Trying to work in at least three veggies into every meal

[Ginger Snap]

Suggestions please. I mean, I can only eat so many grilled veggies. And I can really use suggestions of how to sneak them in so my kids will eat them. (like if anyone can tell me how to get them to eat zuccini and squash, I'd be most appreciative. It's my summer goal. :funny1:)

[Nevrmore]

make chocolate zucchini muffins!



1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Domino® or C&H® Granulated Pure Cane Sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup shredded zucchini
1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Combine the egg, oil, milk, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips and walnuts. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Yield: about 1 dozen.

[kramer]

we are making stir-fry for dinner tonite! u can pack TONS of veggies in there (we're doing: broccoli, red & green pepper, garlic, ginger, snow peas, mushrooms, onion, plus a peanut satay sauce and angel hair noodles-- although i usually do cous cous or rice)... and add tofu or chicken or steak... anything! yum....

i also really love grilling portabello mushrooms, marinated in balsamic vinegar & garlic powder... throw that on a bun with a big fat slice of tomato, some thinly sliced onion, lettuce, and some spicy mayo... heaven!

last week we made lasagna w/ roasted veggies (zucchini, squash, eggplant & red pepper)-- a nice, fresh change of pace from regular lasagna.

[kramer]

spanakopita, prepared with minimal amounts of butter? it's basically just spinach and feta... not sure if those are flavors leetle mouths would enjoy, but i looooove it...

[kramer]

one time i made these corn and cheddar squares (basically cheesy corn bread) with a red pepper puree to go on top. the corn & the red pepper are both sweet flavors, so kids might like that... i can't remember exactly what was in the sauce... mostly red peppers, a little onion and some oil, i think...

you could also add some red peppers to homemade tomato sauce for a little extra sweetness... or sun-dried tomatoes...

if you chop up the veggies small enough, maybe they'll even eat some pasta primavera w/o knowing how many veggies are in the dish! :)

when i was a kid i was OBSESSED w/ broccoli... so maybe i'm just weird... steam some broccoli and squeeze some fresh lemon and sea salt on top and i'd eat 2 lbs. of it!! lately i've been doing steamed broccoli w/ soy sauce & parmesean cheese (thank you matty p) and it's deeelicious.

i think i need to write a cookbook. i could write about food ALL DAY :)

[kramer]

raviolis stuffed w/ cheese and vegetables? we had some really delicious butternut squash raviolis once... if u can find a good italian deli/market, they make them w/ just about every veggie in the book... or you could make your own!

[kramer]

if they eat meat-- chop up some veggies and mix in with ground beef to make hamburger patties or a meat loaf. my mom's was always chock full of carrots, onions, celery, garlic, tomatoes... anything that was sitting around the house. when it's mixed in w/ the meat and covered in ketchup they'll never notice :)

tuna cheese casserole w/ peas & carrots was always a favorite at home... just cook elbow noodles, wash/drain, and combine w/ a couple cans of tuna, cheddar cheese, vegetables, sprinkle w/ bread crumbs and bake covered. so easy!

[kramer]

i'm going to be blocked from this thread, aren't i? :lol:

i know missy makes her own "pasta" out of raw zucchini... it tastes just as good and i bet the kids wouldn't even know the difference!! i think she has a special kitchen instrument that works like a pasta maker (or maybe it's just a pasta maker) but you could probably just chop them really thin by hand.


for something a little sweet you could do butternut squash or sweet potatoes with some cinnamon & brown sugar, baked in the oven... mmm...

[fire_rocket]

i'm going to be blocked from this thread, aren't i? :lol:

i know missy makes her own "pasta" out of raw zucchini... it tastes just as good and i bet the kids wouldn't even know the difference!! i think she has a special kitchen instrument that works like a pasta maker (or maybe it's just a pasta maker) but you could probably just chop them really thin by hand.
...

This reminded me of spaghetti squash- cook it and pull out and eat like pasta!!

[sure-ur-rightdancer]

i'm going to be blocked from this thread, aren't i? :lol:

i know missy makes her own "pasta" out of raw zucchini... it tastes just as good and i bet the kids wouldn't even know the difference!! i think she has a special kitchen instrument that works like a pasta maker (or maybe it's just a pasta maker) but you could probably just chop them really thin by hand.


for something a little sweet you could do butternut squash or sweet potatoes with some cinnamon & brown sugar, baked in the oven... mmm...

you can either use a grater to make the zucchini pasta or this special ribbon maker thing..... I usually just use the biggest holes on my grater and run the zucchini long ways along it - a mandolin w a grater attachment would probably be even easier though


I like it cold w peanut type sauce on it but you can put any sauce on it

[Amethyst]

that zucchini "pasta" thing is the bomb! hehe

[sarah b.]

add more eggs to the muffin recipe and it will come out cakey. zucchini chocolate chip cake totally rocks. moreso with milk chocolate chips.

[sarah b.]

fried zucchini is great, too (not the healthiest, but you could bread it and bake it, instead of frying).

I got in the habit of making a big bowl of frozen veggies for breakfast. I nuke, then top with some Italian breadcrumbs and smart promise margarine. I realize margarine is far and breadcrumbs are carbs, but something feels really good about starting the day with a big bowl of veggies. I usually have string beans or broccolli, when I do this. I buy giant bags.

[Erinisme]

frittatas for dinner? I can get you a few reciepies if you're into it. You can pack them full..quiches...

Zucchini bread or muffins as a side dish instead of potaotes or rice? I can get you a recipie.

avocoado stuffed sweet potatos as side dishes (reipe was (is?) in food forum..or i have it saved

baked zitis with squash, broccoli, peppers, onions, spinach

pasta sauce with ziti in it

scrape them out an stuff them

[Ginger Snap]

avacoado stuffed sweet potatoes sound divine

[Karen]

Rub asparagus with a little olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and pepper - roast at 375 for ten minutes - yummy. Asaragus starts to carmelize, nice

[kramer]

same goes for brussel sprouts! they lose their bitterness if you broil them in salt & oil! and they are SO CUTE :)

[Slave Self Promoted]

mackenna pointed out juiceboxes the other day called fruitables. they're SO freaking good, and look at the ingredient list on this kiwi strawberry box i'm working on:
juice from apple, pear, purple carrot, sweet potato, butternut squash, beet, strawberry, kiwi and tomato juice from concentrates.
holy crap!! :clapping:

http://fruitables.org/images/B_BerryLessBox.jpg

[Nevrmore]

Baked Veggie Chips

2 medium beets
1 medium potato
1 medium sweet potato
1 medium parsnip
2TBS Olive Oil
2TBS grated parmesean cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
dash pepper

Peel veggies and slice thinly. Place in large bowl, drizzle with OO, toss to coat. Combine remaining ingredients, sprinkle over veggies and toss again.

Arrange in a single layer in 2 ungreasted 15x10 cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown, turn once during baking.

[HoopsTer]

I have made beet and sweet potato chips before. Sweet pots come out great...beets you have to pay a little more attention to. :lol:

[Nevrmore]

this is where I confess that I leave the beets out and use an extra sweet potato and an extra parsnip LOL!

[musicmomma]

sounds yummy... esp without beets. i LOVE parsnip. fucking yum. :drool:

[BoggleKng]

You could always try different kinds of pasta sauces... Use peas and onions and puree it in a blender or carrots with a little honey and cumin..

[musicmomma]

actually wit, nate has a point there. i was given 2 great cookbooks recently and one has a zillion pasta sauce recipes. come over and check it out. :wink:

[HoopsTer]

this is where I confess that I leave the beets out and use an extra sweet potato and an extra parsnip LOL!

for a sweet vegetable they get reallly bitter when they burn. yuck! :lol:


I still ove beets though....they're like in my top 10 favorite veggies :)

[georgi]

mackenna pointed out juiceboxes the other day called fruitables. they're SO freaking good, and look at the ingredient list on this kiwi strawberry box i'm working on:
juice from apple, pear, purple carrot, sweet potato, butternut squash, beet, strawberry, kiwi and tomato juice from concentrates.
holy crap!! :clapping:

http://fruitables.org/images/B_BerryLessBox.jpg

Ooh! I want those!!! :)

[Slave Self Promoted]

Ooh! I want those!!! :)


it's been 3 1/2 days... and i think it's safe to say i have a fruitables problem. :lol: the tropical orange has less in it than the strawberry kiwi, but both are equally as good. when i was making mackenna's lunch last night, i asked which one she wanted and she didn't hesitate to say BOTH! :lol: (what i would have said too) she was mad at me for trying the orange before she could. :lol:

now i really want the berry berry kind. :D

[georgi]

I am drinking the berry berry right now. I had to run out and get some. They are YUMMY!!! :grin:

[musicmomma]

have any of you tried the V8 fruit blends? i love the blueberry pomegranate.

[Jam Fan]

You could always try different kinds of pasta sauces... Use peas and onions and puree it in a blender or carrots with a little honey and cumin..

last nights dinner, but the peas overpowered all else.