Want an adorable dessert for your Easter table? How about one that’s actually a cinch to make–and the kids can even help? These coconut macaroons are adapted from one of my favorite Barefoot Contessa recipes, as part of our Barefoot for Babies series where we update the amazing Ina Garten’s ideas (along with a few…
Ridiculously Cute Mini Taco Cups
These mini taco cups turned out to be a lunch our kids loved–and a built-in, whole-wheat snack too! I used leftover taco meat & beans from taco night, about a cup to make a dozen mini taco cups, which served 4 small kids. Of course the math would change with the ages of your kids, so…
5-Minute Meatball Skewers
The season for packing school lunches is in full swing around here, and these 5-Minute Meatball Skewers are part of the reason I haven’t tried to climb into my morning cup of coffee. So far. These meatball skewers are so easy, hearty and a colorful addition to any lunch box. Technique Start with frozen but…
3 DIY Snacks Kids Can Make (and Eat) with Cheerios
Who knew Cheerios were so fun? Seriously. Who was aware of this and why didn’t they tell me earlier? Inspired by today’s sponsored post, I got my hands on FOUR kinds of Cheerios (again, who knew?) and put the rascals to work. These are 3 ideas I found online then adapted in our own way. We…
5 Simple Ways to Make School Lunches Special
It’s lunch box season again! I pack lunches for 3 of our 4 small kids. Every day. One is (going to be) a first grader this year; the other two are preschoolers. (And the baby eats with me.) Last year I shared my strategy for packing school lunches without going crazy, including all the foods my…
Popsicles for Breakfast! How to Make Yogurt Parfait Popsicles
Did you know that popsicles were invented in the 1920’s? But to this day, it’s one of most versatile snacks that any kid would love to have. By now you know I’ll whip up homemade popsicles out of anything–and the kids will eat it with the biggest, drippiest smiles you’ve ever seen.Spinach? Yep. Lemonade? Of…
DIY bruschetta kids love
Well, something amazing happened. Picture 5:30pm. On a bad day. You know, when the kids are yelling and fussing, you’re trying to get plates on the table and just as you do…everyone groans? Your husband is still at work and you’re wondering why you even bother making fresh meals for a knee-high crowd who doesn’t care? Now…
Birds’ Nests: Baked Pasta Cups with Spaghetti & Spinach
Leftover pasta becomes an easy lunch for kids, one with a little imagination that makes for cute lunch discussions. It also includes spinach. Because you know my policy on making things Florentine: Do it as often as possible. We’d had spaghetti for dinner the night before. I threw in an extra handful of whole-wheat pasta, then stored…
How to Make a Pasta Salad Turtle: The Potluck Dish of Your Kids’ Dreams
Even though it’s been a while, moving back to America from Italy has meant many big changes. English. Big cars. And potlucks. So many potlucks. Church potlucks, school potlucks, people who get mail potlucks (you’re coming, right?). We have another one coming up in a couple of weeks and I have to confess something: I…
Saucy Meatball Sliders from “Real Baby Food”
I love mini food for kids. It’s easy for them to handle and the portion sizes are perfect. But there’s something I like even more than mini food, versatile food. Meatballs can be served straight-up, in pasta or on small buns as sliders. Like these! Whole wheat dinner rolls make the excellent “buns” and bonus, you…
One-Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole (Plus a Fancy Serving Suggestion for Kids)
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I NEED A LITTLE HELP getting the kids to try something new. Part of my goal here is to create a great relationship between our kids and the food we eat. Part of that is nutrition, cooking fresh and healthy meals. Part of that is fun. Enter, egg cups. They’re just…
bell pepper sailboats
WHEN IT COMES TO CUTE FOOD SOMETIMES PARENTS GRUMBLE, “But then they’ll ask for something special every day!” I imagine my brood like little emperors reclining on fluffy pillows with pipes perched in the corners of their jam-smeared mouths. In come the demands: “Bring me my grape caterpillars!” “You call that a spider sandwich?” “WHEEEERE is my…
apple & grape turtles
PERFECT FOR AN AT-HOME SNACK or even an “UN-BAKE SALE” (you know, a more nutritious option for fundraising than cakes and cookies), we’ve been dying to make these turtles for a while now. Here’s the review: They’re pretty awesome. They took about 1 minute each. The kids squealed. Difficulty level (1-5): 2 the teeny tiny eyes…
Pickle Roll-Ups
FILE THIS ONE UNDER “EASY SCHOOL LUNCH IDEAS“. Desperate to break out of our sandwich rut this week, I grabbed that deli ham (the one with no nitrates), folded each piece in half and rolled it around a mini dill pickle. I just repeated twice and threaded all three onto an extra long toothpick. These happened…
chocolate-covered mini pretzel sticks with sprinkles
ON A JUNK SCALE, THESE chocolate-covered mini pretzel sticks are surprisingly low. That’s because of their size. When it comes to dessert–and there’s no mistaking these chocolate bombs for “snacks”–it’s all about portion size. To be clear, I don’t think babies or toddlers need a lot of sugar, so I always go for low sugar…
easy-to-make owl crackers
MAKING DINNER WITH ANTSY KIDS UNDER FOOT is hard enough. But making Thanksgiving dinner with kids playing chase through the kitchen? That’s the kind of stress me and my pre-ordered, free-range, organic turkey just don’t need. What we need is wine a simple kid’s activity. If you’re looking for a keep ’em busy project that also doubles…
how to make green grape caterpillars
THESE CREEPY CRAWLY CATERPILLARS aren’t just a healthy Halloween treat, they’re also great for parties or lunch boxes any time of the year. I think I know three little people who are going to squeal when they see these on the table at snack time today… WHAT YOU NEED: Extra long toothpicks (I got mine…
Apple Sandwich, a recipe excerpt from “100 Days of Real Food”
{Reprinted with permission from “100 Days of Real Food” by Lisa Leake} If you’re looking for a way to make over your kid’s lunch (or your own!), here’s the answer. Sandwiches are no longer a bore if you just switch out the regular bread and use Cinnamon-Raisin Quick Bread, waffles, or even apples! Apple sandwiches…
peaches & cream fruit leather
IT ALL STARTED WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY BOUGHT 1 MILLION PEACHES. Or something close to it. Paul’s family was visiting from Florida over the 4th of July weekend. There were many conversations about who was getting peaches between his mom, his sister and me and here’s the shocker, I mixed up the info. One trip to the…
12 cute kids’ foods you can actually make, really!
When it comes to getting kids excited about food that doesn’t involve shiny wrappers or fish-shaped crackers, I say bring on the cute. With four kids, ages 5 and under, I have only one rule in the kitchen: All ideas must be doable. (Do you hear me, Pinterest?) Kids begging for a banana while I’m…