If you’ve ever turned your back for three seconds and returned to find suspicious chocolate-smeared on the face and hands of a child in your care, “The Cookie Jar” will feel less like a children’s book and more like a documentary. J. W. Mettle’s “The Cookie Jar” tackles one of early childhood’s greatest moral dilemmas: […]
Beef Stew and Mashed Potatoes
It’s cold and snowy outside where I work and live and nothing warms the house and little tummies of the kids in my care as much as a warm beef stew. I adjusted this easy stew recipe I found on the Delish web site to serve on top of mashed potatoes rather than adding baby […]
Minestrone Soup and Grilled Cheese
Winter nights call for cozy wins and nothing wins kids over faster than a warm bowl of minestrone soup paired with a golden, melty grilled cheese sandwich. It’s colorful, healthy, dunkable, and comforting in all the right ways. When you serve this combo, you’re not just making food; you’re making a winter favorite the children […]
Pavlova Christmas Wreath Dessert
If Santa ever needed a break from cookies, he’d definitely choose a pavlova Christmas wreath and the kids you care for will, too. Light as a snowflake, colorful as the Xmas tree, and sweeter than a holiday morning, this dessert is basically Christmas magic you can eat. It’s the one treat that gets little elves […]
Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
This week I made this super simple cranberry upside-down cake with the children in my care. The kids love cranberries and it makes a nice holiday dessert! Be sure to turn down the oven to 325 degrees F degrees after putting the cake in the oven so the cranberries and caramel sauce don’t burn. Flip the […]
Day After Thanksgiving Leftover Sweet Potatoes
When the post-feast fog settles and the fridge is bursting, stuffed sweet potatoes rescue both your sanity and your leftovers. It’s like giving Thanksgiving a second chance, without the mountain of dishes. Because the kids want something fun, you want something easy, and the fridge wants its space back — stuffed sweet potatoes are the […]
Kids Love Pumpkin Soup
When the air turns crisp and the leaves are golden, there’s no cozier kitchen magic than turning a pumpkin into a pot of creamy, kid-approved comfort. Pumpkin soup is a warm hug in a bowl, a sneaky way to serve veggies, and the perfect recipe for little hands to help measure, stir, and taste. This […]
Easy Pumpkin Lasagna
While pumpkins are still in season it is a great time to make this simple pumpkin lasagna. Pumpkins are naturally sweet, packed with vitamins, and give lasagna a creamy, comforting texture that little ones love. Whether you’re cooking for picky eaters or looking for a warm family meal, this seasonal dish from Simply Recipes brings […]
Make Bread with Children While Reading, “Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story” by Pat Zietlow Miller
To help prepare for Thanksgiving read, “Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story” by Pat Zietlow Miller and then extend the story’s themes of teamwork and gratitude through a fun, sensory activity of baking bread that encourages cooperation, fine motor skills, and patience with the children in your care. “Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving […]