Make Mealtime a Family Affair
More than food and fun is served up in American kitchens. Meal time has always been a time for families to talk about their day and enjoy their time together, but it's also a great time to teach children skills they will need, like cooking, setting the table and proper etiquette.
Add a Dash of Creativity
Involving the whole family in mealtime preparations can be a rewarding experience for everyone. And with just a little planning and creativity, family mealtime can become one of the most enjoyable parts of the day. Here are some suggestions to help you get started:
- Depending on age and interest, kids can be a big help with preparing and serving meals. They are also more likely to try new foods that they've helped to prepare. Add some menu items that will give them the chance to help.
- Nothing eases the stress of dinnertime like having something cooked and waiting when you get home. Unearth the slow cooker or double recipes and freeze. You can even throw extras - like chicken, pork tenderloin, and bratwurst - on the grill and freeze.
- Make mealtimes fun and interesting. Create a "theme" dinner, let the kids make simple decorations, have a backyard picnic, or celebrate small successes. Even easy ideas like these can be the beginning of important mealtime traditions and rituals.
Family Friendly Recipes
Cooking with kids may not always be the fastest or easiest way to get a meal on the table, but the benefits of that time together in the kitchen will be well worth it. Recipes that please everyone are always a challenge, but those inspired by the popular Tex-Mex favorites can be good choices.
Have-It-Your-Way Taco Pie is one that everyone can personalize with his or her favorite classic taco toppings. The recipe is a very simple skillet pie with a Martha White® Mexican Cornbread Mix crust and a salsa-seasoned ground beef filling.
Pizzas are always fun for families to bake together, and even little kids can help press out dough made from Martha White® Pizza Crust Mix. Sure to be a favorite of Tex-Mex fans, Smokey Chicken Fajita Pizza gets an interesting flavor twist from a little liquid smoke in the lime-flavored chicken marinade. And for a quick family treat, top Mexi Corn Cakes with purchased or homemade barbecue and coleslaw.
With little extra planning, family meals can be transformed into a time of sharing responsibilities and meaningful conversation - a time to be looked forward to by everyone.