Quick Family Meals Kids Love
Healthy Dinners - Easy Calzones, Honey & Soy Salmon Kabobs
May 20, 2009
Families are pinched for time at the dinner hour. Rushing to and from extra-curricular events and sports leaves hardly enough time to make dinner or eat it before it's time for baths and homework. These recipes are easy and quick to prepare, leaving moms and dads time to catch their breath.
The following recipes are full of simple, fresh ingredients that kids love. Kid-friendly, well-balanced and nourishing, these meals will become staples of a busy family on the go.
Healthy Meals
Planning the menu before heading off to the grocery store is always the best action one can take to guard overspending and needless time standing in front of the pantry, wondering what to make for dinner. And if the local grocery is offering BOGO discounts (buy one get one free), by all means take advantage of the savings while planning the next week's meals.
Easy Calzones
Ingredients:
- 1 1-lb bag frozen pizza dough, thawed (bakery section)
- 6 oz of cooked, chopped sausage (turkey, beef or pork)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella and Romano cheese
- 2 Tblsp olive oil
- 1 16-ounce jar marinara sauce
- Grated Parmesan
- optional: 6 oz pepperoni, chopped
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the dough quarters and shape into four balls. Set aside. Put red sauce onto low heat.
- In medium bowl, mix the pepperoni, sausage, ricotta and mozzarella. Stretch out each ball into a flat patty around 7 inches in diameter. Spoon 1/4 of the filling onto the center of each patty. Fold dough over and pinch the edges together.
- Place on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
- Spoon some of the red sauce over each calzone and top with Parmesan cheese. Serve with a green vegetable or fresh salad.
Serves 4
Honey and Soy Salmon Kabobs
Ingredients:
- 1 Tblsp sesame oil
- 1 Tblsp soy sauce
- 1 Tblsp honey
- 12-14 oz salmon fillet, cubed, skinless
- pineapple chunks
- green pepper, sliced in 1-1/2 inch squares
Directions:
- For marinade, mix together honey, soy and sesame oil. Marinate the cubes of salmon, covered in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 mins. This will make the fish moist and tasty.
- Soak four bamboo skewers in water while fish is in marinade (to keep them from getting scorched on the grill).
- Thread the salmon cubes onto the skewers, alternating with green peppers and pineapple chunks.
- Grill for 3 minutes on medium heat, turning once. Baste with remaining marinade until the salmon is golden on the outside. Serve with rice and steamed broccoli for a fast, healthy kid-friendly meal.
Serves 4
Turkey Burrito Burgers
Ingredients;
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies, drained
- 1 package (1-1/4 oz) taco seasoning mix
- 8 flour tortillas
- 1 can (16 oz) nonfat refried beans
- 1/2 cup shredded nonfat blend of cheeses (Mexican)
- shredded lettuce
- 1 jar of salsa
- optional: cucumbers and avocados
Directions:
- Set grill to medium heat.
- In bowl, mix together turkey, onions, chilies and seasoning mix. Roll into eight oval-shaped burgers.
- Grill burgers 4-5 mins on each side or until meat is no longer pink inside. Remove from grill.
- Heat tortillas according to directions on package.
- Spread each tortilla with refried beans, shredded lettuce. Place a burger on top of tortilla and sprinkle each one with cheese. Roll burritos up, serve with salsa. Add cucumbers and avocado slices to plate, serve!
These meals are easy to make and will satisfy most hungry kids and adults on a school night in between practice and homework. For more quick family meals, see articles below:
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