4th of July pancakes

When I saw this cute idea from The Idea Room
I couldn't wait to make them for my family.
I love making festive foods for different holidays.
All you need to do is mix up your favorite pancake mix.
Put half of the batter in another bowl and add
some red food coloring. Cook and serve with blueberries.
You could even serve with blueberry syrup.
Easy and cute!!

Chicken Lime Tacos

Recipe from Favorite Family Recipes

1 1/2 Lbs. chicken, cubed (I shredded my chicken)
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
juice of 1 lime
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
4-5 green onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 Tbsp fresh cilantro (or to taste)
Flour tortillas

Optional toppings:
Pico de gallo
cheese
onions
tomatoes
jalapeno
guacamole
cilantro
sour cream

Cook chicken in a medium skillet in a little oil until no longer pink.

You can cube or shred your chicken. Combine vinegar, lime juice,

sugar, salt, pepper, green onion, garlic and cilantro. Add to chicken.

Simmer for an extra 5-10 minutes. Add chicken to tortillas and

top with lettuce, tomato, cheese, avocado, cilantro, salsa,

sour cream, or any other taco topping you like!

Layered Fruit Smoothie

Recipe and picture from My Recipes

I love to make smoothies, especially in the summer.
This looks so yummy and refreshing. Can't wait to
make it for my family.

1 mango (peeled, pitted, and coarsely chopped)
1 1/4 cups plain low-fat yogurt
4 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest
1 banana (peeled, and chopped)
10 medium strawberries (washed, and hulled)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

In a blender, mix mango; 3/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt;
2 tablespoons honey; the fresh lime juice; 2 ice cubes;
and the freshly grated lime zest until smooth. Divide
mango-lime smoothie between 2 straight-sided glasses and
set aside.

Rinse blender, then mix the banana; the strawberries;
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt; 2 tablespoons honey;
the fresh lemon juice; 2 ice cubes; and the freshly
grated lemon zest until smooth. Layer banana-strawberry
smoothie onto mango smoothie, gently spooning mixture
around inside edge of each glass to create a clean horizontal line.

Bloomin' Onion Bread

Recipe from The Girl who ate Everything

1 unsliced loaf sourdough bread
12-16 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, thinly sliced
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup finely diced green onion
2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut the bread lengthwise and width wise without cutting
through the bottom crust. This can be a little tricky
but the bread is very forgiving. Place on a foil-lined baking
sheet. Insert cheese slices between cuts. Combine butter, onion,
and poppy seeds. Drizzle over bread. Wrap in foil; place on a
baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Unwrap the bread and bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Spanish Skillet Supper

1 lb. ground beef
1-2/3 cup water
1 can (8-3/4 oz.) whole corn undrained
1 package 5.6 oz Spanish rice
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Brown ground beef in a skillet, drain. Add water
bring to a boil. Stir in corn and rice; bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer uncovered stirring occasionally,
10 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese
until melted; top with remaining cheese.

Santa Fe Chicken Salad Wrap

Picture and Recipe from Good Life Eats
This would make a great summer meal.

2/3 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 – 3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 - 2 tablespoon minced cilantro
2 – 3 green onions, sliced thin
1 stalk celery, diced
2 cups shredded chicken
2/3 cup black beans
1/3 cup diced red bell pepper
1/3 cup corn kernels

In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream, lime juice,
salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and cilantro. Whisk to
combine. Add the chicken, green onion, and celery to
the sour cream mixture. Stir until the chicken is well coated.
Fold in the black beans, bell pepper, and corn. C
over and chill until serving.

To Prepare the Wraps:
Layer chicken salad, salad greens or baby spinach and
avocado slices inside burrito sized tortillas. Fold up
the ends and roll the wrap to seal it. Slice in half.
Serve with salsa on the side, if desired.

S'More Cookie Pizza

Recipe and picture from Better Recipes


1 (18-ounce) roll refrigerated sugar-cookie dough
2 cups (12-ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14-ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
2 cups M & M's
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Press cookie dough into
2 ungreased 12-inch pizza pans. Bake 10 minutes or
until golden. Remove from oven. In medium-sized saucepan,
melt chips with condensed milk. Spread over crusts.
Sprinkle with milk chocolate candies and marshmallows.
Bake 4 minutes or until marshmallows are lightly toasted.
Cool. Cut in wedges

Cupcake Kabobs

Hope everyone is have a fun Memorial day.

Check out these cute Red, White, and Blue

cupcake Kabobs from The Cupcake Activist.

Click here on how to make them.

Baked Zucchini

4-5 small zucchini spears, cut on an angle
2 eggs
1-2 Tbsp. milk
1 c. Italian-style bread crumbs or finely blended croutons
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Line a baking sheet with cooking spray. Combine eggs and milk
in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan
cheese, and salt and pepper. Dip each zucchini piece into the egg
mixture, then dip into bread crumbs until evenly coated in crumbs.
Place zucchini on baking sheet, and then bake in the oven at
425 degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
For an added crisp, turn the oven to broil and cook for about
30-45 seconds longer or until golden (watch them closely to
prevent burning). Remove from oven and serve with ranch dressing
or marinara sauce for dipping.
Recipe from Favorite Family Recipes

Carrot Oven Fries

1 lb. carrots (about 5 or 6 large,peeled and cut into 4"x1" sticks.)

1 tsp. Olive oil

1 tsp. cornstarch

1 packet Ranch dressing & seasoning mix

Pam vegetable cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400* and in a large bowl,combine carrots with oil, cornstarch and the ranch dressing packet. Toss all until well coated. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Now arrange coated carrots in a single layer on pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until crispy.

Recipe and picture via The Harwards

Cherry Cheese Danish

2 (8 ounce) tubes refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup PLUS 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided use
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (21 ounce) can Cherry Pie Filling
1 tablespoon butter, melted
½ cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350°F. Unroll 1 package of crescent rolls
and fit into bottom of an ungreased 9 by 13 inch baking dish.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 cup of the sugar and vanilla.
Spread mixture over dough in baking dish. Spread cherry pie
filling over cream cheese mixture. Unroll remaining crescent
rolls and lay dough over pie filling. Mix 1 tablespoon sugar,
½ cup almonds and 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle mixture
over top of dough. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Beef and Broccoli noodle bowl

Recipe from Little Momma and Co.

1 pkg. Fettuccine noodles
Stir Fry Beef

Broccoli
2 Tablespoons Hoisin sauce
1/2 Cup Italian dressing
chopped carrots

Chop your veggies into bite size pieces. Meanwhile, heat
enough water in a large pot to cook your fettuccine. In a
large frying pan stir fry your beef until browned, and
then remove from heat. When your water comes up
to a rapid boil, add your fettuccine. Cook half way, and then
add the veggies. Boil until pasta is al dente' and veggies are
crisp tender. Drain pasta and veggies in a colander and add
them to the beef. Return to heat. Add Hoisin sauce and
Italian dressing. Stir well, coating the noodles and veggies.

Pasta with Bacon and Mushrooms

Recipe and photo from The Pioneer Woman

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

3 slices Thin Bacon, Cut Into 1/2-inch Pieces

3 cloves Garlic, Minced

1 package (10 Ounce) White Button Mushrooms, Sliced Thin

1 cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth (OR Dry White Wine) 1 cup Half-and-half ¼ cups Heavy Whipping Cream

3 whole Green Onions, White And Light Green Parts Sliced

¼ cups Flat-leaf Parsley, Minced

½ cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

Salt To Taste

Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste

1 pound Thin Spaghetti Or Angel Hair Pasta

Extra Parmesan, For Sprinkling

Preparation Instructions Cook pasta according to package directions.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add bacon pieces and cook until light brown but not crisp. Remove bacon from pan and set aside. Do not clean pan. Add mushrooms and garlic to pan. Toss/stir around and cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes; increase heat to high if needed to help mushrooms begin to turn golden brown. Pour in chicken broth. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits. Cook over medium-high heat for several minutes, or until the liquid is reduced by half. Reduce heat and pour in half and half and cream. Stir and allow to bubble and thicken for a couple of minutes. Add sliced green onions and parsley, then cook for one more minute. Finally, add Parmesan and stir, allowing cheese to melt and incorporate into the sauce. Turn off heat. Add cooked pasta to a large bowl. Add half the sauce from the pan. Toss with tongs.

***Add 1/2 cup hot pasta water at this point if the pasta mixture is too thick and gunky. Toss and add more water until it reaches the consistency you need.***

Serve pasta in individual bowls, topping each helping with the rest of the sauce. Sprinkle with extra parsley and extra Parmesan. Enjoy!

Peep S'mores

Check out these fun Peep S'mores from Serious Eats.

Click here to find out how to make these fun colorful treats. Picture from Serious Eats

Cooking with Children

I received this article from Emily Patterson about cooking with children a couple of days ago. She had asked me to read it. I thought it was a great article and thought I would share it with you. I really enjoy cooking with my boys. Not only are they learning new things, but I enjoy spending time with them in the kitchen. One thing I do with my boys is let them pick one night each week to cook with me. They get to choose what we will have for dinner and help me in the kitchen. They love it and I love that they are enjoying cooking. Hope you get some great ideas from this article to help you cook with your children. I appreciate any feedback regarding the things you like to do, or make in the kitchen with your children.

Cooking with Children: A Recipe for Kitchen Safety & Fun

Bubbling pots, sizzling skillets and delicious smells can make the kitchen a fascinating – yet dangerous – place for young children. However, the potential hazards don’t have to keep children out of the kitchen. Dr. Mary Zurn, vice president of education for Primrose Child Care Facilities, says kitchen time can be a great way for families to regain some lost, but valuable, family time. “The kitchen is often the most popular place in the house for families to gather. It’s a place for learning and sharing, where the family can enjoy quality time. Children can also develop a sense of responsibility by participating in daily tasks,” said Dr. Zurn. Parents can keep the kitchen safe and fun for children by following this simple recipe:

1. Engage your child meaningfully. Think about what tasks your child can do independently. Completing simple jobs like mixing batter, rolling dough and measuring water can boost a child’s sense of pride and accomplishment. Tearing lettuce, adding sprinkles to sweets and shaking Parmesan onto pasta are other safe, satisfying tasks children can easily accomplish. Even very young children can get involved – give them some pots, pans and wooden spoons so they can pretend to cook with you or use them for music-making. The tuneful accompaniment will let you know they’re safely engaged and give them a way to feel like they’re helping too.

2. Set some ground rules. Children need supervision when they’re in the kitchen, so establish a list of basic safety rules and make sure children are always within sight. Teach children to wash their hands before and after handling food to avoid spreading germs. Discuss on a regular basis what’s safe to touch and what’s not. Make sure the handles of pots and pans are turned inward on the stove top so you and older children don’t accidentally bump them and spill hot liquids or food.

3. Build up skills step-by-step. Children can develop many essential skills in the kitchen, such as following recipes or counting slices of bread. For more advanced skills, start slowly and have your child master easy tasks before attempting harder ones. Teach older children to use a knife by starting them off with cutting soft items like cheese and cooked noodles with a dull spreader. As your child’s coordination develops, they can move on to slicing or sawing vegetables and fruit with a plastic knife.

4. Keep it fun. Cooking can be messy even without children, so don’t stress over the “oops” moments. If the cookie batter ends up on the floor instead of the baking sheet, offer some guidance and let your child try again. You can make cleaning it up fun too!

When your meal is complete, be sure to compliment your sous chef on a job well done. Offer them the first taste of whatever you cooked together and ask them what you should make next time. Bon appétit!

 Submitted on behalf of Primrose Schools: Child Care building the right foundation by Emily Patterson (@epatt1062)