My little foodies!

So it's been a while since I have entered the blogging world...4 months to be exact. It was a crazy end of the school year and a crazier summer! But we are not slowing down for a minute.

 

From our family trip to Williamsburg (pics to follow) to residing our house to all the daily activities that come with a 4 and 6 (almost 7 yikes) year olds. It's been a little stressful in the Holland household, but we are having fun too! And, I do have so much to share!!

One of the activities that my kids requested to do was to make our very own banana ice cream. It looked super easy when we saw it on Disney Jr so we thought we would take a chance at it.

Step 1. Cut up the bananas

Isn't she the cutest little helper???

 

Step 2. Put all the cut up bananas in baggies and throw them in the freezer for a while

 

 

The longer you keep them in the freezer the better.

Our first attempt was only for a few hours and they just weren't ready.

 

Step 3. Put the frozen banana slices in a food processor and let it do the job!

 

 

 

 

Step 4. Enjoy!!

 

 

 

This was a super yummy treat on a very hot July afternoon!!! The kids added some strawberries and loved it! It melts fast so eat immediately!

You can find the link to Disney Jr and their awesome kid friendly recipes from That's Fresh HERE

Stuffed Peppers

One of our favorite family meals is another great one dish meal!

 

It's super simple.

 

Ingredients:

3 or 4 green peppers that can stand...we do one per adult and one for two kids

1lb hamburger meat

1 Jar of your favorite tomato sauce

1 cup of five minute rice

3/4 cup of water

shredded mozzarella cheese

frozen corn (optional)

1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes (optional)

 

Cut tops off peppers and clean the insides out (seeds and white center). Put enough water in a large pot to submerge the peppers (I usually only do one pepper at a time while I make the filling) and bring it to a boil...place peppers in it until they are softened. Drain out the water and place in a 9x13 glass dish.

While the peppers are cooking you can start the stuffing!

Brown the meat in a skillet and drain off fat. Pour in 3/4 of the tomato sauce and tomatoes. Cover and  bring to a boil on medium to low heat.  Stir in cup of rice and the water...put cover back on. You could add the frozen corn in now if you want. When the tomatoes begin to pop with gentle pressure and rice is soft it is ready!

Spoon meat mixture into each pepper...we always have more than will fit in the peppers so just let it spill over into the dish! Sprinkle with cheese and cook at 375 until the cheese is completely melted.

 

I know this isn't very technical...this recipe started as a left over type meal. You know, when I had some of this left over and some of that left over for meals during the week. And there  you have it! Perfectly imperfect!

Chicken Pot Pie

A few years ago my MOPs (Moms of Preschoolers) group made a wonderful dish...one of my favorites!!!

Chicken pot pie!!!

And it is so simple! I have modified it from our original recipe but it still is great!
A few simple ingredients and you have a whole meal in one dish!

Frozen Pie Shells (make sure there's two in the pack)
I get the one with aluminum pie pans...that way I don't even have to wash a pie pan!

a can of condensed Cream of Chicken soup

a 16 oz. bag of frozen veggies

two chicken breasts cubed and cooked (I boil them)

sometimes I add cubed potatoes

 

Basically I get a huge mixing bowl and pour in the frozen veggie, the soup, and the chicken (once it's cooled off a bit)....mix up with a bit of pepper.

Pour it in on side of the pie shells and then lay the other pie shells on top, press the edges together.

You can either bake it immediately at 375 for 35-40 minutes or freeze it for later! 



That is great when you are making it for just your family, but this week I had the opportunity to make a few meals for some families in need. I live not five minutes from one of the roughest, poorest, and most needy cities in my state, Camden, NJ. A friend of mine felt the need that is so prevalent there...food for single parent families! So she has started an initiative to bring those families meals.

I thought this would be the perfect meal...I could get a full meal, veggies and all, in one dish!

So with the need to make multiple meals I improvised! I started by putting a whole chicken in the crock pot and let it sit for the day! This provided more than enough meat for two pot pies!

And the chicken falls apart so easily...very yummy!

I used a really huge mixing bowl and doubled the above recipe!

I was actually able to do this twice and used one for a dinner for my family this week.

Perfection! Three greatly nutritious meals to donate and one for us to have.

I only wish I got a picture after we cut into it for dinner!

Oh, and in our family of four there are never any left overs!