Honey Granola

Ingredients

1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup unprocessed bran
1/2 cup raisins, optional

Directions

In a 9-in. square baking pan, combine honey, butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir in oats and bran. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Stir in raisins if desired. Cool. Store in covered container. Yield: about 3 cups.

Mexican Chicken Penne for kids

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) uncooked penne pasta
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1-1/4 cups salsa con queso dip
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the chicken, dip, milk and salt.
Drain pasta; return to pan. Stir in chicken mixture and toss to coat. Heat through. Yield: 6 servings.

Kid-Size Pizza

Ingredients

2 tubes (7-1/2 ounces each) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1-1/2 teaspoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

Roll or pat biscuits into 2-1/2 in. circles. Place on greased baking sheets.
In a small bowl, combine the tomato sauce, onion, oregano, basil and garlic powder; spread over the biscuits. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Yield: 20 mini pizzas.

Kid's Favorite Biscuits

Ingredients

1 tube (12 ounces) refrigerated flaky buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup jelly

Directions

Separate biscuits; pat onto the bottom and up the sides of greased muffin cups. Bake at 450° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove to a wire rack.
Place a scant tablespoonful of peanut butter in each warm biscuit cup; top with a scant tablespoonful of jelly. Serve immediately. Yield: 10 servings.

Kids' Sushi

Ingredients

10 Fruit Roll-Ups
10 pieces multi-colored licorice
4 cups miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup butter, cubed
5 cups crisp rice cereal

Directions

Unroll the Fruit Roll-Ups, leaving paper attached. Cut licorice lengthwise into thin strips; set aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine marshmallows and butter. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 minutes or until melted, stirring once a minute. Add cereal; stir to coat.
Place about 1/2 cup cereal mixture on the edge of each roll-up; place licorice in the center of the mixture. Roll up sushi rolls to about 1-inch diameter. Discard paper. Trim edges of rolls; cut each into four pieces. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 40 pieces.

Handwiches

Ingredients

1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed
2-1/2 cups finely chopped fully cooked ham
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water

Directions

Let dough to rise according to package directions. Punch down; divide into 10 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 5-in. circle. Carefully place one circle on a greased baking sheet.
Place about 1/4 cup ham and 2 tablespoons cheese to within 1/2 in. of edges; press filling to flatten. Combine egg yolk and water; brush edges of dough with egg yolk mixture. Fold dough over filling and pinch edges to seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Brush tops with remaining egg yolk mixture.
Bake at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cold. If desired, cool and freeze. Yield: 10 servings.

Not Mom's Peatnut Butter

Ingredients

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup finely chopped apples
1/2 cup finely chopped dates, optional
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional
8 slices bread

Directions

In a bowl, combine the peanut butter and orange juice until blended. Add the apples and dates or walnuts if desired. Spread on four slices of bread; top with remaining bread. Yield: 4 servings.

Granola Banana Sticks

Ingredients

1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons honey
4-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons milk
3 medium firm bananas
6 Popsicle sticks
2 crunchy oat and honey granola bars, crushed

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine the peanut butter, honey, brown sugar and milk; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Peel bananas and cut in half widthwise; insert a Popsicle stick into one end of each banana half. Spoon peanut butter mixture over bananas to coat completely. Sprinkle with granola. Serve immediately or place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet and freeze. Yield: 6 servings.

Kiddo's Munchies

Ingredients

1 package (18 ounces) granola without raisins
1 can (17 ounces) mixed nuts
1 package (15 ounces) raisins
1 package (14 ounces) milk chocolate M&M's
1 package (14 ounces) peanut M&M's
1 package (12-1/4 ounces) Honey-Nut Cheerios
1 package (8.9 ounces) Cheerios

Directions

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Store in a covered container or large resealable plastic bags. Yield: 4-1/2 quarts.