I was trying to get really creative with dinner recently. I had made a large pot of chicken soup with orzo go with it. Since we have all enjoyed yogurt parfaits in the past, I thought I would try making one with orzo. I layered sauteed balsamic radicchio, orzo, pesto and parmesan cheese. And topped it all off with a decorative sprig of rosemary. Well it looked fun, and Tiny couldn't wait to try it, but the radicchio and parmesan was too much even for her gourmet palate. She requested a parfait with just orzo and pesto, and that is what she got. And she enjoyed it too! ~ What fancy foods do your kids like? ~

When my friend Melissa was planning her The Very Hungry Caterpillar party for her daughter, she asked me for some food ideas. I created this pasta salad based on the book just for the occasion. The fusillis became the caterpillars, the peas the heads, and the cheese shreds the little antennae. I have made it twice now, and the caterpillar party goers loved it as well. Here is the recipe:

Boil one pound of fusilli pasta. Toss in some frozen peas when the noodles are almost done. Drain and mix in your favorite prepared pesto, one can of drained garbanzo beans, one small box pear tomatoes and one chopped red pepper. Cool in the refrigerator, and then toss with shredded parmesan cheese and optional black pepper. Enjoy, but don't get a stomach ache like that hungry caterpillar!

When a family in Tiny's preschool class adds a new baby (or two) several other families take turns making them dinner. When we volunteered to make dinner for a family of five boys I needed something big! Granted two of them were newborn boys, but the three older brothers needed something that would appeal to them! This Ground Turkey Casserole from Food on the Table looked perfect, because what kids doesn't love noodles and cheese? I made enough for this growing family, for us, and for another friend, who happens to have a dog named Noodle! I got a very nice thank you note for the meal. Tiny and I enjoyed this creamy and nutritious comfort food, and so did her little and bigger friends!  ~ What meals do you make to help out a friend? ~

Tiny and I were on a mission to get a Cupkates cupcake, because we had followed the truck out of its parking spot the week before, until the driver signaled to me that they were sold out. We tided ourselves over with a cupcake and a Mexican chocolate bread pudding from Whole Foods. But when the weekend came we were ready to try again. We chose a Sunday when we knew we'd have plenty of time to meet the truck and enjoy the little cakes. I ordered a Mexican chocolate cupcake which they got just right. Tiny picked vanilla, and she loved the frosting which is the only part of any cupcake she generally eats. I'm not a big lemon meringue pie person, but the cupcake of the same name is an experience. It is literally the pie in a baking cup, and so good in this small scale. Let them be little. ~ What treats does your family go out of its way for? ~

What could be better than having someone in your family own a frozen yogurt shop? Having them live closer! Until our cousin Tanya in Florida decides to open up a FroYo Fresh shop in California, we'll just to have settle for hearing about the cool, rather warm, toppings she offers, like walnut sauce and Nutella. And she loves hearing about the frozen yogurt that Tiny and I enjoy on a rather regular basis. She always chooses mint chip and strawberry yogurt. She varies her topping choices, but always gets one pink wafer cookie. I don't judge, but I don't understand the parents who only allow one topping choice. I don't know that the topping bar is the place to teach restraint. Yet again, maybe it is. ~ What frozen yogurt or ice cream toppings do your kids like? ~

Most kids first experience a snow cone from the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine. But not my Little Guy. His first shaved ice came from the gourmet Skylite Snowball Truck, which we tracked down this afternoon in Emeryville. Tiny wanted me to get chocolate since I love it, so I got blood orange topped with Tcho chocolate syrup. It was delicious. Being the Disney Princess fan that she is, once she knew Jasmine was a flavor choice, she was set on that one! We found a shady spot on the sidewalk by the truck and enjoyed our frozen treats. We both had fun feeding the Little Guy with our small and large compostable spoons (which we kept). He preferred the blood orange flavor as far as I could tell. No chocolate for him yet though. ~ Have you partaken in the food truck revolution yet? ~

Tiny had a a great plan: purple pancakes! We bought a packet of Bisquick mix which makes ten pancakes. We added one cup of water and many drops of red and blue food coloring to arrive at what were really lavender pancakes. Then she wanted to add sprinkles too, so I shook some rainbow jimmies on each pancake once I had spooned them on to the griddle. The sprinkles melted into each pancake, and melted really nicely as you can see. Somehow the pancake being a pretty color made them taste better too. Tiny wanted peanut butter in them too, but I suggested we just put it on them after, which we did. ~ What adventure have you had with food coloring? ~

Whenever anyone asks for a good recipe to make with kids, or if I need a quick recipe to make with little ones, I turn to Forrest Gump's Kissy Cookies. While staying in a beautiful home in Park City with my husband's college "posse," as they call themselves, I saw a baking opportunity. We had a total of four kids on the trip, with one on the way. These were good cookies to make because of all the jobs that can be created. You need a few hands to measure and mix only three ingredients. And a few kids can unwrap all of the Hershey's Kisses. Chocolate chips can also be used instead. And I always use creamy peanut butter. But you never know what you're going to get. 
~ What is your go-to easy baking recipe? ~
Kissy Cookies
1 large egg
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup sugar
36 milk chocolate kisses, unwrapped

Combine the first 3 ingredients; shape into 3/4-inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets; bake at 350º degrees for 10 minutes. Immediately press a chocolate kiss in center of each cookie; remove to wire racks to cool. Yeild: 3 dozen. From Forrest Gump My Favorite Chocolate Recipes, by Oxmoor House. 

My friend Alicia, mother to a picky eater, an elementary school teacher and a very creative home cook, came up with her most ingenious idea yet. She has proven first, that if she puts sprinkles and white chocolate chips on anything, her daughter will eat it. And also that you can camouflage a lot of nutrition within a bowl of chocolate pudding. Her recipe is below, and it really is good. Tiny and I had to try it to believe it.

Sneaky Chocolate Pudding
Heat 2 cups unsweetened chocolate almond milk. Add 1 scoop 365 Whey Protein Powder, 1 scoop Amazing Grass Kidz Superfood Chocolate Flavor, 1 jar of baby food prunes and 1 small box of Cook and Serve Chocolate Jello Pudding. Keep stirring with a whisk until smooth. Pour into small bowls or cups and top with sprinkles and white chocolate chips. Refrigerate for at least one hour.~ Have you tried any sneaky recipes? ~

During past Passovers, I've made charoset on cruise ships and hotels, cutting with plastic knives and mixing it up in water glasses. Of course I've made it at home in the food processor as well. This year, probably influenced by "Top Chef," I thought a deconstructed charoset would make a fun tot snack. Traditionally charoset contains apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon. I cut apple slices and set out bowls of peanut butter, raisins and cinnamon to dip the apples in. It was fun for Tiny and I to prepare and eat, dipping the apples in the peanut butter first, then the raisins and cinnamon which stuck on well. It really did have the taste of charoset. You could use any nut butter or chopped dried fruits. What a nutty idea. ~ What deconstructed snacks do you prepare? ~