Cooking with Kids: Summer lunch ideas
As I sit here writing this blog, it's hot; the fans are on and my family and I are scantily dressed due to the hot weather. Summers are hot and honestly, nobody really wants to eat much. If my kids really had their way, lunches would consist of either just watermelon or popsicles. But, busy summer days can build up an appetite and my kids enjoy being in the kitchen, especially now that summer is here and have more time to get creative. Here are a few of my kids' lunch favorites:My 10 year old daughter loves making these quesadillas.
Ingredients:
- 2 flour tortillas
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup shredded chicken
- 1/4 cup pineapple tidbits (optional)
- Butter to grill
Directions-
Spread BBQ sauce evenly over each tortilla then sprinkle on the remaining ingredients and grill in pan over medium until browned.
My 5 year old son gets a kick helping me make these getting to press the sandwiches in our Panini press.
Ingredients-
- 1 hoagie roll
- 4 slices of honey ham
- 2 large slices of cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon honey mustard
- Mild sliced banana peppers (optional)
- Butter to grill
Directions-
Spread honey mustard evenly on the rolls. Then layer the cheese on each size, so the meat is in the middle of the cheese slices. Butter the outside of the bun and grill according to your Panini press setting until golden brown.
My kids also enjoy getting creative and making "your choice" pinwheel/wraps.
Ingredient options-
- 1 plain or flavored flour tortilla
- 2 tablespoons plain or herbed cream cheese
- 2 slices of your cheese of choice
- 4 slices of your choice lunch meat
- A few pieces of lettuce or sprouts (optional)
Directions-
Spread cream cheese evenly to the edges over the tortilla. On one side layer your cheese, lunch meats and greens. Then rolls it together leaving an inch of cream cheese spread tortilla exposed to help be the "glue" that holds it together. You can either slice this in half for a regular wrap or make 1" slices and make pinwheels.
Check out more fun kids food ideas here- Cooking with Kids: 3 easy recipes