The first day of school is almost here! What better way to get your family excited about back to school than a family dinner?! Add a new meal tradition to your back to school game plan and have fun while helping to ease your kids’ first day nerves.
Start by setting the perfect table! Personalized name tags make the kids feel special. They can be very simple. This is just paper and a paper clip from the junk drawer. But so much fun for the kids! It is also fun to grab fun straws or bring out different dishes. The kids can set the table as well. Maybe they can hand write the name cards!
I ordered a small globe on amazon and the kids were fascinated! I guess I should have ordered one of these for our office sooner!
Definitely try to involve the kids in the meal prep! Nothing turns out as neat and tidy as it may have, but they are so proud! My kids were able to help make these vanilla wafer pencils and they loved licking the spoon clean.
My back to school menu is perhaps not as seasonal as it should be….(sweating in Illinois!) but these are dishes that my family loves. I prepare menus like this when we are celebrating or when I want them to have a good home cooked meal. Truly comfort food! You should choose something that your family loves. Back to school dinners could have menus that include breakfast for dinner or even frozen pizzas. If you are excited about the dinner, they will be too!
Here is what I served:
Pioneer Woman Comfort Meatballs
AuthorKellyDifficultyBeginnerThe greatest comfort food of all time! My family's favorite with cheesy potatoes or mashed potatoes. They may not be low calorie but they make whoever you serve them to feel loved!
In a bowl, combine the ground beef, oats, and milk.
Add the finely minced onion, salt and plenty of black pepper and stir to combine.
Roll the mixture into tablespoon size balls and place them on a cookie sheet.
Refrigerate meatballs for 45 minutes to firm.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and heat the canola oil in a large skillet.
Remove the meatballs from the refrigerator and dredge in flour.
Brown the meatballs in batches until light brown. Place them into a 9x13 baking dish.
Stir together the sauce ingredients and drizzle the sauce evenly on the meatballs.
Bake for about 45 minutes until bubbly and hot. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Directions
In a bowl, combine the ground beef, oats, and milk.
Add the finely minced onion, salt and plenty of black pepper and stir to combine.
Roll the mixture into tablespoon size balls and place them on a cookie sheet.
Refrigerate meatballs for 45 minutes to firm.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and heat the canola oil in a large skillet.
Remove the meatballs from the refrigerator and dredge in flour.
Brown the meatballs in batches until light brown. Place them into a 9x13 baking dish.
Stir together the sauce ingredients and drizzle the sauce evenly on the meatballs.
Bake for about 45 minutes until bubbly and hot. Enjoy!
Klein Cheesy Potatoes
AuthorKellyDifficultyBeginnerA Klein family tradition! Who wouldn't love these?
In large mixing bowl combine potatoes, salt, pepper, onion, and cheese.
In medium bowl combine 1/2cup melted butter, sour cream, and soup. Pour this over the potato mixture and stir gently.
Pour into a buttered 9x13 casserole dish.
In small bowl, combine topping ingredients. Toss to mix. Sprinkle over potatoes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. The will be very hot coming out of the oven and should be left to cool for 15 minutes. Yum!
Ingredients
Directions
In large mixing bowl combine potatoes, salt, pepper, onion, and cheese.
In medium bowl combine 1/2cup melted butter, sour cream, and soup. Pour this over the potato mixture and stir gently.
Pour into a buttered 9x13 casserole dish.
In small bowl, combine topping ingredients. Toss to mix. Sprinkle over potatoes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. The will be very hot coming out of the oven and should be left to cool for 15 minutes. Yum!
Oven Roasted Broccoli
AuthorKellyDifficultyBeginner
Cut broccoli into florets and place in a bowl.
Drizzle florets with olive oil. Sprinkle in salt and pepper and toss to coat.
Spread prepared broccoli onto a cookie sheet or into a large casserole dish. Broccoli should be in single layer.
Bake in 400 degree oven about 15 minutes or until just starting to brow n. Serve immediately.
Ingredients
Directions
Cut broccoli into florets and place in a bowl.
Drizzle florets with olive oil. Sprinkle in salt and pepper and toss to coat.
Spread prepared broccoli onto a cookie sheet or into a large casserole dish. Broccoli should be in single layer.
Bake in 400 degree oven about 15 minutes or until just starting to brow n. Serve immediately.
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
AuthorKellyDifficultyBeginnerThese are an end of summer favorite at our house. I like to think that my version is a wholesome treat as I have added whole wheat flour and applesauce. 😉 Perfect for any time of day!
In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Beat the egg, oil, applesauce, lemon juice and vanilla. Then stir into dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips.
Fill paper muffin cups 3/4 full. I like to use the melon/cookie scoop.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until a tooth pick comes out clean.
Freeze cooled muffins in resealable plastic freezer bags. To use, thaw at room temperature or microwave each muffin for 30 seconds.
Ingredients
Directions
In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Beat the egg, oil, applesauce, lemon juice and vanilla. Then stir into dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips.
Fill paper muffin cups 3/4 full. I like to use the melon/cookie scoop.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until a tooth pick comes out clean.
Freeze cooled muffins in resealable plastic freezer bags. To use, thaw at room temperature or microwave each muffin for 30 seconds.
Vanilla Wafer Cookie Pencils
AuthorKellyDifficultyBeginner
Gather 3 microwave safe bowls and place 1 cup of chips in each. One will remain white, one will be tinted pink and the semi-sweet will be used for pencil lead
Melt chocolate and white chocolate chips in microwave according to package instructions
After melting, slowly add red food coloring to one bowl until desired shade of pink
Use kitchen scissors or small knife to trim one end to resemble the pencil point
Dip eraser end into pink and tip end into white.
Place on waxed paper and allow to dry.
Use semi-sweet chocolate to give lead tip to each “pencil”
Share with all the school kids!
Ingredients
Directions
Gather 3 microwave safe bowls and place 1 cup of chips in each. One will remain white, one will be tinted pink and the semi-sweet will be used for pencil lead
Melt chocolate and white chocolate chips in microwave according to package instructions
After melting, slowly add red food coloring to one bowl until desired shade of pink
Use kitchen scissors or small knife to trim one end to resemble the pencil point
Dip eraser end into pink and tip end into white.
Place on waxed paper and allow to dry.
Use semi-sweet chocolate to give lead tip to each “pencil”
Share with all the school kids!
Back to school can be so stressful! I hope your family finds a special way to share a meal this week!
Here’s to a great year!
-Kelly
