Leftover Turkey Ideas

Happy Thanksgiving from our kitchen to yours!

Need ideas of what to do with all that leftover turkey...

try substituting turkey in some of these recipes :)

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad/Wraps
Baked Chicken Chimichangas

Cheesy Chicken Soup 

Chicken & Pasta 

Chicken Pot Pie (Bisquick)
Chicken Pot Pie (Pie Crust)
Chicken Roll Ups
Chicken Tetrazzini
Chicken Ziti 

Crockpot Enchiladas 

Family Style Nachos 

Green Chili Enchiladas 

Loaded Baked Potatoes 

Sour Cream Enchiladas 

Taco Turkey Wraps
Tex-Mex Pizza
Tortilla Soup 

Veggie Chicken Pasta
Veggie Chicken Quesadillas

School Lunch Ideas

My local MoM's group is at it again :)  This time, the question was ideas for school lunches for kids beyond the PB&J.   In addition to my sack lunch post from way back, here is a compilation from some of our fellow busy moms!

• Beans - garbanzo, black beans, ranch beans etc
• Tilapia fish sticks
• Sliced meats or shredded cheese
• Baby bell cheeses
• Simple veggies, beets, broccoli, peas, corn (on and off the cob) red cabbage, celery, carrots, jicama, pickles!
• Egg taco with a piece of turkey bacon inside
• Peanut butter or almond butter on thin apple slices 
• Hot dogs, or little central market breakfast links
• Yogurt smoothies in a thermos
• Tamales
• Taco meat and a "taco shell to make your own"
• Mini bagels with cream cheese
• Dinner left overs
• Small thermos with chicken noodle soup or macaroni
• Cream cheese & jelly sandwiches
• Hard boiled eggs
• Pasta w/ butter & parmesan or pesto (sometimes with cubed chicken)
• Ham cubes stirred up w/ a little apricot jelly, cheese & buttered bread (cut all of it into cubes)
• Veggie ideas: sweet mini peppers or cucumbers with or without ranch dip, spinach leaves/croutons 
• Cream cheese and sliced banana sandwich - on a CRACKER if you kids don't like sandwiches.
• Yogurt dip - plain yogurt with minced cucumber and fresh chopped dill - eat with bagel chips.
• Turkey spring roll - cabbage leaf with shredded turkey, chopped mango, chopped avocado, and bean sprouts.
• Mozzarella sticks
• Hummus (and veggies to dip with)
• Edamame
• Cheese cubes
• Mini Ritz pb crackers
• Greek yogurt w/ honey and fruit

What do you have to add?

First Finger Foods...

My local Mothers's of Multiples Club had a question come up recently about ideas for first finger foods. While, I am past that stage now, I thought it would be a good compilation for at least a few readers of this blog. Here are the responses...please comment with your own additions.

• bananas or avocado coated in crushed cheerios or wheat germ for easier handling
• cheerios
• diced fruit
• Baby puffs
• toasted bread and bagels
• spiral pasta
• cooked veggies
• cheese
• Pirates Booty
• lunch meats
• black beans cut in half
• Baby Mum Mums
• tofu
• sweet potato fries
• waffles

Snack Ideas

A friend of mine posted a request on Facebook today for toddler friendly snack ideas (specifically peanut butter free) since her family was getting tired of crackers & cheese sticks. I thought I would compile the list of responses here as a reminder and a refresher for us busy mommies who need to change things up once in a while :)

• Cereal
• Quaker oatmeal squares
• Yogurt
• Jelly toast
• Whipped cream cheese with ranch dip mix as a spread on ritz crackers
• Applesauce
• Jello
• Fruit cups
• Cheese cracker snacks
• 100 calorie pack snacks
• Dried fruit
• Pretzels
• Pretzel sticks
• Craisins
• Raisins
• Granola bars
• Popcorn
• Trail mix
• Banana chips
• Veggie chips
• Cheerios and marshmallows
• Fruit a bu
• Cheez its
• Popchips
• Pumpkin bread
• Banana bread
• Graham crackers
• Natural Cheetos
• Animal Crackers
• Brothers All Natural fruit crisps
• Rice cakes
• Veggie sticks
• Baked chips
• No Sugar Cookies
  

Here is also a list I had saved from a while ago of some healthy snacks. Many of these include peanut butter if your family doesn't have peanut sensitivities:

Ants on a Log: Spread peanut butter or cream cheese on celery sticks and top with raisins.

ABC Snax: Mix together 1 cup Post Honeycomb Letter Alpha-Bits; 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries; and 1/4 cup peanuts for a healthy trail mix.

Fruit Burritos: Spread a tortilla with peanut butter and add sliced fruit such as strawberries, apples, and/or bananas. Fold the ends and wrap up tightly.

Granola Bars: These are a much better alternative to candy bars. But read the label to make sure the fat or sugar content is low.

Nuts and Seeds: This delicious snack choice has lots of protein, minerals, and vitamins. They are also high in fat – but in a good way.

Frozen Fruit Bars: Make and freeze juice pops with real fruit juice. You can also add small chunks of fruit for added fiber. Frozen grapes are also a great kid pleaser.

Ready to eat cereal: Many ready to eat cereals such as granola or those which contain whole grain and no added sugar, are very nutritious.

Homemade muffins and quick breads: If your child likes muffins, they will love munching on homemade quick bread. Many of these recipes include pureed fruits and vegetables, which add to the nutritional content.

Non-dairy yogurt or jello packs and cheese: Make sure that these are purchased from the grocery shelves, not the chilled dairy compartment. These foods stay fresh and safe unless they are opened. Individual unsweetened applesauce servings is another good choice.

Please leave a comment if you have something to add :)

Sack Lunch Ideas

This list is geared toward kid lunches, but many of these work well for a hubby's lunch as well :)

• Use pita bread or tortilla wraps in place of traditional sandwich bread. In addition to typical lunch meats and cheese, you can also include extra “goodies” like lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, etc.
  

• Make kabobs with ham or turkey, cheese, mushrooms, olives, pickles, tomatoes, and other assorted veggies.
  

• Salsa and chips will definitely be more interesting than a bag of regular chips. Or try cut-up veggies with ranch dressing or pretzels and cheese sauce.

• Jell-O is almost always a hit, especially when it has been molded into fun shapes with a cookie cutter. Don’t forget to include a plastic spoon in the lunchbox!

• Crunchy granola sweetened with raisins and/or chocolate chips are a great alternative to high-fat snacks. I personally prefer to buy mine already made at Chamberlains or Whole Foods, but there is an easy recipe below if you want to make yours from scratch.

• Pack extra snacks if your child is in an after-school program so they will be properly fueled for school and play. Drinks and food generally do not retain a chilled state past 3-5 hours, so make sure they are non-perishable.

• Make boring sandwiches suddenly appear interesting by cutting them out with cookie cutters. Bake small pizzas in a square shape. Add sauce, cheese, green pepper strips for X's, and Pepperoni for O's. This can be put in a square, plastic sandwich container and served cold. Pasta salad is another option. Use fun-shaped and colored pasta, such as small shells, wagon wheels, or ABCs.

• Healthy snacks are just as important as nutritious lunches, so avoid prepackaged treats like cookies and candy. Instead opt for pretzels, graham or whole-wheat crackers, yogurt, cheese, sesame breadsticks, trail mix, rice cakes, applesauce, or pudding.

• Remember to always include a cold pack in your child’s lunch for their cold food/drinks to avoid contamination. Or freeze water bottles or juice boxes the night before (they will thaw out by lunch time). You can always send milk in your child’s lunch if they drink it, but never include soda!

• Tuck fun treasures in their lunch box like a funky pencil or eraser; throw in some fun stickers; or write a special note or little card to just say “I’m thinking about you today!” You could even jot down a silly joke to brighten their day and they can share with their friends. Slip in a colorful napkin to celebrate a special day such as a birthday or holiday.

• Lunch doesn’t always have to come in the form of sandwiches. Pack healthy appetizers and finger foods or a cold pasta dish.

From: Busy Moms Recipes