FAMILY TIME IN THE KITCHEN

Spending time in the kitchen with your kids equals quality time together plus the joy of enjoying what you’ve whipped up! Preschoolers can help, school-age kids can learn cooking basics and teens can improve their cooking skills! Here are some quick and easy recipes which you family might enjoy!

Beefy Taters: 2 pounds lean ground beef; 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup; 1 tsp. salt; 1 pkg. frozen tater tots.  Brown ground beef and drain. Mix in soup and salt. Spread in 7″ x 11″ x 1″ baking dish and cover with tater tots. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

Cheese ‘N Wiener Crescents: 8 wieners; 8 cheddar cheese strips; 1 – 8 oz. can Crescent Dinner Rolls. Preheat oven to 375. Slit wieners to within one-half inch of ends and insert cheese strips. Place on wide ends of crescent triangles. Roll up. Place on cookie sheet, cheese side up. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown.

Tuna Cheese Bake: 1-8 oz. pkg. oodles; 3 eggs – beaten; 12 oz. can Evaporated Milk; 1/2 cup water; 1 tsp. minced onion (optional); 1 small can tuna; 8 oz. Cheddar cheese – shredded. Cook noodles according to package directions and drain. Mix all other ingredients with noodles. Bake in 8″ x 8″ or 9″ x 9″ square pan for 30-35 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Easy-to-Make Salad: 1-20 oz. can pineapple chunks – drained; 1 can cherry pie mix; 1 cup small marshmallows; 2 bananas – sliced. Mix together. Chill.

Fantastic Fruit Salad: 2 or 3 oranges – diced or a large can of Mandarin oranges; large can pineapple tidbits; 2 bananas – sliced. Chill oranges and pineapple. Add bananas and serve.

Fruit Toss: 1/2 cantaloupe – small pieces; 1 bunch seedless grapes; 1 small can pineapple chunks – drained; 1 large banana – sliced. Toss fruit together, except banana. chill. Add banana and French Vanilla Yoplait before serving.

Cherry Dessert: 1 can cherry (or any flavor) pie filling; 1 Jiffy white or yellow cake mix; 1/2 stick butter or margarine. Pour pie filling in 8″ x 8″ pan. Put dry cake mix on top. Pour melted butter over cake. Bake for 1 hour at 350.

Ice Cream Balls: Make balls of vanilla ice cream. Roll each ball in chopped pecans. Freeze until ready to serve. Before serving, drizzle with butterscotch or chocolate ice cream topping.

Snack Mix: 1/2 cup butter or margarine – melted; 2 tbsp. Cocoa; 2 tbsp. sugar; 4 cups Apple Cinnamon Cheerios; 4 cups Crispex; 1 cup Almonds – slivered; 1 cup raisins. In 4-quart microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Stir in sugar and cocoa. Add cereals and almonds. Stir until evenly coated. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring every minute. Stir in raisins. Microwave at high 3 minutes more, stirring every minute. Cool completely and store in airtight container in cool, dry place.

Terrific Candy: 3 cups cereal flakes, any kind; 2 tbsp. peanut butter; 6 oz. butterscotch morsels. Melt morsels and peanut butter over very low heat. Stir in cereal flakes. Spoon out on greased surface. Chill.