Sometimes, simple is best. Less is more. However you want to phrase it, this rings true for mealtime and snack time around here at The Creative Kitchen. What we fuel our bodies with matters greatly, and when it comes to packaged snacks and meals, we think less is definitely more. Mr. Lee’s Noodles checks all these boxes for us: real ingredients, low in sodium and sugar, with a delicious and vibrant taste! Damien Lee, the creator behind this premium noodle brand, is a full-time single dad and cancer survivor, which is what inspired the creation of Mr. Lee’s Noodles. It was during his time of chemotherapy and a strict, real-food diet that Damien Lee craved his guilty pleasure, instant noodles, but knew he couldn’t indulge as he used to, due to all the artificial ingredients. Once he was given the all-clear, he set out to revolutionize the world of instant noodles, and Mr. Lee’s Noodles was born! 

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I like these noodles! The different flavors are yummy!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

As a mom, I know firsthand that you can’t always have it all together, and that’s okay. Whether it’s keeping the house clean or making dinner, sometimes you just need a little help. My first priority when it comes to feeding my kids is keeping their meals and snacks full of (primarily) real ingredients, which can be pretty tricky with frozen or packaged meals. That’s not the case with Mr. Lee’s Noodles, which have quickly become a fan favorite in our household! They use real ingredients, and are low in sugar and sodium. It makes for an easy after-school snack or a quick addition to dinner when I don’t have time to make something from scratch. My kids love the bold flavors, and I love the real ingredients and low amounts of sodium, fat, and sugar. They’re so much better in all of these categories than other instant noodle brands.

Flavorful Features:

Mr. Lee’s Noodles instant noodles come in a variety of fun, delicious flavors:

• Coconut Chicken Curry Rice Noodle Soup
• Zen Garden Vegetable Rice Miso Noodle Soup (Vegan, registered with the Vegan Society)
• Hong Kong Street-Style Beef Rice Noodle Soup
• Tai Chi Chicken Rice Noodle Soup

The Icing on the Cake:

Mr. Lee’s Noodles freeze-dries their protein and vegetables to lock in the nutritional goodness. Their rice noodles are grown in Vietnam and are gluten-free too! Mr. Lee’s Noodles products average 1.5g of saturated fat per serving, and 970mg of sodium per cup, which is almost 6 times lower than other instant noodles out there. They’re also SugarWise certified and have the lowest sugar among their competitors, as well as no artificial preservatives or flavors, no hydrogenated oil, and no MSG. Lastly, their packaging contains zero plastic sachets and their cups are made from a 100% recyclable plastic/cardboard composite.

Time to Eat?!

Mr. Lee’s Noodles instant noodles are great for an after-school snack, or a quick and easy dinner when you don’t have time for anything else!

Good to Go?

These cups are so easy to throw in the car for a road trip or vacation! All you need is to add boiling water and voilà! A delicious, nutritious snack (or meal!) that’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Mix it Up!

Add some of your favorite veggies to a cup of Mr. Lee’s Noodles to pack in even more flavor and nutrition!

Mr. Lee’s Noodles are now available at all Whole Foods in the US!

www.mrleesnoodles.com/us

www.facebook.com/mrleespurefoods

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Appenzeller Mac and Cheese

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 16 ounces shell pasta
• 3 cups chopped cauliflower florets (chopped into 1-1 ½ inch pieces) 
• 2 cups whole milk 
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp salt 
• ½ tsp black pepper 
• ½ cup unsalted butter 
• ½ cup all purpose flour 
• 2 ½ cups grated Appenzeller cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
2. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish. Set aside. 
3. In a large pot, add water and heat until boiling. Add macaroni and cauliflower and cook for 6 minutes, or until macaroni is tender. Drain and set aside. 
4. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together milk, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Set aside. 
5. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk to combine.  Slowly add milk and whisk until smooth.  
6. Continue to whisk frequently until mixture thickens and begin to boil. 
7. Remove saucepan from heat and add Appenzeller cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. 
8. In a large mixing bowl, stir together cheese mixture with pasta and cauliflower mixture. Transfer to greased baking dish. 
9. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until edges begin to bubble. 

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Family Pizza Night doesn’t have to consist of grease filled delivery pizza! This time make your own pizza with fresh summer veggies and get the whole family involved! Kids will love putting the toppings on these yummy pizzas from our friends at Cooking Light.

Fresh Tomato-Feta Pizza

If olives are a deal breaker, leave them off; the pizza is still yummy.

Click here for the recipe!

Local Farmers’ Market Pizza

Allowing the dough to come to room temperature will ease the rolling-out process. We love the combo used here, but feel free to play with other veggies.

Click here for the recipe!

Veggie Grilled Pizza

A sprinkling of bright, sweet mint complements the smoky grilled vegetables in this dish.

Click here for the recipe!

Summer Veggie Pizza

This pizza isn’t just delicious—it’s budget-friendly too! At just $2.49 per serving, your wallet (and your family) will thank you. If you have dough left over, freeze it; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before use.

Click here for the recipe!

Bacon, Tomato, and Arugula Pizza

Instead of having an arugula salad on the side, put it on top of your pizza for fresh flavor that pairs perfectly with the tomato and applewood-smoked bacon pizza toppings.

Click here for the recipe!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner.  Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children.  She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Our friends at Cooking Light have created easy to prepare vegetarian recipes, that utilize the bounty of yummy produce summer has to offer, and that the whole family is sure to love! These recipes are also nutrient packed are to leave tummies full and satisfied!

Baked Tomatoes with Quinoa, Corn, and Green Chiles

These tomatoes are stuffed full with super healthy quinoa, sweet fresh corn, poblano chiles, and lots of shredded cheese. Fresh lime juice adds a burst of citrus freshness. It’s a delicious side or meatless main.

Click here to get this delicious recipe.

Tempeh Greek Salad Wraps

These wraps are full of delicious fresh flavor. Summertime, or anytime, this will be your new go-to. Serve with pita chips.

Click here to get this delicious recipe.

Falafel-Stuffed Eggplant with Tahini Sauce and Tomato Relish

Traditional falafel is made from seasoned, mashed chickpeas that are shaped into patties and deep-fried. Here we use the same components to make a tasty filling for eggplants, baked and topped with a deliciously nutty sauce.

Click here to get this delicious recipe.

Baked Ziti and Summer Veggies

Add pops of color to baked ziti with fresh summer veggies like squash, zucchini, and tomato. This quick and versatile recipe can be easily adjusted based on your favorite veggies or what you have on hand.

Click here to get this delicious recipe.

Grilled Tofu with Ratatouille Vegetables

This attractive, summery barbecue dish combines the vegetables of the famous Provençal stew with meaty grilled tofu.

Click here to get this delicious recipe.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner.  Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children.  She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Aloha! Grilled Ham and Pineapple Pizza