Blog Posts by Disney Spoonful

Delicious dinner! I've been on a quest to find toddler-friendly dinner ideas that the whole family would enjoy since my firstborn was a baby. I was tired of having to make her food separately or having to use a food processor for her to be able to enjoy the foods we ate. So I have a few up my sleeve that we have been using for years and this is one of them.

My youngest, now sixteen months old, went through the "fussy eater stage" recently, but this white bean and chicken stew passed her test. I can now say this is a toddler-approved recipe! It has small pieces that are soft to chew and it is tasty, but it's just enough for every member of the family to enjoy it.

It's a great way to use leftover or store-bought rotisserie chicken, but you can also use uncooked cubed chicken breast. Just make sure to brown it in a bit of oil before starting the recipe.

Related: Crisp nuggets, easy tenders, and 13 more kid-friendly chicken recipes

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 medium

It's your turn to be princess! Word on the street is that Princess Kate Middleton has been taking cooking classes! With this cupcake recipe, you can follow in her footsteps and enjoy the (sweet) spoils of power.

Ingredients:
Pink-frosted mini cupcakes
Mini yellow Laffy Taffy bars
Water
White frosting
Sparkling sugar
Sugar pearls
Red decorator gel

Related: Mini caramel apples, a pumpkin smoothie, and 9 delicious recipes inspired by your favorite Disney princesses

Directions:

1. To make the crown, place a wrapped mini yellow Laffy Taffy in a cup of warm water for 2 to 3 minutes to soften it. Unwrap it, then flatten it with a rolling pin until it's 1-1/4 by 3-3/4 inches. Use a knife to straighten the strip's edges.

2. With the tip of a teaspoon, cut five arches along one edge, as shown. Join the ends to form a crown and seal the seam with a few drops of water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to harden slightly.

3. Dip the bottom of the crown into white

Yum!Celebrate the return of Arrested Development with a homemade frozen banana! It's perfect for a viewing party, and packs a healthy dose of fruit and potassium!

Ingredients:
3 bananas
1/3 cup creamy nut butter (I like a combination of almond and peanut)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
6 wooden craft sticks


Related: Go bananas with ice cream, muffins, and 23 more a-peeling recipes featuring the fruit

Directions:

1. Mix nut butter and cinnamon together.

2. Cut each banana in half and then slice each half lengthwise.

3. On one side of each half, spread the nut butter mixture and press a stick flat onto it, about halfway up. Add other half of the banana and press together. Freeze for about 45 minutes.

4. In a small saucepan (or in a microwavable bowl), melt coconut oil and chocolate chips together, stirring until smooth. With a spatula or table knife, spread a thin layer of the

Microwavable Cake! Quick! Who can bake a chocolate cake in only one minute? You can! With this miraculous Minute Microwave Cake, rich and delicious chocolate cake is only moments away!

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
4 tablespoons Sugar
3 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 Egg
3 tablespoons Milk
1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil

Related: Coconut, pumpkin, and 8 more delicious no-bake cake recipes

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix all dry ingredients -- flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt.

2. Stir in egg, milk, and vegetable oil.

3. Pour batter into a single coffee mug, or two ramekins. Make sure they are microwaveable.

4. Microwave on high for one minute and 30 seconds in a (lightly-greased) mug, or 45 seconds in a ramekin.

5. If the batter isn't fully-cooked, microwave an additional 15 seconds on high, repeating if necessary, until fully cooked. Remember that microwaved

The perfect refresher!I love making horchata for my family. Once in a while, I like to surprise them by adding fruit juice to the recipe. It's a great way to incorporate extra vitamins into this classic Mexican beverage. Here's a tropical twist to our family's favorite recipe.

Ingredients:
1 cup long grain white rice, uncooked and rinsed
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in small pieces
1/2 cup sugar, or to taste
1 anise star, broken in small pieces
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, more for garnish
3 cups fresh pineapple juice


Related: Strawberry lemonade, peanut-butter blast, and 14 other cool summer drinks

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine rice, cinnamon sticks and star anise with 4 cups water. Pulse to blend. Transfer to a large bowl and add another 4 cups water. Soak at room temperature for 4 hours.

2. Return mix to blender and blend until smooth. Run through a fine sieve into a pitcher.

3. Add pineapple juice, stir to combine.

4. Add sugar and chill.

The best way to get your spinach! Family dinner night has never tasted so good! These cheesy calzones are delicious and fun to make with the whole family. Use store-bought pizza dough for a simple dinner prep.

Ingredients:
1 store-bought or homemade pizza dough
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, for dusting
1/2 cup marinara sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup fresh baby spinach
1 egg
1 tablespoon water

Helpful Tip:
You can find pizza dough at most specialty grocery stores in the freezer section. Thaw before use.

Related: Armadillo potatoes, vegetable cobbler and 23 of the best veggie-filled recipes for picky eaters

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 500°F. Dust a clean work surface with 1/4 cup flour. Place the dough in the flour and coat all sides. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a 12-15 inch circle. Dust a baking stone or baking pan with the remaining flour and transfer the dough onto the floured baking stone.

2. Spoon marinara

Easy, delicious and nutritious! You don't have to fuss over appetizers at your next get-together when you make this dip. Literally throw everything needed in a slow-cooker, step away, and let it do all of the hard work. When this deliciously creamy and cheesy dip is finished, pour it into a serving bowl or keep it warm by serving it directly from the slow-cooker. Serve it with chips, crackers, or fresh bread for an appetizer everyone will love.

Ingredients:
10 ounce bag baby spinach, fresh or frozen
1 can (14 ounces) artichokes, drained and chopped
8 ounces sour cream
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup feta
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Related: Fried mac and cheese balls, Mexican sushi bites, and 33 more ingenious party snacks

Helpful Tip:
Create a light version by substituting skim milk, reduced fat

Rocking Gnome Homes This was such a fun project because I was able to involve my 4-year-old with every step of of the process. We spent the morning at our favorite exploring park and gathered stones together, carefully choosing the very best ones to bring home. Then, instead of cleaning the dirt off by myself, I filled up a tub with warm, soapy water, and the two of us sat outside in the sunshine and scrubbed our rocks clean with old toothbrushes. He thought that was the funniest thing in the world, by the way. Rocks don't have teeth! After our rocks dried off, we painted rocks together and turned them into these sweet little gnome homes. Once they were completed, it was fun to find special places in the garden to place the tiny gnome homes.

Supplies
Small rocks, cleaned and dry
Acrylic paint
Permanent marker
Spray on varnish

Related: 13 delightful dwellings for fairies and gnomes

Directions

1.Start with a clean, dry stone. Place the rock on a flat surface to see how it sits and the best orientation.

2. Cover the