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Girls Night Zucchini & Corn Pancakes

September 26, 2012 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 1 Comment

I love Girls Night Out.

You really need it from time to time.

Recently we’ve switched girls night out…

To Girls Night In.

We gather at someone’s house…

Everyone brings a dish.

And a bottle…

And then we really dish.

And you know me…being Ma and all.

I have to try and make the best offering.

This is my latest…

It was a hit!

Had to take advantage of all that zucchini in the garden…

Not to mention the boys gobbled these up…

And didn’t even know they were loaded with veggies!

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 medium to large zucchini grated

2 T grated red onion

1 cup corn off the cob (I slice mine from leftover grilled corn)

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

6 – 8 T flour

1 t baking powder

S&P

1 T butter

Olive oil

Toppings:

Smoked Salmon

Creme Fraiche

Chopped Scallions or chives

Capers

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

In a large bowl combine zucchini, onion, and corn.

Stir in your eggs.

Add about 5-6 tablespoons of flour, the baking powder, and S&P. (If the batter gets too thin from the zucchini liquid, add the remaining flour.)

Heat a large pan over medium heat and melt 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1/2 tablespoon oil together in the pan. When it’s hot lower the heat to medium-low and drop heaping soup spoons of the zucchini batter into the pan.

Cook the pancakes until browned on each side…about 2 minutes apiece.

Remove from pan and set aside on a sheet pan…you can keep warm in the oven. They’ll stay warm in the oven for up to 30 minutes.

Serve hot.

Top with a dollop of creme fraiche, a bit of smoked salmon, some scallions and a caper.

Filed Under: Dinners on a Dime, Featured, Healthy Side Dish Recipes For Kids, Kid Favorite Recipes, Lunch Ideas For Kids, Mommyville, Snacks Tagged With: appetizers, buy local, farm to table, girls night, moms night, pancakes, pot luck, veggies, zucchini

Superbowl Countdown – Keegan’s Killer Kielbasa

January 31, 2012 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 18 Comments

Um….

If I haven’t already mentioned it….

THE PATS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!!

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.

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

healthy snacks for kids kid favorite recipes holidays featured 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!

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes For Kids, Featured, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes, Snacks Tagged With: appetizers, game food, game time, kielbasa, pot luck, smoked sausage, tailgating

Fall Flashback – Best Ever Butternut Squash

November 4, 2011 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 20 Comments

Fall Flashback!

With the holidays quickly approaching…

I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is in less than 3 weeks!

I’m tossing this family favorite at you again.

This bad boys is always a hit.

Perfect side dish for Thanksgiving.

Kids, babies, and grownups go gaga for this one.

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into cubes

½ cup light mayo

1 large onion chopped

1 clove garlic

6 dashes hot sauce

1 egg

15 low sodium ritz crackers, crumbled

¼ cup parmesan cheese

½ T olive oil

½ T butter

½ t dried oregano

salt

pepper

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat a large pot of salted water over high heat. When it’s boiling add in the squash and cook until soft, about 15-20 minutes.

In a small saucepan heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Once it is melted add in your crackers, cheese and oregano. Season with a bit of S&P and stir well. Remove from heat and set aside.

When the squash is cooked drain the water and toss the squash into a baking dish. Mash the squash with a potato masher and season with S&P. To the squash add in your mayo, onion, garlic, hot sauce, and egg. Mix well. Top with cracker/cheese topping, cover with foil and transfer your baking dish to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, remove foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Serve.

Filed Under: Featured, Healthy Side Dish Recipes For Kids, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes, Recipes For Kids, Vegetable Recipes For Kids, Vegetarian Recipes For Kids Tagged With: butternut squash, buy local, casserole, farm to table, Holiday, pot luck, side dish

Tasty Tidbits – Avocado

January 25, 2011 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 12 Comments

My kids love the guacamole.

I love the guacamole.

As it is guacamole season what with the Superbowl around the corner…

I thought I’d hit you with some avocado facts.

I’m an avocado kind of girl.

I was raised in Cali you know.

Like tomatoes, avocados hate the cold.

Keep them on your counter to ripen, not in the fridge.

If you need them to ripen quick, put them in a paper bag on the counter along with an apple.

If you have leftover avocado…

I’m sorry, leftover avocado? That’s like leftover wine? Doesn’t happen here.

…Ahem, leftover avocado? Try and keep the pit in the leftover part and put it in a plastic baggie after sprinkling it with lemon juice. This will keep it from turning brown. Now you can refrigerate it.

Bring on the tortilla chips!

Here’s some links to my two favorite guac recipes. I make a combo of the two.

Tyler Florence’s Guacamole

Barefoot Contessa’s Guacamole

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes For Kids, Cooking Tips, Healthy Recipes For Kids, Healthy Side Dish Recipes For Kids, Kid Favorite Recipes, Snacks, Vegan Recipes For Kids, Vegetable Recipes For Kids, Vegetarian Recipes For Kids Tagged With: Avocado, farm to table, football, guacamole, pot luck, Superbowl recipes, tailgating

Chicken Divan Casserole

December 24, 2010 by Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 6 Comments

Make this casserole Christmas Eve morning and pop into the fridge. While you’re busy all day wrapping and making cookies for Santa dinner will be a breeze.

Divine Chicken Divan Casserole
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 40 minutes

10 ounces steamed broccoli
3 large boneless chicken breasts
1 T olive oil
1 10 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
8 ounces buttom mushrooms, halved
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1/2 cup light sour cream
2 t. fresh lemon juice
1/2 t. curry powder
1 can sliced water chestnuts
S&P
1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup french fried onions
4 strips bacon chopped

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Season your chicken breasts with olive oil and salt and pepper. Bake for 25 minutes.

Meanwhile heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add your chopped bacon and saute until crisp. Remove and allow to drain on a paper towel.

While your chicken cooks, assemble your casserole.

In a 13×9 pan arrange your broccoli on the bottom.

In a large bowl combine soup, milk, mayo, sour cream, mushrooms, lemon juice, curry powder, water chestnuts. Stir to mix well and season with salt and pepper.

Once your chicken has finished cooking remove it from the oven and slice it into thin strips. Arrange the chicken over the broccoli.

Pour the soup mixture over the top of the chicken and broccoli. Top with cheddar cheese and fried onions. Cover with foil and bake on 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Remove foil and sprinkle with bacon and cook uncovered for an additional 10 minutes. Serve with brown or white rice and enjoy!

This is a fantastic recipe to get the kids involved it. Let them assemble the casserole. Spread out the chicken and broccoli and mix the ingredients to pour on top. They can also top with cheese and onions. The more fun it is to make the more fun it is to eat!

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Featured, Holidays, Kid Favorite Recipes, Recipes For Kids Tagged With: casseroles, cooking with kids, easy casseroles, holidays party, Make ahead dinners, pot luck

Girls Night Zucchini & Corn Pancakes

Superbowl Countdown – Keegan’s Killer Kielbasa

Fall Flashback – Best Ever Butternut Squash

Tasty Tidbits – Avocado

Chicken Divan Casserole

Featured Cooking With Kids Videos

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Find A Local Farmer’s Market

Girls Night Zucchini & Corn Pancakes

Superbowl Countdown – Keegan’s Killer Kielbasa

Fall Flashback – Best Ever Butternut Squash

Tasty Tidbits – Avocado

Chicken Divan Casserole

Featured Cooking With Kids Videos

Join Our Mailing List

Find us on Facebook

Connect With Ma

Find A Local Farmer’s Market

Favorite Ingredients