Cooking 101

Celebrate the Season Every Day...

While getting your kids to eat healthier! Today cookie cutters and shaped bakeware are available for just about every season and holiday. Fall is bountiful for both—from pumpkin and leaf molds to a host of spooky cookie cutters. With a little imagination and a few of these tools, you can create festive and healthy snacks for lunchboxes or tailgate parties. Use mini metal cookie cutters on slices of cheese, cold cuts or fresh fruits and vegetables; choose produce like bell peppers that naturally have large, flat surfaces or slice veggies on the diagonal for more cutting space. Quickly and easily home-bake fun-shaped pita or tortilla chips; just cut pitas/tortillas, season and bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until crisp. Pair these tasty bites with blood red salsa, a low-fat sour cream based dip or flavorful hummus garnished with roasted red pepper “worms.” Full size cookie cutters can be used to make sandwiches more fun. Select large open shapes like pumpkins, tombstones or skulls, avoiding cutters with intricate details or patterns. Add a special touch to a typical breakfast, dinner or potluck contribution by baking muffins or biscuits in themed cupcake pans. Make your favorite pumpkin muffin in a pumpkin or Jack-o’-lantern mold. Bake skull-shaped cornbread (ratchet up the design by adding sliced olives for eyes and corn kernels for teeth) to accompany a pot of vegetable-rich chili, stew or goulash. For a sweet finish, create dessert kabobs that pair chocolate brownies (or blondies) with fresh fruit and marshmallows. Drizzle with a little icing chocolate for a hint of decadence.

~Love Barbara~