Use your handy appliances to make healthy and fun after school snacks that deliver on both flavor and nutrition. Black & Decker makes it easy to prepare kid-pleasing—and mom-pleasing—snacks that fills them up and tides the hunger until dinnertime. Just follow these tips to make great after school snacks in no time.
#1 Skip the sodas
When your kids come home, one of the first things they usually do after dropping down their backpack is to grab a can or cup of soda from the fridge. Stocking your fridge with soda for the kid’s after school sugar craving isn’t necessary if you prepare easy smoothies and non-alcoholic mixed drinks.
Pick fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and bananas to make smoothies that the kids can customize. With a powerful blender that can easily crush and mix ice and fruit, like the Black & Decker Cyclone® 12-Speed, nutritional after school drinks can be made in a snap.
#2 Toast fresh foods
It’s not unusual for the kids to be hungry and looking forward to dinner after school. After a long day out, they want something to tide them over, but don’t let them grab just chips and junk food as snacks. Instead, heat up small finger foods, like baked chicken strips in your countertop oven. Or toast pita bread until crispy, cut up into triangles and serve with their favorite dips.
#3 Make homemade snacks
If your kid requires a little bit more of a snack, and more like a meal when they get home (teenagers, anyone?), make them a quick and fresh sandwich with home-prepared ingredients made with the help of Black & Decker appliances.
Bake off fresh bread in your bread maker on the weekend when you have more time, then pre-slice it and store in the fridge. Pre-chop and slice ingredients like vegetables and cheese in your food processor, and store in the fridge as well. Once your kids are home, all that’s left to do for a nutritious after school snack is to toast the bread slices in your toaster and layer prepped ingredients.
Now that the kids have gone back to school, the daily routine of getting them ready, and feeding them at night has kicked in too. If you’re the main caretaker of the household, trying to find the energy and time to make sure the kids get an easy transition back into school can be stressful. Your appliances can help take the load off and make going back to school time easy.
#1 Plan their lunches ahead
If you make school lunches for your kids, you understand how important it is to get your kids the right nutrition so that they excel in their studies. This may mean many different ingredients and components, including vegetables and fruits.
Take the load off of everyday prepping by planning ahead of time. One day over the weekend, take time to prepare vegetables and fruits in your food processor and pack them in containers.
#2 Start their days off right
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it’s supposed to keep your kids alert in school for hours. So giving them one that’s filling and balanced is crucial. Your Black & Decker appliances make a satisfying breakfast easy and kid-pleasing.
Blend up some breakfast smoothies made from bananas, peanut butter, milk and ice in your blender. Or make homemade waffles in a snap with packaged mix and your waffle maker that makes fluffy waffles big enough for multiple kids to share.
#3 Keep them looking sharp
You want your kids to be presentable in public, especially in school where friendships are made. But laundry can be time-consuming, particularly ironing. Choose an iron that heats up quickly, is consistent and glides easily, like ones from Black & Decker. Some, like the SteamAdvantage® Iron, feature Smart Steam® Technology, which detects the fabric you’re ironing and adjusts temperature.
If you’ve got a pot of fresh chili or beef stew that needs an accompaniment, look no further than this recipe for creamy corn bread. Simple to prepare, this recipe uses a package of corn muffin mix that’s made into something special with unique additions. Whole corn, green chilies, sour cream and taco seasoning makes this corn bread moist and full of flavor. And because it’s made in your Black & Decker countertop oven, you’ll have perfectly cooked corn bread made in a snap! Make this corn bread for Tex Mex nights or as a snack for the family or party to enjoy.
- 1 pkg. (8.5 oz.) corn muffin mix
- ½ cup cooked or canned whole kernel corn
- 2 tbsp. canned diced green chilies
- 2 tbsp. diced pimentos
- ½ tsp. taco seasoning
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 large egg, slightly beaten
1.) Preheat Black & Decker® Countertop Oven to 400° F. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, combine all ingredients; blend. Spoon into greased 8-inch square baking pan.
2.) Bake for 20 minutes or until done; rotate pan halfway through baking.
Makes 6 to 9 servings.
Tired of feeling guilty after eating pizza? Skip the extra calories and guilt of take-out and delivery pizza and make an easy-to-prepare homemade version with your Black & Decker food processor! It may sound like it would take up too much time and not worth the effort, but with just a little patience, your appliance will do most of the work for you. So take the time to make healthy homemade pizza that will please your entire family and follow these step-by-step tips.
#1 Make the dough.
The easiest way to make fast pizza dough in the food processor is to first bloom the yeast in warm water. Never use hot or scalding water over 115°F as this can kill the yeast instead. While the yeast is blooming, add the flour and flavorings in the food processor and pulse to combine, using the included dough blade. On low speed, drizzle in the yeast and water and let it run to combine. It is that easy!
#2 Process ingredients.
Don’t result to buying pre-prepped ingredients and cheese for your pizza. You’ll pay a premium on these ingredients since the extra labor is added into the cost. Instead, buy all of your ingredients whole and shred, dice, or chop in your food processor. Buy onions, peppers and whole mozzarella and slice with the slicing blade. Make sure the cheese is very cold so that it doesn’t stick to the blades instead of slice. Any leftover ingredients you make can also be stored away in plastic containers and used throughout the week for salads and other pizzas.
#3 Make your own sauce.
Since you made your own dough and sliced your own fresh ingredients, why not also make your own sauce too? Sure, jarred sauces are easy, but they also cost more and are loaded with unhealthy ingredients like sugar and mystery “spices.” Making your own pizza sauce can be easy with your food processor. You can prepare a pesto pizza with spinach pesto sauce that helps incorporate healthy greens into your diet. Or, make your own tomato sauce in the processor by pulsing fresh tomatoes, Italian herb blend and some olive oil until your desired consistency is achieved.
Everyone who owns a toaster oven would agree that it is a convenient way to cook foods while saving energy. But did you know that you can use it for things other than toasting breads and baking foods? Here are some unique ways you can use your Black & Decker toaster oven that will keep you creative in your kitchen.
#1 Toast more than bread.
Sure you have toasted breads and snacks in your toaster oven, but you can also toast meal ingredients quickly too. Some things that need a little roast to get their flavors going include nuts and spices. There’s no need to crank that big conventional oven or take out that sauce pan for something so simple and small of a job. Instead, place your nuts or spices in a single layer on your baking sheet and place in a 350 degree oven. Roast for 10 minutes, making sure to turn over the nuts and spices so that they do not burn. You will save time, energy and most of all, still get an evenly toasted ingredient.
#2 Dehydrate foods.
With all of the raw and healthy foods trends going on, there’s no need to give in and buy expensive dehydrated products. You can make them in your toaster oven. Dehydrated foods have been “cooked” at very low temperatures to remove water. The foods shrink and take on very different textures. Vegetables often crisp up and replace addictive chips and other crunchy snacks. Fruits, on the other hand, tend to turn chewy which mimics chewy junk foods like candy and cookies. To dehydrate foods, cut them in thin slices, lay on your baking sheet and set the temperature for the lowest it can go. Prop the oven door open to let condensation escape, and cook for a few hours, or until the foods are fully dehydrated.
#3 Keep plates warm.
If you’ve ever cooked something to perfection and placed it on cold plates, you’d notice that your delicious food turns cold by the time its set on the table. Warming your plates up before serving food eliminates this problem. But there’s no need to turn on your conventional oven if you’re cooking for just one or two people. Turn your toaster oven on bake and let the plate warm up for a few minutes. Be careful when you take the plate out and serve food. The plates will be very hot and will require you to wear oven mitts.
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