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🚨Need an easy dinner?? This shredded bbq chicke

🚨Need an easy dinner?? This shredded bbq chicken (with veggies!) is a family favorite. It’s super versatile and can be made in the slow cooker, instant pot, or on the stove!
I made this again last night but didn’t have zucchini, so I used chopped onion, grated carrot, and spinach (chopped up) instead. You can really put whatever veggies you want in there. If you don’t want to shred the veg on a box grater, you can finely chop them in a food processor or by hand.
I also often use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts (or a combo) because they are less expensive and never dry out.
Leftovers are great for lunches or you can easily double the recipe and freeze half of it for another night!
Here’s a quick how-to:
1 tbsp oil
1/2 onion, diced (I usually leave this out if I’m using the slow cooker or don’t feel like chopping an onion)
2 large carrots, peeled and grated
1 small zucchini
1 1/2 to 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs/breasts or both
1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika (I use smoked) 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 cup barbecue sauce (plus more to taste)
My fav way to make this is in the instant pot but I’ll give you all the options: IP sauté onion in oil (can add garlic too if you want) then add other veggies, season chicken then add that and mix in the sauce. If there is browning on the bottom, add a splash of water and scrape the bottom of the pot. Cancel sauté then close pot and set to manual high pressure for 15 min. Release pressure then set pot back on sauté to boil off any extra liquid. Stir chicken to shred it or use forks if needed. Taste and add salt and/or extra bbq sauce as you’d like.
For stove top: Do same as above in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add 1/2 cup of water then cover and simmer on low for 20 to 30 min, stirring occasionally.
For crockpot, add all ingredients and stir. Cover and set to low to 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
Serve on toasted buns or however you’d like.
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Hope this recipe is helpful! Let me know if you give it a try. 😊💕
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#whatsfordinner #easydinner #slowcooker #crockpot #instantpot #familydinner #chickenrecipes

🍉Watermelon “Fries” with Easy Strawberry Yo

🍉Watermelon “Fries” with Easy Strawberry Yogurt Dip
Such a fun and refreshing way to kick off summer!
I created this festive recipe for #redweek over at @eattherainbow_kids a few years back and so excited to bring it to life in this video today! Check out all the awesome #colorweek recipes on @eattherainbow_kids 🌈
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This is such an easy and fun recipe for kids to help make!
🍓For the easy strawberry dip: Blend together 1/2 cup plain yogurt (I like to use full fat plain Greek yogurt because it’s nice and thick, but any kind will work.) with 3 to 4 strawberries and a little honey or sweetener of your choice to taste.
🍉Use a crinkle cutter (available on Amazon or many kitchen stores) to cut the watermelon into fry shapes. If you don’t have a crinkle cutter, this recipes is still fun and delicious if you cut the watermelon into thin sticks.
Make sure to refrigerate and serve cold for a refreshing treat!
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Follow along @heather.happykidskitchen for more #cookingwithkids and creative ways to enjoy fruit and veggies!
Happy Summer, friends! 😊💕
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#eattherainbow #eattherainbowkids #watermelon #memorialday #funfood #funfoodforkids #kidsthatcook #kidscooking

🍓2 Ingredient Fruit Jam/Compote: Don’t let th

🍓2 Ingredient Fruit Jam/Compote: Don’t let that fruit go to waste! Make this yummy berry sauce instead.
This is more of a method and not a specific recipe. You can use any amount of fruit or any kind of fruit you have. Just wash it, trim off any stems or yucky pieces if necessary, and then add it all to a big pot with a splash of water. You can squeeze in some orange or lemon juice if you have it. Bring up to a simmer then slowly cook the fruit until it has a jammy consistency. For this smaller pot it took about 20 min, but it the cook time will vary depending on how much and what kind of fruit you are using. Stir every so often so the fruit doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Sweeten to taste with whatever you’d like. I used some brown sugar. Store in the fridge for a week or so. I swirled my compote into my cottage cheese muffin recipe. It’s great on yogurt, for sandwiches, on ice cream, and more.
How would you use the fruit compote/jam??😊💕
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#nowaste #fruit #berries #kidsfood #kidsfoodideas #cookingwithkids

🥪The goal at @heather.happykidskitchen ? Always

🥪The goal at @heather.happykidskitchen ? Always find ways to have more fun with food!
Who’s with me?? 🙋‍♀️🙋🙋‍♂️
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🥜🍓PB+J (or any nut/seed butter and fruit combo you like) is a kid favorite so why not get into the kitchen and play with it a bit.
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3 ideas in this video:
🥟Empanadas: cut a large circle out with a cookie cutter or just the largest glass you have. Spread circle with pb&j or add fresh fruit like raspberries. Fold in half then press around the edge to flatten a bit. Seal by pressing firmly with a fork. If your sandwich isn’t staying sealed, that prob means the bread is a little dry. Add a little water to the inside edges of the break and try sealing again.
🌀Spirals on skewers: cuz everything is more fun on a stick! Cut the crusts off the bread. Flatten with a rolling pin or bottle. Spread on pb&j (not too much or it will ooze out). Roll tightly then cut into pieces. Place on a skewer with fruit of your choice. (Make sure size isn’t a choking hazard.)
🔠Top slice cut-outs: use small cookie cutters (many examples in my Amazon store) to write a message or just create a fun pattern. This is my guys’ new favorite #snacktivity after school. Letter cutters from Amazon (google ‘happy kids kitchen Amazon’ to find my list).
🍞For all of these, a soft whole wheat bread (without visible seeds or grains) works best.
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Which one are you going to try first?
😊💕
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#cookingwithkids #kidsinthekitchen #lunchbox #lunchboxideas #funfood #funfoodforkids #pbandj #peanutbutterandjelly #healthykidsfood #sandwich #whatsforlunch #kidsfood

☀️ Since the weather is warming up I thought I

☀️ Since the weather is warming up I thought I’d remind you about my Homemade Popsicles blog post!
The post includes the best popsicle molds (and alternatives) and tips for making popsicles for toddlers. Plus, over 12 heathy, easy recipes kids will love!
Head to happykidskitchen.com and search ‘popsicle’ at the top or send me a DM and I’ll give you the direct link!
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We buy ice cream and popsicles often, but here’s why also making your own frozen treats at home is 💯 percent worth it:
☀️Tired of being the “water police”, trying to keep your kids hydrated in the heat? Homemade popsicles can be packed with super hydrating fruits, veggies, and liquids. 🍉
☀️ It’s so much easier that it seems! You can freeze pretty much anything...leftover smoothies, watered-down juice, yogurt mixed with frozen fruit. Sweet and refreshing!
☀️You can control the quality of ingredients. Less sugar and more nutritious additions means enjoying pops more often and even for breakfast.
☀️Add veggies! Zucchini and cauliflower are included in some of the recipes in my post. It’s a great way for kids to make “friends” with vegetables they might not ordinarily eat on their own.
☀️They are simple for kids to help make! #cookingwithkids 👩‍🍳 👨‍🍳
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Are you into making popsicles at home? What’s your favorite thing to make? Hope your week is off to a good start! 😊💕
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#popsicles #popsicle #cookingwithkids #cookingwithtoddlers #healthykidsfood #summer #heatwave #kidfood #toddlerfood #blw

🌶️🍕Because pizzafy should be a word, right

🌶️🍕Because pizzafy should be a word, right? I know lots of kids (and adults) love these sweet mini peppers, so here’s a fun way to enjoy them!
🌶️Cut the mini peppers in half and remove the seeds.
🌶️Add some marinara or pizza sauce to the center. Sometimes I add veggies (like spinach or shredded carrot) or grains like cooked quinoa or rice.
🌶️Add shredded cheese and any toppings you like on pizza.
🌶️Air fry or bake at 400 for 5 to 6 minutes.
Make as many as you’d like!
This would be a great recipe for kids to make or help make too!
Who’s going to give these a try? 😊💕
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#peppers #cookingwithkids #airfryer #easyrecipes #funfoodforkids

💗I love pie but this applesauce is a great way

💗I love pie but this applesauce is a great way to enjoy rhubarb season too!
Have kids help chop everything up to practice those knife skills. My guys also love helping with the immersion blender.
How to: Just chop up apples and/or pears and rhubarb. Simmer with a slash of water until very soft. Blend if you left the skins on or leave chunky if you’d like. Sweeten to taste with maple syrup or sugar. Store in the fridge for a week or freeze for a few months.
Add in strawberries too or whatever fruit that needs to be used up!
The applesauce is great as a snack by itself or on top of yogurt or ice cream. How would you use it? 😊💕
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#rhubarb #applesauce #kidssnacks #cookingwithkids #kidsinthekitchen

💗Moms, however you feel about Mother’s Day, I

💗Moms, however you feel about Mother’s Day, I think it’s a great time to remind yourself what a badass you are!
There are so many valid, complicated feelings about this day (a few you shared in my stories question box: lonely, just a regular day, grateful, excitement, celebration, resentment, grief, and more). I want to acknowledge that there’s no right and wrong way to “do” or feel about this day.
It feels great to be appreciated by the people we love and care for. However, it might not come as often as we’d like or at all in some cases. That’s why once in a while we need to stop and give ourselves that hug, gift, pat on the back, and kindness that we deserve.
So this weekend moms, tell yourself how awesome you are, how much you do to keep those littles alive and well.
You are seen, loved, and appreciated.
Love, Heather 😊💕
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#mothersday #momlife

Copyright © 2023 Happy Kids Kitchen by Heather Wish Staller