Want your kids to expand their list of acceptable foods beyond buttered noodles and french fries? Fluffy bread, warm spices, chicken and lots of vegetarian options make Indian food a great option! Brightly colored and easy to adjust the spice factor, we’ve rounded up some of the best Indian food recipes that will have your kids asking for more naan in no time!

Homemade Naan

Gimme Some Oven

Once you make homemade Naan, you may never go back to store bought. This simple recipe from Gimme Some Oven uses basic ingredients, and only takes an hour to rise before dropping in the skillet and devouring.

Red Lentil Dahl

The Wanderlust Kitchen

Dahl makes the perfect addition to rice or to eat with naan. This easy red lentil version from The Wanderlust Kitchen takes just 30 minutes and is perfect for anyone who loves plant-based recipes.

Chana Masala

Cookie Kate

When it comes to quick vegetarian Indian recipes, this Chana Masala recipe from Cookie + Kate will be your go-to. Substitute canned tomatoes and dry spices to get the same authentic flavor of this chick pea dish that you would at your fave Indian restaurant.

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

Damn Delicious

Need the perfect Indian chicken recipe? Here it is! Our editors love this slow cooker recipe from Damn Delicious that takes the grunt work out of cooking. It cooks in just a few hours and pairs perfectly with basmati rice.

Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

Pinch of Yum

It takes just five ingredients to make your own Chicken Tikka Masala and it's way easier than you think. This flavorful dinner idea from Pinch of Yum works great as a go-to comfort food and tastes just as amazing heated up for lunch the next day.

Biryani

Food Fanatic

Make sneaking in the veggies a breeze with Food Fanatic's Vegetable Biryani! While this recipe does have quite the ingredient list, your kiddos will hardly notice their scarfing down carrots, green beans and peas.

Samosas

Gitanjali Roche

Perfect as an "entry level" snack to get your kids hooked on Indian food, these fried samosas from Gitanjali Roche are packed with flavor and veggies. Made with homemade dough and fried to perfection, they pair nicely with a side of chutney for even more flavor.

Chicken Curry

Cooking Classy

Packed with aromatic spices but still easy on the palate, Cooking Classy's Chicken Curry will quickly become a family favorite. It takes just 20 minutes to sauté and simmer, then you'll be slurping this down in no time!

Paneer Pokora

My Food Story

Did somebody say "fried cheese?" This crispy, battered dish is perfect for introducing littles to delicious Indian food. Make it plain or stuff with chutney––both take this cheese recipe from My Food Story to the next level.

Shrimp Tandoori

Rasa Malaysia

While you likely won't be making this dish in a traditional tandoori oven, you can still get an authentic flavor using traditional Indian spices. And because you're whipping up shrimp, dinner will be ready in no time. Rasa Malaysia's easy recipe uses Greek yogurt, garam masala and turmeric before tossing on the BBQ.

Aloo Paratha

My Ginger Garlic Kitchen

For little foodies ready to up their naan game, this recipe for stuffed flatbread from My Ginger Garlic Kitchen is perfect. A traditional breakfast dish, Aloo Paratha is made with a spiced potato filling and is simply cooked in a fry pan.

––Karly Wood

Feature image: Andy Hay via Unsplash

 

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bean-soup

When it’s cold outside you turn to soup. The next time you need to warm up make this Kale, White Bean & Sausage Soup that comes to us from Simran and Stacie at a Little Yumminess. The versatile and easy soup rocks the veggies and serves 12-14, which means there’s almost always leftovers to slurp up the next day.

Kale, White Bean & Sausage Soup adapted from Frances Mayes from Everyday in Tuscany (Zuppa di Cavolo Nero, Cannellini e Salsicce)

Serves 12 to 14 (half it if required)

Ingredients
2 Italian sausages, skins removed and meat crumbled
4 tbsps olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 quarts chicken stock
6 thyme sprigs
1 bunch of dinosaur kale
4 cups cooked cannellini beans (dried beans best but I often use canned)

Method
1. Saute the crumbled sausage in the olive oil till browned and remove from pan.
2. In the same pan, saute the onions, thyme and garlic until softened
3. Add the chicken stock to a big pot. Bring to a boil and add the kale and cover and simmer for 15 minutes
4. Add the cooked sausage and beans and simmer for another 15 minutes
5. Ta Da!

This is a guest post from our friends Simran and Stacie at a Little Yumminess. Photo courtesy of Little YumminessBe sure to visit their blog for more fab, kid-friendly recipes!

If there’s someone out there who doesn’t like a good stir-fry, we haven’t met them. With countless combos like chicken stir-fry, beef and broccoli, stir-fried rice and more, there are enough recipes out there for everyone’s taste. We picked our favorite recipes that use all sorts of ingredients, from chicken to shrimp. The best part? Most of these take 30 minutes or less. We even found a few stir-fry sauces that are easy to whip up. Scroll down to see them all. 

Stir Fry Recipes

Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry

Kari of Get Inspired Every Day

One of our National editor’s favorites, this sweet combo has about five ingredients and comes together in under 30 minutes. Get the recipe here

Shrimp Pad Thai

The View from Great Island

Pad Thai is a popular noodle stir-fry that you can make with chicken or shrimp and uses rice noodles. The cilantro gives it a fresh taste and the sweet sauce is easy on little palates. Get the recipe from The View from Great Island.

Veggie Stir-Fry with Egg

Anna Doogan

A quick and healthy stir-fry that includes scrambled eggs, we love this easy veggie dinner. Get the recipe here.

Beef Stir-Fry 

The Leaner Approach

What’s a stir-fry roundup without a beef version? This one is made with green beans and plenty of garlic. Get the recipe here.

Veggie Stir-Fry Rice

Slow Sundays

Vegetarian-friendly stir-fried rice? Yes, please! With ingredients like bok choy, broccoli and zucchini, you can adjust the recipe according to your family’s taste. Get the recipe here.

Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry

Boulder Locavore

Cashew chicken is a popular combo, and this stir-fry version from Boulder Locavore is so easy and so good, you might not ever order takeout again! Get the recipe here

Beef and Broccoli Noodle Bowls

The View from Great Island

You can use udon noodles for this yummy stir-fry we spotted over at The View from Great Island! With just beef, broccoli and water chestnuts (plus the sauce), not only is a picky-eater pleasure, but it’s ready in 30 minutes or less! Get the recipe here

Pork Stir-Fry

Chelsea's Messy Apron

Using whatever veggies you have in the fridge, this pork stir-fry from Chelsea's Messy Apron will be a favorite in no time. Get the recipe here.

Sweet Chili Shrimp Stir-Fry

Sweet Peas and Saffron

Our mouths are watering when it comes to this sweet chili shrimp stir fry. And, with only four ingredients, the hardest part will be prepping your veggies. See the recipe from Sweet Peas and Saffron here. 

Thai Basil Chicken Stir-Fry

Chef Savvy

For this savory Thai-inspired dish, it’s easy to skip the jalapenos if you’ve got little ones at home. Click here for the recipe.

Stir-Fry Sauces

One Lovely Life

From teriyaki sauce to a peanut sauce and even a red Thai curry that’s not too spicy, we’ve also rounded up our favorite stir-fry sauces that you can use on just about any combination of ingredients. See them below.

Homemade Teriyaki sauce from One Lovely Life

Asian Peanut Coconut Dressing from Carlsbad Craving.

Red Thai curry sauce from Pinch of Yum

Bang Bang Sauce from Wicked Spatula 

Seven different stir-fry sauces from Sweet Peas and Saffron that you can make ahead of time

—Gabby Cullen

 

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If you are looking for nutritious and stress-free recipe ideas, soups are a must-have at the family table. The idea of homemade soup can be intimidating at first. And yet, they actually allow you to get a nutritious and tasty meal on the table in no time while not requiring any specific culinary know-how nor a recipe. Discover all the benefits of making soup, as well as easy recipe ideas for the lunchbox!

Soups are inexpensive and so easy to make.

Whether you use a slow cooker or a pressure cooker, you can prepare a savory soup in five minutes, and let the cooker do the rest of the work. If you like to meal prep, you will love to make soups as they can be prepared in batch and allow freezing for days when you are too tired or have no time.

What we like best about soups is that you can create your own soup every day with any veggie you have at hand. Options are unlimited, which makes it easier to limit food waste while exposing your family to a wide area of foods, taste, and texture too. Poor in fresh vegetables? Frozen vegetables work perfectly too.

Soups are by far the easiest way we found to teach the kids the love of vegetables, one soup at a time. Vary the textures and play at the dinner table with the seasoning. Kids love to season a soup to their taste by adding cheese, breadcrumbs, butter, or cream.

Soups are the ultimate winter comfort food.

There’s nothing like a nourishing bowl of soup to keep the kids warm, full, and hydrated during the winter season. That’s why it’s always a great idea to make a soup to ease the first symptoms of a cold. Tip: load it up with fresh garlic, onions, celery, or carrots for a powerful immune boost.

Easy soup ideas for the kids’ lunchbox

1. Hot or cold, tomato soups are perfect with grilled cheese for the lunchbox.

2. Peas and spinach make a simple and healthy green soup.

3. Mix zucchinis with your kids’ favorite cheese and enjoy. Our kids learned to love zucchinis by mixing the laughing caw or brie.

4. The sweet taste of carrots will welcome any other vegetable or spice. Start easy with our carrot pumpkin puree.

5. Add one potato, one onion, and some garlic cloves to any combo of vegetables, and you are all set!

Pro Tip: Grill brioche rolls and you’ll get savory croutons that kids love.

Want to get more ideas of soups that kids love? Find out what soups kids are having for lunch on Teuko.com, and share your own creations by uploading a photo or commenting below.

This post originally appeared on Teuko Blog.

Teuko is the first platform that empowers families to simplify lunch packing. Using Teuko, they can find and share kid-approved lunchbox ideas, recipes, and tips, all in one place. Teuko is transforming the lunch packing experience by boosting inspiration and motivation week after week. 

Photo: Weelicious

This one-pan meal from Catherine McCord of Weelicious is the perfect weekend brunch dish. Catherine says, “Shakshuka has existed in mediterranean countries for centuries and you will find different variations on it depending on where it’s served.” With eggs, spices, cheese and veggies, your kids will go wild for this dish.

2-3 servings

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, roughly chopped (whichever you prefer)
4 large eggs
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
bread or pita, toasted for serving
avocado, sliced for serving

Preparation:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes or until becoming translucent. Add the bell pepper, garlic and salt and continue sautéing for 3 more minutes or until vegetables have softened.

2. Add the smoked paprika, cumin and coriander and sauté for 1 minute to toast the herbs. Add the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes and stir the sauce until combined. Simmer the sauce over medium low for 15 minutes to med the flavors.

3. Using the back of a large spoon make 4 indents spaced out in the sauce and gently crack eggs into these “wells”. Cook the eggs and sauce for 5-6 minutes or until the whites are set and the eggs yolks are still jiggly. If you want your egg yolks fully cooked through cook for a total of 8-9 minutes.

4. Serve in bowls with toast and sliced avocado if desired or eat right out of the skillet like we do.

This post originally appeared on Weelicious.

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Catherine McCord is the co-founder of One Potato and the founder of the popular Weelicious brand, a trusted content resource synonymous with family and food. She has written three cookbooks including her latest Smoothie Project. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.

Check your freezers. Nestlé Prepared Foods is recalling approximately 762,615 pounds of frozen pepperoni hot pockets product that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of glass and hard plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.

Hot Pocket Recall

The frozen not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) pepperoni hot pockets product was produced from Nov. 13, 2020 through Nov. 16, 2020. The product has a shelf life of 14 months. 

54-oz carton packages containing 12 “Nestlé Hot Pockets Brand Sandwiches: Premium Pepperoni Made With pork Chicken & Beef Pizza Garlic Buttery Crust with a Best Before Feb. 2022 date and lot codes 0318544624, 0319544614, 0320544614, and 0321544614.

The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST. 7721A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The product was shipped to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered when the firm received four consumer complaints of extraneous material in the pepperoni hot pocket product. The firm has received one report of a minor oral injury associated with consumption of this product. FSIS has received no additional reports of injury or illness from consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Nestlé consumer services at (800) 350-5016. 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service 

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Tricking your kids into eating healthy can be a struggle for parents. And finding new and creative ways to fit in fruits and vegetables without getting caught only gets more difficult.

Certified food managers experienced in preparing food for children with special food needs from Tierra Encantada, the leader in Spanish Immersion Early Education developed a variety of recipes that are kid and allergy friendly, nutritious, culturally diverse and easy to make for multiple children. Read on for three great recipes!

Chickadillo

Tierra Encantada

A chicken-y spin on the traditional Latin American favorite, Picadillo!

Ingredients:

- 1 pound chicken breast

- 1 onion

- 1 green pepper

- 1 red pepper

- 2 Potatoes

- 3 cloves of garlic

- 1 can of tomato sauce

½ cup of chicken broth

- 1/3 cup lemon juice 

- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

- 1 bunch asparagus

- 2 bay leaves

- ¼ cup golden raisins

- 1 tablespoon olive oil

- Salt

- Pepper

- Fresh cilantro leaves (garnish)

- 2 tablespoons green olives (optional)

- 6-8 corn tortillas

Instructions:

- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, peppers, and garlic, and sauté until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.

- Add the chicken cut in small squares and stir-fry for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the chicken has cooked through.

- Add the tomato sauce, chicken broth, lemon juice, cumin, bay leaves, potatoes, asparagus and raisins.

- Cover the pan and reduce the heat. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the chicken is tender.

- Before serving remove the bay leaves and garnish with fresh cilantro and olives.

- Enjoy with corn tortillas, you can even create your own Chickadillo tacos!

Kids love this dish, make it your own by adding cheese and your favorite garnishes!

One Skillet Mexican Quinoa

Tierra Encantada

The perfect meal for when you want to wash as few dishes as possible!

Ingredients:

- 3 tablespoon olive oil

- 3 cloves of garlic

- 1 can black beans

- 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes

- 1 cup yellow corn

- 1 cup quinoa

- 1 cups water

- 1 onion

- 2 teaspoons chili powder

- 2 teaspoons cumin

- Salt and black pepper to taste

- 1 lime

- Cilantro

- Avocado (optional garnish)

 

Instructions:

- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onions and garlic in hot oil until fragrant, about 1 minute.

- Stir black beans, tomatoes, yellow corn, quinoa, and water into skillet, season with chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. 

- Bring to a boil, cover the skillet with a lid, reduce heat to low, and simmer until quinoa is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed, about 20 minutes. 

- Stir lime juice and cilantro into quinoa until combined.

Make this dish your own by adding meat and other veggies!

Cheesy Ham & Potato Soup

Tierra Encantada

The perfect recipe for this chilly weather!

Ingredients:

- 3 large potatoes, diced

- 3 celery ribs, chopped

- 1 medium onion, chopped

- 3 carrots, chopped

- 8oz of ham, chopped

- 4 cups chicken broth

- Salt (to taste)

- Pepper (to taste)

- 5 tablespoons butter

- 3 tablespoons flour

- 2 cups milk

- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

- Extra cheese to sprinkle on top (optional)

Instructions:

- Melt the butter and sauté the onions and garlic.

- Add ham, celery, carrots, and potatoes.

- Stir in flour.

- Add broth and milk.

- Add salt and pepper.

- Cook over medium heat until potatoes and veggies are tender.

- Add cheese in small amounts, stir until melted, repeat until all your cheese is gone.

 Top with extra cheese and enjoy!

 

This post originally appeared on Tierra Encantada.
Tierra Encantada is a warm, community-oriented Spanish Immersion Daycare and Preschool headquartered in Minneapolis, MN and currently expanding nationwide. We offer quality child care for children ranging from 6 weeks – 6 years of age. We focus on the growth of the whole child and believe children learn best by doing. Our award-winning bilingual education program fosters early cognitive development and teaches a respect for diversity.

Tia Mowry's Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs

If you were a child of the ’90s you’ll remember Tia Mowry as starring opposite her twin sister, Tamera in the hit sitcom, Sister, Sister. Today Tia’s sharing some of her tasty family-friendly recipes with us. The actress, mom and cook gave us a sneak peek of one of her family’s favorite recipes: turkey meatballs.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Active Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients:

Turkey Meatballs:
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup milk
1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh baby spinach leaves, chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 large egg
1 pound ground turkey
4 to 8 tablespoons grapeseed oil

Quick Marinara Sauce:
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped

Pinch kosher salt
1 pound spaghetti
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Chopped fresh basil, for garnish

TIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Method:
1. For the turkey meatballs: Add the oats to a food processor and pulse a few times. The consistency should resemble breadcrumbs. Add the oats and milk to a small bowl and set aside for 5 minutes.

2. Add the onions, spinach, Parmesan, salt, pepper, garlic and egg to a large bowl and mix well. Add the oat mixture and combine. Lastly, add the turkey and gently fold into the wet mixture. Keep the mixture light by not over-mixing. Form into bite-size balls using a small cookie scoop for uniform meatballs.

3. Heat 4 tablespoons of the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add half of the meatballs and brown on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and repeat with the second batch, adding more oil if needed. Set the meatballs aside but reserve the Dutch oven for the sauce.

4. For the quick marinara sauce: Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, salt, pepper and garlic to the Dutch oven and stir. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Gently add the browned meatballs to the sauce. Do not overcrowd. Simmer until the meatballs are cooked thoroughly, another 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with a generous pinch of salt. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.

6. Combine some of the sauce with the cooked spaghetti. Plate the spaghetti and meatballs and add the remaining sauce over everything. Garnish with parsley, basil and more grated Parmesan. Serve hot.

 

Food-Network-Logo
Come along as Tia Mowry takes you inside her life, sharing her recipes for success… and for dinner.  As a working actress, wife and mother, Tia is always on the go, but creating tasty and tempting foods for her family is the part of her day that brings the biggest smiles. Growing up with parents in the armed services, she enjoyed tasting a variety of flavors in the different cities they lived, and she loved recreating the dishes with her mother in the kitchen. Ever since she was a young girl, these influences have sparked her desire to cook for her own loved ones – whether it is a healthy meal for her son and husband, or a dinner party for her best friends. It is a busy and full life, but Tia would not change a thing!

Forget about chocolate, candy and roses—your heart belongs to all things cheese! Luckily for you, ALDI has plenty of heart-shaped dairy delights hitting stores in January.

Now that Valentine’s Day is on the horizon, the retailer has brought back some favorites for the holiday. In 2021, cheese lovers can share the joy in January with the Emporium Selection Valentine’s Day Cheese Assortment ($3.99 each). The heart-shaped cheese assortment includes Gin and Rhubarb, Mature Cheddar and Raspberries and White Chocolate picks.

If you’re really looking to steal a cheese-lover’s heart, swap the standard box of chocolates for a box of cheese instead! This box contains eight snack-sized bites of Emporium Selection aged English cheddar and retails for $4.99.

If you like something under your cheese other than crackers, ALDI’s Valentine’s lineup also includes Mama Cozzi’s Take and Bake Pizza My Heart Cheese Pizza ($4.99). The heart-shaped crust is topped with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, herbs, Mozzarella, White Cheddar, Provolone, Parmesan and Romano.

These finds will be available in ALDI stores nationwide starting Jan. 27, 2021.

—Erica Loop & Jen Watro

Photos: Courtesy of ALDI

 

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Are you trying to sneak more veggies into your little one’s diet? Campbell Soup Company just introduced Prego+, a new plant-based pasta sauce. The new platform includes a line of Prego+ Plant Protein and a line of Prego+ Hidden Super Veggies. Both offer the same great taste and texture families know and love from Prego, now with added goodness.

The team was inspired by ongoing consumer demand for more protein and the persistent challenge of getting picky eaters to eat more vegetables. Prego+ Plant Protein offers 4 grams of protein from peas; its Meatless Meat variety includes soy crumbles and is the first vegan meat sauce from the Prego brand. Prego+ Hidden Super Veggies offers a smooth blend of six super veggies, including: sweet potato, carrot, cauliflower, butternut squash, spinach and roasted red pepper. All varieties are designed to look and taste like the Prego families love.

“With the surge in popularity of plant-based diets, we were inspired to create Prego+ to offer more options,” said Diane George, Senior Marketing Manager, Prego, “Now more than ever parents are looking for quick and simple ways to get more nourishment into their families’ diets. Prego+ offers a new way to do that, making life a little easier for families amidst a new normal.”

The new varieties include:

Prego+ Plant Protein Italian Tomato Sauce

– Traditional

– Meatless Meat

– Roasted Garlic & Herb

 

Prego+ Hidden Super Veggies Italian Tomato Sauce

– Traditional

– Flavored with Meat

– Roasted Garlic and Herb

Prego+ has a suggested retail price of $2.99 per 24-ounce jar and is currently rolling out to retailers nationwide. Both new sauce lines provide a good source of fiber, are low in fat and saturated fat and free of artificial colors and MSG. For more information on Prego®and Prego+, please visit prego.com.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy 

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