orange juice popsicles

my mother used to always make these for us. i still love them and my kids go NUTS over them.

- orange juice


-pour into popsicle molds -freeze and enjoy!

i got my popsicle molds at ross.

white trash popsicles

1. put dixie cups on a cookie sheet.
2. put some sprinkles in bottom of cups.
3. mix 2 1/2 cups chocolate milk and 1 4-serving size package of instant chocolate pudding mix and pour into cups.
4. cover cups with foil and push a popsicle stick through the foil all the way through to the pudding.
5. freeze about 4 hours. remove foil and tear paper cups off. enjoy a not so healthy but fun treat

Homemade Granola Bars

1 10 ounce bag marshmallows ( I used 10 ounces of marshmallow creme)
1/4 cup butter or marg.
4 cups of granola
1 1/2 cups rice crispies
1/2 cup sunflower seeds, or nuts, or chocolate chips or mini M&M's - be creative

1. melt marshmallows and butter in saucepan until melted and remove from burner
2. stir in all other ingredients
3. press into 13x9 pan and put in fridge to cool.
4. cut, eat and enjoy

my kids went nuts over these! It makes a ton and is somewhat healthy!

Super easy BBQ chicken kebabs (Parenting Magazine)

prep: 10 minutes
broil: 6 minutes

*8 chicken tenders
*8 wooden skewers, presoaked
*1/2 c. ketchup
*1 TBs. brown sugar
*1 tsp. cider vinegar
*1/2 tsp worchestershire sauce
*salt and pepper

1. Preheat broiler. Cover broiler pan with foil; coat with spray. Thread chicken onto presoaked skewers.
2. Mix ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and worchestershire sauce in a small bowl. Season chicken with salt and pepper and brush with sauce.
3. Place on pan and broil 6 inches from heat for 3 minutes. Turn and brush with remaining sauce. Cook an additional 3 minutes.

Little dippers (Parenting magazine)

Lemon-dill dip
*1 c. low-fat plain yogurt
*1/3 c. fresh dill, or 1 1/2 TBs. dried
*1 tsp. grated lemon zest
*1 TBs. lemon juice
*salt and pepper to taste (I just omitted this as it already has a lot of flavor)

Stir ingredients together in a small bowl. Chill until ready to serve with fresh green beans, assorted veggies or crackers.

Sweet Tortillas (Parenting Magazine)

*1/2 c. reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
*1 TBs. honey
*dash vanilla
*4 whole-wheat soft tortillas (6 in. size) (I personally hate wheat tortillas, yuck)
*1/4 c. raisins
*1/4 c. grated carrots

Stir together cream cheese, honey, and vanilla in a small bowl; spread 2 TBs. on each tortilla. Top tortillas with 1 TBs. each of raisins and carrots. Fold in half; cut into 2 triangles.

Kids can help, great for picnics. Per serving (2 triangles): 193 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated), 297 mg sodium, 20 mg cholesterol.

Devilish eggs

*6 hard boiled eggs, peeled
*1/4 c. light mayonnaise
*1/4 tsp. salt
*dash black pepper
*1/4 tsp. dry mustard
*Paprika

1. Cut eggs in half lengthwise, and remove yolks to a small bowl. Reserve whites. Add mayonnaise, salt,pepper, and mustard to yolks; mash with a fork to combine.
2. Spoon yolk mixture into egg whites; sprinkle with paprika before serving.
Great recipe kids can help with, great for picnics.

Per serving: (2 halves): 111 calories, 9 g fat (2 g saturated), 219 mg sodium, 215 mg cholesterol
-from Parenting Magazine

Crunchy Quesadillas

This is ridiculously easy, but it is my kids new favorite so please don't laugh.

Flour or corn tortillas (fajita size)
Refried Beans
Shredded Cheese
Tostada shells

Start with a soft tortilla, spread beans, sprinkle cheese, and put the tostada on top. I don't flip them, they melt fine without. Cut with a pizza cutter and serve with your favorite dipping sauce (Ranch, Ketchup, BBQ, Salsa, Guac, etc.)

I love that they are getting the beans, it makes me feel better about feeding them quesadillas every other day. A fun new twist on a classic favorite.

I also buy as much fresh fruit on sale as I can, if they don't eat it before it gets too ripe, I freeze what is leftover and make smoothies. That's all I got. Hopefully somebody more creative than me will pull through!

new category

alrighty ladies, the new category is..... SUMMER SNACKS FOR KIDS!!! these don't even have to be healthy ones (although some of those would be nice). i am running out of ideas for my kids that want to eat constantly and so is every mom that i talk to. i know that everyone is busy, but get posting!!!

summer grilling is next.