Tasty Treats

TASTYTREATS

KID-FRIENDLY RECIPES For Busy School Days

(Family Features)

A menu of filling, delicious recipes is just what your family needs to make each school day a successful educational adventure. Satisfying lunch and dinner ideas can give loved ones the fuel they need, while delicious desserts provide motivation for growing minds to get homework finished before enjoying a treat.

MAKE SCHOOL LUNCHES A BREEZE

There’s a lot to remember when sending your student off to school each morning, from backpacks and school supplies to last night’s homework. Don’t forget one of the key ingredients to a successful day: lunch.

These Cheeseburger Turnovers provide the energy little learners need to power through their afternoon lessons. One winning idea to make the week easier is to prep a full batch of these easily packable, kid-friendly handhelds Sunday night so you have lunch ready for each day.

To find more school day recipe inspiration, visit Culinary.net.

CHEESEBURGER TURNOVERS

1 lb. ground beef 1/2 c. onion, chopped 2 T. ketchup 1 T. mustard 1 can flaky biscuits 1 c. shredded cheese dill pickle slices, halved 1 egg, beaten

Heat oven to 375 F.

In large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until beef is thoroughly cooked and onions are tender. Drain. Stir in ketchup and mustard.

Separate biscuit dough. On ungreased baking sheet, flatten biscuit dough to form 6-inch rounds. Spoon beef mixture onto one side of flattened dough. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with dill pickle half. Fold dough over filling. With fork tines, press dough edges to seal. Cut two slits in top of dough to release steam. Repeat with remaining dough, beef mixture, cheese and pickles.

Brush each turnover with egg wash.

Bake 18-22 minutes or until deep golden brown.

A PERFECT PASTA FOR SCHOOL NIGHTS

Weeknight meals are all about putting tasty dishes on the table in a short amount of time, so you can share precious moments together despite busy schedules.

In a matter of minutes, you can prepare this Lentil Bolognese with Veggie-Based Penne for a quick, yet flavorful, recipe that can be enjoyed by little ones and adults alike. Featuring Veggiecraft Farms Cauliflower Penne as its key ingredient, this family meal makes it easy to incorporate vegetables without sacrificing taste.

Visit VeggiecraftFarms.com for more information and family-friendly recipes.

LENTIL BOLOGNESE WITH VEGGIE-BASED PENNE

1 c. dry French green lentils or brown lentils 1 jar (24 oz.) marinara sauce 1/2 cup vegetable broth 1 box Veggiecraft Farms Cauliflower Penne

TOPPINGS: fresh basil Parmesan cheese red pepper flakes

Cook lentils according to package directions. Drain then return to pot and add marinara and vegetable broth. Stir well and simmer over low heat about 10 minutes.

Cook penne according to package directions.

Top cooked pasta with lentil Bolognese, fresh basil, Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.

I have had my dog for seven years and every night he has slept in his bed which is in a wire crate with the door open. About a month ago, my husband got COVID, and I slept in the guest room. My dog slept with my husband in our room, but he stopped sleeping in his crate. He slept on the fl oor at the foot of the bed instead. Since then, he hasn’t gone back to his crate, even since I came back to our bedroom. Any thoughts on why he would make such a big change suddenly? –

Tracy Lewandowski

Dogs are associative learners, which means they learn in patterns. Sounds like your pup developed a new pattern and is repeating that pattern. You can train him to sleep back in the crate if you wish, but I wouldn’t worry about it he seems content where he is. If you have issues getting him back in the crate, I recommend going back to the basics of crate training.

-Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Sable is a chocolate lab who is almost 13 years old. Her fur is currently very dry which is not normal for her. She takes Omega-3 and fi sh oil supplements and has for years. Is this because of the time of year after shedding and before getting her winter coat? Is it age related? – Kathy Stull

Older dogs experience diff erent types of skin changes as they get older so this could be related to age or weather. It sounds like you are giving Sable some excellent vitamins to help keep her coat shiny and healthy. Food can also play a part in dry and coarse hair, but if this is not normal for her, then keep an eye on it for the next six months and see what her hair does. Oatmeal baths, coconut oil, and herbal supplements can also help with dry and course fur.

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

I have a seven-year-old male tabby who has always eaten from a bowl with no problem. Recently he won’t eat out of a bowl. He will only eat off the bare fl oor or carpet. He has been to the veterinarian recently and I was told cats will do what they want! (I AGREE 100%) I just thought it was weird – Tammy

It is a little strange to us, but I wouldn’t assume there is anything medically or behaviorally off with this new eating habit. A lot of cats prefer to eat off the fl oor and many cats will take food out of their bowl and place it on the fl oor before consuming it. The ancestors of our domestic kitties used their paws to hold down prey, so your tabby may be following an evolutionary instinct.

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Elliot is a lovable lug who wants nothing more than a quiet home to relax in with his forever family. He is a Great Dane mix and has lots of love to give, almost 100 pounds worth to be exact! He loves playing fetch after he’s has played a round, he likes to settle in and relax for the rest of the day. He would do best with someone who is a homebody like himself or doesn’t mind bringing him along for the ride as he loves car rides. If this sounds like the pup for you, email foster@greatplainsspca.org about meeting this handsome hound.

Great Plains SPCA is an independent 501(c)(3) no kill shelter, with a 98% live release rate, GPSPCA provides lifesaving services for approximately 4,000 animals annually in the greater Kansas City area. As Kansas City’s premium family shelter, we continue to support the seven municipalities with which we are contracted, including Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Bonner Springs, Lake Quivira and Johnson County Parks Department and the Johnson County Sheriff ’s Department.

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in

KC Parent magazine. Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior and Training at Great Plains SPCA. Ashley has more than 16 years of experience in animal training and behavior.