HRM Parent Blog

These mini-meatloaf and potato cupcakes are just as much fun to make as they are to eat!  

Ingredients:

1-1.5 lbs ground turkey or beef

1 egg beaten

½ cup rolled oats

½ cup bread crumbs

1 small onion diced

3 tbsp ketchup

¼ tsp dry mustard

salt and pepper

Cooking spray

4-5 potatoes

¼ cup milk or cream

Butter

 

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. In a large bowl, combine turkey, egg, rolled oats, bread crumbs, diced onion, ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper.  Mix until combined.

3. Lightly grease muffin pans with spray or butter

4. Fill muffin cups with turkey mixture and press slightly to flatten

5.  Bake for approx. 20-25 mins or until brown and slightly shrunken on the sides

6. While turkey is cooking, peel, chop and boil potatoes in lightly salted water until tender

7.  Drain potatoes and add milk and 1-2 tbps of butter.  Mash until well blended and smooth.

8.  To prepare the cupcake place the turkey muffin on a plate and top with a scoop of mashed potato

9. Use your imagination for the “sprinkles” on top: chopped chives, grated cheese, coarse black pepper, shredded carrots…we used Roasted Maple Flax Seeds from Omega Crunch (a great local company)– so yummy!

 

Our kids giggled their way through eating these – hope it makes your dinner a little less stressful too! 

Getting frustrated with meal ideas?  No time to prepare a dinner after a long day?  Take the pressure off and have Breakfast for Dinner.  That’s right – scramble some eggs, throw some whole grain bagels in the toaster, grab a few slices of ham or turkey bacon and get those tummies filled.   It’s a family favorite in our household – not only does it gets dinner on the table in a hurry but the kids always think it’s hilarious to have breakfast in the evening!

Eggs not your thing?  Try serving these yummy, oat filled blueberry pancakes instead. 

 

Ingredients: 

1 cup flour

1½ cups rolled oats

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 egg

1 tbsp honey

1½ cup milk

frozen blueberries (optional)

Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Mix wet ingredients together in a separate smaller bowl.  Add wet mixture to dry and mix well.  Stir in berries (optional).

Drop batter by spoonful (to make desired size) on hot greased griddle or frying pan. Once bubbles start to form in batter flip pancakes and cook on other side until golden.

Serve with maple syrup or a dollop of your favorite yogurt for dipping!

Cinco de Mayo is coming up this Saturday and we can't wait.  We always love a good reason to celebrate and it’s even better when it includes maracas!  Create your own family fiesta this Cinco de Mayo with some great Mexican inspired recipes.

Great Guacamole : fast, easy and so yummy! This one is a family favourite and a go-to recipe for events and last minute dinner parties.

 

There are some dishes here that I haven't even heard of before, which means they are all the more fun to try!

 

The fine folks at Kraft have come to the table with some fun and easy Cinco de Mayo appetizers, sides and entrees – plus a great sombrero cake that is too cute.

 

Once the food is prepared, why not spice things up a little more and download some Mexican music , get out the maracas, mix up some mock-margaritas and hang some red, green and white streamers for a fast and easy Cinco de Mayo family celebration you won't soon forget!

This is such a yummy recipe for a fruit dip that is a hit with the kids as well as the parents.  I've had to share the recipe enough over the last few years that it deserves a post...especially when you see how easy it is.  

It's from the "Mom and Me Cookbook" by Annabel Karmel, which has loads of great recipes that are perfect for the kids to help with or even make themselves.  While it calls for a fish design, we've had fun making happy faces, animals and other fancy designs. 

Ingredients
1 mango
2/3 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp honey
Mandarin segments
Chocolate chips
Kiwi and apple slices

Directions

1. Peel and cut the mango into cubes (careful of the large stone inside)

2.  Mash the mango using a fork or potato masher. Add the yogurt and honey and mix well.

3. Place in a small round bowl and get decorating.  The fish uses a mandarin orange segment for the mouth, a chocolate chip eye and kiwi & apple for the  fins and tail.  

4. Serve with fruit skewers or pieces cut for dipping.  We've also found it to be a nice alternative to ketchup when served with fish sticks as well. 

We love Mexican night, especially when it includes these yummy and very mild Enchiladas.  Get out the maracas cause even the smallest family members will be shouting Ole. 

Ingredients:

1 large onion finely chopped

1 tbsp vegetable oil

4 cups diced cooked chicken

4oz can green chilies (in the Mexican section of the grocery store)

10oz can cream of chicken soup

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

2 cups grated monterey jack cheese

2 cups salsa

tortillas (12-14 small or 8-10 large)

 

Directions:

1.     Preheat oven to 325 degrees

2.     In a large skillet, sauté onion in oil until tender. 

3.     Add diced chicken, chilies, soup and half of each of the cheeses.  Stir to combine.  Cook over medium-low heat until cheese melts, stirring frequently.

4.     Divide mixture evenly among tortillas.  Fold in sides and roll tortilla closed. 

5.     Lay seam-side down in a lightly greased 9x13 casserole dish.   Continue with half of the tortillas.

6.     Spread 1 cup of salsa over bottom layer. 

7.     Fill and place remaining tortilla rolls on top.

8.     Cover with remaining salsa and top with remaining cheeses.

9.     Bake 30 - 40 mins.  Let stand 5 mins before serving.

 

Add some more fun to your evening with some Mexican inspired tunes and slushy margarita mock-tails to set the mood while you're cooking and eating!