Healthy, kid friendly EASY dinners

[RadioFanatic]

So, we are lucky enough to be adopting two girls - ages 4 and 5. So now it's time to make dinner - and I work. I do have a crockpot but would also love casseroles, foods I can prepare on sunday for the week, etc.

So any recipes that are easy, healthy AND kid friendly (with the caveat that I know all kids have different tastes), would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[esoumyekcim]

Easy Chicken Quesadillas

1 pkg flour tortillas
1 can chunk chicken, broken up into smaller pieces
1 pkg "Garden" variety or "Onion/Green Pepper" cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheese--we like either cheddar or Monterrey jack for this, b ut it's up to you

1. Let the cream cheese come to room temperature.
2. Using either a mixer or your hands (whichever you prefer) mix the cream cheese, chicken and shredded cheese together.
3. Spoon 1-2 teaspoons of chicken mix onto 1/2 of a flour tortilla and fold in half. Set aside and make up as many as you want in the same fashion.
4. Now there are a couple of ways to cook these. I do mine on the George Forman grill, but you can certainly stick them in the oven under the broiler or do them on the grill outside. Just make sure they are heated through and the cheeses are melted somewhat.
5. Let cool for 2-3 minutes then slice into halves or thirds using a pizza cutter.
Enjoy!

 

[horseshowmom]

Wow, congratulations! I don't have any recipes (not much of a cook, I'm afraid), but how exciting to be adding the two girls to your family! Are they already sisters or about to become new sisters?

 

[MAKmom]

Congratulations!!!!

Ask what the girls are used to eating & work around that for the transition period.

I think quick meals are pork chops & steak just fryed in a pan with a dab of olive oil. Micro frozen Vegtables & make pasta. !/2 tops

Baked chicken 1 hour in the oven, rice & micro frozen vegtables.

 

[mickeyboat]

I find my kids will eat almost everything when they can dip it. The oldest likes ketchup, the youngest likes ranch dressing. They eat a lot of meat that way. They also like raw carrots, cucumbers and celery with ranch dressing.

They also like "finger foods" that they can pick up with a toothpick. They love fruit, so they get a lot of it. They also like cheese and yogurt.

They also love spaghetti and meatballs, so I buy the frozen meatballs. DH is starting to cook a lot lately, and he likes to make soups, so we do home made chicken noodle soup once or twice a month. They also both like cream of broccoli soup.

Denae

 

[hydster]

Baked Ziti
Ultimate baked Mac N Cheese
Chicken Enchiladas
Marinated Chicken Breasts
Steak on a Stick
Meatloaf
Bean Burritos
English Muffin Pizzas
Chili
Soup
Stir Fry
Chicken and Veggie Kabobs

 

[Minnie824]

My DD likes croissant pizzas. The refrigerator dough, instead of rolling it, spread it out, cut in squares, put on sauce and cheese.
Also, get a panini press. My kids like the grilled cheese "with the lines" and its really super easy. AND you can make any type of sandwich in there, as well as burgers, etc.

 

[KirstenB]

Our kids love tacos, they get to "make" their own. I always have leftovers from this for the next night. Also, for working moms, I cook turkey breast on Sunday, then have the turkey in various leftovers for a couple of days (pot pie, open faced sandwiches, etc). Although I'm currently a SAHM, I used to love anything I could cook and have leftovers for the next night. I have a very picky eater in our older dd, so we might have chicken parmesan, and she just has plain noodles on the side of the patty. Hopefully your daughters won't be picky.

 

[TurboKitty]

Raw veggies, sliced cheese and "devilled" eggs go over well at our house. (I wrote "devilled" because for the kids I just mash up the egg yolks in a little mayo with a pinch of salt and pepper.)

My kids are strange also. They just love love love bean burritos and tacos. You could crock pot pinto beans (I have found boiling, about 2 cups of dried beans then simmering them for an hour or two with a pinch of salt and cardamon, and a drizzle of olive oil until they are tender. Then, check the liquid-which should be lower than the level of the beans and beginning to thicken a little- add or remove liquid as needed, taste for salt, add salt if needed, and mash them with a potato masher. No preservatives or additives for yummy refried beans) and cook up some ground beef (or turkey, or chicken chunks) with a little salt and pepper- drain, add one small can of tomato sauce with a little water-cook off excess liquid and use as taco or burrito filling. Best part of doing the meat like this- leftovers can also be used in tomato based pasta dishes and vegetable soups. Lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream are always a must for tacos or burritos at our house, which helps to round out the food groups.