Cook with Your Kids – the Semi-Homemade Way

Kids love exploring the kitchen – almost as much as they love spending time with mom and dad. Here’s a great way to combine both: Cook a family meal together! With Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade® recipes, which unite already prepared foods with fresh ingredients, your children will learn how to create a delicious, stress-free meal. For added fun, have your kids pick out a special tablecloth, set the table with their choice of dishes, make place cards from stationary, and pull together a vase-worthy bouquet of flowers from the backyard. Bon appetit!

Pineapple Pork Chops

Makes 4 servings

Prep: 20 minutes

Bake: 25 minutes

You will need:

• Measuring spoons
• 13 x 9-inch baking dish
• Strainer
• Small bowl
• Oven mitts
• Hot pad
• Metal spatula
• 4 dinner plates

• 4 loin pork chops
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt, Lawry's®
• 1 teaspoon salt-free lemon pepper, McCormick®
• 1 can (8 ounce) pineapple slices. Dole®
• 4 maraschino cherries
• 4 teaspoons packed light brown sugar, C&H®

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sprinkle both sides of chops with garlic salt and lemon pepper. Put chops in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Wash hands with soap and warm water after touching raw meat.

2. In a strainer set over a small bowl, drain pineapple slices. Discard liquid. Place a pineapple slice on top of each chop. Place a cherry in the center of each pineapple slice. Sprinkle each chop with 1 teaspoon brown sugar.

3. Using oven mitts, place baking dish in preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Using oven mitts, remove from oven. Place on hot pad. Using a metal spatula, transfer a chop to each of 4 dinner plates. 

Tip: To make a pineapple face, for each pork chop, use 2 maraschino cherries for eyes; place them on the pineapple. Cut 1 cherry into quarters and use 1 quarter to make a mouth on each pineapple piece. If desired, arrange steamed green beans around the top of the pork chop to resemble hair.

Vegetable Fried Rice

Makes 6 servings

Start to Finish: 25 minutes

You will need:

• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• 2 small bowls
• Spoon
• Fork
• Microwave-safe bowl
• Plastic wrap
• Oven mitts
• Large skillet
• Metal spatula
• Wooden spoon
• Hot pad
• Serving bowl

• 1 packet (1 ounce) stir-fry seasoning, Kikkoman®
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 bag (16 ounce) frozen stir-fry vegetables, Birds Eye®
• 2 tablespoons canola oil, Wesson®
• 2 packages (8.8 ounces each) chicken-flavor ready rice, Uncle Ben's®
• 1/4 cup real bacon pieces, Hormel®

1. In small bowl, using a spoon, stir together stir-fry seasoning and water until seasoning is dissolved; set aside. In a small bowl, using a fork, beat egg lightly.

2. Place frozen vegetables in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Microwave on 100-percent power (high) for 6 minutes. Using oven mitts, remove from microwave. Carefully remove plastic wrap.

3. Place canola oil in a large skillet. Place on burner; turn burner to medium high. When oil is hot, pour egg into skillet. Using a metal spatula, flip one part at a time until all the egg is cooked. Using a wooden spoon, stir in rice, bacon, and cooked vegetables.

4. Stir seasoning mixture into rice mixture. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes more or until rice is warmed through, stirring occasionally.

5. Using oven mitts, remove skillet from heat. Place on hot pad. Transfer to a serving bowl.

February 03, 2009