Recipes for You and Your Children

Cooking with kids is fun. There are lots of foods and snacks that you can make with children. Below you will find a number of kid friendly recipes that you can share with the children in your life whether you are a teacher, a parent or both:

Pigs in a Blanket

Preheat the oven according to the directions on the biscuit can

Ingredients:

2 Packages - Refrigerator Biscuits (I really like the crescent rolls because you do not have to cut them and they are flaky and delicious)

1 Package - Hot Dogs

6 Slices - American Cheese Slices (Optional)

Directions:

Remove the biscuits from the containers and unroll the dough and separate them. Cut the hot dogs in half. You may have a couple hot dogs left

Tear each piece of cheese into three even(ish) pieces. Set up a rolling station. I usually have paper plates with the ingredients on them. One child can place a piece of cheese on the biscuit then pass it to the next child, then the second child can place the hot dog on the biscuit and pass it down. The third child can roll the hot dog up in the biscuit and place it on the cookie sheet. Bake the Pigs in a Blanket until they are golden brown. The biscuits I use instruct you to bake them for 11-13 minutes and when I add the cheese and hot dogs I add 5-7 minutes to the cook time and they come out perfect

BABY PIZZAS

Preheat the oven to 375F

Ingredients:

1 Package - English Muffins (One package will make 12 little pizzas)

1 Small Container - Pizza Sauce

2-3 Cups - Shredded Cheese (Most cheeses you have on hand should work)

Other Toppings - Pepperoni, Sausage, Olives, Mushrooms, Green Bell Peppers, Onions Etc.

Directions:

Split each English Muffin in half and place on a plate. Place the pizza sauce in a bowl with a spoon. Shred the cheese and place it in a bowl. Place any other ingredients you are using into separate bowls. In this case, I would let the children make their own pizza and then place it on the cookie sheet. Bake the pizzas for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted

Variation: You can use different types of bread - just plain old sandwich bread works great or slices of sourdough bread will also work here

These are always very popular with children!

Ants on a Log

Ingredients:

Several Stalks - Celery

½ - 1 Cup - Peanut Butter

1-2 Small Boxes - Raisins

Directions:

Cut the celery in to 3-4 inch sticks. Place the peanut butter in a bowl with a plastic knife or spoon depending on the age of the children. Place the raisins in a bowl. Have the children assemble their own "Ants on a Log" by spreading the peanut butter on the celery and placing raisins on top

Variation: Use cream cheese in place of the peanut butter

I usually incorporated this along with a lesson plan involving bugs.

Fruit Salad with Honey Yogurt Dip
(This activity should be done with older children since cutting fruit is involved)

Ingredients:

1/4 to ½ - Watermelon

1 to 2 cups - Strawberries

1 - Cantaloupe

3 - Kiwi Fruit

8 oz - Vanilla Yogurt

2 oz - Honey (Remember children under 1 year cannot have honey, you may want to be on the safe side and not give it to children under 3 years of age)

1-2 dashes - Vanilla Extract

Directions:

Take the rind off about ½ of the watermelon and cut it into manageable pieces for the kids to work with. Take the green part of the top of the strawberries. Take the peel off and cut the cantaloupe in half, scoop all the seeds out with a spoon then cut into manageable pieces for the children to work with. Peel the kiwi fruit and cut them in half. Provide the children with plastic knives and a small cutting board. Have them cut the fruit into bite size pieces. Put the honey and vanilla extract in the yogurt and stir. This dish can be served with the dip over the top of the fruit like a dressing or on the side as dip.

Variation: Include chocolate syrup as a dip or in place of the Honey Yogurt Dip

Frothy Chocolate Banana Shake

Ingredients:

1 - Large banana

¼ Cup - Chocolate Syrup

2 Cups - Milk

1 Cup - Ice

Directions

Have one of the children cut the banana into about four pieces. Measure out the chocolate syrup. Measure out the milk and ice. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and foamy. Adjust the ingredients to your liking.

Variation: Use strawberry syrup and make Frothy Strawberry Banana Shakes

Yummy Yogurt Pops

Ingredients and Materials:

16 oz Container - Flavored yogurt

Small Paper Cups

Wooden Popsicle Sticks (available at most grocery stores or craft stores)

Plastic Wrap

Directions:

Stir yogurt to make sure it is smooth. Pour the yogurt into the cups about 2/3 of the way. Wrap a small piece of plastic wrap around the cup. Using the popsicle stick, put a hole right in the middle of the plastic wrap and stand it straight up in the middle of the cup. Place the cups in the freezer on a cookie sheet until frozen. Remove plastic wrap and tear away the paper cup.

What a cool treat! This treat is great for the Spring and Summer months! Other dishes you may want to share with your children may include soup, chili, muffins, oatmeal, scrambled eggs and ice cream sundaes. Remember to have them assist at tasks that are age appropriate.

This is the fourth and final article in my series on cooking with children. I hope you enjoyed all the information and found something to take away.