Making mini whole wheat pizza

If you and your tot are in a lunchtime rut, try mini pizzas. My son loves making pizzas and he'll usually eat the whole thing. A good way to sneak in the veggies (unless you're one of those lucky souls who's kids love veggies) try using veggie lovers spaghetti sause. They'll never know they're eating healthy. I usually use whole wheat tortillas because they don't get as soggy in the oven. Just have the tots put the sauce on the tortillas, cheese, then other toppings and bake on a cookie sheet for 5-8 minutes at 350 degrees. For a cripy crust, let the pizzas cool on a baking rack. I usually only use about a tablespoon of sauce per pizza and freeze the rest for another day.

Here's a good pizza book, Pete's a Pizza by William Steig

Sugar Cookies with the Kid

Stevie and I made sugar cookies this week. He loves to sprinkle the cookies with sugar and eat the remaining sugar. I didn't write down the recipe for this one. Let's face it, any old sugar cookie recipe will do. Toddlers won't complain about the results as long as the main ingredient is sugar.

Muffin Tin Mondays

I stumbled upon this one today. If you're in search of a way to make lunch or dinner more interesting, add this one to your arsenal. Muffin Tin Monday is pretty cool.
Check it out http://michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com/2009/06/muffin-tin-monday-faq.html

Zucchini Cakes

Stevie and I made Zucchini Cakes (really, my aunt Karen's zucchini bread) and had a blast. I do recommend that you do all the prep work ahead of time, so that you and your toddler can enjoy mixing all the ingredients. I decided to do this recipe and was not prepared for how long it takes to grate the zucchini. My toddler had no patience for that business. All in all, great fun.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Cooking with Kids

I'm so glad Stevie is old enough to help out in the kitchen. Granted, it takes a little prep-time in order for us to cook together, but it's totally worth it. He loves mixing "ingwedients" and licking the spoon. He's not quite got the concept of waiting for things in the oven. A little distraction helps there. Here's stevie making chicken salad, which by the way, he still won't eat. Oh well, we'll keep trying. For some easy mom and kid cooking activities, click the link below.

Kids
Cooking Activities