Summer Fruit Recipes

Summertime is one of the best times for fresh-local fruit! Berries, peaches, melons, and more are growing now in Maryland, and are available to buy at your local farmers market or grocery store. All fruits, once washed and maybe cut up, make great snacks, but what else can be done with them? Keep reading for some yummy recipes and ways to get your kids involved in the cooking.

 

• Banana-Blueberry Baked Oatmeal is a hearty breakfast, perfect to have before a day of outdoor activities. Have your kids help by measuring out the ingredients or slicing the banana with a butter knife.
• Looking for a cool drink to make after a hot day? A Cool Melon Slushie or Banana Berry Smoothie are both good options filled with fruit. A blender is needed which should only be operated by adults. While blender is off, kids could measure and add ingredients to the blender.
• Fruit can go great with more savory recipes too! Mix up the classic fruit salad by adding jicama and chili powder. Kids can help to stir it all together. Summer Stuffed Tomatoes is an impressive-looking dish that actually uses peaches in it. Lastly, Watermelon and Tomato Salad and Peach Salsa are both surprisingly crowd pleasing. These would all be great for summer potlucks.
• We can’t forget dessert! The Berry Good Pizza is a very hands-on recipes for kids, as they can spread apple butter on the crust and place the fruit on top of the pizza however they like. It’s also pretty tasty for adults.

Recipe Spotlight: Veggie Quesadillas

Whether you have a large family or a small one, it's important to have quick, healthy meals in your recipe bank for busy weeknight dinners.  Veggie Quesadilla's are an easy kid-approved meal that the whole family will love.  They are a great way to get veggies, whole grains, and calcium on the plate.  The best part is they are easy to make and taste great the next day.  Try making these Veggie Quesadilla's for your family this week!

Veggie Quesadilla
Serves: 4             Makes 2 quesadillas

Ingredients:
1 small zucchini, washed and chopped
1/2 broccoli head, washed and chopped
1 green bell pepper, washed, seeded, and chopped
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, scrubbed and shredded
4 8-inch whole wheat tortillas
1/2 cup low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup salsa
Cooking spray

Directions:

1. Spray pan with cooking spray.
2. Cook vegetables on medium heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Remove from pan.
3. Spray pan with cooking spray again.  Place tortilla in the pan.  Add half of the vegetables and half of the cheese.
4. Place the other tortilla on top.  Cook on medium heat for 4-6 minutes or until the cheese starts to melt and the bottom tortilla starts to brown.
5. Flip quesadilla.  Cook for 4 minutes or until tortilla browns.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 to make another quesadailla.
7. Cut each quesadilla in half.  Serve with salsa. 

 

Gather all of the ingredients.

 

Wash and chop zucchini, broccoli, bell pepper, onion, and carrots.

 

Add all chopped veggies to the pan.  Cook on medium

heat for 4-5 minutes or until tender.

  

 

Remove the veggies from the pan and set aside.

 

 

Spray the pan with cooking spray again.  Add the tortilla
to the pan. 

 

 

Add half of the veggies and half of the cheese to the tortilla.

 

Place the other tortilla on top of the veggies and cheese.

  Cook on medium heat 4-6 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Flip quesdilla and cook 4 minutes or until tortilla is brown.

 

Cut each quesadilla in half and serve with salsa!

Winter Recipe Round-Up

Winter time is a great time to have fun in the kitchen with the kids.  With several breaks during the winter months, cooking healthy treats is a fun way to bond with kids and introduce them to healthy new foods.  Cooking with kids provides a great learning opportunity for them.  By preparing foods, kids also gain math, reading, science and motor skills!

Here are some fun and healthy ideas for trying new foods and recipes with your kids.

1. Sweet Potatoes and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars --  A healthy twist to a kids favorite cookie.  Sweet potatoes are on sale and in-season this time of year.
2. Roasted Root Vegetables -- Roasted root veggies are easy to make and a great savory side dish to pair with dinner or eat for a snack.  The kids will get to try new veggies that they may have not seen before.
3. Banana Nut Oatmeal -- While the kids are out of school it is important for them to eat breakfast every day.  There is nothing better than warm oatmeal on a cold morning!  The kids can help measure the oats and cut the bananas!
4. Tony's Trail Mix -- Healthy snacks are important to keep the kids fueled during the day.  Make this easy trail mix with them.
5. Have Fun with Sandwiches -- Make lunchtime fun.  Let the kids use cookie cutters to cut whole grain sandwich bread!