Two nights ago, Christian and I made tilapia (fish), rice and mixed vegetables for dinner. I made hollandaise sauce (from a packet - I'm so gourmet like that) and spooned a little bit over the entire meal. Both Ethan and Aidan chomped down the vegetables like there was no tomorrow.And then I realized something. Something embarrassing.
I hadn't made vegetables for our family in over a week.
In reality, this is why: I make the main dish. About five minutes before it is ready to come out of the oven/stove/microwave, I realize I didn't make a vegetable. I have two options - open a can of green beans or a bag of frozen corn and nuke it, or not serve them at all. Since they usually go to waste (because I can't get my kids to eat them anyway), I usually don't bother.
So I'm asking, no pleading, for your help.
Do you have any recipes that make vegetables taste good? Have you found any links that you can share with me so my kids will eat them every time? Do you have tips or tricks that work for you and your family? I really need help in this area, desperately. (Dad, I want your asparagus recipe written down. Please!)
I do have two tips (well, besides the hollandaise sauce trick). One is that I sprinkle brown sugar over cooked carrots. That works really well for Ethan, my six year old. For some reason, Aidan (my four year old) still thinks they are yucky and won't touch them.
My second tip is for making delicious green beans (I know you will never believe me Dad, but they really are delicious). I explained the recipe to one of my friends and she typed it up on her food blog, so I am just going to direct you there. Click here.
While I'm acting desperate for recipes, can I request one more? There's a little story involved.
When Ethan was two days old, I had some members of my ward (church congregation) bring me dinner. They made a side dish of Mexican/Spanish rice. It was manna. I'm pretty sure I ate 3/4 of the pan myself. It wasn't spicy, just flavorful. It had a little cheese on top. I wanted to die and go to heaven right then. I have since searched for a spanish rice that would compare, and I have never found anything even close. Do you have a spanish rice recipe that I can try? I will love you forever. (I'm sure my raging hormones and the fact that I didn't actually have to make the spanish rice had nothing to do with its deliciousness...)
Okay, two more things. We made these pumpkin seeds over the weekend (although I halved the Worcestershire sauce). They were a huge hit at our house. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to buy a couple more pumpkins just to make another batch of seeds. Although, don't make the mistake of drying your seeds on a paper towel, because they dry and stick onto the towel, and then little pieces of paper towel come off onto your seeds and you will want to swear over and over as you pick them off one by one.
And two, I made this homemade macaroni and cheese for dinner last night. 3 out of the 4 of us loved it. (I, as a matter of fact, adore this stuff and have kept this recipe since 2002 and make it regularly.) Aidan had eaten Kraft mac & cheese for lunch (gobbled it right down), and said my homemade stuff was, and I quote, "disgusting." Well, you can't win 'em all.
49 people wanted to leave a comment:
I really want some homemade mac n cheese now.
Didn't Jerry Seinfeld's wife write a book about sneaking veggies in things? I've heard the recipes are really good an easy.
I like the steamable veggie bags you can buy in the frozen vegetable section. My kids love them. I'm not much for sneaking vegetables or trying to disguise them or sweeten them up, though that totally works for some people. I want my kids to like vegetables. So, I serve them at every single meal, lunch included. (Fruit at breakfast.) And, no dessert until the vegetables are eaten. They'll start realizing that they aren't so bad.
My easy green bean recipe,
I use Frozen green beans enough to feed our family. I like the bag with the different color blend. Then I add about 3/4 a cup (adjust for the amount of beans you use) of tomatoes with garlic and basil added.
Or if you don't have that on had Italian tomatoes. The diced tomatoes work best for this. Let it all simmer until the beans are done.. They are so good!! I can see this working with any of the tomatoes with spices added.
Take a frozen bag of california blend (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots) or just broccoli and cauliflower. Toss with 1/4 cup pesto sauce (I just buy the little dry packets and divide the packet into the serving size I need before preparing) and some parmesan cheese (fresh is best).
Yummy!!!
I have a super delicious, really fattening recipe for mac and cheese, it's so good. I only make it once or twice a year because it's that bad for you.
My dad does the brown sugar and carrots for his grandkids, too:)
Melting cheese on broccoli and cauliflower (or letting the kids do the melting) is usually helpful. I've also read that kids tasetbuds are still developing at this age, and so some veggies still taste bitter to them. If you force it on them, they may never like it---which probly explains why most adults aren't crazy about asparagus, brussel sprouts, broccoli etc.
Anyway, I have a spanish rice recipe that I've been waiting to try out, but haven't yet. You can shoot me an email at bdayton93 at gmail dot com and I'll send it to you.
Jerry Seinfield's wife did write a book about sneaking veggies into food. Good book!
We have been having fresh salad with our meals lately..I used to HATE making salad but tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, sweet onions...all pretty good.
Or if your family really doesn't like veggies, just have fruit with your meal. canned peaches or applesauce is always good... Did you see my FJ1W goal? just curious...Good luck with the veggie predicament you are in...
We don't eat much meat, so veggies are a main staple in our diet. I got a lot of my recipes from cuisinenie.blogspot.com. She sure knows her way around veggies! I also have a blog where I post recipes I frequently use girltimes.blogspot.com
My son loves veggies and I think it is because he doesn't get much of anything else. Pasta with veggies, or veggies and toast, or veggie sandwiches... we are raising little rabbits in this house.
Oh the Veggie Battle. I don't have any recipes I just had to experiment. There are some veggies Lael LURVES and some she won't touch. I just don't buy the ones she won't touch. She loves fresh carrots w/Ranch for a snack but refused to eat them cooked. Fine by me. She loves green beans, peas, corn and broccoli. So that's what I stick to. It's easier to buy the veggies she loves rather than fight with her and waste my money on the "yucky" ones.
I printed some of those off for myself. Thanks. They will promptly go into the folder of yummy recipes that I collect because I am sure I am going to make them soon, but hardly ever get around to it because, you know, new stuff is hard.... But seriously, the Mac and Cheese might make it to the table soon.
Also, you'd better believe that you have to share the asparagus recipe as soon as you have it...
My kids aren't picky (thank heavens) but if a veggie I prepare looks questionable (brussel sprouts last week) all I have to do is bring out the can of Parmesean cheese. They dump, they eat. It works every time.
As for a new veggie recipe: We LOVE Asparagus. Lay out asparagus on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, top with kosher salt, a bit of pepper and minced garlic. Cook at 400 (turning once) for 8-10 minutes. It should be a bit crispy, but still cooked through. YUM. My family (all kids included) inhale the stuff.
Somebody has been in the "cooking mood."
I guess it all depends on the vegetable. Many of my wife's recipes have interesting things added to them— Rutabaga and Bacon for example. Who doesn't like bacon. I have even tried bacon bits with other vegetables as well and they are delish.
If you know how to make a cheese sauce, you can always add that on the top as well.
Hope this is helpful,
This is going to make it a much longer process but I whenever I let my kids "make" something and I talk up how great they are and that they are such good cooks they usually eat whatever they have made. Or just pull out the ranch dressing and let them dip away with the raw veggies, my kiddos love that!
We almost never have vegetables here, unless it's frozen peas I threw in the microwave. Of course, I don't have kids... but sometimes it feels like I have one! I bought that book "Deceptively Delicious" a while back. It has some really good ideas, even though I have yet to use any of them.
I've got nothing. You sound just like me with the whole vegetable thing. And it doesn't help that I don't really like vegetables. I like them better or in certain ways but it is hard to force your kids to eat stuff you hardly tolerate yourself. We eat LOTS of fresh fruit at our house and I do hope that makes up for it. I am tempted to find the Mrs. Seinfeld book now. I had heard about it but forgot.
I have that book my Jessica Seinfeld, and it is freakin' awesome. It does take a bit of commitment, but it is easy to incorporate into your life, and the food is GOOOOD.
Also, my kids really like the Green Giant Steamers that come with a very tasty sauce. The sauce is low fat and low cal, so I don't feel bad serving it as a side dish, and the kids gobble it.
I forgot to add that I have more luck with a veggie tray than with cooked veggies. I'm not a fan of cooked veggies myself, but I will eat just about anything raw, and so will my kids.
Calvin will only eat oranges, and occasionally raw broccoli. I've noticed they do best if ranch sauce is nearby, but really, only Milo eats veggies. I always serve a veggie and/or fruit with dinner, but I have the exact same problem as you - last minute frozen corn or peas, or baby carrots (in the bag - not even cuted up) is usually what ends up on the table. I do chop fresh spinach into tiny bits (food processor) and add it to red sauce. It blends in with the herbs and Calvin never knows it's there. Also, acorn squash gnocchi is a hit that no one knows has a veggie inside (recipe at allrecipes.com).
Thanks for the hollandaise sauce idea! I'll totally try that.
Oh, and I just wing Spanish rice - we eat it a lot. You make the rice as usual (normal rice, not instant) and add 1 can of tomato sauce to it, and some chili powder if you're so inclined. You can also start with ground meat and onions, add the rice and water and tomato sauce, and put the lid on and simmer until the rice is tender and liquid soaked up. I add black beans sometimes too. Yum.
My kids won't eat veggies either. :( I adore them though....the veggies and the kids.
I loOoOoOove pumpkin seeds and am searching for a good recipe. I'll try this one. Thanks. :)
We are into veggies in the raw around here too.
Many nights I cop out and just do fruit. That always goes over well.
Honestly food isn't a fight around here it's all out war. I never feel like I am winning the nutrition battle. It is nice to hear I'm not the only one.
where my kids won't eat veggies as a side dish, they will usually eat it IN something -- like soups, or if i made that bisquick pot pie or something of that sort. I too agree all veggies are better this way cause the flavors are infused in the veggies. (you know how good carrots are when cooked with a roast. . . ? uh huh...)
When I have kids, I'm in big trouble. Neither Mark or I are big fans of veggies. On the rare occasion that we eat them...they are usually from a frozen bag or a can. So sad. Your mac n' cheese looks delicious!
Oh please share what you find out as I do the same thing!
I can't wait to try that recipe for the pumpkin seeds. We carved pumpkins the other night and I did just a regular version of pumpkin seeds. I thought that they were delicious. The family gobbled them up very quickly. I love worster stuff...sounds like it is a good recipe. I might have to go and buy a little pumpkin so that we can try that recipe out. Mmmmm....Now I am wishing that I had read this post before piano lessons so that I could have already gone to the store. Maybe later.
Okay, here is my fave veggie recipe.
Toss cauliflower, sweet potatoes and red onions (all chopped) in olive oil and broil on a cookie sheet until tender (about 30 minutes). Then mix them up with 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Serve. Yum!
P.S. I've been away for a while. What's with the raging hormones? Did I miss something?
White sauce mixed with cream cheese and salt. Makes broccoli heavenly.
I'm all about the brown sugar over carrots, too - genius.
I sneak spinach in pretty much everything - sandwiches, soup, casseroles, etc.
Do they eat potatoes? Funeral potatoes never go wrong.
And Pioneer Woman makes a wicked corn casserole.
The book Kristina mentioned, Deceptively Delicious, truly is fabulous and worth grabbing a copy of.
And oh my how I luuuurve homemade mac&cheese!
My kids love raw veggies and dip, and will sometimes eat steamed veggies if cheese sauce is on the menu. They mostly hate cooked veggies though, so I usually make those for my hubby and myself and just have carrots, celery, and cucumber slices as a standard part of every meal.
I have no recipes for you off-hand. :(
But that mac and cheese looks YUMMY!
I want a good spanish rice recipe too! If you find one send it my way. I need someone to make me eat veggies. I'm terrible at liking them...Chris begs for veggies. Caleb loves broccoli only because my mom made it for him. I need to do better...so any good tips that work for you be sure and pass them on. PS my SIL used the Deceptively Delicious book and i tried a couple different recipes. I could eat veggies like that! I just need someone to sneak them in for me...and since I do the cooking...well you know!
Okay..now you have to share the mac and cheese recipe!
P.S. I've got nothing...I didn't read all of the comments above (guilty), hopefully they had some good ideas. Around heres it green beans or bust. I gave up a long time ago.
I seriously hate vegetables...unless they are smothered in ranch
Kristina is correct. I need to get that book. I am so like you. I nuke a can of beans or a can of corn 2 minutes before we eat. Luckily, my children like them. My only suggestion is to add cinnamon to the brown sugar you put on the cooked carrots. Or make green bean casserole. (green beans, cream of mushroom, french fried onions, mix and nuke 4 minutes.)
There's a cookbook called Deceptively Delicious and it mixes veggies into regular kid approved meals so that they don't even know they're eating them. My BF's 5 year old will literally make herself throw up if she thinks that there are certain green veggies in what she's eating so this book has been really helpful for her. And she's not the only mom I've heard recommend it. So it must be pretty good!
If your kids like raw veggies, serve them with ranch dressing that they can dip them in. That mac & cheese does look yummy!
Thanks for this post. I'm totally scrounging through the comments to steal these ideas.
My kids love it when I roast veggies in the oven. I lay the vegetables out on a cookies sheet drizzle a littl olive oil over them. Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper mix it around to coat all the vegetable pieces and bake at 400 degrees until veggies reach desired tenderness. they like this way better than if I just steam veggies. I hope you can find a way you kids will eat them!!!
When I steam carrots I always sprinkle just a little brown sugar on top.
i can so relate to this post. they are pretty good about eating corn and peas, but that gets old pretty fast. I was inspired by your post though and made carrots. You shred them, pour a little olive oil on and sprinkle with salt and pepper. They taste really sweet and the kids ate them last night.
My kids aren't the greatest with veggies either...then my sister in law told me about veggie noodles. They are on the pasta aisle and they are good. Give them a try.
Have you tried these green beans?
http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/03/caramelized-green-beans_21.html
My kids gobble those up.
It seems that most of the common ways to make veggies taste good, also take the healthy factor out of them! lol. So my tricks are grilling and roasting. EVERY vegetable tastes better roasted. Seriously. Drizzle in olive oil and stick in a 400 degree oven and veggies will caramelize and sweeten and taste out of this world!
i'm all for those frozen veggies in a microwave steam packet. i think they even come with cheese sauce or something, although i prefer mine plain.
I won't be of much help because I hate vege's myself. I'll eat the occasional broccoli and califlower and sometimes green beans. Corn is always great but I dont really count that cause it seems to easy. :)
Since my kids have me as a mom I'm afraid I'm not being a good example (seriously I just started eating broccoli/califlower last year).
Good luck! Oh and I have the book Deceptively Delicious (the one Seinfelds wife wrote). My sister in law swears by it. The problem I have with it is that I"M the one that needs it so I can't be the one that puts it in, haha.
I make a hamburger soup that has cabbage, green beans, zuchini, carrots, and green peas in it. My girls seem to like it. I also make lasgna with zuchini, and spinach, in it. I like to cook those then I don't feel so guilty about serving an extra dish with vegetable. Also, I use the purple purree from sneaky chief. It is blueberry and spinach mixed together. I use it in my hamburger when making taco's. Everyone loves them even my husband. Mostly I have a frozen bag of brocoli, carrots, and cauliflower for a side dish. Also my kids do like cucummber and cut up bell peppers(the yellow ones). I get those out before I cook dinner, and usually they are all gone before dinner starts. Hopefully that helps.
I didn't comment because I have no great suggestions and wanted to read everyone else's. I try to compensate for our lack of good vegetables with lots of fruit. I still wish we were better with veggies though. We just have a lot of frozen corn, peas, and mixed veggies. We've never even tried other kinds beyond that; I guess I'm not any more brave than my kids are.
Thanks for writing this post...I am totally going to steal the ideas now...the only ideas I have that work are to give pseudonyms to the veggies. The two that work (and that my kids will eat) are: Green trees (brocolli) and green balls (peas). Not very original, but effective (for those veggies).
:~D
Our quickie stand by veg is...(drum roll) raw carrots. Peeled and cut in skinny sticks. Dipped in Ranch, the kids love em. I do, too.
We are total veggie FANS!!! LOTS of butter (okay, not too much...but you see my booty so you know...) and SPICES! That is what makes veggies fantastic!
My boys will eat just about any raw vegetable with ranch dressing. If I don't have that available there is no hope (unless its corn with melted butter.) I guess there was this debate for a while on whether that was actually a grain or a vegetable. Latest I heard corn was both though.
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