Summer’s in full swing and like me you’re probably racking your brain for new breakfast, lunch and snack ideas for the kids. My grandkids have been home since March and each day finding something they want to eat is becoming more and more challenging.
“I’m hungry” and “grilled cheese, spaghetti, etc. are all boring” has become the standard refrain at our house. My grandson who insisted he ‘NEEDED” cases of Chef Boyardee Spaghetti “O”s back in the spring now say’s they’re “boring”. Of course when asked what he’d like instead the reply is almost always “I don’t know”. This leaves me searching for something new and different for lunch and snack times.
One thing I do know is that just about all kids love finger foods; and sometimes taking a “boring” sandwich and re-packaging it into something fun is all it takes to make meal times go smoothly. This can be as simple as taking a PB&J or any type of sandwich and cutting them in to 4 small triangles!
Or you can change it up and call lunch or snack time “Tea Time” and serve a small selection of finger foods. I love tea time and my grandkids do too!
But life isn’t all that easy, so here are a few food ideas that your kids might enjoy! They might just save a bit of your sanity!
Eggs in Frame
I have been making these for years, started when my kids were small. This is a great breakfast idea and kids almost always think it’s pretty cool.
Just cut a hole (any shape) in the middle of a slice of bread and fry an egg in the hole. You’ll end up with a fried egg on a toasted piece of bread. I usually use a bit of butter to fry these in.
Silver Dollar Sprinkle Pancakes
Add some sprinkles or chocolate chips into your pancake batter and instead of making large Turpancakes make smaller ones about the size of a silver dollar. If the chain restaurants can do it so can you!
Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels
These are a family favorite! You can pick some up ready made from Costco or you can make them at home. It’s super easy!
Sliders of any kind are great finger foods both kids and adults love.
These Ham & Cheese Sliders are another family favorite. I usually make a tray of them and the kids just grab as they want. A tray lasts thru lunch and snacks all day!
Not everything needs to be homemade. Sometimes you just don’t feel like making lunch from scratch. No worries, there’s always frozen alternatives.
We always keep a box of frozen Taquitos in the freezer. They’re great for lunch or snacks, just heat them up in the oven and you’re good to go. I like to serve them with salsa, melted nacho cheese, and sour cream for dipping.
You do know kids love to dip! My year old grandson Jaxon is all about dipping these days!
Pigs in Blankets
Pigs in Blankets is another favorite and a staple at many of our kids’ parties. But to truly make it a finger food you need small ones.
I cut the hot dogs and crescent dough in half. Roll each hot dog section in one of the dough sections, place on parchment paper and bake. Serve with whatever hot dog condiments you prefer.
Fruit Kabobs
I’m sure you know kids love food on sticks. So dress up fruit by cutting them into balls and other interesting shapes, then string them up on skewers.
Older kids will love them. For younger kids skip the sticks and just serve them the fruit cut in to different shapes, you should also cut melon balls and grapes in halves to keep toddlers from choking on them.
Mango, the king of fruit as it’s known in many parts of the world, is not high in calories and is an excellent source of beta carotene, vitamin A, and potassium. It’s also very delicious!
Now that we are in peak mango season my husband has been bringing home loads of this sweet juicy fruit. We love them fresh but also love to make them into different desserts. This year’s bumper crop has allowed me to whip up all the recipes my family loves and create a few new ones.
This Mango Cream Cheese Dessert is a long time family fave! I got the recipe years ago from a cookbook my aunt gave me. It’s one of those loosely bound cookbooks the local churches publish every so often to sell in a fund raiser, it contained a compilation of their members’ favorite recipes. This cookbook was published in 1985. My cherished copy is in poor condition, missing it’s covers, grease stained, fading, and taped up; it’s moved with me from Hawaii to Texas and back twice! Old as it is the recipes are still our favorites.
This dessert takes a bit longer to make as it is made in 3 layers and can take all day, you have to wait for the crust too cool and the layers to set. I tweaked it a bit to make it a bit simpler. It is definitely worth the effort! You end up with a refreshing creamy dessert on a cookie crust that is perfect for summer barbecues or any other time!
I make it in a 9″ x 13″ pan, the number of servings will depend on the size you cut it, in my house that means it will barely serve 6. Whenever I make this it never stays in the fridge for more than a day or two, it’s that good!
If you can’t find fresh mango you can use peaches or your favorite fruit, just change the jello flavor to compliment the fruit.
Mango Cream Cheese Cake
Ingredients:
3/4 butter – softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
3 boxes (3 oz. size) lemon jello
4 cups boiling water (divided into 1 cup & 3 cups)
1 8oz. cream cheese – softened
1 cup sugar
1 8oz. container cool whip – thawed
1 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup water at room temp.
4 cups sliced mangoes (about 3 medium sized mangoes)
Directions:
Crust:
1. Mix butter, brown sugar, and flour in large mixing bowl until it is crumbly.
2. Press into 9″ x 13″ baking pan. Be sure you get it all the way to the sides and into the corners or the other layers will seep under the crust and you will end up with an upside down mess. (It will still take great, but will look unappetizing)
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely before proceeding to the 1st. layer.
1st. Layer: Before you start this layer dissolve 1 box of lemon jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Let cool completely to room temperature. Stir every so often to keep it from hardening.
1. Beat cream cheese with sugar. Fold in Cool Whip.
2. Slowly pour COOLED jello into the cream cheese mixture.
3. Gently stir the jello/cream cheese mixture. It will be a bit loose with a few clumps but that’s ok.
4. Pour into the crust. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 -3 hours.
2nd. Layer: Before you start the next layer dissolve 2 boxes of jello in 3 cups boiling water; soften unflavored gelatin in 1/4 cup water at room temp.; add softened gelatin to jello until dissolved. Let cool completely to room temperature. Stir occasionally to keep the bottom from setting. 1. Arrange sliced mangoes on top of 1st. layer. It doesn’t have to look neat as the fruit may float when you pour the jello over it.
2. Pour COOLED jello mixture over mangoes. BE SURE your jello is completely COOLED before pouring over the mangoes!! If the jello is hot or warm it will dissolve the cream cheese mixture and you will have a mess on your hands. Refrigerate until firm, I usually leave it overnight.
Cut into desired size and serve. Lifting the first piece out of the pan is the hardest part, be sure you cut clean thru to the crust and use a cake server to get under the crust and lift the whole piece out.
My first piece usually falls apart so I use it to “taste” the dessert. Once you get that first piece out the rest is easy, just remember to cut thru to the crust every time.
This dessert will keep in the fridge for several days, that is if you can refrain from snacking on it. At my house this dessert rarely lasts more than a day!
Mix butter, brown sugar, and flour in large mixing bowl until it is crumbly.
Press into 9" x 13" baking pan. Be sure you get it all the way to the sides and into the corners or the other layers will seep under the crust and you will end up with an upside down mess. (It will still take great, but will look unappetizing)
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely before proceeding to the 1st. layer.
1st. Layer
Before you start this layer dissolve 1 box of lemon jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Let cool completely to room temperature. Stir every so often to keep it from hardening.
Beat cream cheese with sugar. Fold in Cool Whip.
Slowly pour COOLED jello into the cream cheese mixture.
Gently stir the jello/cream cheese mixture. It will be a bit loose with a few clumps but that's ok.
Pour into the crust. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 -3 hours.
2nd. Layer
Before you start the next layer dissolve 2 boxes of jello in 3 cups boiling water; soften unflavored gelatin in 1/4 cup water at room temp.; add softened gelatin to jello until dissolved. Let cool completely to room temperature. Stir occasionally to keep the bottom from setting.
Arrange sliced mangoes on top of 1st. layer. It doesn't have to look neat as the fruit may float when you pour the jello over it.
Pour COOLED jello mixture over mangoes. BE SURE your jello is completely COOLED before pouring over the mangoes!! If the jello is hot or warm it will dissolve the cream cheese mixture and you will have a mess on your hands. Refrigerate until firm, I usually leave it overnight.
Cut into desired size and serve. Lifting the first piece out of the pan is the hardest part, be sure you cut clean thru to the crust and use a cake server to get under the crust and lift the whole piece out.
My first piece usually falls apart so I use it to "taste" the dessert. Once you get that first piece out the rest is easy, just remember to cut thru to the crust every time.
Recipe Notes
This dessert will keep in the fridge for several days, that is if you can refrain from snacking on it. At my house this dessert rarely lasts more than a day!
Now that summer is in full swing and 4th. of July Barbecues, Cook-Outs, and Picnics are done it’s time to plan simple adult get togethers. Sure the hot dogs, burgers, games, and fireworks of last week were great even though at our house it was on a smaller scale than usual (social distancing and all are still practiced at our house); but I for one am ready for something calmer and more sophisticated.
For the rest of the summer, at least until Labor Day, I’m thinking adult time with a few friends are in order. Under normal times friends and I usually get together for meals at our favorite restaurants, but with the ominous warnings of second and third waves of this virus going around it seems that most of us are avoiding public places that can possibly get crowded. So small gatherings at our homes are just the thing.
But hosting any type of event no matter how small still calls for some planning. Basically what to serve, I don’t worry too much about entertainment as my small gatherings are usually “talk story” time as we say on the island. I focus more on what to serve. I try to keep it simple, something I can prepare and serve quickly so that I can spend most of the time with friends and not in the kitchen.
Recently “Boards” have become the rage when it comes to at home entertaining. I’ve seen Cheese Boards, Charcuterie Boards, Snack Boards, Breakfast Boards, French Fry Boards, and more; some of them are quite elaborate. Boards are really just a way to display and serve food based on some sort of theme. I love it! I love and embrace the whole Board idea!
After toying with this whole Board idea I decided that a Tapas Board was something I needed to make. And why not? I filled it with our favorite hot and cold Tapas. Well actually I couldn’t think of a neat way to put my favorite Gambas Al Ajillo on it so I had to serve it on the side, but no big deal. So what’s on my Tapas Board? I have Patatas Bravas, Torta (Spanish Omelette), Blistered Peppers, Olives, Pickles, and Queso Fresca. I served a basket of breads on the side, mostly for dipping in the Gambas Al Ajillo’s buttery garlic sauce. Now served with cocktails, wine or a pitcher of Sangria (I love the Cava Sangria made with a sparkling wine) this Tapas Board is amazing!
Here are a few ideas and recipes you can put on your Tapas Board. Just remember Tapas are really small portions of Spanish food or any other food you prefer. And a Board is basically a display of the food you’re serving creatively placed on a wood or glass cutting board or tray. So go ahead and create a Tapas Board for your next gathering!
Everyone, including me, made a big deal about Mother’s Day a few weeks ago. We Moms and Grandmas expect and receive gifts, breakfasts in bed, brunches, lunches, teas, dinners on Mother’s Day. I suppose we make a bigger fuss when we don’t get the pampering we know we deserve for all the things we do to take care of our families.
Dads on the other hand don’t seem to make a big deal about Father’s Day, at least not in our family.
As a child I gave my Dad a tie every Father’s Day and that was that, no fan fare, no hoopla, just a tie.
My kids when they were young gave their Dad a mug, he doesn’t wear ties often but is a big coffee drinker, so every Father’s Day he got the inevitable mug and we’d let him throw steaks on the grill and call it a day.
These days Father’s Day often falls during our summer vacation and it gets lost amid the shuffle of traveling. Often times we don’t even realize it’s Father’s Day until the day of and the kids and grandkids give Dad a call and we have our weekly Sunday Night barbecue and call it a Father’s Day dinner.
It seems to me Dads are often under appreciated and hardly ever complain about it. This year I’m determined to start a change. I’ve already decided to engage the grandkids in some Father’s Day Crafts for their Dads and Poppa. I think we’ll make him lunch as well, and have our Sunday Night barbecue too!
Here are some Dad pleasing recipes to make Dad this Father’s Day.
Everyone in the family, specially my husband, loves it!. You can throw everything together in the pot before you go to bed, it will be ready for lunch. Serve it with white rice, we do, or with mashed potatoes. Totally yummy!
Or forget the formalities and give Dad or Grandpa what he really wants! Take him fishing! Pack sandwiches, fruit, and drinks and head out to the lake or river, or his favorite fishing hole.
This boxed lunch idea from The Cards We Drew is a cute way to pack his lunch, and everyone else’s too!
Undoubtedly, receiving a puppy on their birthday is any kids’ idea of the perfect present. However, should you get them a puppy as a surprise? Will they be able to care for your pet for the years to come?
It is undeniable that welcoming a pet into a household has wonderful benefits, from making your family more social to helping you adopt a more active lifestyle.
However, before rushing to the nearest breeder, there are some considerations that any parent should do. Don’t underestimate these, as they can genuinely make a difference in the experience you will live with your dog for the years to come.
A dog can change the life and habits of a family, which is something to keep in mind before introducing a dog into a household. Even if you are fully conscious of these changes and ready to adapt, you should avoid surprising your little ones with a puppy for your birthday.
Instead, getting them to participate in the process can help them adapt to the idea of having to care for someone else. Something that you should communicate with your children before adopting a pet include:
The necessary change in habits – dogs, especially when they are still puppies, might need a precise routine to follow, which might not be the ideal for you. Indeed, a puppy might need to walk very early in the morning or late in the evening. Your kids should be aware that this is something they might have to attend to, even if it does not fit their schedules.
Training – a young puppy will not be house trained at the moment of adoption. You might be fully prepared for it, but your kids should learn to do their part towards it.
Compassion and care – a dog is a lifelong present that can drastically change everybody’s lives in your household. Your kids need to understand to treat him or her as part of the family and with respect. Indeed, dogs, especially when they are still puppies, are highly responsive to their surrounding environment. Their owner’s behavior can shape their personality and have a significant impact on their attitude.
Ultimately, as ASPCA suggests, pets should be gifted only to individuals that have expressed the desires of owning one, and they are familiar with the responsibilities that come with it. If you are giving a dog to children younger than 12, you should be ready to take full responsibility for training, development, and care.
Educating your kids
Undoubtedly, a dog can fill any children and adults with joy from the moment of bringing him or her into the household. However, your children need to understand that a dog is not a toy to play with until it becomes cumbersome to care for him.
Statistics and choices
While it might not be the easiest of subjects for a conversation with your kids, they should be aware that 6.5 million pets end up in shelters every year just in the US. Speaking about these types of statistics might help them make a conscious choice regarding adopting a pet and sensibilize them to such topics.
Spraying and neutering.
Preventing pets from reproducing is another way to control and limit the number of animals abandoned and currently in shelters. It is essential, especially if your family cannot care for more than one pet at a time.
Microchips and collars
Caring for a dog might also mean that you have to take precautions in place if an excited puppy gets lost on your daily walks. If found by someone else, they need to have the pet owner’s contact details to return it.
Pet safety and emotional care
Lastly, it is vital to instill in your child the importance of treating your dog with care and compassion. Indeed, these loving creatures might be their best friends for the years to come and bring considerable benefits to their development – such as reducing anxiety and providing protection. However, the relationship should be mutual and based on emotional care.
A pet comes with responsibilities.
If you have already decided that your family is ready to welcome a dog, you should not underestimate the responsibilities that come with it. As we have seen, in the case of children younger than 12, you might have to take full responsibility for the dog’s development.
However, as your children get older, you could consider splitting the pet care duties. You might decide to ask your children to feed or walk the dog once a day if this is possible. Alternatively, your little ones might be in charge of picking up the dog’s toys and reorganizing them.
These might seem little tasks at first, but they can help any family deal with necessary daily tasks. Moreover, you can use this time to teach your children to be accountable and assume their responsibilities. All this might represent a steep learning curve for the whole family, but it will be worth it!
After clarifying all the points above, it is time to decide on the adoption process. Purchasing a dog from a breeder and adopting it from a shelter has pros and cons.
Adopting a dog from a shelter
A shelter dog is usually older and sometimes hybrids of mixed-breeds. These characteristics might prevent you from enjoying the puppy stage and have you deal with pre-existing issues.
If you are not sure about the dog’s behavior and character, it can be dangerous to expose your kids to it. Indeed, if you don’t know how the dog can react in certain situations and what are triggers that can spike episodes of aggressiveness, you should speak to an expert first.
However, sometimes, in shelters, you can find well-behaved and trained dogs that belong to a specific breed. While they might still be older than a puppy, this choice can reduce the number of dogs euthanized each year.
Finding a breeder
On the other hand, deciding to purchase a dog from a respectable breeder allows you to have the first choice on its pedigree and breed. In turn, these characteristics help you choose the right dog for a family with kids.
Wisely picking a breeder is essential in this case. Indeed, many breeders mainly focus on breeding puppies to increase their incomes. Such unethical practices can be highly detrimental to the health of the parents as well as for the puppies.
However, others are sustainable and knowledgeable and aim at breeding only healthy and high-quality puppies. If you have opted to purchase a dog from a breeder, head to this page to find a highly respectable breeder.
Picking the breed and the puppy
The choice of what dog to get has to take into consideration many factors. Aside from your budget and financial status, you should evaluate the size of your flat or house, as well as the time availability. Some breeds might be more kid-friendly, and some dogs might require a much higher level of exercise than others.
Ultimately, while contemplating your kid’s opinion, you should speak to the rest of your family and experts before making a choice. When picking a puppy from a litter, remember that the puppy might become excited if the people around him are, and also, kids tend to make their choices based on emotions. Instead, it is vital to make this choice logically to find a puppy that matches your needs perfectly.
It’s Cinco De Mayo again and to me that’s the best excuse for a celebration featuring Mexican food and drinks! Not that I need a reason to enjoy Mexican food, I’m just crazy about it! No one ever has to twist my arm into making a pitcher of Margaritas or a tray of tacos and burritos.
But Cinco De Mayo is still a great excuse to throw a party! You don’t have to be Mexican in my opinion to celebrate. But if you really must know the reason Cinco De Mayo is celebrated it’s a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Just in case you were thinking it’s the Mexican Independence day, it’s clearly not. I believe the largest Cinco De Mayo celebration is in Puebla.
History aside Cinco De Mayo has become somewhat a part of American culture simple because it involves great food and drinks I think. What ever the reason it’s a great time to throw a party or at the very least have a “Mexican” night with the family.
It doesn’t have to be an invite the whole neighborhood block party, you can keep it simple and have a pot luck with friends and family or simpler still enjoy some Mexican dishes with just the family. Here’s a few fun ideas you can use to make your celebration fun for all!
Set up a Margarita Bar
Guests can help themselves to margaritas, you can serve the classic margarita or add a flavored one or two like mango and strawberry.
If you’ve got kids or for any one wanting something non-alcoholic (like the designated driver) put bottles of Jarrito in a tub of ice, don’t forget the bottle opener!
Or set up a Horchata bar with several flavors of this refreshing Mexican drink.
Put up a Pinata
Pinatas are always fun. They’re colorful and full of candy, what’s not to like? You can use your pinata as just decoration or you can actually have the kids break it.
If you consider breaking the pinata with a stick too violent, I’m a bit iffy on it too, you can cut a flap on the bottom of your pinata and attach ribbons or string to it. The kids just have to tug on it to let the candy and other treats out. This is a safer option specially when there are toddlers involved!
Set a colorful table!
Use colorful dinnerware at the table and as serving plates.
They don’t have to be ceramic, you can mix and match colorful paper or plastic plates.
Decorate with bright colors and props
Dust off the maracas and sombreros and haul out the serapes. Use colorful balloons, fabrics, banners, paper lanterns and flowers to spruce up the party area.
Don’t forget colorful baskets they can hold everything from flatware to favors!
Serve lots and lots of Mexican Food!
Tacos, burritos, nachos, chimichangas, enchaladas, you name it! Serve up lots of your favorites. If you’re just wanting to keep it simple then focus on an entree like fajitas, and serve up sides of rice and beans. But don’t forget the salsa and guacamole!
If you don’t a lot of time to cook then whip up a pot of my Beef Barbacoa, you can use it in tacos, burritos, nachos, salads, or whatever you want. Best of all it’s made in an Instant Pot and can be made in less than 2 hours. Your friends and family will think you slaved over a hot stove all day!
Eggs in Frame
Silver Dollar Sprinkle Pancakes
Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels
Ham & Cheese Sliders
Taquitos
Pigs in Blankets
Fruit Kabobs
Patatas Bravas
Here’s my recipe for 
You can’t go wrong with grilled meats! So fire up the grill and cook up some of dad’s favorites!
Cook up a nice rib eye, on the grill or in a frying pan, and smother it with this delicious 
This 
Set up a Margarita Bar
Put up a Pinata
Set a colorful table!
Decorate with bright colors and props
Serve lots and lots of Mexican Food!
Remove cover and shred beef – it shouldn’t take much to shred it by now the meat should be falling apart.
