By Brandie Valenzuela
From a mini meatloaf to kid-sized pizzas, here are some fun, easy and family-friendly dinner ideas great for any night.
Have no fear, kid approved dinners are here!
While there is no guarantee that every child will devour the
following meals, it is safe to say that the majority will!
Muffin Tin Meatloaves
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup soft bread crumbs
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4 cup ketchup
1 1/2 cups zucchini, shredded
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In large bowl, combine all
ingredients except ketchup, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Place
approximately 1/3 cup beef mixture into each of 12 medium muffin
cups, pressing lightly; spread ketchup over tops. Bake 20 minutes
or until centers are no longer pink. Remove meatloaves from
pan.
Cheese and Wiener Burritos
Ingredients:
8 flour tortillas
8 hot dogs/meat wieners
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup ketchup or taco sauce
Directions:
Heat wieners as directed on package. Heat tortillas. Place 1 hot
wiener on lower third of each tortilla. Sprinkle each wiener with
1/4 cup of the cheese, and about 1 tablespoon ketchup or taco
sauce. Fold in sides and roll up.
Chili-Mac
Ingredients:
1 pound macaroni
1 pound ground beef
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (28-oz) can tomatoes, undrained
1 quart tomato juice
2 cups chopped onions
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (20-oz) can red kidney beans, drained
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In a Dutch
oven or large skillet, brown beef in oil, stirring frequently.
Add undrained tomatoes, tomato juice, onions, garlic, salt and
remaining seasonings. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir in
kidney beans. Cook for an additional 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
Meanwhile, gradually add cooked pasta to the chili. Serve in
bowls.
Kid-Size Pizzas
Ingredients:
Dough
1 package yeast
6 cups all-purpose flour (6 to 6 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups very warm water (125º to 130º degrees)
1/4 cup olive oil, room temperature
Pizza sauce
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 clove garlic, minced
Topping suggestions
Grated Mozzarella or Cheddar
Pepperoni, salami or ham, sliced
Olives, sliced
Tomatoes, onions peppers or other vegetables
Directions:
In large bowl, combine 5 cups flour, undissolved yeast and salt.
Stir very warm water and olive oil into dry ingredients. Stir in
enough additional flour to make soft dough. On lightly floured
surface, knead until smooth and elastic, about 4 to 6 minutes.
Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
Meanwhile prepare tomato sauce: in small bowl mix tomato
sauce, tomato paste, oregano and garlic. On lightly floured
surface, divide dough into 16 pieces. Form into smooth balls;
roll or pat to 7-inch circles. Place on greased baking sheets.
Top each with 1 1/2 tablespoons sauce and selected toppings. Bake
at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes or until crust is golden. Serve
warm.
About the author: Brandie is a freelance writing mother of three children. She is also the editor of the HomeMade Living ezine, and other services for parents and stay-at-home mothers. To find out more about Brandie's creations, visit bmvcreations.com © 2002 Brandie Valenzuela. This article previously appeared on ChefMom.com, a web site with recipes, menu planning ideas, food tips and more for the family chef!
© Copyright 2003-7 SheKnows, LLC and/or individual copyright holders. All Rights Reserved.


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