Search Results for: blog kids in the kitchen sweet and simple strawberry treats

Strawberries Galore!

I’m not sure who was more thrilled to see the “STRAWBERRIES 99 cents per pound” sign hanging at the grocery store, my berry obsessed daughter, or me, her penny-pinching mother. My first thought after seeing the unbelievably low price for fresh strawberries in April was: Rotten fruit. I figured the market was trying to get rid of expired produce and would be happy to take 99 cents rather than dump the berries and take a hit. As it turns out, the cheap strawberries are perfectly wonderful and come courtesy of unusually cold weather in Florida. According to our market’s produce … Continue reading →

Merry Christmas Breakfast Recipes

Christmas morning is not the time to be serving cold cereal and dry toast for breakfast. The special day deserves an extra special morning meal. However, it shouldn’t require you spending hours in the kitchen while the rest of the family enjoys playtime with their new gifts. So, what do you do? Consider whipping up the following simple, yet festively sweet breakfast recipes: ORANGE AND CRANBERRY CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST Ingredients: 2 tablespoons corn syrup 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1 loaf Texas Toast 5 eggs 1 1/2 cups half and half 1 teaspoon vanilla … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Summer Meals

Cheap meals don’t need to leave a bad taste in your mouth. There are hundreds of inexpensive summer recipes that are packed with flavor. In fact, many are so tasty your family will never know that you didn’t spend a fortune making them. The following summer recipes are not only easy on your wallet, but they’re also simple to make and taste great: TUNA PASTA SALAD Ingredients: 1 (16-ounce) package seashell pasta, cooked 2 cups mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 cups diced celery 4 tablespoons fresh chopped dill, plus more … Continue reading →

Fruity Summer Meal

Summer yields sensational fresh fruit, but the season’s plumpest berries and other succulent sweet treats don’t have to be saved exclusively for breakfast. Fresh fruits, especially citrus selections, can be incorporated into every aspect of your dinner menu. Here’s how: GRILLED CITRUS CHICKEN Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless 2 oranges, juice and zest 2 lemons, juice and zest 2 limes, juice and zest 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder 3/4 cup olive oil 8 sprigs lemon thyme, freshly chopped Salt to taste Black pepper to taste Directions: Combine citrus juice and zest, ancho chile, olive oil and thyme. Reserve 1/2 … Continue reading →

Late Summer Berry Recipes

Despite the myriad back-to-school displays and the heavy traffic near universities, summer isn’t over yet. A trip to the local grocery store proves that summer’s harvest is still ripe for the picking. Yesterday I was able to score super savings on seasonal produce, which I was able to add to the fresh strawberries I picked in late June, to yield the following scrumptious recipes: STRAWBERRY RHUBARB BREAD PUDDING Ingredients: 8-10 pieces cooked French toast- diced (I use Texas Toast) 4 eggs 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup milk 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups fresh rhubarb, diced 1/2 cup melted butter … Continue reading →

Succulent Summer Berry Recipes

Nothing beats biting into a big juicy berry on a hot summer day. Why not make the most of berry season with the following fruitastic recipes that are perfect to bring along on a summer picnic or to serve to your kids as a healthy afternoon snack: BLUEBERRY BARS Ingredients for Crust: 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 cup sliced or slivered almonds 1 cups (2 sticks) cold butter, cut into cubes Ingredients for Pastry Cream: 4 large eggs 1/4 cup heavy cream 1 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 1/2 cup … Continue reading →

Fresh Berry Recipes

Strawberry picking season started on Saturday (at least at our local farm). So, tomorrow my preschooler and I will head out to the fields and pluck 10 pounds of fresh, juicy strawberries. I have big plans for those luscious red berries, including using them in the following simple recipes: FRESH STRAWBERRY TARTS Ingredients: 2 cups fresh strawberries 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 cup orange juice 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons honey 1 cup heavy whipping cream Powdered sugar Directions: Place berries in a small bowl, sprinkle with sugar, and toss gently with … Continue reading →

Stuffed Summer Sensations—Burgers and Chicken

Who wouldn’t be delightfully surprised to bite into an ordinary burger and find an added burst of flavor and texture? Burgers, chicken, or pork stuffed with hidden chunks of cheese and vegetables are nothing new to foodies, but what if you cut into a traditional cut of meat to find that it was filled with bacon, fresh herbs and other fantastic fixings? Discover what your reaction would be by making these incredibly delicious stuffed dishes this summer: STUFFED BACON BURGERS Ingredients: 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 4 slices cooked bacon, chopped 1 1/2 to 2 pounds ground chuck 1 … Continue reading →

Finger Lickin’ Good Summer Recipes

Corn on the cob, watermelon, hamburgers, and hot dogs are some of summer’s tastiest no-utensils-needed foods. The hands-on favorites are simple to eat and make clean up even easier. The following recipes are some of my family’s finger lickin’ favorites. All that’s required to eat them are clean hands and a healthy appetite. EGG IN THE MIDDLE PIZZA Ingredients: 1 (12-inch) unbaked pizza crust 4 ounces shredded Gouda cheese 4 ounces shredded Havarti cheese 4 ounces goat cheese 8 slices of prosciutto 8 fresh morel mushrooms 12 spears fresh asparagus, blanched and grilled 1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved … Continue reading →

Patriotic Recipes

Happy Memorial Day! We’ve got one more day of grillin’ and chillin’ before most of us head back to work and school. However, it’s important to remember the reason why we are afforded this break from our daily grind. The Memorial Day holiday is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by our service men and women, in the pursuit to keep our freedoms secure. So why not commemorate the day by making dishes that feature the colors of our country—-red, white and blue. Here are a few recipes to get you started: FLAG DESSERT Ingredients: 1 tube refrigerated … Continue reading →