Getting kids to brush their pearly whites for the recommended two minutes isn’t easy. By any stretch of the imagination. And while Will typically does (plus some) thanks to a cute little timer from his dentist, Paige is a much harder sell on proper teeth brushing procedures.

I probably should have guessed that would be the case when she preferred the infant finger brush to real teeth brushing until she was in preschool and I forced her to adapt. But I digress.

Anyway, when I was asked by Mom It Forward to check out the new ARM & HAMMER™ Tooth Tunes™ One Direction Toothbrush and write about it, it was a perfect fit. They sent me one of the toothbrushes to try out and I knew just who would do the testing. After all, I know a certain little girl who adores One Direction.

She was downright giddy when I gave her the toothbrush. Literally brimming with excitement. And for the first (and second!) time ever, she happily brushed for two minutes without batting an eye. Turns out that listening to What Makes You Beautiful while brushing makes those two minutes pass by super fast for my five year old.

As a mom, I am totally in love with this toothbrush. It awoke a tooth-brushing enthusiasm in Paige, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Do you have a special trick for encouraging kids to brush for two minutes? Spill in the comments below.

PS: The company really wanted you to know that ARM & HAMMER Tooth Tunes featuring One Direction is the only toothbrushes that plays One Direction in North America. So now you do.

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Disclaimer: I am part of the Mom It Forward blogger network. Mom It Forward and ARM & HAMMER™ Tooth Tunes™ partnered in support of this campaign. I am being compensated for my participation, however (as always) all opinions and experiences are my own.

The post Healthy Kids: Two Minutes of Brushing appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

You know what I love about fall? It’s a mix of so many great things — warm sunlight, crisp temperatures and breezes, sweet apples and carving big pumpkins, to name a few. And it has Halloween — one of my very favorite days of the year. Yes, it’s a pretty awesome time.

And although we are kind of active all year, fall is a time when we are pretty busy running around between responsibilities and our special traditions (like apple picking!). Staying active is so important to being a healthy family. By being active together, it really sends the message to the kids that an active lifestyle matters.

How do we stay active in the fall?

Playing Soccer

Kicking a soccer ball around the yard — or around the field — on a crisp fall day is one of those perfect moments. The cool air fills your lungs and cools your skin. Both my kids love soccer. This is Paige’s first year in soccer, but she’s totally in love with the sport already. It’s really amazing to watch her play and see how much she already knows — just from watching Will play over the years. As for Will, he’s in his fourth year of soccer. This year, the practices and drills get a little more focused and the games get a little more intense. He’s taking it in stride.

Apple Picking

It’s not fall unless the kids and head to the orchard for a day of picking too many apples. It always involves a lot of walking and plenty of apple eating among the trees. I swear, we always pick so many that my arms hurt carrying the overflowing bag. And then when we get home, I wonder how I could possibly use them all. Before I know it, they’ve gone into pies, turnovers, sauces and more.

Fall Walks

Fall is my absolute favorite times to take the kids to nearby parks for long trail walks. With the leaves changing colors, it becomes an explosion of senses — seeing the bright leaves, hearing the babbling stream, smelling the crisp finality of the season. It’s such a pleasure. And even when we don’t get to the park, there are so many picturesque places to walk and check out the leaves at this time of year.

What are your favorite fall activities?

I was asked to talk a little about how my family stays active in the fall by Together Counts, a nationwide program whose goal is to inspire active and healthy living.  It’s a  first-of-its-kind coalition that brings together more than 200 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, sporting goods and insurance companies, trade associations and non-governmental organizations, and professional sports organizations in this common purpose (to inspire families to eat well and live well).

To learn more about Together Counts and being an active family, join Together Counts at a Twitter party on 10/17 (click to RSVP)  from 8-9 PM EST. Use the hashtag #TogetherCounts to follow along and chat! And be sure to check them out on Facebook and Pinterest while you are at it!

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Disclosure: I am being compensated through the Global Influence Together Counts campaign. All opinions are my own.

The post Staying Active in the Fall, and Together Counts appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

We’re into the swing of things now. School started in late August, and we’ve acclimated to the waking up thing. We’ve also found a new flow with the new (later) bus pick up times. Well, mostly.

Packing lunches? Got it! I have a flow to things. Will gets a main item — a sandwich or leftovers, usually — and three other items (one for snack time, two to be eaten with lunch). Typically two of those are fresh fruits or veggies. We really, really love our fresh fruits and veggies. Since it’s fall, we’ve been doing a lot of apples and peppers (my kids adore red bell peppers), along with bananas. But with winter coming, I’ll need some new options to keep things interesting.

Recently, I had the opportunity to try Libby’s Single-Serve Fruit Cups, which are available in Mixed Fruit, Diced Pears, Diced Peaches and Cherry Mixed Fruit. Each cup contains a serving of fruit. Honestly, the scent of these fruits as my kids opened them took me back to my childhood. I loved when I would find diced peaches or pears in my lunchbox, so it was fun to try these. I haven’t bought fruit cups like this in years, but they can be a good option for tossing into lunchboxes or bringing along for a quickie snack.

The kids were so excited, since this is totally out of the norm for us. What they really enjoyed was that the cups had firm, sweet fruit that was all ready to eat with a spoon — no need to cut into anything or do anymore than open them. For me, I appreciate how sturdy the cups are (which really is a big deal — kids can be so rough with lunchboxes). But I do wish these cups were available packed in pineapple juice instead of light syrup — hopefully Libby’s will release juice-packed cups in the future.

Still, these are a good option for an quick grab snack or even a treat for the kids. And they can totally change up the lunchbox monotony.

Also, Libby’s has teamed up with soccer star Brandi Chastain this fall. She provided a few tips for raising healthy kids.

Brandi’s Kid Friendly Tips for Healthy Living:

• Hydrate to perform great. Kids should drink water before, during AND after exercise. While exercise generates heat and increases the body’s core temperature, water works to bring body temperature back to the normal 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Let your child pick out a colorful water bottle to make drinking water fun!
• Always make time for healthy meals. The USDA says that half our plates should be filled with colorful fruits and veggies, but when your children are constantly running from school to practice and back, it can be tough to get them to eat that perfect meal. Add Libby’s® Single Fruit Cups, which contain one complete serving of fruit, to your children’s bags for an easy and nutritious snack.
• Sleep is important! Children should receive an average of eight hours of sleep each night. Without enough sleep children get cranky and lazy, and will not perform to their full potential during school, practice or games. Help your children stick to a regular sleep schedule by making bedtime fun – read them a story or sing a song while they fall asleep.
• Turn exercise into a family affair. When exercising is a solo act, it can sometimes feel like a chore. Bring the whole family on-board and make exercising fun, family time! Join your kids in a game of soccer, Double Dutch or kickball.
• Lead by example. When you set a good example, your kids are more likely to follow. Although it’s easy to stop at the drive-thru on the way home from practice, make an effort to eat well and live a healthy lifestyle. Become a role model by exercising regularly and eating healthy foods, like Libby’s Canned Fruits and Vegetables, with your children. It’s easier when you make it a team effort!

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Disclosure: I am working with The Motherhood on a project with Libby’s and am being compensated. All opinions are my own.

The post Raising Healthy Kids and Thoughts on Libby’s Single Fruit Cups appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That’s because it fires up and fuels your noggin. Repeat: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

The question is … are your kids (and you!) eating it? If not, you all should be.

“Breakfast is key for adults and children alike, since it provides the body and brain with energy after the overnight fast. Remember, during the night the body is repairing and healing itself, for kids, growing as well. So a new dose of valuable nutrients gives the brain the energy it needs to get the body back in motion and the brain back to learning,” says Christen Cooper, MS, RD of Cooper Nutrition.

Despite the importance of breakfast, it’s a too-often often skipped meal, Cooper notes. “Recent data indicate that about 5% of children ages 2-5 skip breakfast, as do 14% of children ages 6 to 11. This number jumps during adolescence to 31% (ages 12 and 19), with girls skipping breakfast more often than boys,” says Cooper, referencing a study published in 2000 in the Journal of Adolescent Health. “For children ages 6 to 11 and 12 to 19, breakfast provides 15% to 18% of daily energy, yet it provides from 15% to almost 40% of daily intake for various vitamins and minerals and daily fiber.”

So when kids skip breakfast or eat less than nutritious ones, they head off to school without the necessary fuel to learn.

Your Body and Brain on Breakfast

Let’s talk breakfast foods for a second. What is a healthy breakfast anyway? A healthy breakfast is balanced and hearty enough to keep your kids (and you) going until lunchtime.

Cereals? They aren’t always the best choice unless you are super diligent about checking labels. “Avoid sugary kid-marketed cereals. Fortified or not, these highly processed food-ish items offer little health benefit,” advises Debra Wolf, MS Clinical Nutrition, who practices out of the Naugatuck Valley Women’s Health Specialists in Middlebury, CT. “High fructose corn syrup, a common ingredient in processed food, may be linked to increased plasma triglycerides and insulin resistance. In addition, certain artificial flavors and colors have been implicated in childhood disorders such as ADHD.”

Instead, go for well-rounded breakfasts that include items from several important food groups like fruits, dairy and grains. Which ones?

According to Cooper, the ideal breakfast includes:

• Fruit, a food to encourage, providing soluble fiber (heart healthy), vitamins and minerals
• Whole grains (providing fiber, B vitamins, minerals including folate which prevents neural tube defects). Ready-to-eat (cold or hot) breakfast cereals have been shown to promote nutrient adequacy in kids, since they are fortified and palatable to kids.
• Dairy (providing calcium and protein…Americans do not get enough lowfat and nonfat dairy)
• Lean protein (egg whites, lowfat cheese) Lean protein leads to satiety and in many people, the ability to eat reasonable portions. It also provides materials for growth and repair of body tissues.

5 Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes

Convinced on the importance of breakfast? Good. Now, let’s talk a little about what to make. One great option is to make the main component of your breakfast ahead of time. These breakfast ideas are perfect for that.

• Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bites
• Breakfast Blueberry Cake
• Whole Wheat Applesauce Graham Muffins with Streusel Topping
• Asparagus Swiss Mini Frittatas
• Red Pepper and Scallion Mini Frittatas

6 Quick Breakfast Recipes

Have time to make something fresh? These breakfast ideas are quick and easy — but totally loveable too.

• Whole Grain Toast with Mashed Avocado and An Egg
• Delicate Ham and Cheddar Omelet
• Spinach and Cheddar Egg White Omelet
• Swiss and Roasted Asparagus Omelet
• Toasty Coconut and Caramelized Banana Oatmeal Recipe
• French Toasted Apple Grilled Cheese

15 More Breakfast Ideas from Around the Web

So many great breakfast ideas can be found around the web. These 15 breakfast recipes are perfect for kids and adults alike.

• Avocado Breakfast Toast on Bell’alimento
• Crispy Gooey Trail Mix Bars on Family Fresh Cooking
• Homemade Pop Tarts on Healthy Green Kitchen
• Whole Wheat Vanilla Chocolate Chip Pancakes on Tickled Red
• Whole Wheat Raspberry and Mango Pancakes on Two Peas & Their Pod
• Spinach and Dubliner Cheese Egg Cups on The Little Kitchen
• Spinach Egg Breakfast Cups on Sweetnicks
• Green Chile and Cheese Egg Muffins on Kalyn’s Kitchen
• Freezer Sausage and Egg Burritos on The Sweets Life
• Speedy Huevos Rancheros on The College Culinarian
• Blueberry Smoothie on Bell’alimento
• Green Smoothies on Aggie’s Kitchen
• 1 Minute Blueberry Citrus Shake on Family Fresh Cooking
• Layered Fruit and Yogurt Salad on Eclectic Recipes
• Overnight Blueberry Almond Oats on Two Peas & Their Pod

Athens Foods Giveaway

Giveaway closed. Thanks to Athens Foods!

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Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post. However, Athens Foods is providing the item for giveaway and also provided me with free product that I used to create a recipe. All opinions are my own.

The post Back to School: Breakfast for your Brain appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Once upon a time, I was a mom to one veggie-loving toddler who ate everything and I thought I knew it all. I had everything figured out, and my son’s wide palate was proof positive that what I was doing worked. In some ways, I was right. He did and continues to love fruits and veggies. The way I introduced fruits and veggies as just part of our daily eating habits worked for him. But after my daughter came along, with a completely different personality and a stubborn streak bigger than I had ever seen before, I realized that there just is no one-size-fits-all solution to getting kids to eat their veggies. All kids are different.

While both my kids love fruits and veggies, Will remains my adventurous eater. Paige is more choosy. She’s not picky per se, and loves fruits and veggies. But she has some foods she refuses to touch — like lobster, for instance (but, believe it or not, it’s an ideological refusal. Yes, at age 4 1/2) and pungent cheeses. There are days when Paige loves bananas and other days where she won’t touch them. She prefers plainer brown or white rice to risotto. And given the choice, she’d happily have a hot dog or grilled chicken instead of dessert.

That last one has me baffled.

Still, I am often asked for tips on getting kids to eat their veggies. Whenever a parent learns that I am a food writer and recipe developer, their eyes light up and they lean in eagerly asking, as if I hold the holy grail of getting kids to enjoy vegetables.

I used to share some standard tips — shop the farmers market, go to a pick-your-own farm, let them choose in the grocery store, cook with them, try cooking veggies a different way, grow some veggies together — but these days, I’m over it. The bottom line is that there is no magic solution to get all kids to suddenly crave broccoli and adore asparagus. I can’t impart a pearl of wisdom for your kids, because it doesn’t exist. Yes, I can share these tips that work for some kids, but it’s not what you really want. I know what you’re looking for — it’s that instant gratification of solution that just works, changing everything in one swoop.

But much like weight loss, learning to like any food is a process that takes persistence, dedication and having a certain energizing belief that it will work. If you talk yourself or them out of liking veggies, then chances are they won’t like them anyway. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy like that. But by the same token, even if you think it will work, for some kids it just won’t. For some kids, there are deeper reasons at play that stop them from loving veggies. As I said, there is no magic answer to getting kids to eat their veggies.

Of course if you want to know why my kids like fruits and veggies, the best answer I can give is that they just do. Since they started eating solids, it was an expectation that they would eat fruits and veggies. I never wavered from that and never thought that they wouldn’t eat something. Most of all, I never said “you aren’t going to like this” or “it’s okay if you don’t like this”. For them, fruits and veggies are a natural part of their diet. There are plenty of nights in the dark days of winter where I just don’t feel like cooking and toss together pasta, Romano cheese, olive oil and whatever veggies I have on hand. The kids rank that as one of their favorite meals. Salads? They are another favorite.

Eating veggies in my house isn’t a process. I don’t have to beg them to do so. Veggies have been a huge part of their diet their whole lives, so they aren’t scary or something to be avoided. So I guess the secret is that my expectation has always been that they would eat their veggies — and they do.

This worked for me. For us.

All that said, we aren’t without our share of dinnertime issues. There are nights where all my daughter (remember, she’s 4 1/2) wants is salad — and she skips everything else. There are nights when Will’s appetite has him requesting thirds. There are nights when I make truly hideous dishes (aka recipe testing gone wrong) and there’s just nothing that any of us want. We roll with it — when Paige only wants salad, I require a few bites of something else on her plate too. When Will asks for thirds, I consider how much he’s eaten before responding (if the answer is a lot, then I say no). When the food is just bad, I break out something else or phone in an order.

And in case you are wondering, there are no forbidden foods for my kids. Sometimes, we have dessert (though my daughter politely declines more often than not). Sometimes, we have breakfast for dinner. I keep a cookie jar stocked during the school year for an after-school treat. And fast food? Yes, they eat that sometimes too. But most often, it’s a home cooked meal with 2-3 servings of fruits and veggies for summer. That’s just our norm.

This works for my family. It doesn’t mean it will work for you. You need to find what works for your kids. Be persistent. Believe. Keep trying. And hopefully, your own method will pay off too. Even if they never enjoy all veggies, relish in the ones they do enjoy. Celebrate them. Push the envelope to get them to try more. Keep at it, and I hope you find the solution for your kids.

So, I am sorry if you ever asked me “How do you get kids to eat their veggies?” and I couldn’t give you that magic answer. But the answer doesn’t exist.

The post How To Get Kids to Eat Their Veggies? (There is No Magic Answer) appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Let’s talk dinnertime conversations: Do you talk around the dinner table? Share your day? Ask your kids about theirs?

In a Family Meals Survey that I conducted in 2010, 76.6 percent of respondents said that personal news was their favorite dinnertime conversation. Another 73.4 percent said family news and 72.3 percent said what’s happening at school.

Sounds somewhat like our table.

Once the food is cooked (me), the table is set (the kids) and we’re all sitting down, I usually ask the kids how school was and what the best thing that happened that day was. Sometimes we talk about what we’ll be doing over the weekend or in the coming days. Sometimes we talk about a fun visit from a friend coming up. Or maybe I will pull out a fun imagination question like … if you could be any animal at all, what would you be and why? And we do this while also enforcing table rules — no talking with your mouth full, eating politely, etc.

The hard thing for us though is that Shawn and I come from totally different dinnertime traditions. While his family ate quietly and then lingered at the table to chat, I come from a talk-and-eat family. And since I am home for dinner almost every night and he’s not, he’s had to adapt to the way I do things.

I know. I should compromise more. But that’s a conversation for another day.

I have to tell you something though — I know that talking over dinner is important. I’ve read the research and interviewed the experts. I know it makes a differences for kids in their lives. And I also know that I enjoy it. But I also find it hard. As a child, I was the youngest in the family (my siblings are significantly younger than I am, so I spent many years as an only child), so I’m more apt to listen, observe and think at the table. Yes, I spoke at the table as a child, but I wasn’t a conversation starter. So in my adulthood, I’m more likely to respond then start conversations over dinner. Still, as a mom, the whole start a conversation responsibility falls squarely on my shoulders. If I don’t start the talking, who will?

So, it’s been a challenge … learning to lead the dinnertime conversation instead of just participate. Am I am alone in this? Anyone else?

I’d love to hear what your favorite dinner discussion topics are — or if you have some surefire discussion starter questions that make the conversation irresistibly fun. Share in the comments!

The post Do You Talk Around the Dinner Table? appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Sometimes, cooking with kids is all about teaching them measuring, mixing and knife skills. We do this a lot. The kids and I talk about the different measurements we use and measure things out together. They are often the ones to whisk-shift dry ingredients for me or to stir together whatever needs stirring. But cooking with kids isn’t just about learning. It’s about having fun in the kitchen too. So other times cooking with kids is about letting go. I don’t do that nearly enough.

But I try. Last Friday, I’d been thinking of ordering a pizza all afternoon, but with the holiday season here and our budget already strained I just couldn’t justify spending the money. So, I did the next best thing: making homemade English muffin pizzas with the kids. Actually, Will and Paige did most of the doing and I just handled the oven, the hot tray and laying out the toppings.

See how happy they are? And they hadn’t even started doing anything yet. They love being in the kitchen and having a hand in whatever we’re eating. But they love it even more when they are super-hands-on for a meal, as with these English muffin pizzas.

With a simple, flexible ingredients list and a super-fast cooking time, these pizzas are perfect for an any-night treat. Of course, being easy doesn’t hurt either.

You start by spreading sauce on English muffin halves. We used honey wheat ones, but any variety works. Well, except maybe cinnamon raisin. That could be weird.

Then the kids topped their pizzas however they liked. Will did mozzarella on both and black olives on one. Paige did Romano cheese, olives, tomatoes and a little mozzarella.

Then you broil them really quickly. It only takes about 3-5 minutes for the pizzas to be done, so I highly suggest flipping the oven light on and watching them cook with the kids. They’ll love it. And you’ll make sure you don’t accidentally char them. Win-win.

What have you been cooking with kids lately?

Easy English Muffin Pizzas
perfect for cooking with kids
yields as many as you want

English muffins, fork split in half
pizza sauce
cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, or whatever you like)
toppings such as ham, bacon, sliced olives, sliced sausage, tomatoes, broccoli bits, onions, etc

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Start the oven boiler on high.

Have kids spread a little sauce on their English muffin halves. Top as desired with cheese and toppings.

Place all the English muffin pizzas on the baking sheet. Place under the broiler (about 6″ from it) and cook until the cheese is melted and golden in spots — about 3-5 minutes. Be sure to watch them closely so that they don’t burn.

Let cool slightly before eating.

Enjoy!

The post Cooking with Kids: English Muffin Pizzas appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

This tiny heart-shaped cracker? It’s for you. And for my kids. And for my family. And for my dear friends who amaze me with their kindness, generosity and willingness to go above and beyond. It’s for those bleak moments made better by a kind word or a thoughtful gesture. It’s for everyday reminders that you love and are loved.

Paige and I made these Easy Cocoa Crackers this afternoon. It was spontaneous — something that sprang from an assignment I was working on. Originally, we were going to head out to the store, but something made me slow down and re-plan my afternoon so that we could spend it in the kitchen instead. I’m glad we did.

To make these crackers, you need these little cookie cutters (you can find them at Michael’s, Williams-Sonoma, etc) that are about 1-inch. They’re perfect for so many things like cutting out shaped bits of cheese, sausage and sandwiches or making fancy little butter pats.

They are also perfect for little hands to use to cut out these itty bitty crackers from pie crust dough. It’s such a simple and easy thing to do, which makes these absolutely perfect for a cooking with kids project. Paige cut out many of the crackers herself, carefully pressing the cutter into the dough and then pulling the dough away for me to place onto the prepared cookie sheet. Love the teamwork in cooking.

Once the dough is all cut, you place the pieces onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. They don’t spread, so you can place them pretty close together without worries. And if you are out of parchment, nonstick aluminum foil works too. Finally, you spray them with cooking oil spray and season them. We used hot cocoa mix, which gave them a subtly sweet flavor that everyone raved about.

And Paige? She was so happy and proud to have made these. She couldn’t wait to share some with Will for his afterschool snack. Amazing how little things can really mean so much … isn’t it?

PS: Head over to my lifestyle blog, Sassy Closet, to check out my post on a fresh idea for hostess gifts this season (and the new Verdi Olives). There’s also a $50 Costco Cash Gift Card giveaway going on there, so enter that as well!

Easy Cocoa Crackers
serves 8

1 Pillsbury Pie Crust
cooking oil spray
1 packet hot cocoa mix

Allow the pie crust to soften a room temperature for 30 minutes.

Once the pie crust has softened up, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (out of parchment? Nonstick aluminum foil works too).

Unroll the pie crust onto a cutting board. Using mini cookie cutters (about 1″ large), cut the dough into shapes and place them all on the prepared cookie sheet. They can be super close together but shouldn’t touch.

Once all the crust is used, spray the cut shapes quickly with cooking oil spray. Then sprinkle the dough with cocoa mix. I use a couple of pinches per cracker.

Slide the baking sheet into the oven and cook for 6-7 minutes until the crackers are lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before handling. Eat immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

The post Easy Cocoa Crackers appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

The other night, when I was at Cate‘s house for our Blogger Thanksgiving fest, we were reheating a batch of these Homemade Seasoned Baked Chicken Nuggets that I made for the kids. Cate asked me if they were done right after I’d checked on them, and I said “No, they aren’t humming yet.”

It never occurred to me that would be a weird thing to say. It never occurred to me that the idea of food humming is something that not everyone thinks. Or hears. Or says. Yea. But Patsy, Joanne and Cate set me straight. It’s definitely a Sarah-ism. (In my defense, that’s really what I look for whenever I reheat food — the hum of sizzling warmed food.)

So, about the chicken nuggets … honestly, I had never thought of making my own until a recent Skinny Chicken Nuggets post on Tablespoon set off a wild obsession with baked chicken nuggets for me. My kids love chicken nuggets (I think it’s written somewhere in the kid handbook that they have to), and I like feeding them good, wholesome, homemade food that doesn’t take long to make.

Ding. Ding. Ding! We have a winner.

These start with fresh breadcrumbs made from leftover bread (I use the ends of loaves). Just whirl it in a food processor into fine crumbs. Why fresh? Two reasons: one, the taste is just better and two, you can control the type of bread you use — like that favorite 12-grain that is omnipresent in your kitchen. So, once you have those fresh crumbs, you toast one cup of the crumbs with a clove of chopped garlic in a hot skillet until golden brown. If you have extra breadcrumbs, toast them in a resealable bag and freeze until ready to use.

Once the crumbs are toasted, whirl them again in the food processor with the garlic, salt, pepper and paprika. This will ensure that the seasonings are well-distributed throughout.

Now, for the chicken, you need to cut chicken tenderloins into nugget size pieces. Don’t worry. It only takes a minute or two. Aim for 1″x1″ pieces.

Dredge the chicken in the seasoned breadcrumbs.

Seasoned Baked Chicken Nuggets
serves 4

Cooking oil spray
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (run a slice or two through the food processor)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika
1 lb chicken tenderloins, cut into 1″ pieces

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil (or regular foil sprayed with cooking oil).

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat on the stove. Spray lightly with cooking oil spray. Add the breadcrumbs and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer to a food processor and add the salt, pepper and paprika. Whirl until well combined. Pour into a bowl.

Spray the chicken pieces with cooking oil spray. Then, dredge each one into the breadcrumb mixture, coating all over. Transfer to the baking sheet. Nuggets can be super close together, but shouldn’t touch. Once all the nuggets have been breaded, spray lightly with cooking oil.

Slide the baking sheet into the oven. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the downside is golden. Flip all the nuggets. Then bake for another 5 minutes.

Serve immediately.

To reheat: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the cooked chicken nuggets on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, until they are humming sizzling.

The post Seasoned Baked Chicken Nuggets appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

The days are quickly ticking by until school begins again. And while I am excited for the start of school — all the new supplies, the fresh start, the new teachers — I am sad that this summer is almost over for us. I am mourning a little.

But, there are highlights … the kids can’t wait to start school. And Will is psyched to have soccer again (this season will include his first games!). Paige is starting a dance class in September as well, which she is proudly telling anyone who will listen about. So it’s good too.

And with school approaching, I am also starting to think about food for the school year. Mornings are a mad, crazy rush since Will’s bus comes very early — earlier than we actually wake up in the summertime. So, breakfasts need to be quick, efficient and filling.

Now, I know you are wondering what this has to do with pancakes … Pancakes aren’t exactly fast (or at least fast enough for a school day) when made from scratch. But they can be totally school-day friendly when you freeze homemade pancakes for reheating later. That’s exactly what I did with the leftovers from this pancake batch.

Hint: To reheat leftover frozen homemade pancakes, preheat oven to 325. Place the frozen pancakes on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Done.

In the meantime, we are enjoying ourselves and tucking into maple syrup drizzled stacks of pancakes like these Banana Toffee Pancakes — a perfect treat breakfast (no, these aren’t for everyday). The sweet bits of toffee and chocolate melt into the soft, fluffy banana pancakes. It’s heavenly. Like dessert masking as breakfast …

What do you serve your kids for breakfast?

Banana Toffee Pancakes
serves 4

1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup nonfat milk
1 tbsp light brown sugar
1 large banana, peeled and mashed
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup milk chocolate toffee bits (such as Heath’s, found in the baking section)

Heat a large nonstick griddle on the stove with the heat set to just below medium. Allow to heat for at least five minutes. 10 is better.

While the griddle is heating, prepare your batter. Crack the egg into the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on medium-high until frothy, about 1 minute. Add the flour, milk, brown sugar, banana, baking powder and salt and mix briefly (about 30 seconds) on medium. Scrap down the sides of the bowl and add the milk chocolate toffee bits. Mix again briefly (about 30 seconds) to combine.

Drop the batter onto the heated griddle using a ladle (fill it about 1/2 way). Cook, flipping once, until lightly brown on both sides.

Serve with maple syrup.

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