Produce for Kids: Caramel Pear and Apple Nachos

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Just like you, we struggle to get dinner on the table night after night (after night) and also find healthy options for dessert. While this is a sponsored post, all opinions are our own.

These dessert nachos were a hit in our house! The weather today was so perfect! The girls didn’t want to come inside to eat, so outside we stayed! We needed a quick, healthy snack to hold the girls over until dinner and produce for kids once again came to the rescue!

For this version, we thinly slice apples and pears, drizzle with caramel dip and sprinkle with shredded coconut and mini chocolate chips. The best part is they’re so easy to customize! Try drizzling with melted peanut butter or sprinkling with granola, chopped fruit or nuts.

Ingredients:
3 CMI Hero Snack Size gala apples, sliced
3 snack size pears, sliced
2 tablespoons caramel dip
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips

Directions:
Arrange apple and pear sliced on plate. Drizzle with caramel dip and sprinkle with coconut and chocolate chips.

If you want to see the full nutritional value of this recipe click here. For more healthy and tasty recipes from Produce for Kids click here.

One reason we love Produce for Kids is because they have partnered with several grocery retailers in Arkansas and Missouri this year to support Feeding America® food banks. Many of those food banks are right here in Southwest Missouri. They are helping moms like you and I provide healthy meal options for their families–and that is a big deal!

Harps, Woods Supermarkets, Country Mart, Food Pyramid and Price Cutter are some of the retailers participating in this campaign. Whenever you buy fruit and veggies from 10 produce sponsors, a donation will automatically be made to Feeding America! Click here to view the full list of participating grocers.

Moms + Meals: Thanksgiving Day Tips

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by Becca Couch

Thanksgiving is tomorrow!! We posted this last year, but found it so helpful and wanted to share again!

I’m sure you have your favorite Thanksgiving dish on your mind. Here are just a few tips to help you set up a delicious thanksgiving meal!

  • Turkey bags work wonders! I double up to make sure I don’t lose any turkey juice. You’ll want to use all that for the gravy!
  • Make homemade rolls! They’re simple the best!
  • Don’t skip the beans! If you’re not a fan of green bean casserole (like myself) fry up bacon and onions throw in a couple cans of green beans (drained) and sear green beans. Top with butter and salt. Delicious ! How can you go wrong with butter and bacon?
  • Team work! Now if you’re like my family, we like a lot of food. Everyone has their favorite appetizers, main dishes, and of course tons of dessert. There must be enough leftovers to enjoy after a long night of Black Friday shopping. Don’t put this all on your mother or your aunt. Help out! Cook a day or two before and make sure everyone chips in on bringing a couple dishes.
  • Everyone can help, even those sisters that don’t cook! Last but not least, we all have that family member that just can’t or shouldn’t be cooking, for example, my sister Rachael. Here is the list we always save for her: plates, cups and napkins as well as a vegetable, meat and cheese tray and drinks.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving shared with lots of love, laughter, and full bellies!

Becca and her husband Kenan live in Aurora with three adorable kids. She spends her days learning more than she ever imagined while homeschooling her kids. She loves to cook and try new recipes out! Kenan is the lucky guy that gets to test them out for her. They attend James River-West Campus Church and love spending time with friends and family.

Moms + Meals: Family Dinner Challenge

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A few weeks ago, we told you all about the annual Rock4Kids Zombie Run from our sponsors at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fitness. What a great family event to get you and your kiddos moving and having fun together!

This year, the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fitness has teamed up with the Missouri Beef Industry Council to remind us all the importance of eating family dinner together when possible. And we couldn’t agree more!

Please take a minute to read the benefits of eating a family meal together and also enjoy two yummy recipes provided by the Missouri Beef Industry Council at the bottom of the post. We can’t wait to give them a try!

Moms + Meals: Cheesy Corn Chowder

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I love soup season, my kids, on the other hand, don’t eat it too well. Sure, they will pick at a bowl of chili or eat all the potatoes out of a bowl of stew, but they never seem to get full and are inevitably begging for a snack before I can even get the dinner dishes put away. A sweet lady at my church introduced me to this yummy corn chowder recipe and my kids love it! They scarf it down and are usually asking for more!

We made a big batch this weekend and it was a hit! I am feeding a family of four and this recipe also leaves us with plenty of leftovers to have on hand for lunches for the week.

Cheesy Corn Chowder:corn chowder

  • 1 pound sausage, cooked and drained
  • 1/2 diced onion
  • 2 diced celery ribs
  • 2 cans of cream of potato soup
  • 1 1/2 empty soup cans of milk
  • 1 can creamed corn
  • 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 pound Velveeta cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • chicken broth, make it as “soupy” as you like

Stir frequently in large pot or crock pot. Soup is done with the celery is soft.

Moms + Meals: Easy taco soup

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My momma is an outstanding cook (and I am not just saying that, she REALLY is). The problem is, I can’t follow her recipes. I wish I could, but her instructions often include terms like:  pinch of this, a dab of that or just a little of this. Huh?! I am not a great cook and I am very much a direction follower, and that just does not work for me.

Her taco soup recipe, however, is easy peasy. Even I can do it! With this cold and rainy SWMO spring weather, we had it this weekend, and as usual, it was a hit. Enjoy!

Trish’s Taco Soup

  • 1 pound ground beef (I have also used ground turkey or ground venison)
  • 1 can corn
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 can pinto beans
  • 1 can black beans
  • 1 can Rotel
  • 1 package of ranch seasoning
  • 1 package of your favorite taco seasoning

Directions: Brown meat with taco seasoning. Drain. Mix everything together (no need to drain the canned goods!) in a large pot or crock pot. Cook as desired. My mom serves with Doritos, shredded cheddar cheese, salsa, sour cream and jalapenos.

We are a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 small kids). This makes a pretty big pot of soup, so I almost always freeze half of it or invite friends over to share. I have never had a bad experience freezing it, so you might try that if you have a lot of left-overs.

This fail proof recipe is sure to fill your tummies and will no doubt be a crowd pleaser!