Tips To Convince Your Kids for Dinner Meals

Mom “I don’t want to eat broccoli, its taste is weird. I want to eat something different”. I am a mother of two this is what I get to hear from my kids very often. Isn’t it frustrating and also annoying. I am tired of trying new recipes and convincing them to eat something healthy. Kids are the worst picky eaters on this planet. I thought why not to do some web research on the same to know things more in depth and look out for some solution to curb the their eating problems.

They even check your patience by making their mothers to run after them and feed their kids while walking or watching TV.

Not everyone but some kids have aversion towards certain food textures, colors and smells etc. One day they may eat a particular meal with full interest and the other day they simply won’t open their mouth to eat their favorite meal. 

Latest research from Duke University School of Medicine proves that picky or selective eating habits in kids may point to some psychological disorders like anxiety and depression among them (Source). I thought not to go into the depth of this research rather look out for some other options.

The kids eating nature and behavior has been categorized into three types:

1. The normal picky eaters have aversions to a particular food type like broccoli and cabbage.
2. Moderate ones prefer to have limited meals. Doesn’t matter if their parents serve special meals after every three hours for them. They will eat always in limit.
3. Severe picky eaters are very tough to handle. They are so selective in their food selection and do not prefer to eat with others. They don’t even eat at birthday parties, or any occasion and will often bring their own food. Hence, creating problems for their parents as their eating habits fully interfere with family life.

For those moms who find it hard to deal with their kids, here is the solution.

Cooking Lessons for Roasting Shrimp in Oven

You know what maximum percentage of people in America eat shrimp rather than tuna or chicken. According to consumerreports.org, 18 million servings of shrimp dishes are there in the everyday menu of American households. It’s one of the most favorite’s meals served so it becomes quite necessary to go through every methods and tips of cooking shrimp. Be it in the stovetop, grilling, roasting etc. What we will be discussing here is the roasting of shrimp in the oven. This may seem to be quite easy for many but it’s not that easy. If not done properly you may end up into something dry and tasteless or 

overcooked shrimp in the oven.

To enjoy the hot and juicy shrimp, which is then tossed over your favorite noodles, pasta or rice try to roast it properly in oven. The best part is that unlike other meat types even if they are frozen they won’t take that much time to cook in the oven.

These can be cooked with ease in the oven like other seafood as they do cook fast. I feel it’s a great way to cook them in oven you simply have to put a tray in the shrimp in oven while you are busy with other work in kitchen. You set the time and then you see your shrimp dish is ready to be served.

If you buy the shrimp much earlier than the time when you cook it. It’s better to keep them in the refrigerator rather than the freezer just to make sure it is brought to the normal temperature. Or else you can keep it under standing water for some time to bring it to room temperature.

Now let me discuss how to actually go with the roasting process of Shrimp in Oven.

Ingredients

1. 1 peeled, deveined, medium-sized shrimp with tails intact 
2. Olive oil
3. Kosher salt
4. Black pepper 

Instructions

1. Pre-Heat oven to 400°F: While you preheat oven to 400°F place a rack in its middle part.
2. Bring shrimp to normal temp: Bring the frozen shrimp to normal room temperature for that you can keep it under cold water. Drain off the water from the skin of shrimp to make sure it’s not drenched enough.
3. How to check if it’s dry now: Once shrimp is at the normal room temperature it turns translucent, soft and also bend now. It may take just minutes to test then use towel to pat it dry. 
4. Use olive oil over shrimp’s surface: Just toss it with olive oil.
5. Use salt and pepper for seasoning it: Use salt and black pepper for seasoning it.
6. Place it over baking sheet: Use baking sheet and place shrimp over it to make sure there is a single layer with much of the space.
7. Make sure you bake it for 6 to 8 minutes: Keep on baking it till shrimp may turn   white and pink and opaque from translucent texture. Remove it from oven and then serve it hot.

Now you may wonder what all shrimp recipes are there which you can try. To conclude here are some of my suggestions for tried and tested shrimp recipes from brands like Knorr shrimp recipes such as Roasted Red Pepper Pasta with Shrimp and Realsimple Shrimp recipes and Roasted Tomatoes Shrimp Feta.

My Delicious Chicken Alfredo Recipe Findings

I have discussed it many times that my husband is a picky eater he wants something new in flavors, seasonings in every dish which I serve him. At times I myself feel annoyed as I cannot prepare a variety dish for him at least not every day. But at last it’s me who has to do something to bring smile on his face. After all it’s me who has to put some more pains and look out for some different recipes options that really do need patience. I did some research on web and looked out for some ways to make chicken recipe in a different style. This time I looked for a video on YouTube, this recipe is Spicy Chicken Alfredo, the lady here clearly mentions about the ways of cooking this recipe that too step by step which I loved the most. She has used here Knorr Pasta Sides for making the chicken Alfredo recipe.

I have just taken note of the ingredients which you are used in this recipe and are shared here.

Ingredients for Spicy Chicken Alfredo:

• 1 packet Knorr Pasta Sides Alfredo Flavor
• 1 TBSP butter
• 1.5 cups water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/3 cup onion, julienned
• 1/3 sweet red pepper
• 2 serrano peppers, seeded and diced
• 1 large chicken breast, butterflied
• cajun seasoning for chicken
• olive oil

For directions you can click on the above link and follow the methods from the video that is going to help you out certainly.

This recipe can be served for the dinner and is quite substantial as well. Apart from rest of the ingredients it makes use of Knorr Pasta Sides Alfredo Flavor which actually does the half part of the cooking as it is easily available and easy to use. While looking on the web which other mix of ingredients and seasonings I can add to Knorr Pasta Sides - Alfredo for making varied recipes. I came across Knorr Chicken Alfredo Recipe which can be prepared in just 15 minutes this another amazing recipe for chicken and Alfredo. I have planned to make this recipe sometimes during weeknights when I am really tired from office work and does not want to cook something that takes time.

Actually I have a small TV placed in my kitchen. So while watching the recipe video and following the instructions I prepare my dish accordingly. This I feel is an easy way out if you want to make dish instantly. I feel video is more descriptive rather than penning down the entire direction method on the paper and then looking at the video for making the dish.

I would like people to share their comments and experiences after reading this post. They should really try both of these Chicken Alfredo Recipes rather than sticking to the old ones.  As things keep on change every now and then so do the recipes and their cooking styles.

You can share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ just to help wives like me who really want to please their family members with different dishes served at dinner table.

My Chicken Treat Recipes for Washington’s Birthday Holiday

Hello everyone I am back with something new and interesting to share with you all. I am penning down my thoughts here. This is all about how I spent my yesterday’s holiday. This weekend I was so much busy that I could not get time to sit and relax even for a second. After successful celebration of Valentine’s Day which I had shared earlier here Valentine’s Day Recipes Serve to Your Lover. On Feb 16, it was Washington’s Birthday which is a federal holiday celebrated in the honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States.

So it was a long weekend for my kids and husband. They all were expecting me to serve something good and really delicious at the dinner table. So being a mom and wife I had to make them feel really happy and serve something different and scrumptious. One thing was there in my mind why not to cook something that is really easy and doesn’t take hours to prepare. I picked up my smartphone and browsed different recipes over the web and came across the below listed two recipes from Knorr. I have been often using Knorr products quite for some time now. Earlier I was using recipes from Kraft and Epicurious. Recipes from these two food brands are also good but as you all know we want always something new and really different to eat. I thought change is must!

I have read about Knorr chicken recipe’s ratings and reviews these are quite satisfactory. I thought why not to look-up for something easy to cook actually I wanted chicken recipes that can be cooked in just 30 minutes. So I zeroed in my search and choose the following two chicken recipes.

Fiesta Lime Chicken & Rice:

This one I choose because as my kids like the chicken and rice combination a lot. Also it can be prepared in less than 30 minutes. Other than chicken which is one of its main ingredient it contains taco toppings shredded cheddar cheese, chopped tomatoes and onion along with tortilla chips which are loved by my kids. You can go through the video of How to Make Knorr Fiesta Lime Chicken & Rice Bowl just for better clarity of the cooking method. This one is twist to the basic recipe for chicken and rice. Isn’t it surprising that such a delicious chicken dish gets ready in just few minutes? Its servings are for four and ours is also a family of four so it was quite a substantial one for all of us. I liked this one as it contains the mixture of lime with rice which gives a superb flavor to this dish.

Coconut-Curry Chicken:

Another chicken dish which I opted for; but this one has chicken with a gravy along with rice. This one was totally different one; which I tried for the first time. We generally take bread instead of rice but for the first time we thought to go for such a combination. I find rice quite a substantial one so opted for this one. Here you need curry powder, bell pepper and coconut milk which are basically required for making a curry so go for them always. Here also I have added a video URL just to know the recipe methods in detail. This video will surely clear all your cooking doubts there is no scope for any goof ups. Have a look at the video How to Make Knorr Coconut Curry which itself is quite explanatory. I followed the cooking instructions as per the video and cooked this dish accordingly.

Quite to my surprise everyone in my family loved it. My husband who is a picky eater and is always particular about the texture of the served chicken. He was quite surprised as these two chicken recipes tasted different to him. The first word that my husband uttered after eating them was “Delicious”.

You know what heart-in-heart I was quite happy as I could cook something quite different and delicious being it my first attempt at cooking of these new chicken recipes. These chicken dishes made my day and I was feeling satisfied and happy.

My Second New Year Celebrations for January 14

Everyone’s Christmas and New Year hangover must be almost over now. They all must have started up their daily routine of busy lives. But for those who have faith in Orthodox Christian their time for celebrating festivals just started with Christmas celebration on Jan 7 and New Year Celebration on Jan 14.

So tomorrow is their New Year.

Actually why am I writing all about it reason being like me I thought you all must also not be familiar about it. My grandparents believe in this and they celebrate Jan 14 2015 as their New Year. So for me I am gearing up myself for the New Year celebrations for the second time for the same year.  There is not a public holiday observed here in the US but you can get to see huge traffic and parking around Orthodox churches all over the US.

Discussions apart. Now I have come up with such an easy dinner recipe which I could make at home to rejoice both my grandparents and parents. This was a big responsibility as I did not want to end up with something bad. So I browsed the web and came across these two   Knorr dinner recipes and My Recipes dinner recipes as their respective cooking time were less so I choose them.

Have a look at their recipes here one by one.

1:- Knorr Chipotle Chicken Pasta 

Recipe Serves 4 | Preparation Time 10 min | Cooking Time 18 min

Ingredients

1. 1 1/4 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2. 2 Tbsp. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread, divided
3. 1 large red bell pepper
4. 1/8 tsp. ground chipotle chile pepper
5. 1 can (11 oz.) whole kernel corn, drained
6. 2 cups water
7. 1 package Knorr® Pasta Sides™ - Chicken flavor
8. 1/4 cup sour cream
9. 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (about 2 oz.)

Directions

1. Season chicken, if desired, with salt and ground black pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon Spread in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Remove chicken and set aside.
2. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon Spread in same skillet over medium heat and cook red pepper and chipotle pepper, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes or until red pepper is tender. Stir in corn and water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in Knorr® Pasta Sides™ - Chicken flavor and return to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to medium and cook covered, stirring occasionally, 6 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir in chicken and sour cream; heat through. Sprinkle with cheese.

2:- My Recipes Beach Shrimp Recipe

Ingredients

1. 3 pounds unpeeled, large raw shrimp* $
2. 1 (16-oz.) bottle Italian dressing $
3. 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly ground pepper
4. 2 garlic cloves, pressed
5. 2 lemons, halved $
6. 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
7. 1/2 cup butter, cut up $

Direction 

1. Place first 4 ingredients in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish, tossing to coat. Squeeze juice from lemons over shrimp mixture, and stir. Add lemon halves to pan. Sprinkle evenly with parsley; dot with butter.
2. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Serve in pan.
3. 3 lb frozen peeled, large raw shrimp, thawed according to package directions, may be substituted. Prepare recipe as directed, reducing pepper to 1/2 tsp.

I am going to try both of them and will certainly share my experiences with you all.

Till then try them at home again Happy New Year.

Beef Recipes Cooked With a Different Style

Tired of repeating same style of cooking beef every time. I have come up with some delicious beef recipes which you can actually cook differently. These healthy and easy ground beef recipes do not need much of your time. Always go for the healthy and organic beef meat which is easily available in the supermarkets near to you.

The ground beef recipes has good nutritional benefit as it is enriched with nutrients like vitamins, minerals and is also loved by many.

Let me share beef recipes which are one of my favorites and are also filling and a crowd pleaser.

Beef Stir-Fry:

This is very simple stir-fry Chinese dish that is great in taste. It can be served with steamed rice. It is quite filling meat and hence can be cooked for everyone in the family anytime.

Caribbean beef curry:

Simply season beef with curry. Heat them a bit in oil. Read the rest of the instructions in the link. This is my favorite among rest as it is made into a delicious curry which makes it a lighter touch. The beef meat cut used here is good with herbs and seasonings and fresh vegetables which make it taste amazing.

I will be posting much more beef recipes in future as these are my favorites apart from chicken recipes. Drop your comments in the box below I would like to know how you people found them.

Cook Italian in Your Kitchen on this Columbus Day

Do you really need any reason to cook an Italian dish for your family? Don’t feel confused yes you have a reason and it is the Columbus Day celebration. So I have come up with three Italian recipes which I am planning to prepare this Columbus day which falls on coming Monday. This Columbus Day is called a national holiday in the United States.

Since our childhood we learned about Christopher Columbus. He was the person who said yes earth is round and in late 15th century many people believed that.

It may be quite surprising to know that Columbus found many new and amazing food that too in bright colors and bold flavors. He used to discover new food items which he and his seamen ate on their way. He was fond of eating Italian food that too with toppings of different colors which made the dish quite striking.

Let me discuss here some of the Italian recipe which I am going to make this Columbus day.

Four cheese pasta with shrimp & spinach:

You can prepare this creamy, cheesy pasta with juicy shrimp, sweet roasted red peppers, and spinach in just flat 15 minutes. Does it really sound good? This dish is ready in just minutes simply by the use of Knorr Italian Side - 4 Cheese Pasta. This dish can be easily changed into the meal for four that will surely be substantial for a small family. Click here for recipe.

Red, white and blue bruschetta:

Bruschetta is an appetizer which can be easily pre-made on the grill or in oven just in minutes. This classic toasted bread appetizer is made with a topping of red sun-dried tomato, bowl of blueberries, feta cheese crumbles and much more to make it more appealing. Click Here for recipe.

Columbus Day Oil Poached Tuna Salad:

This is a perfect Columbus Day recipe which can be served with salad on cold greens that can take tuna salad to new rise. Simply dash here salad greens with dressing.  There is no need to use canned tuna here instead cook the tuna on your own which helps to retain its quality. This is usually liked on the medium-rare side. There is no need to use a grill for preparing tuna. You can use poaching olive oil for making it moist and also flavorful. Click here for recipe.

Let’s celebrate Columbus Day with these Italian dishes and say thanks to him for his great discoveries.