[blparent] fun foods for kids

[jan wright]

Hey, everyone took my good and healthy ideas: so we are all on the same page.
Here are only a couple of extras.
If you are just starting out cooking, maybe you want to take it easy.
peanutbutter sandwiches are a good healthy alternative to Peanutbutter
and jelly.
you just mash up (with a fork) a couple of bananas and add as much
peanutbutter as desired. It hav to be spreadable, but not too thin.
then, just spread it on bread.
I do a peanutbutter/cream cheese combo, but it could be b/c of my pregnancy.
You can also warm up the peanutbutter mixture for a dip for apples.

you can take taco shells and make a nice snack by:
1. mix cream cheese, french onion dip and or whatever other spice or
cheese that you like together. My father likes me to put a bit of blue
cheese; sometimes we use taco seasoning instead of powdered ranch
dressing and we have used other creamy or powdered substances.
2. chop up green onions or olives into very small pieces. (optional.
3. find some thinly sliced beef chicken or turkey.
4. mix the cream cheese mixture with the chopped onions or whatever
you have chopped.
5. spread on taco shell.
6. put thin slices of meat ontop of creamy mixture.
7. start from bottom of shell and roll into a tube. Try to get it as
tight as possible. that will come with practice. Not every portion of
the tube will be as filled. you might want to use a spoon to scoop
some of the creamy mixture into the ends if they seem to be hollow.
Repeat until all of the mixture is gone.
 8. cover and refrigerate.
9.  When firm, use a knife and cut into rounds.
this sounds long, but is not.
you can also make little pizzas with English muffins.
That is fun for kids because they get to put on their own toppings.
   i am not a big "box dinner" person, but i can't make my own pizza
dough, either.
Hey fruit pizza might be fun, but that does require the oven and I
don't know if you want to start w/o the oven
If so, the pizzas and the "pigs in a blanket" variations is a good option.
Also, if you are a bit squeamish about the oven or gas stove, you
might want to start with the toaster oven or electric skillet.

Hope that this helps.