When I am not busy taking care of my two energetic little boys, or working on an interior design project~ I play in the kitchen! For the last 15 years, I have been juxtaposing new flavors and ideas; it’s finally time to document my recipes...

I believe in fresh & affordable meals.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Spiders for Dinner



This is a fun recipe that allows kids to be creative. It started as "spider" noodles, and now has become squid noodles, space ships, umbrellas, & pom poms--after we let the kids take the lead. 
Fun recipe for a kid party! ........................ 

                                 What you need....
Handful of Spaghetti Noodles
Hot Dogs (or whatever kind of meat or meat sub. you like) cut in small pieces 

Create and Cook Em...
Boil Water
Break noodles in half. Put 8-10 noodles through middle of hot dog to make spiders.
Put spiders in their bath and let cook for apx. 10 minutes

I let my kids get creative with their designs (while I usually stick with the standard spider). This makes it fun when they come out of the bath- the kids search for their creations. Jack made a space shuttle & space station tonight. His buddy, Brynn, stuck all of her noodles out the top, which made for a pretty cool looking squid after it was cooked!

Serve with whatever dipping sauce you like. 

Credits go to Kim & Ian on this recipe!
 .............................................

Let's face it. White Nood's & Hot Dogs are not on the top of Dr. Oz's healthy food list. But cooking w/ your kids is healthy for everyone!
I like this article about Benefits of Cooking with your kids~ taken from WebMD.


Parents, grandparents, and youngsters cooking together in the kitchen, sharing family recipes and secrets passed from one generation to the next, is a lost art in many households across America. These days, it's hard for busy parents even to take time out to teach their kids basic cooking techniques.
It's true that including the kids in cooking meals requires time, patience, and some extra clean-up, especially when the children are younger. But many experts think it is well worth the effort.
For one thing, cooking with your kids can help get them interested in trying healthy foods they might normally turn their noses up at. Susan Moores, MS, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, says she has seen this happen countless times. It's true that kids will be kids -- they'll snack on chips at a school party or enjoy ice cream after a soccer game. But what is most important is how they eat most of the time, Moores says. And that's where parents can play a role. Keep in mind that for kids today, healthy eating essentially means eating more fruits and vegetables, having whole grains and beans when possible, and choosing leaner types of animal foods (even some fish every now and then.)
Encouraging kids to try healthier foods isn't the only benefit of cooking as a family. Among the recommendations in a recent American Heart Association report on overweight in children and teens were:
  • Reducing the number of meals eaten outside the home.
  • Having structured times for family meals.
  • Offering healthier, low-calorie foods.
  • Involving children in meal planning, shopping, and food preparation.
Indeed, cooking with kids can be the gift that keeps on giving; it has both short-term and long-term payoffs.
Some of the short-term benefits:
  • It encourages kids to try healthy foods.
  • Kids feel like they are accomplishing something and contributing to the family.
  • Kids are more likely to sit down to a family meal when they helped prepare it.
  • Parents get to spend quality time with their kids.
  • Kids aren't spending time in front of the TV or computer while they're cooking.
  • Kids generally aren't eating junk food when they're cooking a meal at home.
Some long-term benefits:
  • Learning to cook is a skill your children can use for the rest of their lives.
  • Kids who learn to eat well may be more likely to eat healthfully as adults.
  • Positive cooking experiences can help build self-confidence.
  • Kids who cook with their parents may even be less likely to abuse drugs.

information from webMD





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