Appetizer Recipes For Kids

Find easy appetizer recipes for kids that will get you children cooking healthy appetizers with you in no time!

Slow roasted pulled pork sandwiches

I love pulled pork.

Not only is it delicious…

But it’s cheap…

And I can use it for days!!!

Perfect for a summertime BBQ!

Check out the three meals I got out of my $11.94 pork shoulder!

First one…

Pulled Pork Sangies

appetizers   Slow roasted pulled pork sandwiches

 

Serves: 10  Prep time: 15 minutes + 1 day  Cook time:  6 hours

For the dry rub:

3 T paprika

1 T garlic powder

3 T brown sugar

1 T dry mustard

3 T coarse salt

1 t liquid smoke

1 t dried oregano

¼ cup olive oil

For the Sandwiches:

1 (5 to 7 pound) pork roast, preferably shoulder or Boston butt

2 T prepared mustard

2 packages Hawaiian bread  rolls

2 cups BBQ sauce

appetizers   Slow roasted pulled pork sandwichesIn a food processor combine the paprika, garlic power, brown sugar, dry mustard, salt, liquid smoke, and oregano.  Turn in the processor on and add in your olive oil until you have a nice paste.

Rub  your pork butt with the prepared mustard then slather on your spice mixture.  Be sure to massage it in well and get it into all the nooks and crannies.   Let in marinate in the fridge for as long as possible, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.appetizers   Slow roasted pulled pork sandwiches

Place the marinated pork in a roasting rack and roast at 300 degrees until an instant read thermometer reads 170 degrees F, about 6 hours, when the pork just easily falls apart.

appetizers   Slow roasted pulled pork sandwichesPull the pork into small pieces and serve on a Hawaiian buns with BBQ sauce and cole slaw.  MMMMmmmm!  So good!

Baseball Week – Sliders into home plate

Play Ball!!!!

I love this time of year.

Bring on the Boys of Summer!

What says baseball more than grilling burgers?

Well, sliders in this case.

Sliding into home plate?

Get it…?

Serve ‘em up with some garlic fries on the side!

This’ll be a home run for sure!

appetizers   Baseball Week – Sliders into home plate

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 1/2 lbs ground beef (I like 85/15 for burgers)

1 T dried onion

1 T montreal steak seasoning

1 T cold water

sliced cheddar

baby brioche buns

WHAT TO DO:

In a large bowl combine the meat, onions, steak seasoning, and water.  Mix well to blend and then form the meat into sliver dollar sized burgers.  Stick em on the grill for about 4 minutes on the first side.  Flip ‘em and then toss the cheese on top and grill for another 3-4 minutes.

Place these little beauties on a brioche roll and serve to your little leaguers!

Keegan loves to help grill

appetizers   Baseball Week – Sliders into home plate

I dress up the grown ups with drunken onions and mushrooms…

I sauteed onions and mushrooms in a pan with olive oil, S&P, and beer till they were nice and soft!  Pile ‘em high on your burger!

appetizers   Baseball Week – Sliders into home plate

How are you celebrating the start of baseball season?

Oh, yeah, I’d wouldn’t be a proud member of the nation if I didn’t end this post with…

GO RED SOX!!!

French Onion Soup – Soup Week

Back by popular demand…

It’s SOUP WEEK.

For a couple of weeks…

Soup is a fantastic way to get kids to try new foods!

It’s like magic in a bowl.

This one is a family fave…

appetizers   French Onion Soup   Soup Week

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 lbs sweet yellow onions, sliced

1 T extra virgin olive oil

3 T butter

S&P

1 sprigs fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

1/2 cup cognac

1/2 dry sherry

1 cup white wine

4 cups veal stock

2 cups beef stock

sliced baguette

shredded gruyere or swiss cheese

WHAT TO DO:

Heat a large pot with olive oil and butter over medium heat.

Toss in the onions thyme and sprinkle with plenty of salt.

Stir the onions to coat.

Cover and let onions sweat for 15 to 20 minutes.

Once the onions are soft, remove pot and let the onions cook very slowly for about 45 minutes or so.  Until they are nice and brown.  This takes a bit but it’s sooooo worth the wait.

appetizers   French Onion Soup   Soup Week

When the onions are brown deglaze the pan with cognac and sherry.  Toss in your bay leaf and season with S&P.  Now add in your wine and stir well.  Turn up the heat and let your broth reduce by half.

Add in your veal and beef stock.  Bring to a boil.

Taste and adjust seasoning.  Add more salt if necessary.

Reduce heat and let simmer for 1 hour.

Ladle soup into individual dishes.  Preheat your broiler.  Top each bowl with baguette slices, then top bread with cheese.

appetizers   French Onion Soup   Soup Week

Broil individual bowls on a baking sheet until cheese is melty and delicious!

Serve with a big salad.

Superbowl Countdown – Keegan’s Killer Kielbasa

Um….

If I haven’t already mentioned it….

THE PATS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!!

appetizers   Superbowl Countdown   Keegans Killer Kielbasa

And here’s a News Flash….

I have 3 boys.

Ok, well 4 if you count the hubs…

And let’s be honest, you have to count the hubs don’t ya?

So game days are big around here.

We’re a sports family.

Hockey.

Football.

Baseball.

Basketball.

Even soccer, or football as my mom calls it. Go Manchester United.

Anyway, we love the Superbowl.

appetizers   Superbowl Countdown   Keegans Killer Kielbasa

Especially when the Pats are getting ready to beat down the Giants.

And Keegan has asked that I post his absolute favorite again…

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

We’re ready for some of Keegan’s favorite, and the hubs, Kielbasa

appetizers   Superbowl Countdown   Keegans Killer Kielbasa

Serves: 8  Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook time:  15 minutes

2 links polska kielbasa smoked sausage, sliced

1 cup maple syrup

1 T soy sauce

1/4 cup brown mustard

1 t liquid smoke (optional)

In a large skillet over medium high heat, warm sausage until the sides just begin to crisp, about 5 minutes.  Pour in your syrup and soy sauce and stir well.  Add in mustard and liquid smoke and mix well.  Bring to a boil then knock back the heat and let simmer until sauce is thick and rich and bubbly.

Pour onto serving platter and serve with toothpicks.

Score!

Hanukkah Latkes

Happy Hanukkah everyone!

appetizers   Hanukkah Latkes

Our favorite thing about Hanukkah?

What else?

appetizers   Hanukkah Latkes

Potato Latkes!

Best things ever…

Latkes

Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 20 minutes

What you need:

3 ½ cups shredded potatoes (for fast latkes use the store bought kind)

½ sweet onion, grated

3 eggs, beaten

¼ cup matzo meal (you could substitute all purpose flour too)

S&P

½ cup peanut oil for frying

What to do:

Using a cheese cloth squeeze all the moisture out of your potatoes.

appetizers   Hanukkah Latkes

Once you’ve gotten them as dry as you can, place them into a large bowl with the onion, eggs, matzo meal, and season with S&P.  Stir together well to combine.

appetizers   Hanukkah Latkes

Preheat a large skillet and your peanut oil over medium high heat.  Form the mixture into small silver dollar pancake size latkes.  Working in batches place the latkes down into the oil.

appetizers   Hanukkah Latkes

Cook until golden brown, then flip to brown the other side.  Drain on paper towels, serve hot with applesauce and sour cream.

appetizers   Hanukkah Latkes

Now gather round the table, light some candles, play some dreidel and enjoy.  Happy Hanukkah!!!

Holiday Gift Week – Soup in a Jar

Back by popular demand…

Some of our favorite make at home gifts.

Looking for a new and unique gift idea?

Something different for neighbors, friends, teachers, coaches, and anyone else on your list this holiday?

How about a home cooked meal?

appetizers   Holiday Gift Week   Soup in a Jar

Beef Noodle Soup in a Jar

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes

Mason Jars

Ribbon

Colored cloth/fabric

Decorative paper for instructions

¼ cup red lentils

¼ cup green split peas

¼ cup barley

1/3 cup beef bouillon powder

¼ cup dried onion

2 T. parsley flakes

1/3 t. thyme

1/3 t. pepper

1 t. basil

1 t. garlic powder

½ t. celery seed

S&P

3 cups tri color pasta, separated into colors.

appetizers   Holiday Gift Week   Soup in a Jar

Layer ingredients neatly one by one into a large mason jar.

appetizers   Holiday Gift Week   Soup in a Jar

Close jar tightly and cover with fabric.  Tie with ribbons.  Affix instructions:

1 jar holiday gift soup

1 22 ounce can crushed tomatoes

8 cups water

Bring water and tomatoes to a boil in a large stock pot.  Add soup mix.  Simmer covered for 15 minutes, or until noodles are tender.  Enjoy.  Happy Holidays.

appetizers   Holiday Gift Week   Soup in a Jar

Let the kids help you with writing the instructions and be sure to let them sign their names!

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