31 Things to Do with Kids in January

by Allison SutcliffeJanuary 2, 2023

Indoor or out, there are plenty of activities to keep your family busy in the new year!

A new year and a new month are just around the corner. If you’ve resolved to find amazing new adventures with your kids, we’ve got ideas—one for each day of the month, in fact. In between your snowy sledding adventures and your busy back-to-school schedules, try one of these family activities that’s anything but boring.

1. Celebrate the New Year at a National Park (psst…entrance fees are waived on January 16 because it is Martin Luther King Jr. Day). These popular parks have the outdoor bells and whistles families love or try a little-known park for a change of scenery.

2. Looking for other ways to celebrate 2023’s arrival with the kids? We’ve got family friendly ideas you can do at home.

3. Ditch your family’s New Year’s resolutions for new routines, instead. It’s a great way for kids (and parents!) to set and keep goals all year long.

4. Break out winter activity sheets for a quick family activity during the witching hour.

5. Get your kiddos ready to head back to the classroom after a long winter break with memory games they’ll love.

6. If ever there was a time to make a family time capsule, it's now.

7. If an art cabinet clean-up is one of your New Year's resolutions, here’s how you and the kids can use old crayons to make stunning art.

8. If you ask us, January should be all about soups and stews that are super-easy to make.

9. Because popcorn should have its own day, try one of these creative recipes on National Popcorn Day (January 19).

10. Is your milk magic? It’s a question worth asking and answering with a simple science experiment.

11. Set the kids up for success with a cool, new alarm clock that’ll get them going in the morning…so you don’t have to (we hope).

12. Celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King when you sit down to learn fascinating facts about his life and work.

13. Got sled? Then you’ve got what you need to tackle the snow this season. Don’t forget warm boots!

14. What better way to turn the page on a new year than with this adorable handprint calendar kids can make themselves?

15. Firefighters of all ages will love this easy-to-build fire station you can make together.

16. Make jewelry out of food? We’ve gotta know more!

17. We’re pretty sure you can fit all your royal subjects in this castle that’s made from cardboard.

18. Whether you’ve got enough snow on the ground to build a whole snow family (or you’re just dreaming of winter’s favorite frozen stuff), these snowman snacks will make kids smile.

19. Put those leftover gingerbread house gumdrops to good use in a science experiment.

20. These ice-themed activities will help kids chill out this month.

21. Hide-and-seek is so 2022. This year, play sniff-and-seek with your crew instead.

22. It may be 2023, but there’s still time to read one of the best books of 2022.

23. Celebrate National Thesaurus Day on January 18 with word games even parents will appreciate.

24. Decorate the dollhouse of your dreams with these tiny furniture pieces you craft yourself.

25. Sit down to a night of family trivia.

26. Make 2023 your year to (finally) get organized.

27. Write a mad-lib style fairy tale that’s as silly as your kids

28. Because January and cabin fever are pretty much synonymous, we’ve got 14 ways to ward it off.

29. Three words: Snowflake. Science. Experiments.

30. Check out these kid’s room decorating trends for some updated ideas.

31. Turn up the volume on playtime when you transform Solo cups into a speaker system for your kindie tunes playlist.

12 Things to Do with Your Family (That Don’t Involve Politics)

by Leah R. SingerNovember 16, 2021

The holidays mean gathering together as a family. Yes, even that family. In hopes of making the season jolly for all, we’ve come up with an essential list of activities and ice breakers that’ll keep politics and other negative topics out of the conversation and focus on fun instead. From old-fashioned board games to cooking together and sharing treasured stories, here are 12 things to do instead of getting mad about opposing views.

Happy grandparents spending time with their grandchildren sit on a couch laughing — iStock

1. Share what each family member is thankful for. There's nothing better to help stem negative energy than to focus on positive things. While gathered around the Thanksgiving or holiday table, ask each family member to share what they are grateful for and why.

2. Everyone shares what they’re reading and recommends a book. This year has been a great one for new kids' books, and sharing recommendations is a great conversation starter. Ask each family member to share what they're reading and recommend a book they love.

3. Pull out an old photo album and talk about the pictures. Your kids will enjoy hearing the stories behind old photos, and your parents or other relatives can fill in the blanks.

4. Play a board game or cards. There's nothing like the friendly family game of Sorry or Go Fish to get family focused on some friendly competition rather than political speak. Don't just stick with the old classics though. There are tons of new board games your family members (young and older) will love, including Mickey and Friends Food Fight, MONOPOLY®: Care Bears™ Edition, Rhino Hero Junior and Super Mario Labriynth.

5. Work together to create family placemats, napkin rings and table decorations. Working together on a project brings people together collaboratively instead of conversations that tear us apart. Get family members together to engage in activities and create items, such as placemats and napkin rings for the Thanksgiving or holiday table.

6. Share favorite family stories from the past. Everyone has a story to tell, and family gatherings are a great place to share them. Write down some of the grandparents’ stories to make sure those tales are recorded. Check out these games and story prompts to help as ice breaker games and bring out the treasured family stories and memories.

7. Cook together. It's tough to argue about politics when good food is available. Steer the conversations away from arguments and focus on cooking together. These new family cookbooks offer great recipes that are easy for kids and adults to make together. The family will be so proud of their delicious creations that (hopefully) they'll forget about negative disagreements.

8. Share a happy personal milestone or memory from this past year. Keep the conversation around the table positive by asking each family member to share a proud personal milestone or memory from the past year.

9. Ask random questions as conversation starters. Ask questions that have nothing to do with politics, and you may be surprised at some of the fun answers you get. Questions such as "Would you rather go without television or junk food for the rest of your life?” or “What is your favorite smell and what memory does it remind you of?” can provoke interesting responses. Need help with questions? Here are 39 random questions to get you started.

10. Go on a walk. Even if it's cold where you live, taking a walk around the neighborhood or to the local park after eating a big meal is a great way to get those energy levels back up! Plus, it'll give everyone an opportunity to focus on the beauty of the outdoors instead of thinking about everyone's ideas on current affairs.

11. Share what you admire about each other. Have each person around the table share a quality they admire about everyone else at the table. This is helpful if disagreements do come up because you can focus on the positive aspects of people.

12. Watch a classic movie as a family. Pop the popcorn and make hot chocolate or cider, and settle in for a family movie night. Classics like The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music and It's a Wonderful Life are great feel-good movies that are sure to diminish the negative political talk.

—Leah R. Singer

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20 Global Recipes Your Kids Should Try at Least Once

by Anna DooganOctober 7, 2021

Heading out of the country and sampling international foods has been put on the back burner as of late. Luckily, you don’t even have to leave your kitchen to get a head start on enjoying some of the best dishes the world has to offer. From savory meat dishes and sweet breads, to hearty soups and fondue, keep scrolling to see some of our favorite recipes from around the world.

Hänchen-Schnitzel

Chicken Schnitzel is a classic German food recipe. — Curious Cuisiniere

Get this easy German Chicken Schnitzel on the table in no time thanks to Curious Cuisiniére's recipe! This thin-sliced chicken recipe cooks quickly and is easily served with traditional German sides, or along your fave veggies, too.

Phở

Chilly night? Time for some Vietnamese Phở! While this traditional soup can take quite some time to prepare (it's all about the broth!), this recipe from Gimme Some Oven gives some easy shortcuts that gets in on the table in 45 minutes. Kids will love putting in their own veggies and meat, while cutting their noodles with a pair of scissors.

Turkish Gozleme

Turkish gozleme is a cheese and spinach stuffed bread that is irresistible. The traditional street food can be yours by following Give Recipe, which uses a super easy dough recipe that's then packed with a savory filling and fried.

Ropa Vieja

The Daring Gourmet's Cuban Ropa Vieja recipe is so easy, it will quickly become a part of your menu rotation. Made with flank steak, veggies and lots of fragrant spices, this traditional shredded beef dish easily pairs with rice and beans—things even picky eaters like! Dinner is served.

Baked Chicken Jollof Rice

A chicken dish that's a great African food recipe. — Recipes from a Pantry

Time for a new spin on your regular chicken and rice recipe! This traditional African recipe uses Jollof rice, which is basically a blend of tomato puree and rice, and adds savory chicken and veggies. Recipes from a Pantry gives you the easy details for this baked recipe that makes dinner a breeze.

Biryani

Make sneaking in the veggies a breeze with Food Fanatic's Indian Vegetable Biryani! While this recipe does have quite the ingredient list, your kiddos will hardly notice their scarfing down carrots, green beans and peas.

Baklava

No Greek meal is complete without a slice of baklava. And while the layered dessert may seem difficult, it actually requires just a few ingredients and a little patience. Kids will love the sweet flavor and counting all those layers. Check out Spatula Desserts to see how easy it is!

Japanese Milk Bread

Also known as Hokkaido milk bread, this Japanese specialty is a soft and springy bread that has a slight sweetness. It’s the perfect weekend project since you’ll need to let it rise twice. Head to Simmer + Sauce to get the recipe.

Dumplings

Many countries have their own version of the dumpling, but Chinese dumplings are a well-known and traditional food for families to make together for Chinese New Year. Depending on the type, they may be steamed, boiled or pan-fried, with different shapes and fillings—and they’re all tasty! Introduce your kids to this easy dumpling recipe. Meat, scallions and soy sauce combine to make these savory bites, and they're simple to make with a wonton wrapper. Try making them with the sweet and salty dipping sauce on the side.

Fondue

Fondue is fun to eat, and kids will love the idea of dipping chunks of bread, meat and veggies into a big pot of gooey, melted cheese. This Swiss dish dates back to the 17^th century, but we’re still digging it today! Have your own family fondue party with this recipe from Genius Kitchen. Want something a little sweeter? Try a chocolate fondue for dessert, and use fresh fruit and chunks of pound cake for dipping.

Crepes

Take an imaginary trip to Paris when you whip up a batch of these yummy paper-thin pancakes. Originating in the northwest region of the country, creperies are now found all over France and offer both sweet and savory variations. Kids can easily help by mixing up the batter and selecting the fillings: Go classic with ham and cheese or sweet sugar and lemon, or get adventurous with your own ideas. Need some inspiration? Try this easy crepe recipe by Catherine McCord of Weelicious.

Ramen

If your only experience with ramen is a ten-cent crinkly package from the grocery store, it’s time to try the real deal version of this popular Japanese dish. The nourishing broth packed with slurp-worthy noodles and endless variations of toppings is a definite kid-pleaser. Your kids can help you make this hearty version full of tofu, veggies and a bit of ginger.

Bibimbap

Meaning “mixed rice,” this amazing dish from Korea is the ultimate rice bowl. On a bed of warm rice, you might find a combo like fried and raw veggies, seasoned grilled meat or tofu, a red chili paste called gochujang and a fried egg added on top. Bibimbap is a great way to introduce kids to new ingredients, and an even better way to use up those extra veggies that are hanging around. Check out this mouthwatering recipe from Rasa Malaysia complete with an extensive list of suggested toppings.

Sushi

Turn your kids into big-time sushi lovers! Simple veggie sushi rolls are easy, healthy and just the right size for little hands. It’s fun to make and eat together at home, and even not-so-adventurous eaters will want these egg, edamame and rice rolls from hello, Wonderful. Start with basic flavors that they’ll love, and then slowly expand the sushi repertoire to include more adventurous foods and textures.

Souvlaki

Make a batch of Greek souvlaki skewers, and it’s a win-win for everyone. Kids love the fun of food on a stick, and adults will love the juicy marinated chicken with lemon, garlic and a side of cool, refreshing tzatziki sauce. Try the recipe by Lemons for Lulu here.

Injera and Lentils

Besides being flavorful and nutritious, eating Ethiopian food is a community experience. Food is often eaten with hands and served on a large shared plate, along with plenty of injera, a spongy and slightly fermented flatbread that’s perfect for sharing. This recipe from Lighter has great tips for adjusting the flavors for kids who don’t love a ton of spice. Authentic injera takes several days for the fermenting process, but you can take the easy route and make this quick recipe in about an hour!

Meze

For a casual meal, put together tasty nibbles and make a meze platter. Made up of a variety of foods served small-plate style, meze is common throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and offers the perfect opportunity for little foodies to sample new foods, like creamy hummus and baba ghanouj. Try making this gorgeous Mediterranean-inspired meze from Kitchen Treaty, and watch it disappear.

Chicken Tikka

This juicy chicken made with yogurt and spices and grilled on skewers is a yummy introduction to Indian cuisine. Let the kids help in the kitchen by mixing up the yogurt and curry marinade for this quick chicken tikka that’s sure to become a new family favorite.

Jerk Chicken

You can’t talk about the foods of the Caribbean without bringing up Jamaican jerk. Moist, spicy and smoky, this memorable seasoning and cooking method produces some of the most flavorful food around. Although traditional jerk can be a bit spicy for little palates, this modified version by This Week for Dinner gives you the signature flavors without as much heat.

Empanadas

Bakd&Raw by Karolin Baitinger via Unsplash

Flaky, portable and delicious, there are endless combination ideas for these perfect pastries that work for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Whether you go savory or sweet, you’re definitely in for a treat. Bring some of the flavors of South America right to your table with these homemade beef empanadas from Laylita’s Recipes.

—Anna Doogan & Karly Wood

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New Rice Krispies Treats Feature More Marshmallows in Every Bite

by Jennifer SwartvagherDecember 15, 2020

Homemade Rice Krispies Treats evokes memories of childhood and hugs from loved ones. Since we can’t always be with friends and family, Snap, Crackle and Pop whipped up a hug you can eat. New Rice Krispies Treat Homestyle are an ooey gooey taste of home.

Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle features extra marshmallows folded into every bite. They’re even 50 percent bigger than the original treats. Available in original and chocolate flavors, these new treats are individually wrapped with a writable wrapper allowing you to leave a little extra love with a handwritten note.

“We all have memories of our families and friends in the kitchen preparing for celebrations and gatherings, and Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle look and taste like those memorable, homemade treats we make together,” said Sarah Reinecke, Director of Brand Marketing for Kellogg’s Portable Wholesome Snacks. “For anyone gathering virtually, we wanted to give our fans a treat to enjoy the recognizable homemade taste that hearkens the emotions time together creates.”

Now through Dec. 31, everyone has a chance to embrace a first taste of new Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle by reaching out to their most-missed huggers. Follow these simple steps to enter:

Check out the Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle announcement on Twitter.
Share the Tweet and @mention the person you want to hug the most
Tag your post with #RKTHomestyleEntry.

Rice Krispies Treats will randomly select entries and send participants, and the person they’ve nominated, samples of new Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle in both chocolate and original flavors.

Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle will be available in grocery stores nationwide in January retailing for $3.19 for a six-bar box, or $4.98 for a 12-bar box. For more information on Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle, follow Rice Krispies Treats on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find more inspiration.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Rice Krispies

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These STEM Lesson Plans Will Inspire Healthy Eating

by Jamie AderskiSeptember 5, 2020

Working from home, in the office, teaching kids—oh my! Healthy eating is difficult to make a top priority these days. Here’s your #momhack alert: getting kids involved in how their food is grown will make those greens, beans and everything in-betweens more exciting than a bag of chips!

Good news: you don’t need to scour the internet for fun at-home food science ideas. Del Monte Foods, your go-to for fruits and veggies picked and packed at their peak, and GrowingGreat, a non-profit that empowers kids to make healthy choices through food science and nutrition, have paired up to create a super-food, super-fun lesson plan! It’s a free, national STEM Distance Learning Curriculum, as easily accessible as Del Monte Foods! Check out their handy bilingual PDFs and videos that can be accessed on any device. Expect fruitful inspiration–get the whole family involved for a fun weekend activity or let kids explore on their own and keep them entertained, learning and engaged while you work from home! Who knew a veggie could be a kid’s best friend? Each lesson has a challenge, hands-on exploration, taste test, and a parent page with fun facts about food, science discoveries, recipes for kids and more. Read on to learn about three fresh lessons your kids can discover this fall, plus the perfect pairing to keep your family fueled for learning!

Del Monte Foods and GrowingGreat’s free Distance Learning Curriculum is available now. Check them out and grow your child’s learning and love of nutrition today!

1. Powerful Protein

The Challenge: To explore how proteins help fuel and grow our bodies! In this lesson, you’ll distinguish between proteins, carbohydrates and fats, and sort out the sources of the proteins we eat. You’ll use your newly acquired knowledge to build your own protein cookie using both animal and plant proteins. Bonus: This lesson also comes with a printable coloring sheet! Get the lesson here!

Fuel Your Fun With: Del Monte® Oats To Go, the first ready-to-eat, no-prep homestyle oatmeal goodness in a cup that has high amounts of protein, whole grains, fiber and ½ serving of real fruit. With four flavors, everyone can find one they love while they enjoy another type of carbohydrate!

2. Graph Your Groceries

The Challenge: Find a label with the least ingredients, the most ingredients and the most grams of added sugar. Kids will learn how to read food labels and graph their results to see what foods are the healthiest choices. Tasting the products they graph, kids will talk about how the amount of ingredients affects the food’s taste, and record their data. They'll also learn about the canning process and even try it for themselves! Get the lesson here!

Fuel Your Fun With: Del Monte® Fresh Cut® Blue Lake® Green Beans, with a so-simple ingredient list we can all get behind: Green beans, water, sea salt. That’s all!

3. Make Your Own Fruit Drink Without Added Sugar

The Challenge: Develop a fruit drink without any added sugar and grow new veggies from old veggies. Kids will taste test orange soda, a sports drink, and mandarin oranges, discussing the difference in taste and ingredients. By measuring the amount of sugar on the label, and pouring it into a cup, kids will be able to see how much sugar is in each. Kids will even get to make their own no sugar added fruit drink. There’s also a no sugar added snack recipe parents and kids can make together.

Just like people, plants get thirsty too! Using carrots, beets and potatoes, kids will determine how much water they drink over time, finally deciding how much water and room they need to grow, and then planting them! Get the lesson here!

Fuel Your Fun With: Del Monte® Fruit Cup ® Snacks, packed with flavor that comes from 100% fruit juice! While you’re snacking on your fruit cup, you can even use some of the fruit or fruit juice for a DIY fruit drink.

Del Monte Foods and GrowingGreat’s free Distance Learning Curriculum is available now. Check them out and grow your child’s learning and love of nutrition today!

—Jamie Aderski

Can Extra-Curricular Activities Improve Your Child’s Academic Performance?

By GoBambino Kids Activities

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

June 4, 2019

Have you ever wondered whether after-school activities are worth the hassle? Getting your child to activities after school can be incredibly difficult, especially in the city when we rely largely on public transportation. You have to be extra prepared by having a snack ready for your always-hungry student, sometimes bringing an extra bag with equipment for their after-school activity, and planning ahead for the weather. And if the bus is late, so are you!

According to a 2006 study, all of this hassle really is worth it if you want your child to do well in school, as the researchers found that extra-curricular activities improve academic performance in students. The study looked specifically at middle school students, but it is safe to assume that the results would be the same for younger children as well. The study did not look at the amount of time each student spent in after-school activities, and it is important to remember not to over-schedule your child as that can lead to burnout and increased stress for the whole family. The number of activities a child can handle without increasing stress each week will be unique to them. This should be a decision that you and your child make together based on your child’s wants and needs and what works for your family.

The study did look at the types of activities that have the most academic benefit for children. Interestingly, the study found that after-school classes that focused on study methods and how to succeed in school did not lead to improved performance in school. However, academic-based activities were highly beneficial for academic performance. Academic-based activities include foreign language classes, tutoring, science classes, and computer activities such as coding. As a secondary benefit, sports also led to improved achievement in school after academic-based activities. Sports classes include soccer, tennis, swimming, and gymnastics—any class where your child gets to move their body!

The biggest positive effect on educational achievement occurred when students were enrolled in both academic-based and sports-based activities. Children who had a balance of extra-curricular activities demonstrated better academic performance than the other children in the study.

This suggests that finding one academic-based and one sports based activity for your child per week is likely to improve their performance at school. It is also important to ensure that you pick classes that your child is interested in, as you want your child to enjoy learning and participate during the class. Classes should be a fun outlet for your child–not a source of stress!

Go Bambino has a variety of academic-based and sports classes, so you will be sure to find exactly what you and your child are looking for!

This post originally appeared on https://family.gobambino.com.

GoBambino Kids Activities

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

GoBambino helps parents discover and book kids' activities, lessons, classes, camps and workshops. Stress-free and commitment-free. We built GoBambino to simplify (ever-so-slightly) the chaotic lives of today’s moms and dads.

Tips & Recipes to Live By for Easy Lunches From Jennifer Tyler Lee

by Erin LemSeptember 1, 2015

Now that your kids are back in school, give their mid-day meal a boost of awesome. Bay Area Mom turned cookbook-author Jennifer Tyler Lee is here to help you do just that. If her name sounds familiar you might’ve already played her nutrition game Crunch a Color, checked out her cookbook The 52 New Foods Challenge or heard influencers like Jessica Alba, Michael Pollan or Jamie Oliver sing her praises. Jen recently spoke to us about tips for packing lunches and gave us a sample of her favorite each lunch ideas. Check it out below.

3 Tips to Live By for Easy Lunches

• Follow a Formula: Three colors + one protein + one healthy grains = a better box. This simple formula is easy for kids and parents to remember, and makes for a playful and colorful box—one of the keys to lunch packing success.

• Kids Pick + Pack. Set up a kids’ snack drawer in your fridge and pack it with colorful fruits and veggies that are portable. Make it the kids’ job to pick their snacks and pack them. If they put it in the box, they’ll be more likely to eat it. Watch how Jen sets up her kids’ snack drawer by clicking here.

• Think Out of the Box: School lunches can be the worst offenders when it comes to processed and over packaged foods. Pick one category, like snack bars, and make them at home. You’ll find it’s a boost for your budget too.

Get Packing! The Scoop on Jen’s Favorite Lunch Ideas:

1, Lunch Crepes (pair with Apple Chips & Chocolate Rocket, below)
Rethink the classic PB&J sandwich. Pair Jen’s Healthy Crepes with sunflower butter, apples & jam, or tuck in bananas and Jen’s homemade chocolate hazelnut spread, for a fresh take on boring sandwiches.

2. Nut-Free Basil Pesto Pizza Bites (pair with Tomato Pops & Bitty Bites, below)
Pizza can be healthy too! This yummy nut-free basil pesto pizza is made with a whole-wheat crust and dressed up with pesto and pops of cherry tomato. Jen serves it bite-size for her kids’ lunches.

3. Tomato Pops (pair with “Chips” and Dips & Bitty Bites, below)
Caprese salad with a kid-friendly twist! These pint-size tomato-mozzarella skewers make fresh-picked cherry tomatoes even more fun to enjoy! Perfect for packing in a lunchbox.

4. Baked Apple Chips
These crunchy chips make a great lunchbox snack. Bonus: they’re an easy way to wean your kids off packaged snacks. Keep a big batch of these chips in a glass jar in your pantry to make it easy for you and your kids to grab when hunger strikes!

5. Bitty Bites
Nut-free + no-bake = A+ lunch snack. Jen’s Bitty Bites are a no-bake cookie made with sunflower butter. They are great as a lunchbox snack, after-school bite, or post-game energy recharger. Bonus: they are easy and fun for your kids to make. You don’t need to be exact with the measurements, which means you can give lots of creative freedom to your kids.

6. Power Bars (pair with Fruit Leather & Veggie Stir-Fry, below)
This homemade granola bar recipe gets its power from flaxseed. It is fun to make together and can easily be modified to feature your favorite fixings. These bars are crunchy and crumbly. When you’re done cutting them, the baking sheet will be filled with tasty chunks of granola— perfect for sprinkling over yogurt parfaits.

7. “Chips” and Dips
Dips are a great way to get kids to eat their veggies, and the lunchbox is no exception. Jen likes to pack James’ Guacamole or Healthy Homemade Hummus in small glass containers along with rainbow carrots sliced into coins like “chips.”

8. The Chocolate Rocket
This incredibly delicious chocolate pudding isn’t just for dessert. It’s a perfect lunchbox companion because it’s quick for kids to eat (with only a few minutes to eat you need to make those minutes count) and the healthy fats will keep them powering through the day.

10. Peach Fruit Leather
Homemade fruit leather is the perfect recipe for overripe seasonal fruit, especially peaches! Double the batch and make enough to share with friends. Everyone will want to trade lunches with you.

Which lunch idea will you try out? Do you have any more lunchtime tips for our community? Leave a comment below.

Heralded by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution as “A mom and genius game creator helping kids eat fresh food!”, Jennifer Tyler Lee is an award-winning author, game creator, and healthy eating advocate. Jennifer has garnered national attention for her new family cookbook, The 52 New Foods Challenge, and her nutrition game, Crunch a Color®: The Healthy Eating Game, and developed a loyal following of parents and grandparents who tune in to her fast, easy, and delicious recipes each week.

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Ham and Leek Quiche

by Erin LemFebruary 13, 2015

Did you know that French cooking doesn’t have to be intimidating? Just ask Claudine Pépin, the daughter of beloved chef Jacques Pépin’s. This dynamic father-daughter duo just released a cookbook entitled Kids Cook French that features simple classic dishes that parents can make together with their kids. Read on below for an easy recipe for Ham and Leek Quiche from this new book that even boasts illustrations by Jacques Pépin himself.

Serves 8

Ingredients:
1 leek, washed and chopped (about . cups [134 g] raw)
4 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
4 ounces (115 g) premium deli ham, diced (about 1 cup)
4 ounces (115 g) Swiss cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup)
3 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 1/4 (295 ml) cups heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 sheet (10 x 10 inches [25 x 25 cm]) unsweetened puff pastry (such as Pepperidge Farm)

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

2. Cut the leek in half lengthwise and wash thoroughly between each of the leaves. Cut off the top part of the leek that is dark green and leathery. (Lighter-green leaves are perfectly tender and delicious). Cut off the bottom, including the roots and about 6 mm of the white stem. Chop medium to fine, about 1 cm.

3. Saute the leeks with butter and a pinch of salt on medium-low heat, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. You may need to add a little water to prevent browning. Set aside to cool.

4. Dice the ham and grate the cheese.

5. Whisk together the 3 eggs and the 2 egg yolks. After they’re well beaten, add the cream, salt, and pepper. Stir in the grated cheese and the cooked leeks. Butter the glass pie pan with 1 to 2 teaspoons of butter.

6. Roll the 10 x 10-inch (25 x 25 cm) puff pastry to 12 x 12 inches (30 x 30 cm), about 1/8-inch (3 mm) thick. Gently press the rolled puff pastry into the buttered pie pan.

7. Use a paring knife to trim the hanging corners/edges. Press the scrap pieces onto the pastry in the pan to fill in any gaps. Prick the bottom of the dough evenly with a fork in 8 to 10 places.

8. Fill the pie shell with the egg, cream, cheese, and leek mixture, then evenly distribute the ham. Stir gently for even distribution.

9. Place the quiche on a sheet tray and into the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes on 350°F (180°C), then lower the heat to 300°F (150°C) and bake for 1 hour, until the top is slightly browned, puffed in the middle, and a cake tester comes out clean. The crust should be thoroughly browned across the bottom.

10. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting.

Do your kids like quiche? Leave us a comment below.

This recipe comes to us courtesy of the new book, KIDS COOK FRENCH [Quarry Books, February 2015, $21.99 US / $23.99 CAN] by Jacques Pépin’s daughter, Claudine Pépin. This book is a fun, interactive cookbook for both parents and kids that introduces them to the art and joy of cooking. Finding inspiration from the very first page, parents will soon be helping kids to learn how to make their own meals while learning better eating habits and embracing the importance of French culture. Buy the book at Amazon.com.

ML Interest Tag: make-together

31 Things to Do with Kids in January

Indoor or out, there are plenty of activities to keep your family busy in the new year!

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