Frugal, Kid-Friendly Recipes

[Sara Noel]

It's always a challenge to come up with meals that are easy, quick to fix and frugal, yet appealing to families, especially children.

Here are a couple of recipes that are ideal for summertime lunches or suppers. Children can even help in the
preparation. Younger children will love to place the toppings on the pizza slices, while the older ones can separate the dough and spread the sauce, etc.

QUICK PIZZA SLICES

1 can crescent rolls
favorite pizza sauce
8 oz. pkg. shredded mozzarella cheese
Favorite pizza toppings (pepperoni,
sausage, etc.)

Separate dough into triangles and place on baking sheet. Spoon on pizza sauce. Place on topping. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.


Older children will be able to make this all by themselves.

ORANGE JULIUS-TYPE DRINK

3/4 cup orange juice
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
10 ice cubes

Combine and process in blender until foamy.


Here's a recipe the kids will love to help make! They love to get their hands into anything, so let them roll the drumsticks in the crumbs.

Of course, you can use any kind of chicken pieces you have on hand, it doesn't have to be just drumsticks.

POTATO CHIP CHICKEN

Crush enough potato chips to make 1 cup of crumbs
8 chicken drumsticks

Brush the chicken with melted butter, then roll each drumstick into potato chip crumbs.

Place in a 11" x 7" inch baking pan and bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes.



One last recipe:

PERFECT HUG

1 Mom
1 Child
4 arms
2 hearts
A touch of love
1 pinch of humor
1 sprinkle of glee

Extend arms and wrap them around each other. Clear your minds, take a look at each other, then pull yourselves together and mix well.

Serves 2


Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".

[kittykatstrong]

Thanks for the ideas. I try to not make two meals so having ones that we and the kids will eat are great.

[homesteadmamma]

Even with older kids, it's sometimes hard to come up with something for meals. Thanks for this Sara.