101 Easy Recipes For Kids

Kids already think their mom is a superstar, and, with a few simple recipes, you can really impress even the most picky eaters.

Octopus hotdogs in seaweed

This is just a creative way to serve hotdogs and French fries, but the kids love it. Cut the hot dogs in half and, then, using your knife, slice an X in the bottom part of the hotdog up to about the center. Fry the hot dogs in oil, and the cut portion at the bottom opens like a flower, creating your octopus. Bake or fry your French fries as desired, add a few drops of green food color to a ziplock bag and add the fries. Add a little salt and shake vigorously, creating your seaweed. Place your octopus/hotdog on top of your seaweed/fries, and add a little ketchup/ink for a finishing effect.

Cookie cutter sandwiches and other foods

Make any type of sandwich your kids crave. Just pull out some old cookie cutters, and let them cut out the shapes they enjoy. If the sandwich contains meat, metal cutters are the best. However, for peanut butter and jelly or any other kind of soft filling, plastic cutters are ideal. This fun activity is also feasible with pancakes, toast and even Jello. To make Jello shapes, mix the Jello by following the directions on the package but add slightly less water than directed. This makes the Jello a little less jiggly and allows the kids to pick up their Jello shapes without breaking them. Pour the Jello into a baking sheet and let set. Pull out the sheet, and let the kids punch out their cookie cutter shapes, eat and enjoy.

Cooking for and with your children is a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

Make any type of sandwich your kids crave

by Jessica Ludwig Ramirez, Home & Garden writer