If you have children in your life then you know it can sometimes be a challenge finding foods they like that are good for them too. After serving meatloaf and chicken fingers for the nine hundredth time, it sometimes feels like you'll never get out of the "What's for dinner?" rut. At Recipe4Living we know how hard it is to get your kids to eat a nutritious meal. That's why we've put together a collection of recipes for children that you'll like too.
Children Appetizer Recipes
Top Notch Nachos
This is a great recipe for kids or just as appetizers. Very simple to make, but always a favorite!
Ingredients
Round tortilla chips
1 can refried beans
1 large tomato
1 can chopped olives
1 yellow onion
Shredded cheese (optional)
Directions
First, preheat the oven to 315 degrees. Next pull out one or two baking sheets. Open the can of refried beans and chop the tomatoes and onions. Put the tortilla chips on the baking sheets and place a dollop of beans on each tortilla chip.
After completing, place the onions, tomatoes, and olives on too. Add cheese last if using. Put the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 35 minutes.
Children Main Dish Recipes
Easy Crockpot Stuffed Bell Peppers
This easy crockpot stuffed bell peppers recipe is great smelling, simple and made for even the fussiest of eaters!
Ingredients
6 green peppers washed, topped and seeded
1 Tbs. shortening (i.e. Crisco)
1 1/2 - 2 lb. ground beef
1 C. cooked rice
1 sm. onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
dash of basil
1/2 C. ketchup
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce w/ or w/o seasoning
Directions
Heat shortening in skillet and brown beef. Combine meat and next 6 ingredients. Stuff bell peppers. Arrange bell peppers in large crock pot. Can be stacked. Pour tomato sauce over peppers. Cooker on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Children Sandwich Recipes
Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich
This sandwich provides two grain servings from the ciabatta, a little more than two servings of meat from the chicken, and half a dairy serving from the cheese. Serve with orange wedges and baked chips.
Ingredients
1/4 C. (about 2 oz.) sun-dried tomato pesto (such as Classico)
2 Tbs. fat-free mayonnaise
3/4 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. olive oil
1 8 oz. loaf ciabatta bread
12 lg. basil leaves
3/4 C. (3 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 C. sliced bottled roasted red bell peppers
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
Directions
Combine pesto and mayonnaise in a small bowl, stirring to blend. Sprinkle chicken with pepper and salt. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken to cutting board, and cool slightly. Cut chicken lengthwise into thin slices. Preheat broiler. Cut ciabatta in half horizontally. Place bread, cut sides up, on a baking sheet. Broil 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove bread from pan. Spread pesto mixture evenly over cut sides of bread. Arrange the chicken slices evenly over bottom half. Top chicken evenly with basil leaves, and sprinkle cheese over top. Place bottom half on baking sheet, and broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Arrange bell pepper and tomato over cheese, and cover with top half of bread. Cut into 4 equal pieces.
Children Dessert Recipes
Individual Cheesecakes
A very nice change. Small bite size pieces of cheesecake you can snack on anytime, no need to dirty any dishes.
Ingredients
2 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/2 C. sugar
18 vanilla wafers
1 can cherry pie filling
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbs. lemon juice
Directions
Mix all ingredients (except pie filling). Beat 10 minutes with electric mixer. Line muffin tins with cupcake fillers and put a vanilla wafer in each cup (18 cups). Add cheese mixture. Bake in 350-degree oven for 17-20 minutes. Cool and top with cherry pie filling (or your favorite pie filling) and refrigerate.
