by Kendal Harris | Nov 6, 2018 | Eating Seasonally, Food and Family, Recipe
Say goodbye to the summer heat and hello to the crisp and cool feeling of fall. You’ve probably been waiting for this moment since you saw a random leaf fall out of the tree in the backyard. What better way to celebrate the change in seasons than with a change in seasonal taste buds? These five fall casserole recipes will put even your grandma’s casserole to shame.
Squash Casserole
Squash is a clear front runner if there was an autumn vegetable contest. And if you’re a little squash obsessed, then this dish makes the vegetable the star of the show. This recipe is perfect to cook if you have some vegetarians coming over for dinner.
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
If you’ve struggled making chicken pot pie before, then this recipe will be your savior. The casserole is an easier way to make chicken pot pie while still maintaining full deliciousness. On a cool autumn night, cook up this dish for that ultimate comfort food feeling.
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Don’t forget your veggies when it comes to casseroles! This dish is loaded with broccoli and packed with lots of cheese. What makes this recipe even better? It can be cooked in 30 minutes and all made in one pot. This casserole is perfect for a quick and easy dinner option.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
Time to stop worrying about your Thanksgiving desserts because this recipe is perfect for your Thanksgiving table or any fall feast. Sweet potatoes are already healthy, but this recipe allows alternatives to make it even healthier. That means more room for the stuffing!
Chicken Noodle Casserole
If you’re big fan of this famous soup, then you’ll love this dish. This recipe contains all the veggies, chicken and noodles you’ll need to make replica of the soup. This warm comfort food will make it feel like autumn. And the peas, carrots, and corn will definitely give you fall color vibes.
Too tired from football games, holiday planning, and pumpkin patch visits to cook? Market Table’s got you covered! Swing by and grab one of our healthy and delicious casseroles from the freezer!
Text by Kendal Harris
by Kendal Harris | Oct 2, 2018 | Food and Family, How To
Making dinner doesn’t have to be a task you dread at the end of a long day. Letting your kids join you in the kitchen turns cooking into an exciting bonding time for your whole family. Kids can learn and practice valuable skills through age-appropriate cooking tasks. Here are seven safe and fun ways your kids can help make dinner.
Read the recipe
This is a great job for a kid who needs to work on their reading skills. Recipes contain a variety of ingredients, directions, and measurements. The variety in language will challenge your child and help their vocabulary grow.
Get the ingredients
Depending on which ingredients you want your child to gather, this job can be for almost any age. Younger kids can fetch familiar ingredients like fruits and vegetables. Older kids can fetch heavier things, things that could spill, and ingredients that might require them to read the label.
Crack the eggs
Cracking eggs can be tough, but it’s a very rewarding accomplishment if you get it right. For kids, the idea of perfecting their cracking skills will make them want to continue helping in the kitchen. For your older kitchen helpers, this is a job they’ll enjoy.
Rinse off the produce
Kids love playing in water, and rinsing off the produce is no exception. Kids at the youngest of ages can hop up on the counter to wash the vegetables and fruits you’ll need for your dish. This is also a great opportunity to teach your kids the importance of rinsing off their produce and making sure it’s clean.
Stir
This is another task that works for children of almost any age. Older kids can stir things on the stove with close adult supervision. Younger kids can stir the necessary ingredients together. Either way, mixing things together is a great job for kitchen beginners.
Watch the timer
This is a great job for a kid that knows or is learning how to tell time. Set a timer on your phone or stove and have them watch the clock. It’ll seem like a very important job to your young ones, especially since timing is key to a great dish.
Set the table
While they’re waiting for the food to cook, have your kids set the table for dinner. This is a great job for older kids in case something is breakable. Don’t stop at putting out the plates and silverware, though. The kids can even proudly serve the food they helped make.
Text by Kendal Harris
by Kendal Harris | Sep 25, 2018 | Food and Family, Recipe
School’s out, and the kid’s are hungry. After a busy day, you won’t have much desire to cook up some elaborate meal. Here’s five easy after-school snacks that are super delicious and will keep your child’s hunger at bay.
Milk and Chocolate Chip Cookies
Milk and cookies aren’t just for Saint Nick. Be like the jolly old man himself, and gift your kids with this after-school snack. This match made in heaven is a great comfort food and is completely irresistible. Plus, there’s no Santa Claus suit required.
Kiwi Ice Pops
Summer vacation is over, but it looks like the weather never got the memo. If you’re still trying to beat the heat well into fall, try these kiwi ice pops. They’re mouth-wateringly delicious and will help you continue to conquer those hot summer-like days.
Homemade Goldfish Crackers
Save some money at the grocery store, and tackle this homemade version of the famous snack. These cheesy crackers go perfect with a peanut butter spread. They’re the snack that smiles back, and they’ll definitely put a smile on your kid’s face.
Oven-Baked Chicken Fingers
We all love chicken nuggets. There are songs, videos, and Vines dedicated to this bite-size food. But what about its less popular cousin, chicken fingers? Well, be the change and start a movement that we need in this world by whipping up these healthy oven-baked chicken fingers. Your kids (and I) will thank you.
Pigs in a Blanket
The first step to this recipe is to reassure your younger children that there aren’t any real pigs in a blanket. Once that’s done, it’s smooth sailing from here. Get some frozen pastry dough and all-beef hot dogs, and you’re all set to make this popular snack.
Text by Kendal Harris
by Kendal Harris | Sep 5, 2018 | Beer and Beverages, Desserts, Events, Food and Family, Parties and promotions, Recipe, The How-To's of Hosting
Football season is here, which means Christmas has come early for football fans. Besides the actual sport, fans unite over something else — tailgating. Tailgating brings the food, fun, and fellowship right before the competition gets heated. If you’re planning an ultimate tailgate party, here’s the menu you need to make sure everyone’s having a great time.
Guacamole
Get the party started with this simple dish. Guacamole is a natural classic for any tailgate and the perfect appetizer for your tailgate party. Serve this party favorite with some salty chips, and you’ll have your guests begging for more. Not a guacamole fan? Try mixing it up with some of Market Table‘s freshly made dips, like our Hot Bacon and Swiss dip or guacamole’s dear friend, Texas Caviar.
Chili
Meat lovers rejoice! This hearty bowl of chili will warm you up on those fall Saturday afternoons. This recipe comes from Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook, Cravings. If a celebrity-made dish isn’t enough for you, then your guests’ appetites will speak for itself.
Mexican-Style Grilled Corn
Compliment your meaty chili with this tasty veggie dish. This corn is brushed with a smoky chipotle spread. After coming off the grill, it’s topped with crumbled cheese, cayenne, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. This dish will make you feel like you’re on the streets of Mexico.
Triple-Chocolate Brownies
No tailgate is complete without a tasty dessert. When chocolate brownies aren’t enough, whip out a recipe with three times the chocolatey goodness. It’ll be sure to please even the biggest sweet tooth. Set these out for your guests and watch them get devoured.
Pumpkin Beer Cocktail
You’re going to need something to wash down all this delicious food, right? Try this Pumpkin Beer Cocktail that screams fall weather. Instead of the normal cans of beer, this is a perfect seasonal twist to any tailgating party.
Text by Kendal Harris
by Kendal Harris | Aug 21, 2018 | Breakfast, Food Facts, Food in Focus, Food Trends, Healthy Eating, instagram
If you’re still eating your food off of a plate, it’s time to get with the hottest new trend: bowls. Need further proof? Go search #bowl on Instagram, and you’ll see over two million pictures of food bowls. Even at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markel, reception guests ate various options of the food bowl. Though you probably won’t be dining with the Queen of England, you’re still going to want to get in the bowl game. Here’s why these aesthetically pleasing dishes are on the rise.
They’re Healthy
Food bowls may look too beautiful to eat, but they are definitely good for your health. This is why the trend is so popular amongst healthy eaters. You’re getting all your grains, proteins, and vegetables right in one main dish, and the heartiness of the meal will leave you full for hours.
This bowl trend also means there’s more healthy food options. Restaurants are competing to “out bowl” each other. More restaurants offer healthy bowl options, which is a win for you. Instead of driving across town for your food bowl, you’ll probably find a nearby restaurant that’s caught on to the new trend.
They’re Easy to Make
If you’re trying to save some money, food bowls are also simple to make. Another great thing about food bowls is that they’re infinitely customizable. You can mix and match bases, toppings, and dressings to your heart’s desire. This make food bowls great for meal preppers, lunch lovers, and picky eaters.
They’re Multicultural
If you’re skeptical about joining the craze, just know that this is no fad. In fact, food bowls have been around for a long time. They get their origins from Hawaiian and Brazilian culture with the poke and açaí bowls, respectively.
Poke is a staple Hawaiian dish and traditionally includes raw cubed tuna. But, there are other options such as octopus, salmon or tofu. All of this is served on a bed of rice and topped with furikake, a Japanese seasoning equivalent to America’s salt and pepper. This dish has left the island and established itself as a popular food bowl throughout the rest of the country.
Açaí is a superfruit with lots of health benefits. It gained its popularity through smoothie bowls, but it’s also a popular icecream flavor. Açaí bowls, or Açaí na tigela in Brazil, are fruit smoothie bowls topped with granola, bananas, other berries and syrups. These are the bowls you’ll see the most on Instagram.
If stepping up your Instagram game or the Royal family wasn’t enough motivation to join the food bowl movement, then maybe these benefits and cool origins will inspire you to join soon.
Text by Kendal Harris
