Sloppy Joes

This recipe is really not that special its an old stand by but the kids absolutely love it!! Now I do pull out the usual tricks as far as hiding veggies in the meat but they are so excited about a meal so messy its named for it they could care less!!! I love it!!

I take a pound of ground meat (Turkey works great, as well as soy meat or good ol cow lol) and grate in about a half of a cup of carrots, zucchini, and sometimes ill even add some grated onion just to get them used to the taste. I have found grating the veggies for adult flavors like onion they cant see them or pick them out just because they "KNOW they don't like them" lol! After you brown all of your meat pour in one can of Sloppy Joe sauce, or if you prefer you can comment or email me and I'll give you a from scratch recipe. I like to heat the buns up in the oven just a smidge and get them a lil toasty, they don't fall apart quiet as fast when you do this. I like to serve it with some corn and a lil pineapple when I make this special meal, it feels good to me that they have gotten so many veggies in and they don't even know it lol. They just know that they got to eat something really messy!!!

I hope yall like this one, and ofcourse, here are your pictures.

Everybody loved them...

Alivia devoured hers...


Catchie as always ate the inside and left most of the bread lol


And baby Kaykay ate it all!!!


They even got 2 thumbs up from Miss Alivia!!! (she is the texture police lol)


Dont be afraid to experiment with different veggies and types of bread with this meal. Just really play up on the Sloppy Joe name, I even sang to the kids while I was serving them their plates... You know the Adam Sandler song "Sloppy Joes"... lol well I didn't sing it all just the chorus and they giggled like crazy!! So play, have fun, and teach kids eating healthy taste good too!!

These are great kid food!! They are bite size and look really cool! You can make them with anything. The kiddos at my house love them when I use: ranch dip, shredded cheese, and ham. You can also do them with Peanut butter and Jelly, or anything you can dream up. I wrap mine tight with plastic wrap and put them in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer, it makes them stay together when you cut them.

Here is your picture...

Kids eat better when food is their size. I use mini pickles instead of spears, and pineapple tidbits and even chips in moderation.

Bring the kids into the kitchen with you, even the little ones. Help them develop a knowledge and love for food. Kids eat better when they can take ownership for the food they are eating.

She had such a good time...

My niece makin cookies...

Its so funny what you can get kids to believe. I had my niece convinced these were really octopuses lol!! She said "But, Aunt Stephi they taste like a hot dog" LOL! It was great!

I made Toast using a trick I saw on the Rachel Ray show, they used milk and food coloring to "paint" their toast before they toasted it. I used blue and then cut them into circles and melted some cheese on top of it and put the Octodog on top of "his water". You just cut the hot dog in fourths and then the fourths in half set up on a cookie sheet and broil till their tentacles curl. I used mustard for eyes. I served this with "cheesies" (white hominy with cheese sauce) they love them and green beans.

Heres your picture...

Things seemed less complicated? When everyone set down for breakfast and started the day as one? Its easy to get back to that. Sure it may take a lil more time to set the table or clean up but I promise it will be worth it. Some of the things the kids say to me is "Wow a FEAST", "I love this, its so incredibly fun!". We laugh and talk and be silly but at the same time they are learning manners and how to eat in public. Its a wonderful thing all around.

Here is some pictures from one of our brunches...

I know I know it sounds crazy, right?!

You make a long skinny meatloaf basically, form it into "hot dog" shapes and cook them in a skillet letting each side cook completely before rolling to the next (that keeps them together). Its a great way to sneak veggies in a picky kiddos diet, I put grated carrot in mine along with shredded cheese so they cant tell whats what!! The kids loved the idea of such a silly food. "Aunt Stephi Burgers don't go on hot dog buns!!" LOL! They ate every bit of them. I also like to sneak onion powder and very adult seasonings into food like this to help develop their pallets. i served my "Burger Dogs" with baked french fries and fresh chopped tomatoes from the garden. They loved it!

Sometimes just changing things up will make kids eat their food...

I made plan pancakes but poured them into "Micky" shapes. They were a huge hit!!!



I have also noticed I can get them to eat the thick custard yogurt, they think its pudding!!