on the table

Kidding Around on the table By Mallory Arnold

The perfect restaurants and spots for you and your kids Due to health concerns, restaurants may be closed or have different operating hours. If that’s the case, inquire about take out or purchase a gift card for a later date. For a complete list of local restaurants that are accepting take out and delivery, visit www.pickeringtonmagazine.com.

There’s nothing worse than going out to dinner with the whole family and sitting down to realize that there’s absolutely nothing on the menu that your kids will eat.

Don’t sweat. Here are some yummy selections that will make the kids smile ear to ear and will let you dine the way you want, too.

Happy Goat Gluten Free Bakery and Bulk Foods 608 Forest Rose Ave., Lancaster We all know fruits and veggies are a vital part of any diet, but sometimes dessert needs to come first.

The owner of Happy Goat Bakery says that its oatmeal cream pies and goat tarts are some kid favorites. The cream pies are goldenbrown cookies with delicious cream

Happy Goat Gluten Free Bakery and Bulk Foods

smacked in the middle. The goat tarts are sweet pastries bursting at the seams and drenched with icing. We’ll take a dozen of each!

Cardo’s Pizza & Tavern 7897 Refugee Rd.

Say cheese! Cardo’s isn’t afraid to go overboard on its macaroni and cheese boat. Kids will enjoy an oven-baked blend of three cheeses topped with special seasoning. You can even rock the boat by dipping the fried cheese wedges that come with this meal.

Hangry City Grille & Spirits 1252 Hill Rd. N.

For co-owner Amber Everett, coming up with a kid’s menu was easy. “We knew our menu concept of sliders, tots, fries, and mac and cheese would be perfect kid

Cardo’s Pizza & Tavern Hangry City Grille & Spirits

Scramblers

Happy Goat Gluten Free Bakery and Bulk Foods, Cardo’s Pizza & Tavern, Hangry City Grille & Spirits, Scramblers, Judge’s Choice Rollup Ice Cream, Vitality Bowls foods,” she says. “How can you create and serve this menu without knowing it’s going to be perfect for kiddos?”

Just like the grown-ups, kids can choose from sliders or flatbread with a side of parmesan herb fries, tater tots, or mac and cheese. Each dish is elevated and diverse in flavor for parents, but familiar and nonthreatening for even the pickiest kid.

Scramblers 1219 Hill Rd. N.

Most kids will agree that waking up early is the worst. But when there’s a promise of fun pancakes, it’s a different story.

Scramblers’ smiley face pancake requires no explanation why it’s the king of all breakfast dishes. After dousing them in warm syrup and sugar, it’s safe to say any kid will flash a big smile – just like their now-eaten pancake.

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Vitality Bowls

Judge’s Choice Rollup Ice Cream 1272 Hill Rd. N.

Remember topping off your ice cream sundaes as a kid with layers upon layers of sprinkles? These sweet treats are delicious enough to stand on their own.

For kids who claim sweet isn’t sweet enough, Judge’s Choice offers a solution. Pick from rolled ice cream flavors like cotton candy, cookie dough relish, peanut paradise and more.

Vitality Bowls 1510 Stonecreek Dr. S.

After a full-blown sugar rush and resulting sugar crash, take the kids to this healthy joint for much needed brain food. No kid can resist the bright, bold colors of a sweet smoothie bowl made with organic acai, apple juice, bananas, strawberries and organic granola. Talk about making healthy habits sweet.

Mallory Arnold is an associate editor. Feedback welcome at marnold@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

Expanding the Menu

It’s always a good idea for parents to encourage their children to broaden their horizons, try new foods and incorporate plenty of greens into their diets. But sometimes, it just isn’t happening. It seems kids will never say no to one thing: chicken fingers. Rather than sacrificing your own taste buds or throwing in the towel with microwave tenders, check out this all-ages recipe.

Chicken Tenders with Apple Cider Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe courtesy of Ashley Rodriguez, Not Without Salt blog

Ingredients for sauce 1 cup apple cider 1 ⁄3 cup apple cider vinegar 1 ⁄3 cup brown sugar 2 tbsp. tomato paste 1 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tbsp. cornstarch

Ingredients for chicken tenders 2 pounds boneless chicken tenders 1 1 ⁄2 tsp. salt 1 1 ⁄2 tsp. dried thyme 1 ⁄2 tsp. dried oregano 1 ⁄2 tsp. smoked paprika 1 ⁄2 tsp. garlic powder 1 pinch cayenne 1 ⁄2 cup flour 1 cup buttermilk 1 egg 10 dashes Worcestershire sauce 1 cup panko breadcrumbs Oil for frying Directions for sauce In small saucepan, combine apple cider, cider vinegar, brown sugar, tomato paste and soy sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Combine cornstarch with two Tbsp. of hot sauce. Whisk until smooth and add this to the first step. Bring sauce back to a boil and cook for 1-2 minutes. Strain through sieve and let cool.

Directions for chicken tenders Combine chicken, salt, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic powder and cayenne. Toss well. Cover, refrigerate and let marinate for at least one hour. In a second bowl, combine flour and salt. In a third bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg and Worcestershire sauce. Pour breadcrumbs into a fourth bowl. Dredge chicken tender in flour, then dip into buttermilk mixture. Press tender into breadcrumbs to get an even coating. Transfer each piece to a plate until properly coated. Heat 2 inches of oil in large pot. When oil reaches temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit, add three to four tenders. Fry until golden-brown and cooked through; about 4 minutes. Transfer chicken to a platter and serve with apple cider sweet and sour sauce.