Oh my! It’s almost that time again – summertime, when the kids are home all day! What should you have at home to keep them from eating the dog and cat cleaning out the neighbor’s fridge?  Some of my previous blogs have offered a few ideas, including easy pan pizza and salad with the kitchen sink thrown in. 

Here are a few new ideas: Try cooking a large pot of rice (normally 4 cups of water to 2 cups of rice). All you’ll need is a good pot with a tight lid. Cook up a bunch for dinner, then save the rest for your hungry kiddos. I like to warm it up and throw on some sesame seed salt, gomasio or tahini for taste. Yum.

They can also top it with some canned tuna or salmon – we happen to have some really good canned seafood at your Market. Most kids, though, just like it with butter and salt, but you might see if you can sneak in some peas or broccoli. Veggies, in general, are just plain good and healthy!

Pasta is another one you can make and keep in the fridge for those hollow-legged kids. Just be sure to keep the sauce and Parmesan right next to the noodles, or they’ll be calling you to ask where it is, and you be saying, “Move the milk!”

Also remember that your Market offered a great selection of sliced deli meats, meat substitutes and cheese that are super “kid friendly.”

Another easy one is a bag of tortilla chips, which can be conveniently left on the counter within easy reach. Simply brown some hamburger and leave it in the fridge alongside the shredded cheese, a can of black or refried beans and salsa for quick nachos. Or bagels for quick, mini homemade pizzas.

In the May 21 edition of Savories, and on sale this week as a “Web Only Special,” try Lucky Foods Spring Rolls, Potstickers and Potato Rolls – kids love them. Also try
Gardenburgers, Michael Angelo’s Italian entrees, Shelton’s hot dogs, PJ’s burritos, Quorn meat substitutes, Amy’s Kitchen meals – all organic!

Keep lots of veggies handy – that means out of the crisper. Remember, out of sight, out of mind! If it seems like fruit disappears fast, it does. Buy some ripe bananas and some green ones, too. (If you want to keep some all to yourself, be sure to hide them among the avocados – they help ripen the avos and the kids won’t look there, because they’re too much work!)

All in all, it’s hard to keep food in the fridge when the kids aren’t in school. So cook extra at dinnertime and label it (so they actually know what’s in there) and it will pay off, I promise.
When they’re screaming “We don’t have anything to eat” – you can yell back, “Yes we do, look in the fridge!”