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Deviled Egg Sailboats

These are very often requested! They really capture the kids' imaginations and we may have to create some sort of food "lake" (blue hummus?) on which to float them.
30 min.
4, with two deviled eggs each

Catalan Tomato Toasts

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to visit Barcelona to see my cousins, and then to tour Portugal with a group of food-oriented travelers! I brought back a few recipes for my kids' class. This simple Catalan Tomato Toast recipe comes from a cooking class I took in Spain, and a similar recipe also appears in the book Catalan Food by Daniel Olivella. Try this, it may become a new favorite, and be added to your rotation! The kids loved to rub and squash the tomato pulp onto the rough bread.
35 min
approx. 4

Build your own Bug

It was “Build Your Own Bug” day recently in my Friday cooking class. I loaded celery sticks with cream cheese, and gave the kids tomatoes and pretzels in individual bowls so they could create edible butterflies or bugs. The best part might have been the candy googly eyeballs.
15 min
varies

Maple Fruit Dip

You have gotta try this! A simple, healthy delicious fruit dip, made with vanilla yogurt, maple syrup, warm spices & a bit of orange juice. In my kids’ class, we dipped in two kinds of apples - Granny Smith & Honeycrisp - plus slices of Bartlett & Bosc pears. The kids ate ALL the pears (so they’re not pictured here!) This is a great holiday crowd pleaser & comes together in seconds!
15 min
2-4 servings

Mini Pepper Boats with Goat Cheese Cargo

Yep, kids do like goat cheese. They will also eat sweet peppers! It helps if they're this pretty, and kid-sized. Here's a fast and delicious recipe. You can serve it as an appetizer, snack or side dish.

Hard-Boiled Ghosts

I was trying to come up with something for Halloween that hadn't been done before - something cute and healthy, but unique.  This idea came to me when I was staring into the fridge, and saw a box of delicious organic hard-boiled eggs from Costco. "What if we could gently melt a slice of cheese over an egg, letting it drape over the top?" I pondered. "Would it look like a little rotund ghost? Could we add pretzel arms and little eyes?" The answer was yes! And here was the result, below. They are kinda cute, and they actually taste delicious! This is a simple recipe, requiring just three or four ingredients and a short twirl in the microwave. There are some tricks to this treat, however -- you have to watch very closely as you melt the cheese.  It should take 5 to 7 seconds to create a yummy cloak of cheese over the top of the egg -- more, and it could turn into a bubbling puddle on the plate.
20 min
varies

Watermelon Pizza

No crust, no cheese. This fruit pizza is beautiful, delicious, fast, low-fat, nutritious and easy to eat. We loved it! You can make it into a fun little project at a picnic or party. Watermelon is loaded with vitamins A, B and C and lycopene and many other beneficial components. In the hot summer, it's also a great thing to help replenish fluids for active kids in the sun.
45 min
varies

Pizza Mummies

I have NEVER had such a large group of kids turn out to make a recipe - we had two groups of 12, plus 6 more added in.  The word "pizza" is magical. Add the mummy component, and you have a real winner. Plus these are easy and take only about 20 minutes to make. The idea was to make a little rectangular French-bread pizza, laying strips of white cheese over the sauce to look like mummy bandages. The eyes are two sliced black olives at the top. What resulted, however, were some very cute face shapes, some geometric compositions,  one barn design, and a few mummies. The kids loved the final product. To get a nice oblong shape, I used Ciabatta rolls sliced in half (one half for each mummy.)

Mollie Katzen’s Tuna Salad

The author of the Enchanted Broccoli Forest and many other cookbooks, Mollie Katzen, has a recipe for Tuna Salad that is fresh and fantastic. The kids made it disappear quickly. This was an attempt to get them familiar with something they could make  at home - and though it has a couple of extra ingredients like apple and fresh parsley, it didn't seem too hard to recreate! We served it on Wheat Thins crackers but it could make great sandwiches, or be the main feature on a salad. It would be perfect in an open-faced sandwich on toasted English Muffins. See if you like it at home.

Assorted Apples with Honey-Yogurt Fruit Dip

In early October, I took a day trip up to Apple Hill, east of Sacramento -- a wonderful place to visit in the autumn. It would be even better with kids! It's a collection of apple orchards, wineries, and farms that offer opportunities for apple-picking and apple tasting and learning about the industry. Of particular note: apple cider doughnuts. They just aren't the same anywhere else. We stopped first at High Hill, which has a fishing pond, an ongoing crafts fair, and a fudge factory to offer, plus fantastic fresh apple cider, doughnuts, fritters, sandwiches, and an open-air apple market. I brought back four varieties to taste: Red Rome, Honeycrisp, Mackintosh and Empire. The runaway winner with the kids was the Honeycrisp. Later in the season (towards Thanksgiving) excellent Pink Ladies are available. At any rate, at CATS, we made a simple yogurt dip that goes beautifully with any apple variety - and is good with pears, bananas, strawberries and whatever else you would like to dunk into it. This recipe makes a lot, so halve it if you like.

Potato Salad with Spinach and Lemon

I'm sharing a recipe from food blogger Faith Durand, whom you may know from her site, The Kitchn. Your kids devoured this no-mayonnaise version of 'tater salad. They especially liked chopping up the fresh dill, and zesting the lemon. I believe we added fresh chives, too.

Watermelon “Grill” with Fruit Kebabs

This recipe got raves, and honestly the "BBQ" is so darn cute.  We will probably have to make it again. You can't see the celery "legs" to the BBQ here, but they add a lot of  charm.  This great idea has spread to a lot of cooking sites, but I think it originated at SheKnows.com.
45 min
varies

Winter Fruit Salad

It's not every community that has five-year-olds who already know what Bosc pears are. "Oh, I love those brown ones!"  Yay! We are lucky. Everyone should be friends with Bosc pears, they are delicious.  And just wait till you mix 'em with pineapple and apples and a bit of brown sugar and spice.
30 min
4-6

Cuteness Alert! Penguin Appetizers

These are flat-out adorable. We had fun making them, and the next weekend I took an army of about 30 of them to a party. Made quite the scene. At CATS, the kids wanted to make the penguins with two heads, and with other interesting configurations. One does what one must. Here is the recipe we used - you can find these on the web but most instructions are about the same:

Healthy Halloween Treats – Cuteness Alert!

For most families, Halloween produces an overload of sugar and chocolate and other treats.  BUT: there can also be apples and oranges and healthy, creative edibles that kids will rave about. We made two super-cute items that were delicious and fun. Behold, apple-slice smiles and tiny citrus pumpkins!

Make-Your-Own Guac and Homemade Tortilla Chips

We gave each child a small bowl, half an avocado, a fork, and some optional add-ins.  The rest is history.  They designed their own guacamole, and then we sliced up a bunch of different types of tortillas with a pizza cutter, and baked 'em up:  fresh chips!  Without all the fat and salt, they're still delicious!

“Pumpkin Pie” cheese appetizers

A blog called She Knows had this recipe for an adorable appetizer that looks like a tiny slice of pie, but is really cheddar on crackers.  This is adapted slightly to avoid using a pastry bag to pipe the cream cheese - unless you have one!

Fresh Grape Salad

Here's a winner! Adapted from Eating Well, this easy fruit salad is healthy, low in fat and calories, and will delight all ages (though for toddlers, cut up the grapes.) It's creamy, smooth, and sweet, and a little reminiscent of ambrosia or a Waldorf salad, but those can be packed with calories - and mayo!  Give this a try - nice for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Add toasted almonds on top if you like for crunch.
20 min
4

Whole Wheat Quesadillas with Bananas

This is a yummy snack, or even breakfast, that you or your kids can make quickly and feel good about!  Whole grains, protein, fruit, and a touch of sweetness combine for a fun new "sandwich."
45 min
4 servings

Healthy Mac & Cheez Muffins

Oh boy, these are popular. They are SO DELICIOUS!  They are a great snack, or a few could make a meal. You might consider 'em for hors d' oeuvres, too. The recipe is out there on the interwebs in several forms - the best one I found was was from Emily Bites, who adapted it from Slender Kitchen.  The addition of spinach packs more nutrition into the recipe. Be sure to thaw and drain the spinach first.

Fresh Apple Salad

Dee-licous! The kids didn't even want to add honey to this salad, it was perfect as it was. I based this recipe on one from Chef Linette True of Portland, Oregon.  Being a Seattle girl myself, I am pretty familiar with apples and loooove them.  I can't figure out why we don't make more apple recipes! The CATS chefs enjoyed tasting the different varieties of apples - one of those intense simple pleasures we need to savor more.  This would be a fun thing to shop for at the Farmer's Market!  For added fun, invest in an inexpensive apple cutter, one of those pictured above, which are ridiculously efficient as well as great fun for you (I mean, the kids) to use!
30 min
4

Shredded Zucchini Biffins

Okay, a biffin is officially my name for something between a bite and a muffin. These taste like zucchini tater tots, but of course are not deep fried or oil-soaked.  In fact, they have no oil at all, except the spritz of spray that lines the muffin cups. They are baked in mini-muffin pans, though you can use the full-sized type if you like. Wow, did these disappear!  There were a few eyes rolling upwards when the kids bit into them. They hate waiting for things to cool!  Sometimes I slip baked items into the freezer just to cut down on the waiting period. These make a great side dish -- or freeze 'em and reheat for a quick breakfast on the go.
45 min
12-16 mini muffins

Southwestern Egg Rolls

Let's be honest. This one turned out OK, and the kids want to try it again and make improvements. So, consider this a fun platform to leap from, choosing your own modifications. As they are, the rolls are low in calories and fat, and have a good amount of protein and fiber. Everyone thought the crispy egg roll outsides were delicious, and it was FUN to make them, folding them up like little envelopes. But the filling might need more oomph. Consider adding a blob of salsa, some chiles, or even a bit more spice.

Honey Crunch Granola

It is simply not fair to make this granola and not share it with everyone within the reach of its aromatic cloud. Ahh, toasty oats and vanilla and honey! And of course, since it's here on this blog, it is even good for you. OK, I know this is a new generation, but some of the smaller kids did not know that granola doesn't always come in a bar.  This one is made on a cookie sheet and baked in the oven. It's really a kick to mix up. Granola is easy to customize for kids with allergies (i.e., to certain nuts), and also for those who prefer more dried fruit, or little bunny cookies, or coconut, or other delicious things you may add.  Here is what WE made:
60 min
5 cups

Stained Glass Jello

This recipe was a whole lot of fun - and it looks very festive, good for a holiday table.  It can be a salad or a dessert or a snack. It's very easy, but chilling time is needed. The "stained glass" look of this recipe comes from making four flavors of Jello, cutting them into cubes, and then creating a white gelatin mixture to hold the cubes together.

Veggie Wraps

These couldn't be simpler - and the reviews from the participants were excellent.  A rolled sandwich is a great after-school snack that the kids can make themselves -- or it's the centerpiece of a nice packed lunch. Whole-wheat flatbread or a tortilla makes the base for these healthy sandwiches. Hummus or cream cheese serves as the glue to hold the veggies on!
1 sandwich

The Purple Cow

Now this is getting ridiculous.  Whenever I attempt to introduce an exciting new recipe, the kids keep adamantly requesting smoothies. I hope it has a lot to do with the warm weather. We will, however, move to Halloween and other fall holidays soon.  And no, I don't think that means a Turkey Smoothie... but maybe we can work in something with cranberries. Almost everyone loved it, for the big bright grape taste and the tanginess of the yogurt.  It couldn't be easier to make as well.  And all those good vitamins, fiber, and calcium provided an afternoon boost for the young juice baristas.
30 min
2-4 servings

Ladybug-Topped Crackers

One of our teachers, Sharla, handed me this cute appetizer idea from a website and I knew we had to try it.  Here's the recipe, based on one from Taste of Home.  No bugs were harmed in this experiment.
36 crackers

Devilish Eggs

These hard-cooked eggs are perfect for summer -- fun to make and delicious.  It feels strange to pack the gooshy mashed egg yolk mixture into a zip-lock bag (which is why kids love to do it) but it's very easy to squeeze the filling into the egg whites that way! I love passing around fresh herbs for the kids to smell and taste.  They are getting pretty sophisticated -- and are open to trying new green stuff. :)  Wait - they all have tarragon in their teeth!
24 servings

Flexible Zucchini Muffins

Well, I don't mean that these muffins are  flexible as in foldable, or that they can act as flying saucers.  But they're flexible in that the recipe can be modified a bazillion ways.  They are delicious and very healthful just as they are, too! Personalize them by adding chopped nuts, dried cranberries, raisins, applesauce instead of oil, nutmeg, pine nuts, flaxseed, orange zest, a mix of other types of squash, or -- you choose! I love the muffins sliced in half (in either direction) and stuck back together with a generous blob of light cream cheese.  Talk about a portable, healthy breakfast or snack for kids! I heard: "You can't even taste the zucchini!" And "These are really delicious, can we make them next week too?" And "Will you please give the recipe to my mom?"  They loved shredding the zucchini into green piles of raw material, and measuring out all the dry ingredients. It's another fun recipe that's a craft project too.
45 min
12 muffins

Polenta Pile-ups

This is a quick, hearty dish to make out of healthy components --just our sort of thing! We cut a log of prepared polenta (cornmeal dough) into 1/2" slices, topped them with pasta sauce, a few veggies, and shredded cheese, and microwaved our  saucy circles for about a minute. Voila - delicious!  They are fun to assemble and our group found ways to make flowers or faces out of olives, mushrooms, and other trimmings.  Shredded cheese makes great "hair." These would be just as good with salsa and cheese, or even chili and cheese, on top.  Polenta is versatile and a nice alternative to pasta or pizza dough.  Next, the kids want to make lasagne using polenta circles!  Why not? Here's how we did it:

Pretzel Pillow Snacks

These are simple and fun to roll and cut -- and very versatile!  They are delicious served with mustard, pizza sauce or even a sweeter topping such as a dollop of  chocolate.  We taste-tested them with a lowfat chocolate sauce made with agave nectar mixed with cocoa powder, then sprinkled on a few flakes of salt for a whole new taste!

Crispy Kale Chips with Low-fat Buttermilk Ranch Dip

Hands down, this was one of the most fun and exciting dishes we have made in class.  Nobody believed that the huge bowl of ruffly green kale was going to turn into crisp, green dried leaves that crackle when eaten and leave a delicious, toasted taste on the tongue. Try it and see!

Lettuce Boats

Have you ever had lettuce-wrapped chicken at an Asian restaurant? Or stuffed a big lettuce leaf with sandwich fixings instead of using bread?  Lettuce wrappers are crisp, fresh, and delicious, not to mention super healthy.  One of our kids said these Lettuce Boats are like lettuce-leaf tacos! This recipe, based on one from WebMD  (great website - WebMD.com) was really fun to assemble.  As with some of our other dishes, the colorful ingredients really encourage creating edible artwork!  Feel free to change it up and use different veggies, such as shredded red cabbage or jicama. Or add tuna, a rolled-up slice of turkey, or other items.  One of our young chefs insists the recipe should include mushrooms.

Antipasto and Tortellini Skewers

This is a fun, simple craft project, perfect for a healthy after-school snack, or a party appetizer.  I based it on a Super Bowl recipe in USA Weekend by Ellie Krieger, host of Healthy Appetite on the Cooking Channel.  We added cheese tortellini for fun and a bit of protein!  We also added cherry tomatoes, and made a simple and gorgeous purple cabbage serving base into which we stuck the skewers.  The kids said it looked like something delicious from outer space.  They even ate some of the fresh cabbage!  I am always surprised at their reactions to the veggies - they can't get enough.  And they munch on basil leaves.  Go figure. Feel free to skip the skewers if you have very young children.  We made a point (sorry for pun) about not putting the sharp end of the skewers into one's mouth. The veggies can be neatly unloaded from the skewer by pushing them off with a fork onto a plate. This also makes an outstanding salad.
10 servings

Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Dip with Pretzels

One of the youngest girls at our table corrected me just as we started this recipe.  I was listing the virtues of this deep orange veggie, packed with  Beta-carotene that turns into vitamin A. "Wait!" she said.  A pumpkin is a FRUIT.  It has seeds, doesn't it?"  That sent me to the web -- and she was right! Not a veggie. Tomatoes and avocados belong in the fruit category, too. If it's hard to believe that this dip tastes amazing, consider that it's a little like pumpkin cheesecake - dipped with a cracker or pretzel. There is a wonderful sweet/salty chemistry.

Secret Treasure Muffins

The kids loved making these. The hardest part is making sure the muffins are cool enough to eat so you don't burn your tongue on the "treasure" - a whole strawberry that turns into a molten, jammy surprise in the middle.
55 min
24 servings

Almond Butter Balls

These snacks, which you can also make with peanut butter for those without allergies, are fun for little hands to shape and roll. They are full of protein, fiber, calcium and other nutrients.  These disappear quickly -- and tend to make kids thirsty!

Seven-Layer Mexican Dip

Try this beautiful dip with fresh chips you make yourself, such as the Won Ton Origami Crackers (see post) -- or cut corn or wheat tortillas into fun shapes with a knife or clean scissors before toasting in the oven.
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