALENTINE’S DAY. The kids don’t even know what it is, but now that we’re back in the US, I’m diving into all the special occasions, big and small. That’s why I can’t wait to serve them these little strawberry cream puffs on February 14. They’re pink, they’re easy…
a little shot of spinach, the best way to start dinner!
This is an idea straight from “French Kids Eat Everything“, and I love it. In her amazing memoir about moving to France with two picky eaters then watching the European culture transform their whole family, Karen Le Billon explains that many French households have a baby food maker handy, even if they don’t have a baby….
lemon chicken strips
MOVE OVER CHICKEN NUGGETS. These lemony chicken strips are so juicy and full of flavor that your kids may never ask for the frozen stuff again. They also MAY put their shoes and coats on tomorrow without whining one bit (and if they do, please tell me exactly how that happened, okay? Thanks!) Well anyway, let’s just see…
Simple White Bean Hummus with Lemon Juice
YOU KNOW HOW YOU’RE ALWAYS TRYING/BEGGING/PLEADING to get the kids eating more veggies? This easy white bean hummus is one new way to do it, no bribes needed. Get Kids Excited For most kids, homemade white bean hummus will be is a new food and ours were no different, so I used a couple of…
2-Ingredient Banana Oat Bites (Neither One Is Sugar)
THIS WAS OPRAH’S IDEA, these super simple snacks. In a recent issue of O magazine, the one I read cover to cover with so much longing for the actual Oprah show that I practically ate every page–Oprah! Where are you? Now that I am finally, for the first time in my life, actually at home…