By Food & Wine
"There aren't a lot of things more important than feeding your family, but even those of us who like to cook sometimes feel like throwing a spoonful of peas at our kids when they're cranky about dinner," says Katie Workman, author of The Mom 100 Cookbook. Here are fabulous recipes to win over picky eaters--children and adults alike.
More Kid-Friendly Recipes
Crunchy Fish Sticks with Tartar Sauce
In this updated kid-friendly favorite, chef Michael Schlow of Radius in Boston uses potato flakes from a box in place of bread crumbs to form a supercrispy crust for cod fillets. Serve with a chunky sun-dried-tomato tartar sauce.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
3 sweet gherkins, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped dill
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus wedges, for serving
Salt
Cayenne pepper
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons water
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup instant potato flakes
1 3/4 pounds cod fillets, cut into 4-by-3/4-inch strips
Vegetable oil, for frying
DIRECTIONS
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise with the sun-dried tomatoes, gherkins, red onion, dill and lemon juice. Season the tartar sauce with salt and cayenne.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk the eggs with the water. In another shallow bowl, mix 1/2 cup of the flour with salt and cayenne. In a third shallow bowl, combine the potato flakes with the remaining 1/4 cup of flour and season with salt and cayenne. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and another one with paper towels.
- Working in batches, dredge the cod in the flour, tapping off the excess. Dip the cod in the egg, allow any excess to drip back into the bowl, then coat the cod in the potato flakes, pressing to help them adhere. Transfer the cod to the wax paper-lined baking sheet.
- In a large, deep skillet, heat 1 1/2 inches of oil to 325°. Working in 2 batches, fry the cod in the hot oil, turning once, until deep golden and crispy, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fish to the paper towel-lined baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat with the remaining fish. Serve immediately with the tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Carrot Macaroni and Cheese
Carrot Macaroni and Cheese
The silky carrot puree mixed with the cheddar here is a terrific source of vitamin A and helps reduce the amount of fat in the recipe. There's nearly a pound of carrots mixed into this recipe, but your kids won't ever know you've managed to sneak extra veggies into the meal.
Supersize Meatballs in Marinara Sauce photo by Tina Rupp.
Supersize Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
Spaghetti and meatballs is a classic family dish for any night of the week. Here's a fun take on the dish with an extra-large ground beef meatball.
Summery Fettuccine Alfredo
Summery Fettuccine Alfredo
This extra-light Alfredo sauce for pasta gets its silkiness from fresh ricotta and grated pecorino cheese.
More Kid-Friendly Recipes
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