| About 10 years ago, we accidentally started what | | | | kids grew older, the choices became more |
| turned out to be a family favorite evening. One | | | | sophisticated. We progressed from simple "English |
| Saturday, while menu planning for the next week, | | | | muffin" pizzas, oven baked wings, deviled eggs, |
| I realized that nothing was on the "menu" for that | | | | and cocktail sausages in chili/jelly sauce to fruit |
| evening. I asked around and everyone answered | | | | cheese kabobs or melon wrapped in prosciutto, |
| something different, but the theme was the | | | | ground turkey Shu Mai dumplings, cream cheese |
| same - appetizers - everything from nachos to | | | | wontons with garlic and green chilies, mini meatball |
| chicken tenders to mozzarella sticks. Fun food, | | | | sandwiches, layered or pasta salad, Carpaccio, |
| not the healthiest, but once in awhile that is okay. | | | | boiled or grilled shrimp, crab cakes, homemade |
| That was the beginning of a new tradition. The | | | | egg rolls, mini quiches or mini tacos, sliders, |
| kids called it our "appetizer dinner". We eat | | | | nachos, chicken and black bean quesadillas, and |
| well-rounded meals and exceptionally healthy food | | | | the list goes on. |
| in our home, so why not have some fun with | | | | It was interesting to watch their food tastes |
| them in the kitchen too? | | | | develop. They went from simple "kid" food to |
| My husband and I developed a set of basic rules | | | | developing and enjoying some really top-notch |
| so things didn't get too out of control. It was | | | | dishes. "Dinner" was set out on the dining room |
| meant to be a fun evening for everyone and also | | | | table buffet style. We used paper plates for quick |
| a sort of night off for me. | | | | clean-up and usually watched TV while we ate - a |
| - Keep it simple. | | | | real treat in our house. |
| - Each person had to select an item and prepare | | | | I know they still think about our "appetizer |
| it. (or as much as possible within age limitations). | | | | dinners" and remember some fun times and really |
| - Choice should be appropriate so that Mom or | | | | great food. The other best part of this special |
| Dad didn't have a lot of extra work either. | | | | night was "late night" for the kids. No scheduled |
| - Kids could have soda, sparkling cider, or a special | | | | bedtime, sleeping bags in the living room and they |
| ginger ale punch. | | | | could watch their movies to their hearts content. |
| - Dishes had to be home-made (with the | | | | Try it at your home - keep it simple, have fun, |
| exception of mozzarella sticks), no duplicates. | | | | and share a great night together. Make a |
| - Every did their own prep and clean-up. | | | | notebook with ideas, recipes, what worked, and |
| Out came the cookbooks, pen, and paper. The | | | | what didn't. It will be there for the family for the |
| first few times, it was pretty simple fare. As the | | | | years to come. |