This post is part of the 2019 Homeschooling Through the Holidays series and was written by Kimberly from Homegrown Motherhood.
Cooking for kids is one of the greatest challenges for moms. It can be especially challenging during the holiday season and even more challenging if you have little ones who seem to dislike just about every food under the sun. I have learned from experience, having three children of my own, that taste is not everything. Some of us mothers also have to take into account how the textures of certain foods feel in the child’s mouth as well as how the food looks. Mama’s with picky eaters know exactly what I’m talking about!
For instance, two of my kids do not like onions while the other one loves onions. One doesn’t want “purple thingies” (red onions) in his food and the other doesn’t like “slimy pieces” in her food. Umm..what? This new knowledge about onions sent my creativity wondering for new solutions when it came to cooking food for my kids.
I finally came up with a plan! Have the kids in the kitchen with me cooking so they can watch what foods are going into their meals as well as having them help prepare the meals. Cooking with the kids has become one of our favorite things to do together. This alone had drastically decreased their picky eating because they can actually see everything that’s going into their food.
For the holiday season, we love cooking all kinds of meals and treats together! Casseroles are one of the meals that we make in bulk in the holiday season because not only are they great for holiday dinners, but they make great freezer meals during the cold winter months.
One of our favorites is Brown Rice and Broccoli Cheese Casserole! Not only is it delicious, but it’s full of whole grains and veggies. Grain by grain brown rice is jam-packed with nutrition compared to refined white rice. Whole grains are loaded with minerals and vitamins that you can’t get from white rice.
When you’re in the kitchen with your kids, have them help you mix, measure and cut the ingredients. This Curious Chef set helps make it super easy, safe, and fun for them! Hopefully, your picky eater will be eager to try their masterpiece meal when it’s dinner time!
Now that you have all the tools you need, here is an easy and kid-friendly recipe that your kids can help prepare for Christmas dinner. Plus they’ll feel proud when they tell MeMaw and Pawpaw that they helped make it!
Brown Rice and Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Ingredients:
2-cups uncooked brown rice
cup extra virgin olive oil
1-cup milk
2 tablespoons of flour
2 cloves of garlic
1 small onion, diced
1 bunch of fresh broccoli floret’s
3-cups of cheddar or Jack cheese
1-teaspoon chili powder
Sea salt and pepper
Preparation:
Cook brown rice according to package directions and lightly steam broccoli, set both aside. In a good-sized frying pan, saute onions and garlic in olive oil until onions are transparent and garlic lightly browned. Add broccoli and flour and mix well. Add the milk all at once, and two cups of the cheese. Turn off heat and mix in the cooked brown rice. Add chili powder, and salt and pepper to taste. In an oiled 9 X 6 baking dish, add the rice and broccoli. Top off with the last cup of cheese and bake covered for fifteen minutes in a 350-degree oven. Serves four or five.
Kimberly Nicole Steenbergen is a wife, mother of 3, homeschooler, semi-crunchy homemaker, and home-based business owner and blogger over at Homegrown Motherhood. She is passionate about equipping moms with Biblical truths so that they gain clarity and renewed focus for what God has called them to be in their faith, homeschool, marriage/family and business life. Learn more about Kimberly on her Blog, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.
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