Tag Archives: Kid Friendly

Broccoli AuGratin

November 28, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I like when you can take a healthy vegetable and disguise it enough that you can get a picky kids to eat it 🙂 This one has enough cheese and crumbly topping to make it disappear !

8 servings
120 calories per serving

3 c water
2 c baby carrots, cut in half
4 c broccoli florets (very small pieces)
10 whole wheat Ritz crackers, crushed
3 T grated parmesan cheese
1 T butter, melted
4 oz. light Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 oz. light cream cheese

Preheat broiler. Boil water and add carrots. Simmer for 8 minutes then add broccoli and simmer another 3 minutes. Drain and place in a bowl.

Microwave Velveeta and cream cheese on high 1 minute then stir and cook another 30 seconds or until completely melted. Pour on top of veggies. Mix crackers and parm and butter and sprinkle on top of the veggies and cheese and place under broiler for 2-3 minutes to brown the crumbs.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Corn Salsa

November 21, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This can be eaten as a side, or use in smaller portions as a salsa over the top of broiled fish or chicken. Very savory, very easy to put together and very healthy !

4 servings
58 calories per serving

4 small tomatoes, chopped
1 c corn kernels (frozen and thawed or fresh)
¼ c chopped cilantro
1 jalapeno or ¼ of a green bell pepper, chopped finely
¼ c fat free zesty Italian dressing
Squirt of lime

Mix all together and chill at least 1 hour.

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Chocobutter Fudge Bars

November 19, 2011 admin Leave a comment

How easy was that? Fudge in a snap ! Make up a batch and put it in a pretty container for a great holiday gift !

25 servings
140 calories per serving

1 pkg. (8 squares) Baker’s semisweet chocolate
3/4 c sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c cocktail peanuts, chopped
1 pkg. (6 squares) Baker’s white chocolate
1/4 c creamy peanut butter

Microwave semisweet chocolate and milk on high 1 minute. Stir and microwave another minute or until mostly melted. Then stir well and add nuts. Line the bottom of an 8 inch cake pan with foil and spread the mix in the pan. Microwave white chocolate on high 1 minute. Stir and microwave another minute or until mostly melted. Stir until completely melted. Add peanut butter and stir well then spread over the other layer and refrigerate 2 hours. Cut into 25 fudge squares.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pork

BBQ Crusted Pork Chops

November 12, 2011 admin Leave a comment

There’s nothing simpler than Shake ‘n Bake – but this recipes adds a layer of flavor and makes the chops even more moist. This is a great crowd pleaser.

5 servings
260 calories per serving

1 box Shake n Bake for pork
5 4 oz. boneless pork loin chops
1/4 c BBQ sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush pork with BBQ sauce and then coat with crumbs. Bake 30 minutes.

Dessert, Fruit, Kid Friendly

Fruit Parfait

November 10, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Sweet fruit with a spicy ginger and cardamom sauce. Serve with Cool Whip for a great dessert or serve with yogurt for a perfect breakfast treat.

8 servings
91 calories per serving

8 oz. pineapple chunks in juice, undrained
15 oz. can peach slices in juice, drained
2 kiwis, peeled and chopped
1 c strawberries, chopped
2 T brown sugar
¼ t cinnamon
¼ t ground cardamom
¼ t ground ginger
1 ½ c cool whip, thawed

Drain pineapple and keep the juice. Chop pineapple and peaches and mix with kiwi, strawberries, brown sugar, spices and juice. In parfait glasses, place half the fruit in the cup. Add a layer of Cool Whip. Add the next layer of fruit and top with a dollop of Cool Whip.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pasta, Sides

Orzo Primavera

November 7, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a great recipe. It has my favorite pasta, orzo ! Plus is has lotsa healthy veggies and a simple parmesan sauce. I could eat this every day !!

8 servings
120 calories per serving

14.5 oz. can chicken broth
1/3 c water
1 c orzo
2 1/2 c fresh vegetables, diced very small (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, celery, green onions, red peppers )
1/3 c grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring broth and water to a boil then stir in orzo and cover and cook 7 minutes. Add in veggies and cook another 5 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in cheese, salt and pepper.

Dinner, Italian, Kid Friendly, Pasta

Cheesy Tortellini

November 4, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Sometimes quick sauces are just as good as long simmered ones. This is one of those sauces. It’s full of fresh herbs and makes a great tortellini topper.

4 servings
307 calories per serving

9 oz. package fresh tortellini
8 oz. beef broth
14 oz. can diced tomatoes (undrained)
3 oz. tomato paste
1/4 c chopped basil
¼ c chopped parsley
1/2 c shaved fresh Asiago or Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to directions and then drain. Mix broth, tomatoes, parsley and basil and cook 5 minutes. Add tortellini, salt and pepper and half the cheese. Plate and garnish with the remainder of the cheese.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Coconut Corn

October 31, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This creamy corn dish has a sweet, mild flavor – one the whole family will enjoy. Though the ingredients sounds very Thai inspired, the flavors are mild and you can pair this with anything.

4 servings
148 calories per serving

2 c frozen corn, thawed
1 c lite coconut milk
1/4 t salt
2 T chopped cilantro
1 T lime juice
½ t red pepper flakes

Mix corn, milk and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until milk has mostly evaporated. Stir in cilantro, lime and red pepper.

Dessert, Kid Friendly, Uncategorized

Mocha Parfaits

October 26, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Rich, creamy and very flavorful. The family won’t even know they are eating healthy cottage cheese ! So much healthier than sugar laden puddings, ice creams, etc.

4 servings
210 calories per serving

16 oz. low fat cottage cheese
1/4 c sugar
1 T cocoa powder
1 1/2 t instant coffee powder
2 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup + 2 T Cool Whip Lite
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Blend cottage cheese, sugar, cocoa and coffee in a blender. Take 1half of the mixture out of the blender and distribute among the 4 parfait cups. Place 2 T Cool Whip in blender and quickly blend. Distribute half the berries in the parfait glasses. Then add the remainder of the mocha mix and the remainder of the berries. Top with Cool Whip and nuts.

Dinner, Fish, Kid Friendly

Garlic Shrimp

October 25, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Simple to do – sweet to eat – yummy succulent shrimp ! At only 84 calories per large serving (aren’t shrimp great?!?!), add a nice pasta or rice side dish.

4 servings
84 calories per serving

32 large shrimp peeled and cleaned
8 T plain fat free Greek yogurt
1 T minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ c chopped parsley
Pam

Heat a skillet and spray with Pam. Mix yogurt and parsley. Cook shrimp 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook a minute longer or until shrimp are done. Toss shrimp with yogurt sauce.