[Koala77]

I decided to post this question here first before maybe posting in the recipe thread, because I'm sure many MS grandmas have had this dilemma come up at some time.

I'm having a barbecue soon, and although I am just fine with all the adult food, I'm not sure what to cook that will interest the little ones and get them eating, and was hoping that some of you might have some good ideas.

The children are boys, and aged 7-10. I have to allow for a dairy allergy, a seafood allergy and 2 boys who cannot eat citrus...... which includes tomatoes.

Any ideas?

[SallyC]

I'm no good at this Anne, but mini hamburgers an hotdogs, usually never fail and of course, have marshmallows to roast over the Barby.

[Koala77]

Thank you Sal. I hadn't thought of marshmallows but not sure how to do those over these modern gas BBQs. I'd have been fine with an old fashioned wood fire but..... Oh well, that'll be a job for hubby to work out.

[Dejibo]

how bout a honey brushed chicken nugget? or mini hamburgs, or corn dogs? Kids are easy just serve finger food and its a hit. Celery with peanut butter and a row of raisins. its called ants on a log. thats a good snack.

I used to hide all sorts of veggie purees in my kids food, but if you only have them for the day, make it fun food.

Enjoy!

[Victor H]

Anne,

This may sound strange, but it seems to get good responses from the kids:
Stuffed min-hamburgers.

I use a meatball-size amount of beef and divide it into to parts, each flattened b hand to about 10cm diameter. I place a teaspoon of mix on one patty and then seal the burger with the remaining patty. When they cook, they end-up being about 8cm wide. Use a small soft dinner roll as a bun.

Here is the kicker, the filling is made of the following ingredients, sauted: red onion (sliced thin - 1mm), minced ginger and rasins. Let cool, then add a small amount of honey, dejon mustard and a little soy suace. It makes a "sweet and sour" type filling that is very good according to the kids.

It takes 5 minutes to make the filling.

Before you place the hamburgers on the dinner roll, bursh the cooked burgers light BBQ sauce.

You can make these in ten minutes, total. They will be ready to eat immediately.

I hope all goes well.

-Vic

[Koala77]

Thank you both. I like the ideas of celery logs and the chicken nuggets Dej. I had thought of drumsticks but your nugget idea sounds more appetitising for little ones.

Wow ...... those mini hamburgers sound yum Vic. I can imagine all the adults wanting some of those too

I thank you for those wonderful ideas; you've certainly helped a lot.

[Kitty]

Those mini-burgers are very popular with adults as well as children. We call them "sliders".

Those as well as finger sandwiches (1 square sandwich cut into 4 pieces) would be an idea for the kids, too. Peanut Butter and Jelly, cheese, ham and cheese, or even tuna and/or chicken salad would be easy to make ahead of time.

Fruit ka-bobs are easy for kids to hold and eat. Strawberries, pineapple chunks, melon chunks, banana chunks.

[legzzalot]

Hot dogs on a kabob. Seriously. My kid will eat anything if it comes on a stick. I also do steak strips and chicken on a stick with a little sauce (barbeque, terriyaki, or good ole A1 sauce for the steaks). Oh andmarshmallows on a stick are an all time favorite at my house. It started with my idea to make S'mores. However the kids would rather just have roasted marshmallows.

I did not like doing them with the propane grill, so I bought one of those throw away aluminum food things (like a big lasagna dish or chaffing pan) and used coal in it. The kids loved it because we sat around it like a campfire and roasted everything.

Oh and don't forget the pickles. All kids like pickles.

[Koala77]

Originally Posted by Kitty

...Peanut Butter and Jelly, cheese, ham and cheese, or even tuna and/or chicken salad would be easy to make ahead of time.

Fruit ka-bobs are easy for kids to hold and eat. Strawberries, pineapple chunks, melon chunks, banana chunks.

Thank you Kitty. Sadly anything with cheese is out, tuna is out and most fruits are out because of the children's allergies, but fruit ka-bobs appeals for ME.

I'm always trying to think up new ideas for desserts. I've served up some of my own ideas lately that have been hits with my house guests...... the latest was a canteloupe pie which was so popular I had to make 3 in a row so the guests could take pies home for themselves.

[Koala77]

Thanks Leggz. I agree about the "anything" on a stick thing. The big Easter Show is now on in Australia and one of their biggest sellers has been "chips on a stick". I'd never seen them done that way before, but the kids really love them.

But pickles are an American thing. They are not popular here and rarely ever served, in fact.... I'm not even sure I know what they are. I'm thinking they have to be whole pickled cucumbers, yes?