Planning a backyard party? If kids are involved, parents can do more than dust off the picnic tables and fire up the barbecue.
For a “kid-friendly” experience, and to encourage good eating, consider using creative foods and activities to keep children happy and at the table.
“The secret is to take what you’re already doing and ‘fun-it-up’ by getting kids involved in the food preparation and party set-up,” said Fernando Gonzalez of Dixie, a business of Georgia-Pacific Corp. “If you’re serving hamburgers and hot dogs, why not make pizza dogs for the kids?”
In the following recipe, a can of pizza sauce and some shredded mozzarella turn a hot dog into a dish that combines two kids’ favorites. Children can help by spooning on the sauce, sprinkling cheese on top and adding other toppings.
PLUTO PIZZA DOGS
(Makes 8 servings)
8 hot dogs
1/2 cup pizza sauce
8 hot dog buns, split
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
4 medium green onions, sliced
if desired
Heat coals or gas grill. Cut crosswise diagonal slashes 1/2- inch apart and...