Dinner Ideas for Kids

Volcanic Cottage Pie

• Kids will have fun digging into a volcanic cottage pie for dinner. Rather than baking one large cottage pie in your traditional baking dish, make individual pies in 5-inch aluminum pie tins. Cooked ground beef forms the base of the cottage pie, followed by a layer of vegetables like carrots, corn or peas. Make a batch of buttered mashed potatoes for the next layer. Form the mashed potatoes into the shape of a volcano, and sprinkle with cheese and paprika if desired. Place the pie tins on a baking sheet and bake in a 375-degree oven for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the cottage pie is heated through. Create a lava flow with gravy, if desired.

Spaghetti Muffins

• Spaghetti muffins are a creative way to serve a family favorite. Beat together four eggs and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Mix in 8 oz. of cooked spaghetti noodles. Carefully push the spaghetti noodles into a greased muffin tin. Add spaghetti sauce and your choice of shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese. Top them off with your child's favorite pizza toppings such as mushrooms or black olives. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes. Serve with a side of vegetables.

Octopus Hot Dogs

• Make your kid's dinner fun with octopus hot dogs. Carefully slice through your favorite hot dog, leaving about an inch of space uncut on one end of the hot dog. Cut eight legs. Boil the hot dog and watch the legs curl up. Make a happy octopus face with either ketchup or mustard. Serve the octopus hot dogs with macaroni and cheese topped with a few goldfish crackers and a side of French cut green beans or spinach.

Yaki Mandu

• Yaki mandu is a Korean dish that your kids can help you prepare. Add shredded carrots, bean sprouts, cellophane noodles, shredded cabbage, spinach and garlic to a couple of pounds of cooked ground beef. Add salt, pepper and soy sauce to taste. Yaki mandu is a flexible dish. If you don't have some of these ingredients, just use what you have on hand. Add a spoonful of the ground beef mixture to the center of a small egg roll wrapper. Wet the edges of two adjacent sides of the egg roll wrapper with your finger. Fold the wrapper in half to create a triangle and press the edges together. Deep fry the dumplings about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain the oil on paper towels and serve.

Bread Bowl and Soup

• The next time you serve soup to your child, sneak in an extra serving of grains. Serve your kid's favorite soup or stew in a hollowed out, lightly toasted bread bowl instead of a regular soup bowl. Encourage him to eat the bowl as he goes.