Grandkid approved meals!
Need some Grandkid meals? Here are some tasty meals that your grandkids are sure to love! They may even want to cook them with you!
Mac and cheese (with hidden veg)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium brown onion, finely chopped
3 rashers shortcut bacon, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
40g butter
2 tbsp plain flour
2 cups milk
1/2 cup grated tasty cheese block (500g)
250g dried macaroni
400g cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 cup grated Mozzarella Cheese Block (500g)
Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C fan forced. Lightly grease an 8 cup-capacity baking dish.
Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and bacon. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant. Set aside.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat for 2 minutes or until foaming. Add flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until mixture bubbles. Remove from heat and add milk, 1/4 cup at a time, stirring constantly to prevent lumps forming. Return pan to medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat and stir in tasty cheese.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in a saucepan of boiling salted water, following packet directions, adding cauliflower in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Drain. Place in a bowl.
Add onion mixture and sauce to pasta and cauliflower. Stir to combine. Spoon into prepared dish. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Stand for 5 minutes and then serve.
Another option instead of cauliflower is to add 400g of small, steamed pumpkin pieces. Add into cheesy sauce at the end when adding grated cheese. If soft this will mix in well and make the cheesy sauce more orange.
Loaded hot dogs
Hot dog buns
Hot dogs / Frankfurt’s
Toppings as per below
Depending on your preferences, prepare the following different styles of loaded hot dogs. The quantity of ingredients will depend on how many hot dogs you are making. Kids will love making their own!
New York hot dog – Split a hot dog bun and top with a Frankfurt, grated cheddar, sliced pickles and thinly sliced red onion. Drizzle with tomato sauce and American mustard.
Hawaiian hot dog – Split a hot dog bun. Top with a Frankfurt, ham, finely grated cheddar, chopped fresh pineapple and sliced green shallots. Drizzle with tomato sauce.
Mexican hot dog – Split a hot dog bun. Spread with mashed avocado. Top with a Frankfurt, sour cream, chopped cherry tomatoes, sliced jalapenos, coriander and corn chip pieces (optional).
Taco salad
1 tbsp olive oil
1 bag of plain corn chips
500g premium mince
Taco seasoning sachet
2 tomatoes, diced
½ cucumber, diced
1 avocado, diced
Lettuce shredded
1 -2 cups of grated cheese
1 jar tomato salsa, mild or hot (optional)
Sour cream (optional)
Put a saucepan on medium to high heat, add oil and add mince. Cook until mince is all brown and broken up. Add taco season and follow packet instructions. When cooked turn heat off.
Meanwile put corn chips onto plates (bowls are better for kids), scatter with a small amount of cheese. Add warm mince and then sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of mince. Add salsa (if using) and then add salad ingredients, tomato, cucumber, lettuce and avocado. Top with a dollop of sour cream (if using) and serve.
You can add diced onion to mince mixture when cooking. You can also add canned kidney beans to mince for extra nutrition and to make the mince go further. Diced capsicum, corn and other salad ingredients can also be added to salad toppings.
Loaded baked potatoes
Potatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
Toppings as per below
Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan forced. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Wash potatoes and pat dry with paper towel. Pierce all over with a fork. Place potatoes on the prepared tray. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Season well with salt and pepper.
Roast for 1 hour 15 minutes or until golden and tender. Stand potatoes for 5 to 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
Baked bean potatoes – top baked potatoes with warm baked beans and grated cheese.
Bacon and sour cream potatoes – top baked potatoes with a mix of cooked bacon, sour cream and fresh chives. Finish by sprinkling with grated cheese.
Cheesy tuna potatoes – top baked potato with a mix of tuna, grated cheese, spring onions and corn kernels. Sprinkle with extra cheese if required.
Coleslaw potatoes – top baked potato with coleslaw and grated cheese.
Mexican bean potatoes – top baked potatoes with a mix of diced avocado, diced onion, kidney beans, diced tomato and sprinkle with cheese.
If you have an air fryer, you can bake the potatoes by following the air fryer instructions; this is usually a lot quicker.
Chicken and chips (chicken nuggets and sweet potato fries)
500g chicken breast or thigh, cut into 2cm x 3cm lengths
1/2 cup plain flour
2 eggs, lightly whisked
1 cup dried breadcrumbs
Olive oil spray
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1cm-thick batons
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sea salt flakes
2 tbsp rosemary, coarsely chopped (optional)
Preheat oven to 200C. Line an oven tray with baking paper.
Place the flour, egg and breadcrumbs in separate shallow bowls. Season the flour with salt and finely ground white pepper.
Place the chicken into the flour and gently toss to coat. Dip a chicken piece into the egg then roll in the breadcrumbs to coat. Place on the lined tray. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces. Lightly spray chicken pieces with oil spray.
Bake in preheated oven, turning occasionally, for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Set aside to keep warm while chips cook.
Increase heat of oven to 220C and reuse prepared baking tray.
Combine the sweet potato batons, oil, salt and rosemary (if using) in a large bowl. Season with pepper and toss to combine. Scatter over the baking trays in a single layer.
Roast, turning occasionally and swapping the trays halfway through cooking, for 15-20 mins or until golden brown and tender.
Serve chicken nuggets and chips with your choice of condiments.
Want more recipes? then check out our recipe hub for all our recipes. Click here for the recipe hub.
Sources:
https://www.taste.com.au/quick-easy/articles/top-10-hot-dogs/elNuPLQr
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3-veg-mac-n-cheese
https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/chicken-nuggets/706505f7-496e-422a-887b-82733d4f51a7
https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/sea-salt-rosemary-sweet-potato-fries/e8c2Qogu
