Guest Author - Susan Thompson

Kids love the holidays. Candy canes, cookies, pies, what do you mean we have to eat real food too? Sound familiar? Here are a few recipes that you kids might enjoy with holiday dinners. These recipes actually contain some vitamins, but who has to know?

Yogurt Dip for Fruit
16 oz. container vanilla yogurt
1 c. shredded coconut
6 tbsp. orange juice concentrate
1/2 c. pineapple juice
1/2 tsp. poppy seed
Mix well and refrigerate overnight. Serve with melon balls, honeydew wedges, sliced apples, grapes, etc.

Yogurt Dip for Raw Vegetables
8 oz. container plain yogurt
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tsp. mayonnaise
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. crushed almonds
Mix together and use as dip for crackers and raw vegetables.

Cheese Topping for Vegetables
Most kids don’t like vegetables. Put cheese on them, and somehow they taste good. This recipe can top broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and whatever else you want to try.

2 – 4 oz of Velveeta (or comparable) cheese
¼ Cup Milk
Cut cheese into cubes. Put cheese and milk in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high 35 seconds at a time. Stir after every 35 seconds. Repeat microwave steps until cheese is melted. Pour over warm vegetables.

Warm Cranberry Sauce
This recipe is a twist on traditional cranberry sauce. My kids love it and believe me, my kids are extremely picky eaters.

1 Can Whole Cranberries
1 Medium Apple, peeled, cored, & diced
Cinnamon to taste (about a teaspoon0
Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan. Simmer uncovered approximately 15 minutes or until apple pieces are soft. Serve warm. Makes 6-8 servings.

Corn Bread
Use boxed corn bread mix. Instead of making the bread in a traditional loaf pan, bake in a mini muffin pan. For some reason, kids love mini versions of adult foods, even though they are the same thing.

Turkey Roll Ups
This one is better for leftovers, or you can use deli turkey as a quick dinner.

Enough thinly sliced turkey breast to make at least 2 roll ups per person.
3-4 Cups of Stuffing
2 Cans of turkey gravy (or leftover homemade gravy)
Place a heaping tablespoon of stuffing in the center of a slice of turkey. Wrap turkey around the stuffing ball and place in baking dish. Continue until you have enough rollups for everyone. Place roll ups in a baking dish. Pour the gravy over rollups. Bake at 350 for approximately 45 minutes.

Here’s wishing all of my readers a healthy and happy Thanksgiving. Remember there is nothing better to be thankful for than family! See you next week when I will start to review some unique gifts for dads and kids.