Cooking with Kids Thursday: Pigs in a Blanket


Here is a meal for those nights when you are short on time.  These pigs in a blanket are super easy to make and only take 10 minutes to bake.  My little ones love helping make this dish.  They are in charge of rolling the dough over the sausages… and occasionally sneaking bites of the cheese and sausages when they think I am not looking.

Here is what you need to make Pigs in a Blanket:

-1 package of Pillsbury or other brand crescent roll dough

-1 package of Lil’ Smokies Turkey Sausages or other brand

– 4 slices of American cheese

Here is how you make the Pigs in a Blanket:

-Preheat oven to 350.  Cover the bottom of a cookie sheet with foil (makes for easier clean-up).

-Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate it into the precut 8 triangles.  Then cut each triangle into 4 smaller triangles.  You should have 32 smaller triangles in the end.

-Cut each slice of cheese into 8 smaller pieces.  You should have 32 pieces when you are done.

-Take one small triangle of dough and place a piece of cheese in the middle of it.  Then place a sausage on top of that.

-Now roll it all up.

-Place the rolled sausages on the foil covered cookie sheet.

-Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes.

-Remove from oven.  Let cool for a couple minutes then enjoy!

Yields 32 sausages.  I usually serve this with a nice green salad and some fruit.

Kid Friendly Dinner: Tortellini Totem Poles

Picture of Tortellini Totem Poles Recipe

I am always on the hunt for new dinner ideas that will please my picky eaters and that don’t include hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, or pizza.  Sometimes I think my kids think those are the four major food groups!  I came across this recipe for tortellini totem poles the other day and I am so excited to try it out.  My plan is to place all the ingredients out in bowls on the counter and then let my kids make thier own.  I think they will have a blast making them and because they did it all themselves they will hopefully be more likely to eat and enjoy it.  I will probably leave out some of the ingredients that aren’t as kid friendly and substitute others according to what I have on hand.

Here is what you need:

  • 2 cups tortellini (cheese, meat, vegetable – your choice!), cooked, drained and cooled
  • 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese (bocconcini or cut into 1-inch cubes) — I will probably use whatever cheese I have on hand.
  • 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
  • 3/4 cup black olives, pitted
  • 1/2 cup cucumber peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup pepperoni slices
  • 1/4 cup Italian dressing — I will probably use ranch dressing instead.

Here is the link to the tutorial -> Tortellini Totem Poles

Photo Credit:  Food Network