Family Dinner – The Creative Kitchen

Product Review: Vapza 7 Grains

TCK — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 22:01:39 +0000

At The Creative Kitchen, we love nothing more than a food that is delicious, convenient, versatile and most importantly, good for your entire family! Vapza 7 Grains is already cooked and can be used in a wide variety of dishes, which makes it perfect for families who are looking to get a boost of nutrients from more meals throughout the week. This medley of nutrient-dense grains is thoughtfully grown in Brazil, steam cooked, and vacuum sealed in BPA-free plastic bag. This blend contains whole grain rice, red rice, white quinoa, black quinoa, red quinoa, flaxseed, and chia seeds. Vapza created this product with the busy, health-conscious parent in mind. Flaxseed and chia seeds can lower blood sugar levels and risk of heart disease. They’re both superfoods, and provide fiber, iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids (which are linked to even more health benefits such as improving eye health and risk factors for heart disease, fighting inflammation, and more!).

From the Mouth of a Kid:

“Burrito bowls are my favorite and we used this instead of rice. It was really yummy!”

From the Eyes of a Parent:

“Vapza 7 Grains appeases my rice-loving children with the whole grain and red rice while the other grains like quinoa, flaxseed, and chia provide protein, healthy omega-3s, and fiber. Squeezing those nutrients in can be tough, but products like this make it so much easier. Also, the fact that it’s ready-to-eat makes dinner time less stressful!”

Flavorful Features:

Vazpa has a variety of steam cooked options for your next meal!

Pinto Beans
Black Beans
Quinoa Mix
Brown Rice

The Icing on the Cake:

Rice and quinoa can be easily under cooked or overcooked, but Vapza 7 Grains takes out the guess work! Because this product is already steam cooked, it can be used in pinch without the worry. Substitute Vapza 7 Grains for rice in a quick stir fry or your favorite burrito bowl. And, Vapza 7 Grains is not only organic, but also vegan and kosher.

Time to Eat?!

Vazpa 7 Grains is the perfect addition to lunch or dinner!

Mix it Up!

Vapza 7 Grains can be served hot or cold. Try tossing this 7 grains mix on a salad instead of croutons. It’s a great way to sneak in extra plant protein and healthy omegas!

www.vapza.com.br/institucional/quem-somos/enus

www.facebook.com/Vapza

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

TCK — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 19:03:35 +0000

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

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish. Set aside.
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.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together milk, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk to combine. Slowly add milk and whisk until smooth.
Continue to whisk frequently until mixture thickens and begin to boil.
Remove saucepan from heat and add Appenzeller cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together cheese mixture with pasta and cauliflower mixture. Transfer to greased baking dish.
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.

The Good Crisp Chicken Tenders

TCK — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 19:01:09 +0000

The Good Crisp Chicken Tenders

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup milk
1 ½ cup crushed The Good Crisp Sour Cream & Onion Potato Crisps
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound chicken tenders

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Lightly grease baking sheet with cooking oil spray. Set aside.
Place beaten eggs and milk in shallow bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.
Combine The Good Crisp Potato Crisps, salt, and pepper in second shallow bowl. Set aside.
Dip one chicken tender into beaten egg/milk mixture and then into crumb mixture to completely and evenly coat chicken pieces. Place chicken tender on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken tenders.
Bake in oven for 10 minutes. Flip each chicken tender over. Continue to bake for additional 10 minutes, or until fully cooked.

*Alternative cooking method: Chicken tenders may be fried in pan with oil over medium heat, turning once so cooked evenly on both sides.

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.

Le Gruyere AOP Potato Salad

TCK — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 18:14:03 +0000

Le Gruyere AOP Potato Salad

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

24 ounces red baby potatoes, boiled and quartered
5 hardboiled eggs, peeled and diced
6 ounces Le Gruyere AOP, diced into 1/2 inch dice
4 slices deli ham (approximately 3-4 ounces) diced
1/4 cup finely chopped chives
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, add potatoes, eggs, Gruyere AOP, ham, chives, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Gently stir to combine.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour prior to serving.

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.

Product Round-Up: All About Pasta!

TCK — Wed, 20 May 2020 12:00:55 +0000

Product Round-Up

We’re bringing you some of our favorite pasta products and recipes on this lovely Wednesday morning with a product round-up! Check out some of our past product reviews and other recommendations of our favorites for some inspiration for your next family pasta night.

Pastas

These days, there’s so many options out there when it comes to pasta, and we love that there’s truly something for everyone. Here are some of our favorites, ranging from gluten-free to veggie-based pastas!

Banza Chickpea Pasta: Chickpeas give this pasta a ton of protein and fiber!
Tolerant Food Organic Red Lentil Pasta: Made from red lentils, this 100% plant-based option provides extra protein and fiber!
Veggiecraft Farms veggie-based pasta: We love the cauliflower in this pasta and all the vitamins and nutrients it provides!
Explore Cuisine pasta: Choose from their red and green lentil pastas, chickpea pasta, and even black bean or edamame pastas!
Cappello’s Pasta: Made from almond flour! This pasta is paleo, grain-free, and made with just a few simple ingredients.
Lotus Foods: Check out their wide variety of organic rice and rice noodles!
Barilla pasta: A classic wheat-based pasta that comes in a variety of shapes for all of your favorite, different pasta dishes!

Sauces

Alright, so you’ve got your pasta, now you need your sauce! We’ve got a couple great options we want to share with you.

The Vine Marinara Sauce: An all-natural sauce with just a few ingredients!
Otamot pasta sauce: Made with ten organic vegetables and no added sugar.
Rao’s pasta sauces: A variety of pasta sauces that taste homemade! There’s a flavor for everyone in the family!
Pomi tomato products: Serving up every tomato product you could need, from sauces to tomato paste to chopped tomatoes, Pomi is your one-stop shop for everything you need for your next pasta night.
Uncle Steve’s sauces: This organic line of tomato sauce provides a versatile, classic taste and is made from all-natural ingredients, including tomatoes imported from Italy!
Due Cellucci sauces: These all-natural sauces are handmade in small-batches to give you a classic homemade taste! Every purchase gives back to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Extras

Here are a couple of fun products and pasta-related things that we just love!

Vintage Italia Pasta Chips: With several yummy Italian flavors, these are perfect to eat with your favorite dip or spread, or even just straight from the bag!
Crush Cube: These pre-portioned cubes of seasonings and sauces will add a pop of flavor to your favorite pasta dish.
Il Parodi chocolate hazelnut spread: This authentic spread is made from handpicked Ligurian hazelnuts; it’s gluten-free and made without any preservatives!
Buon’Italia: A gourmet Italian grocery store offering authentic, high-quality Italian foods and products, located in Chelsea Market in Manhattan.
Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook: This book (packaged in a pizza box!) teaches young chefs about Italian food and introduces them to delicious, healthful recipes. Utensils and ingredients are translated into Italian so you can follow along as you cook!
Strega Nona: This beloved, classic story is now available in a board book!

Recipes:

Looking for some new pasta recipes to add some variety to your family’s meals? These are some of our favorites!

Cooking Light’s Mostly Veggie Pasta with Sausage: Colorful vegetables, tomato paste, and your favorite sausage make for a delicious dish!
Cooking Light’s Tortellini, Chicken, and Arugula Salad: This hearty pasta salad comes together in no time at all by making the dressing and pasta ahead of time!
Cooking Light’s Mac and Cheeseburger pasta: This twist on a classic uses ground beef and fire roasted tomatoes for a boost of protein AND flavor!

Do you have any favorite pasta products or recipes? Let us know over on Instagram!

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.

Cooking Light: Family Dinner Time

TCK — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 08:00:21 +0000

Long summer days are drawing to a close, and school is just around the corner again. So, before life gets crazy with school and after school sports and activities galore spend some quality time together around the dinner table. These recipes from our friends at Cooking Light are sure to be a hit with the whole family and are simple enough that even the kids can assist with the cooking!

Mini Turkey Meatballs with Wagon Wheel Pasta

Put a twist on classic spaghetti and meatballs with this to-die-for dish. Turkey meatballs and fun wagon wheel pasta sprinkled with fresh Parmesan cheese is the perfect combination for any pasta lover. Click here for the recipe!

Veggie Tostadas with Black Beans and Easy Guacamole

Easy to make, easy to love. Here’s another recipe that everyone in the family can customize to their own tastes. Click here for the recipe!

Twisted Fish

Cooking in parchment paper leaves you with food that is flavorful and tender. All you have to do is fill the pouch with your favorite fish−halibut, salmon, cod, or snapper−seasonal veggies, and seasonings, and twist the ends of the parchment. Presto! Dinner is served. 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.

Cooking Light: Easy and Tasty Summer Vegetarian Dinners

TCK — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 18:21:29 +0000

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.