Dinners That Are a Hit!

I have picky eaters (10 & 4 next month), so this is a difficult one for me...

Tator Tot Hotdish

Cheesy Chicken Echilada - Chicken Helper

I designate one or two night that my kids can pick what they want for dinner. That way I don't have to come up with the ideas and that way they feel like they have some control and makes it fun for them. I only ask that we have a fruit and a vegie (or two vegies, two fruits, etc) and we go from there. I also have 3 kids cookbooks that we read through for ideas. I have the Rachel Ray kids cookbook as well as the Williams-sonoma and Better Homes and Gardens kids cookbooks. They all have great recipes and the Rachel Ray one divides them up by age group which is really nice. And some weeks I put in a "Free" day where everyone in the family can pick whatever they want for dinner...cereal, pb&j, etc...

I really try to make eating fun and enjoyable and so far I have two very adventerous eaters. My 6-year-old girl just ate a cricket the other day because she just wanted to try it!!! It was one from a candy store so it was safe.

And I almost always have a menu planned which really helps me!!!

A few of our favorites are:

BBQ Wienies (the small ones that are normally for horsdeurves)

Quesadillas - either just cheese to dip in salsa or you can make them really easily with leftover chicken, cream of ckn soup, and cheddar cheese.

English muffin pizzas - let them make their own pizzas - spread the sauce on and let them pile them with their own toppings.

Chicken Cordon Bleu - believe it or not! Pound out your chicken breast, layer with ham and swiss cheese, roll and secure with toothpicks, roll in bread crumbs and grill for about 30 minutes.

Burritos - refried beans, burger, cheese, tomato, green peppers, lettuce etc.

Salami, cheese and crackers.

Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.

Good Luck!!

Did you ever make HOBOS?

You can cook them on the grill or throw it in the oven. You can google it "making hobos on the grill". You can make it with any kind of meat/chicken/turkey/pork.

The original one is
Make hamburger patties
potatoes peeled and diced
carrots chopped (or try any veggie the kids like)
cut up butter/margarine place it on top.
season with salt and pepper
wrap it individually in tin foil or place it in a cake pan and put it on the grill or even put it in the oven.

You can add:
onions,
mushrooms
onion soup mix
can of cr. of mushroom soup (this will make a little gravy)
or can of cream of celery
Any kind of seasonings you wish
worchestire sauce
garlic
tomatoes
cheese
Cook on grill for 30 minutes.
What's nice is you can do this individually and put what the kids like, and then make yours however you like.

It's easy takes 30 minutes, and it will become one of your favorite meals for both you and the kids.
If in oven: set it at 350 for 25 minutes.

an aweome way to try some new dinners is to go to a place like
My DInner Party (Elk RIver)
you can go (or order) and put together meals that can be frozen and made when needed.
It's kind of a fun way to try some new things and see if the kids find a new favorite.
The best way though is to get a group of girlfriends together and bring a bottle (or 2) of wine with you and make it a party!
You get to have fun with your girls all while assembling 4-5 meals for your family!
check it out!
If you want somebody to go with you - let me know!

some of the things that my kids like for dinner (2 and 5yrs):

Tuna helper (sneak some frozen peas in the mix)
Homemade pizza
Chilli (sneak healthy red beans in)
spagehttit...of course!
Hamburger, ramen noodles and frozen stir fry veges
hamburger, cr of mush soup, pasta, sour cream, worchester sauce (sneak frozen peas in)
tomato soup with grilled cheese to dip in.
baked chicken patties with melted cheese and spag sauce

also great websites: campells soup, kraft foods have a lot of quick easy receipes without weird ingredients.

check out www.kraftfoods.com they send you a monthly email with ideas you can save on there in your own account (free). They will also mail you there monthly magazine free along with great coupons. That is my favorite site

I haven't tried any of these dishes yet but other ladies on another bulletin board I participate on said they are very good and very easy to fix.

http://www.menus4moms.com/

I think you can just view the menu archives if you don't want to subscribe.

A.

I know how that goes. We started using Tastefully Simple products after I started selling and my kids love all the dinners you can make with the products.There a thousand receips at www.tastefullysimple.com/web/tscheler that you can check out. My kids love the chicken stir fry that you bake.

T.

hotdogs wrapped in a cheese and cresent roll
grilled cheese
meat,crackers,cheese they make their own creation
shrimp and garlic flavored noodles
sloppy joes
make your own sub
Ravioli make your own or buy frozen and add sauce
Gyro's
breakfast foods like frenchtoast,pancakes,omlets,
BLT sandwhichs
Shepard's Pie
make your own pizza
fondu

A quick and easy family favorite for us is Chicken Tortilla Soup.

1 box chicken broth ~ 4 cups worth (we buy the healthy, organic stuff)
1 - 2 cups water
Cooked, diced chicken (2 breasts worth for us, but use as much or little as you want)
1 can kidney beans, drained (optional) (white or black beans work just as well, too)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 small can diced green chilis
1 onion, diced
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 bag frozen corn (or other veggies)
Tortilla chips, grated cheese, sour cream (for toppings)

Cook chicken if needed. Set aside. Brown onions with a little butter or oil in a large, heavy bottom pot. Add the taco seasoning and chilis. Cook for a minute or two. Add the tomatoes and stir to combine. Add chicken broth, water, beans, corn and chicken. Bring to a boil.

Serve in bowls and top each with crumbled tortilla chips, cheese, and/or sour cream.

You can also add frozen veggies to the soup just before serving to cool the soup down for the kids.