Popsicles for breakfast?! Sign us up! Looking for some new recipes to help refresh mealtime at home? Or maybe you’d like to find some nutritious recipes that your kids will not only enjoy eating (a tricky business, we know), but will actually want to help make? One of our most tried and true beliefs when it comes to kids and food is that cooking is a multi-faceted learning opportunity. When children are involved in the cooking process, including the selection of ingredients, they’re more likely to try new, unfamiliar foods!

We love supporting programs and resources that reinforce this philosophy, and that’s why we’re thrilled to share an amazing cookbook with you: The Healthy Junior Chef Cookbook from Williams-Sonoma. Providing recipes that are simultaneously delicious and nutritious, this cookbook will inspire kids to get creative in the kitchen and enjoy the entire cooking process! Remember those ‘breakfast popsicles’ we mentioned before? Yogurt Parfait Breakfast Pops are just one of the many fun and delicious dishes you’ll find in this book. The photography alone will have the whole family drooling, parents included (just look at that cover!). The easy to follow instructions, colorful illustrations, and expert cooking tips will keep both kids AND adults engaged in the kitchen and inspired to eat well – now who doesn’t want that?  

Grab a copy of The Healthy Junior Chef Cookbook here!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I like to cook with this cookbook! It’s fun and yummy! I like the pictures!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

What a fun and easy way to get your kids involved in the kitchen (and still make something even mom and dad will enjoy)! I try to do this on my own on a regular basis, but sometimes it’s nice to have some concrete help and advice. We love each recipe we’ve tried so far, and my kids love planning out our meals for each week and picking out the ingredients we need. The recipes are easy enough to follow so my younger kids can participate, but interesting enough that my older ones are still engaged! Everything in this book is kid-friendly, but so delicious that parents will enjoy them as well. I’d recommend this book to any aspiring young chef, or even families like ours that just wanted our kids to get a little more excited about cooking. So far, my favorite recipe is the Chicken and Pineapple Kebabs, they’re perfect for summer BBQ’s! My kids’ favorite is the Homemade Fruit Roll Ups; they have a great time making those, and they’re so yummy too!

Flavorful Features:

There’s more than 70 recipes for everything from breakfast and snacks to main courses and desserts, all kid-friendly with easy to follow instructions. There’s also fun serving ideas included to keep the creative juices flowing! Recipes include: Zucchini Lasagna with Turkey Bolognese, Spaghetti with Cauliflower Pesto, Homemade Fruit Roll Ups, Broccoli Apple Lunchbox Slaw, and so much more. 

The Icing on the Cake:

Our favorite part about this cookbook is how each recipe is focused on the nutrition it provides, without sacrificing the fun and delicious flavors that kids love!

Mix it Up!

Get an extremely early start on holiday shopping with this book, perfect for any little chef who wants some more practice in the kitchen (not to mention some yummy meals and snacks the whole family can eat!).

More info here!

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.

Struggling to find a good milk alternative for a child who is nut-free, soy-free, and/or dairy-free? Good Karma has a new solution out on the market: flaxmilk. Their new Unsweetened Vanilla Flaxmilk + Protein flavor has the same amount of protein per serving as dairy milk and has less calories and more nutrients per serving! Here at The Creative Kitchen we cannot get enough of this product!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I can’t wait to finish my cereal in the morning! I just want to get to the milk so bad!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

Good Karma Unsweetened Vanilla + Protein Flaxmilk is a go-to for me and my family in the morning! It’s a great non-dairy alternative for children with a nut or soy allergy and I do not have to make up for protein in other parts of their diet! Also, flaxmilk is rich in omega-3 which is great because it is essential to our health and it is not produced by our bodies. This product is especially great for pregnant moms since omega-3’s play a role in early development.

Flavorful Features:

Good Karma has many different options and flavors for their flaxmilk:

The Icing on the Cake:

Benefits to switching to Good Karma Unsweetened Vanilla Flaxmilk + Protein includes:

Time to Eat?!

Great for breakfast and also to pack away for lunch!

Mix it Up!

Good Karma Unsweetened Vanilla + Protein Flaxmilk is great to add into overnight oats! This will cut back sugar and increase the protein content than what is usually provided in a packet of instant oatmeal. Additionally, preparing breakfast the night before will save mom time in the morning, and overnight oats can be customized for each child so even our picky eaters will wake up to a meal that they are excited about! Check out Good Karma’s recipe for delicious Banana Sunflower Butter Overnight Oats here!

www.goodkarmafoods.com

www.facebook.com/goodkarmafoods

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.

Sorghum is a healthful, hearty grain to add to your family’s pantry. Fuel your family’s bellies for hours- this gluten-free grain is an excellent source of a variety nutrients, with an extraordinary amount of dietary fiber, which is great for digestive systems! Whether cooking with the grain, flour, syrup, or otherwise, sorghum is a versatile Old World grain that shouldn’t be overlooked in today’s kitchen!

Join us at Whole Foods Upper West Side on December 18th, 2017 and Whole Foods Tribeca on December 20th, 2017 for the opportunity to get hands-on and learn about cooking with sorghum! Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com/calendar for our schedule.

From the Mouth of a Kid:

My favorite is the sorghum syrup! It’s so sweet!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

I‘ve loved adding recipes that include sorghum into my family’s diet! I’ve stocked up on a few different sorghum products, especially using both the sorghum grain and syrup when I cook. It’s super kid-friendly, while also being nutritionally appealing to me and my husband!

Personally, I love adding it to my salads, as it keeps me fuller for longer!

The Icing on the Cake:

Sorghum can be used in a variety of recipes! Check out some delicious here: www.simplysorghum.com/recipes.

Time to Eat?!

Any time a whole grain is on the menu!

Mix it Up!

Try popping your whole grain sorghum like popcorn to snack on while watching a movie for an alternative that’s high in calcium and iron! Just be careful it doesn’t burn!

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.

Looking for an easy, better-for-you way to satisfy that pizza craving? Our friends at Cooking Light have put a delicious spin on this cheesy classic, using pita rounds and kale! These Mini Mozzarella-and-Kale Pita Pizzas require just a few ingredients, but are full of flavor! Split the pitas in half before toasting so that the “crust” for the pizzas can get extra crisp. Baby kale is a fantastic all-purpose green; and it’s a great introduction to greens other than lettuce or spinach. The kids are sure to love it, and can help with adding the fresh toppings before broiling!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat broiler to high with oven rack in middle position.

2. Split each pita in half horizontally to get 12 rounds. Arrange rounds, cut side up, on a baking sheet; drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil. Broil 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly toasted.

3. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add shallots and garlic; sauté 2 minutes or until browned. Stir in kale; cook 2 minutes or until wilted. Remove pan from heat.

4. Spread about 2 teaspoons pizza sauce over each pita round; top evenly with kale mixture, cheeses, and tomatoes. Sprinkle evenly with pepper and salt. Broil 4 to 5 minutes or until cheeses are melted.

Tips & Trick:

• Have a different green in your fridge? Use whatever you’d like!

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.

Mac and Cheese is a dish that kids and grownups love. This take on the classic mac and cheese from our friends at Cooking Light adds ground beef and fire roasted tomatoes to the mix for a heartier take on this comforting dish. What’s even better is you can grate or finely dice some vegetables into the mac and cheese for picky eaters!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium. Add beef, onion, Worcestershire, and mustard; cook, stirring often, until meat is done, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in tomatoes.

3. Whisk together milk and flour. Pour mixture into skillet; bring to a boil over high. Add cheeses; stir until cheeses melt. Remove from heat. Stir in pasta and meat mixture. Top with parsley, salt, and pepper.

Tips & Trick:

• Make sure to drain the tomatoes so the sauce doesn’t get too thin.
• If you don’t have dry mustard (used here for added depth), stir in a teaspoon of Dijon mustard.
• Serve with a side of green beans or broccoli tossed with browned butter, or with a salad the family enjoys (a crunchy romaine Caesar salad would be great).

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.

As parents, you’re constantly trying to make sure your kids are getting the right nutrients to stay strong and healthy. An important part of that is making sure they eat their vegetables which can sometimes be difficult. This French Bread with Cauliflower Cheese Sauce from our friends at Cooking Light is a great way to incorporate vegetables into your little one’s diet. Use this mixture for your next grilled cheese sandwich and pair alongside fresh tomato soup for a family-friendly dinner. The sauce is versatile and can even be mixed into pasta for a healthier version of mac and cheese.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat broiler to high.

2. Place bread, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Broil 1 1/2 minutes or until bread is lightly toasted.

3. Place cauliflower in a steamer basket over simmering water; cover and steam 8 minutes or until very tender. Place stock in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 30 seconds or until warm. Place cauliflower and stock in a food processor; process until smooth. Add cheese; process until combined.

4. Spread cauliflower mixture over bread halves; broil 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Cut into 4 pieces; sprinkle with pepper.

Tips & Trick:

• The cheesy-veggie sauce is a great way to sneak in vegetables so try tossing it with fresh pasta for a healthier mac and cheese that doesn’t skimp on the creamy texture and cheesy flavor.
• If you love to dip garlic bread into broth-based soups or hearty stews, try adding finely minced garlic to the food processor to add an extra kick before spreading the sauce on the bread.

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.

Autumn is here! As the weather gets cooler we look to heartier recipes to fill our stomachs. This Pumpkin-Apple Soup from our friends at Cooking Light is the perfect dish to enjoy on a cool Fall night. This tasty recipe can act as a base and be made into two separate soups.  For mature palates, Chipotle Spiced Pumpkin Soup provides a kick and Thai Coconut Pumpkin Soup will keep younger palates satisfied with its sweet taste of coconut.  These small variations give each soup a different flavor makeup.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; swirl to coat. Add onion; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes. Add pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 5 minutes, stirring often. Add stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 25 minutes or until pumpkin and apples are tender.

2. While soup cooks, combine pepitas, sugar, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook 7 minutes or until sugar melts and pepitas are toasted, stirring often. Transfer to a plate; cool completely, breaking up any clumps.

3. Place half of pumpkin mixture in a blender, remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape). Secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters); blend until smooth. Place soup in a bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining pumpkin mixture. Pour in apple cider, and reheat in pan if needed. Divide soup evenly among 8 bowls; sprinkle evenly with pepitas.

• Thai-Coconut Soup: Omit cinnamon; instead add 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger with the pumpkin and apples in step 1. Omit apple cider; instead add 3/4 cup light coconut milk and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Omit pepitas, sugar, and salt in step 2; instead sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons cilantro before serving. Serve with lime wedges.

• Chipotle-Spiced Pumpkin Soup: Increase cinnamon to 1/2 teaspoon. Add 1 finely chopped seeded chipotle chile canned in adobo sauce to apples and pumpkin in step 1. Omit apple cider; instead add 1/4 cup water. Omit pepitas, sugar, and salt in step 2; instead garnish with 1 ounce thinly sliced and slivered Spanish chorizo, cooked in a small skillet over medium-low heat until crisp.

Tips & Trick:

• Simple toppings like salty-sweet pepitas, chorizo, or freshly chopped herbs make each soup more flavorful.
• For a fun, no-fuss garnish, top any of the soups with 2 tablespoons popped popcorn.

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.

Ingredients:

4 tomatoes

1 cup strawberries

1 mango

2 kiwifruit

1 seedless cucumber

2 different colored bell peppers

1 15.5-ounce can cannellini  beans

1 8-ounce can corn

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

2 limes

olive oil, to taste

salt and pepper, to taste

chips (baked chips for a healthier option)

Instructions:

1. Dice tomatoes, strawberries, mango, kiwifruit, cucumber, and peppers and place in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Add beans and corn to the bowl and stir together.
3. Tear or chop cilantro leaves and add to the bowl.
4. Dress salsa with lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper, to taste. Mix well and eat with chips!

Tips & Tricks: 

• Dice the ingredients small, so you can challenge your children to fit as many colors as they can into one bite!
• Kids can help cut fruits and vegetables with a kid-friendly safety knife.
• Even the youngest helpers can wash the produce and tear the fresh herbs.
• Give them options! Ask kids to pick three favorite fruits instead of the fruits listed above; have the family choose between cilantro and mint.

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.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Original Bisquick® mix
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon salt or Garlic salt
½ teaspoon paprika
3 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 450ºF. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray.

2. Mix Bisquick mix, cheese, salt and paprika in 1-gallon resealable plastic food-storage bag. Dip half the chicken strips into egg; place in bag of Bisquick mixture. Seal bag; shake to coat. Place chicken on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken. Drizzle butter over chicken.

3. Bake 12 to 14 minutes, turning after 6 minutes with pancake turner, until no longer pink in center.

Makes 4 servings

Tips & Tricks:

Spice up your chicken fingers with a pinch of cayenne pepper or curry powder!

Ingredients:

2 1/3 cups Original Bisquick® mix
½ cup water
3 eggs
3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (12 oz)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 3/4 lb), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 ½ cups Old El Paso® Thick ‘n Chunky salsa

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 3 (8- or 9-inch) square pans with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir together Bisquick mix, water and eggs. Spread evenly in pans. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the cheese over batter in each pan.

2. In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil, stirring frequently, until outsides turn white; drain. Stir in salsa; heat until hot. Spoon evenly over batter in pans to within 1/2-inch of edges.

3. Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until edges are dark golden brown. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the remaining cheese over each pan. Bake 1 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Loosen from sides of pan; cut into squares.

Makes 18 servings

Tips & Tricks:

Make this dish ahead! Prepare the Salsa Chicken until step 3. Instead of baking it right away, refrigerate or freeze this dish until you’re ready to serve. Then, simply bake it in the oven and enjoy!

Video:

For more tips and a video how-to by Cricket Azima, view the video below.

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.

Modern-Twist, a company specializing in Eco Lifestyle Products, has recently come out with a line of kid-friendly silicone dishes called Munch Mates. Munch Mates include a one and a half inch deep plate with a lid, as well as cups. They’re soft and durable, and heat and water resistant, making them dishwasher safe for an easy clean up. Your child’s face will light up when they see these fun, bright, soft dishes that are guaranteed to make meal time more fun.

From the Mouth of a Kid:

They’re soft! I love the color.

From the Eyes of a Parent:

My kids love using Munch-Mates. I can put the covered dish filled with snacks in my purse for emergencies. I don’t have to worry about the container breaking! Then when I’m at home, I can warm my children’s dinner in the bright bowls and not have to worry about the chemicals found in plastic products seeping into their food because they are BPA free. They are even dishwasher safe so they make clean up easy, too!

Flavorful Features:

Munch-Mates come in assorted colors and animal designs like

• Monkey Business – Red
• Giraffe Giggle – Blue
• Dandy Lion – Orange
• Elephant Hugs – Pink

The Icing on the Cake:

In addition to being great for children, Munch-Mates are 100% pure, and free of bi-products, BPAs, PVC, lead, latex and vinyl making them a safe and healthy option for serving food. By ordering on their website, you can get free shipping on any order over $50!

Mix it Up!

Use Munch-Mates instead of plastic ware or Tupperware that could contain unsafe chemicals that aren’t found in Modern-Twist products.

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.