My girls are not the most adventurous eaters, but they do enjoy smelling all the different spices when I’m cooking. Earlier this summer, we spent a fun afternoon mixing up some special homemade seasoning blends for my dad.

I printed two recipes for the girls to read and follow. This was pretty much a hands-off activity for me – I did have to grind a few spices in the coffee grinder. The girls were in charge of reading the spice labels, measuring the correct amount, and stirring. They loved it all!

We packaged our seasoning mixes in glass jars and included laminated recipe cards so my dad can remake the mixes when he runs out.

Here are the seasoning mix recipes we used – they are both delicious!

• Italian Seasoning :: Angela’s Kitchen
• Low-Sodium Seasoning Blend :: AllRecipes.com (similar to seasoned salt)

We’re looking forward to making more seasoning blends for ourselves and to give as gifts.

Do you make your own seasoning blends? If you have a favorite recipe, please share!

Toast seems to be the breakfast of choice for the girls lately – usually with cinnamon sugar or strawberry jam. I’ve been looking for some ways to jazz-up our toast breakfast and thought I’d share my finds with you.

Enjoy!

Waffle Iron French Toast :: Cooking with my Kid

Rainbow Stuffed French Toast :: i am mommy

Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast Sticks :: Rachael Ray

Simple Sprinkly Sandwich :: Little Nummies

Sunshine Egg :: Super Healthy Kids

French Toast Kebabs :: Martha Stewart

We also like these yummy toppings from time to time:

• cream cheese + fruit
• nutella
• peanut butter + nutella
• cheese (melted under the broiler)
• mashed avocado (actually, I’m the only one who likes this!)
• Laughing Cow spreadable cheese
• honey

What’s your favorite way to eat toast? Do your kids like breakfast variety or the same thing every morning?

{Originally posted March 2008}

As my girls get older, they want to be more and more involved in meal preparation. In addition to fixing snacks and helping with dinner, breakfast offers wonderful opportunities for healthy and simple meals prepared by little ones, with virtually no grown-up help. Here’s some of the yummy, confidence-boosting meals we have been enjoying for breakfast (or lunch… or snack…):

• Yogurt Parfaits – yogurt, fruit (sliced bananas, berries, apple chunks, etc.), granola or other favorite cereal, raisins, sometimes even a few sprinkles or mini chocolate chips!
• Fruit Salad – I put out a tray of sliced & diced fruit, allowing the girls to assemble their own bowl of fruit salad. They have also had success slicing bananas and strawberries with small butter knives.
• Tortilla Roll-Ups – Ours are usually peanut butter & honey, but cream cheese & jelly would be yummy too.
• Breakfast Faces – On a piece of toast, a tortilla, or even on a plate, arrange various foods to make a face. Again, offering a tray of choices works well, including sliced fruits, various cereals, scrambled eggs or sliced hard-boiled eggs, cheese cubes, veggies cut in matchsticks, etc.
• Smoothies – Kids choose the ingredients, grown-ups run the blender. Start with milk and/or yogurt and add fruit, maybe a little honey or vanilla. Bananas add nice “froth” and frozen fruit helps make a thicker smoothie.
• Cereal with Milk – Can’t go wrong with this classic breakfast! Pour milk into a small pitcher so little ones can practice pouring their own milk. Have your child fix you a bowl too!

What do your kids like for breakfast? Please share!