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cooking with kids

Plan Simple Meals

Plan Simple Meals

Rachel Sherwood

I had the honor to share with Mia Moran with Plan Simple Meals on her recent podcast. In a short amount of time, we covered a lot of everything: from culinary basics, freezer efficiency, make-ahead meals, easy entertaining, to cooking for kids. It’s really about making real food for real busy people. Sometimes it takes a little effort but like most things we work for, this is worth it. You can create that perfect meal without all the stress.

Remember why we cook, why food matters and why we gather together.

Hint: It is not about the food, it is about the people we love.

Enjoy this great podcast and feel free to share it with others. I even have free giveaways of my new favorites. Listen and email me to get yours!

Plan Simple Meals

Getting Comfortable in the Kitchen with Rachel Sherwood

June 14, 2016

In this episode, Mia interviews the author and Le Cordon Bleu graduate, Rachel Sherwood. On the podcast, Mia and Rachel talk self care, nursing mama cravings, and baby food. Rachel shares the three things everyone should have in their kitchen, and some amazing and inspiring strategies for freezing food. Rachel is also an entertaining maven, so if you want to feel like a relaxed hostess next time you have friends over, this is a must listen! You can learn more about Rachel on her site, and if you listen, you will hear her offer to email her personally!

http://plansimplemeals.podbean.com/e/getting-comfortable-in-the-kitchen-with-rachel-sherwood/#podcast

All-Purpose Seasoning

All-Purpose Seasoning

Rachel Sherwood

All-Purpose Seasoning

This all-purpose seasoning is wonderful just as is and simple to make it your own signature spice blend to fit any cuisine or taste. Perfect to season vegetables, chicken, pork, steak, even fish.

  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon celery salt *
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon optional flavoring (turmeric, paprika, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, mace, thyme, sage, rosemary)

*If grinding your own celery seeds use ½ teaspoon fresh ground celery seeds and ½ teaspoons salt.

In a small bowl combine all ingredients, mix well and store in an airtight container.

Want more flavor? Try a combination and mix in another herb or spice:

  • (Rosemary and thyme)
  • (Rosemary and Sage)
  • (Cumin and Chili powder)
  • (Cumin and Coriander)
  • (Mace and Turmeric)
variety of vegetables

How to Love Vegetables

Rachel Sherwood

Lately I have been testing new concepts to use with my Mommy Cooking Group. They had requested simple ways to make vegetables easy and delicious. So when I had my niece and nephew over I thought of them to be perfect test subjects.

It started with a simple taste test and ended with two kids begging me to let them take vegetables home. I wanted to keep it really simple. So what can be easier then cooking fresh or frozen vegetables with a simple all-purpose seasoning or covered with cheese sauce?

I had a variety of vegetable options to see if that made a difference. I covered some with shredded cheese because most people love things covered in cheese right? Well to my surprise both kids would not touch the cheesy ones and they were literally fighting over the ones cooked in butter with the all-purpose seasoning.

variety of vegetables

(The taste test, a variety of vegetables cooked in butter with all-purpose seasoning and creamy cheese sauce)

Here is how it worked. I created my all-purpose seasoning mix then to make it versatile to fit a variety on tastes and cuisines. I added optional flavors like Turmeric, Mace, Cumin, Smoked Paprika and Thyme and simply sautéed them in butter. I let the kids try the vegetables with just the all-purpose seasoning fist and then let them make their own custom spice blends.

my niece and nephew loved the vegetables

(my niece and nephew loved the vegetables with the all-purpose seasoning)

All-Purpose Seasoning

(All-Purpose Seasoning mixed with Turmeric, Mace, Cumin, Smoked Paprika and Thyme)

I think part of the fun was that they had ownership in the process. They got to taste and choose what they liked mixing up their custom spice blends. Surprisingly my niece’s favorite was the all-purpose seasoning mixed with cumin and mace and my nephew created one with smoked paprika and thyme. They had more interesting pallets than I expected.

tasting the variety of all-purpose seasoning blends

(my niece and nephew tasting the variety of all-purpose seasoning blends)

They had so much fun eating the variety of vegetables and tasting new seasonings that they ate all the vegetables I had quickly making requests for more. “Do you have any green beans, or peas”, – they asked? This afternoon experiment left them with bellies full of vegetables and they each took home a zucchini as if it was a prized trophy.

custom all-purpose seasoning blend

(My niece and nephew sprinkling their custom all-purpose seasoning blend on peas)

Whether you are trying to get your kids to eat more vegetables or just enjoying them yourself this all-purpose seasoning is simple, versatile and delicious.

Easy Dips, Ways to Love Vegetables

Easy Dips, Ways to Love Vegetables

Rachel Sherwood

Easy Dips, Ways to Love Vegetables

I have found that getting kids, even adults to enjoy vegetables can be quite a challenge. What makes a vegetable unique and tasty can be sometimes as simple as an easy dip. Adding a new flavor, color or texture may be all that is needed to see vegetables in a whole new way. Kids, especially aged 2-4, love to have things in their hands and activities to keep busy. Dips are perfect and allow a sense of independence too. Don’t get stuck in the Ranch dressing rut, try out some of these healthy easy dip favorites.

Note: Feel free to adapt these to your own tastes. Where some call for sour cream, yogurt or mayonnaise try mixing it or use what you have on hand. Mayonnaise will be richer and creamier, sour cream will have a light tang and yogurt will be lighter and much tangier. Try it out and find your favorite version for easy dips at home.

All of these recipes list ingredients, just mix together in a bowl or food processor until smooth. Dips usually get better the next day and will keep for up to 5 days if stored well.

Cheese and Onion Dip

  • 1 cup whipped cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Herbed Yogurt Dip

  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon dill
  • 1 tablespoon parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

(Try other favorite herbs as well like rosemary, thyme, oregano or basil)

Curry Dip

  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Ranch Dip

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice, if it lacks tartness
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Tarter Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise or sour cream
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • 2 tablespoons drained capers
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cornichons or dill pickles
  • 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt and pepper

Creamy White Bean Dip

  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 (19-ounce) can of white beans such as cannellini, drained and rinsed
  • 3/4 cup silken tofu (6 1/2 ounces), drained and gently rinsed
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Pinch of cayenne

White Bean and Spinach Dip

  • 1 cup white beans
  • ¼ cup spinach
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • salt and pepper to taste

Hummus

  • 1 15oz can garbanzo beans or chickpeas about 2 cups
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons Tahini1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Sweet Pea Dip

  • 1 cup thawed frozen peas
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 green onions chopped small
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 5-8 dashes hot sauce (like Tobasco) more if you like things spicier
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Ginger Carrot Dip

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
  • 4-5 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped peeled ginger

Creamy Avocado Dip

  • 1 ripe avocado
  • ½ teaspoon lime juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Marshmallow Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

Sweet Nut Butter Dip

  • ½ peanut or almond butter
  • 1-tablespoon honey
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Chocolate Avocado Dip

  • 2 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa (high quality)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon water

Ready-made dipping ease

Don’t have time to whip up something homemade? Try one of these great store-bought options to get started dipping.

  • Peanut butter
  • Hummus
  • Marinara sauce
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese Sauce
  • Salsa
  • Nutella
  • Honey

Looking for more ways to get kids to eat better? Try this idea: kids love making Veggie Kebabs or Swords to put in their dips.

Veggie Kebabs or Swords

Healthy Food

Healthy Food, Healthy Activities, Healthy Kids

Rachel Sherwood

IAH 5-23 peasLife is full of things we “need” to do, and with that, consistently getting healthy food on the table does not always happen. Sadly, even when we do get great healthy new foods on the table kids don’t always want to eat them. Today I share with you how you how to engage that picky eater by simply changing the way a food is presented.

It is not always easy to introduce new foods to children. However, by using the elements of The Pretty Plate, you can make healthy foods interesting and fun so they want to try them. The best way I have found to get kids to try new foods is to involve them in the process, let them have an opinion, a choice between two things, or let them play with their food. I don’t mean toss spaghetti at the walls, but let them have fun by mixing up colors, shapes and textures, and being creative with how a food is presented. Remember we all eat first with our eyes.

One of the things I love is letting the kids make veggie kabobs. I discovered that my niece would not touch a bowl of peas, but as soon as I gave her toothpicks she was able to make a game of it turning the bowl of peas into pea kabobs that were fun to eat. You can even let them dip the kabobs in a sauce for extra flavor and fun. You can try this with a variety of fruits and vegetables; try cutting items into different shapes for more interest. This becomes an activity for kids; now their focus is not especially on the type of foods, but the fun they are having assembling them. By changing how a food is presented, they are having fun and loving trying out new, healthy foods.

For more information on involving kids in the kitchen, check out Cooking With Kids Made Easy.  And pick up your copy of The Pretty Plate for more simple techniques and recipes, and learn about the five elements to make your everyday meals magnificent.

IAH 5-16 pretty plate