Archive for the ‘Cooking’ Category

Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas for Kids

For “Thrifty Thursday” I thought I would offer you some ideas to create some quick and easy breakfast meals.

With cereal costing  mega bucks per pound, I think it’s time we ban the cereal isle and make our own breakfast! (And please feel free to share some of your own ideas with the readers here.)

Breakfast is a very important meal.  Studies have shown that children who eat a balanced breakfast are more alert in school, perform better and in many cases are less prone to bad behavior than children who skip breakfast.

Here are some quick and easy breakfast ideas for kids:

Eggs – Eggs are versatile and nutritious, plus most kids like them. Scrambled eggs are quick to make;  you can add a little chopped turkey ham, cheese, chopped tomatoes or mushrooms.  Simple boiled eggs with slices of toast will make an excellent breakfast too.

Bake Ahead Muffins – Muffins aren’t always the most nutritious meal, but if you bake your own muffins you can use mashed banana, chopped walnuts and a little honey for a naturally sweet breakfast muffin.

*You can also replace half of the amount of white flour for healthier whole wheat flour.  And you don’t have to stick to just sweet muffins; try a savory turkey bacon and chive muffin or cheese and turkey ham muffin. Bake them the night before for a quick and healthy breakfast.

Fruit – Try a fresh fruit salad with a yogurt and cheerio dip. Using a rolling pin, mash a handful or two of whole grain Cheerios in a plastic bag and transfer to a bowl. Fill another bowl with yogurt and let your kids dip the fruit pieces in yogurt then in the cheerio mixture. Whole grain Cheerios have a lower sugar content then many of the cereals on the supermarket shelves.

Pancakes – Prepare a basic pancake batter the night before, cover and refrigerate in the morning. In the morning all you need to do is heat the grill and your entire family can enjoy delicious homemade pancakes. Serve with a little maple syrup or jam and some fresh fruit on the side.  *Peanut butter can also be spread on pancakes for a different flavor.

Pizza for Breakfast – Split a couple of bagels in half, top with a little pizza sauce, grated cheese and some chopped turkey ham. Place under the grill for a few minutes and you have a nutritious breakfast pizza. You can also use English muffins or pita bread.

Breakfast Burrito – Wraps are a great alternative to toast and cereal. You can make a scrambled egg breakfast wrap with a little bit of  turkey ham or cheese added to it or you can add a little cream cheese and turkey or even make a breakfast pizza burrito.

Oatmeal -  You can use your crock pot to make delicious oatmeal that will be ready in the morning.  I also found a nifty recipe earlier this week for “Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal” that I intend to try really soon.  (It looks yummy!)

Remember breakfast doesn’t always have to consist of the traditional toast, cereal and eggs.  You can experiment a little to keep things interesting.

As a final note, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to always make the perfect family breakfast. If your kids really aren’t hungry at breakfast time a simple banana (or peanut butter spread on a banana) and a glass of orange juice will give them an instant boost.

How to Make Homemade Banana Pudding (Video)

At a local store here in my small town, I pick up bananas at a big discount on Tuesdays.  On Wednesday nights after church we like to have some sort of snack or treat.  So, many times I whip up a quick batch of banana pudding and stick it in the fridge to have ready when we come home.

I found a video online that shows how to make homemade banana pudding and their recipe looks pretty easy. (The actual version I use without eggs is down below underneath the video.)  I usually forgo the cookies to cut back on sugar…and no complaints from the boys…they still look forward to it!

One additional note: I usually add a little nutmeg for extra flavor.  Nutmeg has some health benefits (click here), including effectiveness in killing a number of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth.

Ingredients:

* Water
* 2 c. skim milk
* ⅓ c. sugar
* 3 tbsp. cornstarch
* 3 large egg yolks
* Pinch of salt
* 4 medium-ripe bananas
* 12 shortbread or vanilla-flavored cookies, crumbled
* Whipped cream

*For an easy homemade pudding without eggs, I use this “vanilla pudding recipe” (adding a little nutmeg), let it cool for 30 minutes in the fridge, then I mix in about half a tub of 8 oz. whip cream, add in my sliced bananas, and the put in the fridge for a couple of hours.

With this method, I have an easy “one scoop & serve” dessert.   You can sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top to spiff it up if you wish.  For best results, mix in the dry ingredients with the milk before heating and constantly stir over heat until thickening begins to prevent lumps.  Turn off heat immediately to prevent scorching.

Spinach Dip Knorr Recipe

Last Friday evening we had a ladies’ fellowship at our church.  My friend, Kristina, brought a spinach dip that was sooooo good that all the ladies were fighting for more. (I think my pastor’s wife tried to secretly confiscate it under her sweater to sneak it home. *Wink* )  Anyway, my friend was kind enough to send me the recipe…it’s the recipe from the Knorr vegetable soup mix. (Find it in the isle where you find dry soup mixes.) Very easy to make!

Spinach Dip with Knorr’s Veggie Soup Mix

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed (do not use fresh)
16 oz sour cream
1 c. mayonnaise
1 (4 oz.) pkg. Knorr vegetable soup mix
1 (8 oz.) can water chestnuts, finely chopped
3 green onions, finely chopped

Squeeze spinach until dry. In medium bowl, stir together spinach, sour cream and soup mix. Add finely chopped water chestnuts and green onions. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

Easy Egg Salad Sandwich Recipe

While you’re boiling those eggs…stick in an extra 6 eggs and make these sandwiches.

Ingredients:

6 eggs

3 TB Mayo

2 tsp. mustard

1 tsp. celery seed

Lawry’s seasoning salt

Directions:

Chop eggs. Mix in the other ingredients.  Sprinkle lightly with Lawry’s seasoning salt.  (Just enough to add some delicious flavor, but not so much to make it too salty.)

Place on your favorite bread or buns.  Rye bread is also delicious…or try making wraps with flour tortillas.

How to Feed Your Family Healthy Meals on a Tight Budget - Video

Thought you might enjoy this video today on “Thrifty Thursday”

Step 1: Start with hot cereal

Start the day with a hot cereal; they’re much cheaper than cold cereals. Oatmeal is a nutritional winner and very inexpensive if you buy a container of plain, old-fashioned oatmeal.

Step 2: Stretch your milk

Stretch your milk dollars by diluting a can of evaporated milk or some powdered milk with water to create whole milk.

Step 3: Stock up on frozen veggies

Stock up on frozen vegetables when they go on sale. Unless your produce was just picked, it’s just as healthy — or even more so — to eat the frozen stuff, which locks in the nutrients.

Canned vegetables are another cheap alternative to fresh, but rinse them before eating because many are loaded with salt.

Step 4: Eat fruits in season

Limit your fruit purchases to whatever is in season, the exception being bananas and apples. The former are relatively inexpensive year-round, and the latter are low in calories, high in fiber, and may reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Step 5: Snack happy

Enjoy healthy snacks without spending a fortune by air popping corn kernels and buying nutritious nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, and peanuts. Buy in bulk.

Step 6: Limit meat consumption

Only eat meat two or three times a week, and make cheap meats as tender and tasty as pricier cuts by marinating them overnight or slow-cooking them in a Crock-Pot.

Step 7: Eat alternative proteins

Make the most of alternative sources of protein, like peanut butter, eggs, chunk light tuna (which is not only the cheapest kind of tuna, but also contains the least mercury), and beans.

Buy bagged beans in bulk — the kind you soak overnight. They’re cheaper and healthier than canned beans, which are high in sodium.

Step 8: Eat brown rice

Eat brown rice. It’s a bit pricier than white, but much better for you and still a nutritional bargain.

Step 9: Indulge in dessert

Indulge in desserts by making them from scratch using nutritious ingredients that you have on hand. Bake your own oatmeal and peanut butter cookies; mash and freeze overripe bananas for “ice cream”; bake bruised apples with a little honey.

My 3 boys love mom’s salsa.  I make a fresh batch every Thursday.  They tend to eat lots…which allows me to sneak in extra vegetable servings. I also use this salsa in the Mexican Rice recipe posted awhile back.   Add a little of this salsa to some other meals you make to pep up the taste.

Mom’s Easy Salsa Recipe

1 lg. can whole tomatoes (28 oz.)
1/2 onion,  finely chopped
2 jalapenos, finely chopped
1 tsp. garlic powder (or more if desired)
Lawry’s Seasoning Salt (to taste)
Juice of 1 or 2 limes (optional)
Cilantro, chopped (optional)

Place all the above ingredients in a blender until well blended.  Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to permeate together.