by Tanya Smith

Created on: January 06, 2011   Last Updated: January 08, 2011

Create Smiles with 3 Secret-Recipe Lunch Muffins!

What is every toddler’s favorite time of day after playtime?  Lunch time!  They rush to the kitchen table, eyes bright with curiosity, wondering if they will see macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and or a bowl of Alphabet soup.  Here is a great new twist on muffins to widen those smiles, fill those little bellies with something nutritious and delicious, while keeping lunch hour kitchen duty simple and fun:

Cheesy Turkey and Egg Muffins

Ingredients:

8 Turkey (or Ham) thin cold cut slices (not ultra thin slices)
4 eggs
1/3 cup milk
pinch of paprika
4 tablespoons shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
Ketchup

Directions:

Set oven broiler to high.  Spray four muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray.  Place two slices of turkey coldcuts in muffin tins and form into 4 “cups”.  Set on middle rack in oven under the broiler on high for 3 minutes then remove from oven.  Set oven to bake at 425 F.  While your oven is heating, beat eggs and milk together until frothy, adding a pinch of salt or pepper if desired.  Spoon an even amount of mixture into each turkey cup with a pinch of paprika on top.  Set in oven to bake for  12-15 minutes until puffed up and browning.  Sprinkle each cup with 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese.  Turn out on a plate. Let cool slightly, then serve with a smiley face of ketchup on top.

Make-Ahead Alphabet Mini-Meats

Ingredients:

1 lb ground chicken or lean ground beef
1 – 10 oz tin of alphabet or vegetable soup
1 egg
1/4 cup shredded cheese

Directions:

Set oven temperature to 350F.  Mix ground chicken (or beef) with soup and egg.  Spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.  Pack half of each muffin cup with meat, add a spoon of cheese on top of each then cover with remaining meat mixture.   Bake on middle oven rack for 40-45 minutes.  Cool and serve or store in the refrigerator to be heated at lunch time in microwave for 2 minutes on high. Serve with a slice of toast.

Easy Bread and Brie Puffs

Ingredients:

¼ lb. brie with rind removed, cut in small cubes
2-3 tablespoons margarine
4 slices whole wheat or white bread
2 eggs
¾ cup milk
cinnamon
A water glass or round cookie cutter

Directions:

Set oven temperature to 350F.  Spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.  Mix eggs and milk until frothy. Butter one side of each bread slice and  use a glass to cut out a circle that will fit in a muffin tin.  Chop remaining pieces of bread into irregular chunks.  Set circles of bread, buttered side up, in muffin tin.  Top with cubed brie. Put chopped bread on top.  Pour egg mixture over top.  Put a pinch of cinnamon top of each muffin.  Bake 35-40 minutes.  Pop out of muffin tins and cool slightly.  Serve with sliced fruit such as mango, bananas or strawberries.

Feeding toddlers can be a fun and tasty experience.  Healthy meals give kids the fuel they need to keep their engines running and it doesn't hurt Mom and Dad to indulge in the feast so they can keep up with them.  Making lunches creative and simple is easy with the tender loving care that only a child can bring out in us.

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