January 16 Menu

Breakfast: cereal

Snack: tangerines, pretzels

Lunch: tuna sandwiches, apples

Recipe--Tuna Sandwiches My Way

1 can light tuna packed in water, drained

2 T plain yogurt

1 T mayo

6 slices bread

Combine yogurt and mayo; add tuna. Divide between three slices bread and top with other three slices. Makes 3 sandwiches. *I love fresh slices of tomato on tuna, too!

Snack: dump truck special

Recipe--Dump Truck Special

More of a method than a recipe: Find small toy truck, freight train, purse, teacup, mini muffin tin, or other fun container with small compartment. Search kitchen for small snacks, like cheese cubes, raisins/cranberries/dehydrated bananas (or other fruits), baby carrots, pretzels, goldfish, nuts, chocolate chips, etc. Snack time can be a game if you do one "load" at a time and send junior to go hide between loads. Treats like chocolate/butterscotch chips are fun to do every 2-3 loads, because it brings an extra surprise into the game. Then when your little one gets to something not so appealing, they know they have to finish the load before they can have a new surprise. If they don't finish the more "healthy" option, you know they're full!

Dinner: chicken cordon bleu, asparagus

Recipe--Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu

1 sheet puff pastry

5 or 6 chicken tenders, or 3 chicken breast halves, cut in half lengthwise

12 slices ham, very thinly sliced

3 slices swiss cheese

basil

paprika

Allow puff pastry to soften 1 hour at room temperature, rolled in towel. Roll puff pastry to large rectangle, with the width just longer than the length of the chicken tenders (approx 5") and the length approximately 25-30". Cut into 6 equal rectangles. The end results should be the length of a single chicken tender and twice the width, so as to be wrapped around the outside. Slice chicken tenders down center lengthwise, creating long piece of chicken with one side open, like a hot dog bun. Cut slices of cheese in half and place on one side of sliced open chicken. Sprinkle all with paprika and basil, to your liking. Top each piece puff pastry with two slices ham. One piece can be left without chicken and just stuffed with ham and cheese, for a more kid-friendly option. Otherwise, fold chicken tenders back to original size and place in center of ham, rolling both in puff pastry. Stretch pastry and seal completely. Place seam-side down on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes, or until center of chicken reads 170 degrees F. Cool 5-10 minutes before serving.