Katy Cuisine Aug 11

cus ne Katy

august 2011

Getting to Know

good to go Back to the Basics with

Back-to-School Organization

Post Storm Food Safety Healthy and Quick

Snack Ideas

c ntents

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Back-to-the-Basics with Back-to-School Organization
 Getting to Know...

Good to Go Healthy and Quick Snack Ideas!

katycuisine.com

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14 Post Storm Food Safety

16 EDITOR

Shannan Parker Tel: 281.781.4727 shannan@katycuisine.com www.katycuisine.com

Recipe Corner

SALES

Shannan Parker sales@katycuisine.com

5 Reasons to Shop Local

DESIGNER

A Bite of Hamburger History

Fran Sherman 314.275.2208 fran@shermanstudios.com

PHOTOGRPAHERS Shannan Parker

Grill Safely!

Dining Out with Kids

ADVERTISE WITH US!

281.781.4727 SALES@KATYCUISINE.COM VISIT US ONLINE: KATYCUISINE.COM

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Back-to-the-Basics with

ORGANIZATION

BY COLETTE ROBICHEAU

A

lthough most of us are enjoying a relaxing summer break, the new school year is just around the corner. August is the time to get ready for back to school by preparing ourselves with the proper supplies and organizational techniques. Follow these suggestions to create a less stressful year and to avoid that last minute scurry before the first day of school.

Even if you don’t have children or aren’t attending school yourself, we can all benefit by using this time to readjust our schedules and routines.

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1) USE CALENDARS Prepare your calendar for the upcoming school year. Family members should have easy access to one central calendar at home. Keep one in your kitchen or den so everyone in your family can see what is on the agenda for the weeks ahead. Record important dates such as school closings, vacations, appointments or meetings. This will allow everyone to judge time accordingly for car scheduling and pick ups. Designate each family member a coloured marker to write activities to clearly see who has what coming up. In a

August 2011

backpack, keep a daily planner and carry it at all times. Jot down appointments or project deadlines right away before you forget. Don’t rely on memory – write it all down.

2) ONLY BUY WHAT YOU WILL USE Organizing and prioritizing means making space in your room, home or office to store new school work and supplies. Don’t go overboard buying new supplies thinking this will help you be more organized. Rather, look at the basic items you use and only buy those. Make a list of the items you need and only purchase those

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items when shopping.

By gathering your pre-existing supplies, you can judge more effectively what extra supplies you will need, and what has worked best for you in the past.

3) GET RID OF THE OLD TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW Get rid of old books and papers that you no longer use.

When you do come across important papers, have a specific place to store them. A filing cabi-

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net would be a great investment, and it keeps stacks of papers out of sight. Outdated magazines should be donated or recycled. If there are articles you like or don’t have time to read, tear them

out and keep them in a binder or file them by subject. This way you have all the articles that you enjoy together and can take it along with you while waiting for appointments or in between classes.

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4) KEEP ALL SCHOOL SUPPLIES IN ONE AREA Designate one spot in your home for all your school supplies. Spend 15 minutes each night tidying up this area. This will save time in the morning and avoid the panic of looking for misplaced items.

Always have your backpack ready and your homework finished the night before. Keep lunches prepared in the fridge and ready to grab.

5) DONATE OLD CLOTHES Everyone wants to have a few new items of clothing for the first day of school. Before you go shopping, look at the clothes you already own to see how they will work for the fall season. Go through your closet and get rid of outdated clothes and those that don’t fit. If you haven’t worn items in months or years, chances are you do not need them.

Getting rid of these articles of clothing will make way for your new fall wardrobe.

6) DO IT NOW Start shopping early for back-toschool clothes and supplies. Don’t wait until the weekend before school starts.

The stores will be crowded which may cause unnecessary stress. Make shopping a leisurely and enjoyable experience with your children or friends.

Back-to-school can mean a fresh start for your organizing routine.

Prepare now to ensure you start the new school year on the right track.

If you enjoyed this article, please pass it along to others who would find it useful and sign up for our Organize Anything newsletter on our homepage at http://www.organizeanything.com.

August 2011

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Getting to Know...

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katycuisine.com

BY JEFF PARKER

I

t’s 5 o’clock in the afternoon, the wife is running late at work and its now up to you to get home yourself, prepare a meal (unless you need to clean the kitchen first) cook, and serve. Now obviously this can easily be turned the other way as well. What do you do?

August 2011

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You are exhausted from working all day and now you need to make a meal and quick because your child has hockey practice at 7!

This is the type of day during the week that a lot of us go through.

We find ourselves reaching for the quick meals and not really focusing on the healthy aspect of it or if it even goes together as a meal. To be completely honest, I am writing this knowing that my son actually does have hockey practice at 6:30, and the wife is still working.

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Fellow parents relax!! We do not have to live like this anymore. New to Katy is Good To Go, a locally owned and operated new style to feed your family or yourself and still have time to get everything else done and relax. Good To Go is located on Cinco Ranch Blvd. and is available for catering or take out and it’s Healthy too! From salads and soups like the Carrot Ginger soup, made with inhouse vegetable stock, fresh carrots, onions, ginger and amazing spices to Sautéed Red Snapper made on katycuisine.com

a bed of sautéed spinach topped with capers, red onion and grape tomatoes and a side of zucchini and red bell peppers. So we sat down with Tracy and asked her the famous questions that we ask all of our local chefs about their restaurants.

Katy Cuisine: “So Tracy, what do you love most about your business in Katy?”

Tracy: “I love to cook and love the people in the area.”

And of course what is the hardest part of running everything you may August 2011

ask? Well for Tracy she says it is, “Trying to get in the groove of running a restaurant, managing employees, dealing with unexpected things that happen.” I am sure there are a lot of crazy things that happen when you are dealing with meals and the different tastes and styles that customers come to expect. Tracy loves to cook, and Katy residents should really give her a call to try some of these amazing dishes. One of the most interesting items on the menu has got to be the Grilled Peach Salad. This amazing dish is made with Arugula, fresh grilled peaches, pecans and goat cheese topped with a grilled chicken breast.

Or maybe it is the Flatbread Pizzas made with an Arugula walnut pesto with roma tomato, grilled chicken and basil OR sun-dried tomato pine nut pesto, caramelized onion, roasted zucchini and crimini mushrooms. The menu is so refreshing and open to anyone’s taste buds that it really is hard to choose. A family could get just about anything they wanted for dinner or lunch and not even dirty one pan. Now when she is not making these dishes for our family, Tracy enjoys spending time with her own family, “ Nothing Better!”, she states.

Katy Cuisine: “ So what made you want to start a restaurant? One day you just said , I want to stand in front of a hot stove all day” or was there a different calling?”

Tracy:” I wanted a kitchen that I could cater out of, but it was when, like everyone else, I came home one night not wanting to cook and asked my girls what they wanted for dinner and their

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reply was “ Please mom, we want you to cook. We are so tired of the food around here. We want something healthy.” I realized that there just wasn’t a healthy option to run out, pick-up food to come home and enjoy a meal around the table with my family or even have something delivered to the house for that matter.

Good To Go was conceived out of that. A healthy option amongst so many unhealthy options. Fast food is killing this Nation. We sincerely needed a fast food “healthy” option.

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We also needed a restaurant that cares about what goes into our bodies. I am SO over fattening foods!”

We could not agree more. When we asked Tracy what her favorite dish was…” Grilled Peach Salad”, she stated. Of course she did, it is absolutely phenomenal.

Good To Go is a dream come true for the dual working household, or even the regular house. It does not matter if you are a family of one or ten, The people at Good To Go will katycuisine.com PHOTOGRAPHY BY SONYA SELLERS

ELLERS

make sure all of you eat healthy, get what type of sweetener is used (we a chance to relax instead of slaving use an all natural, diabetic friendly over a stove (or microwave!), and sweetener in our pastries, etc.) and most important, a chance to sit down sodium levels. I am NOT an advoas a family and reminisce about evcate of the microwave so therefore erybody’s day. In todays hurry and we prepare your meal to order with wait lifestyle that we all live, Good To the freshest ingredients and you reGo is making a point to not only feed ceive hot and ready to eat. We also us, but bring us back to good family cater. We can do anything from a table values at a great value. cocktail, dinner party of any number So what about any upcoming to larger events. Our catering side events or specials? “Well, says Tracan do diet specific menus to the cy, We love that we change our menu most decadent appetizers, entrees with the seasons. You can always and pastries. We also are globally look forward to change and fresh responsible. All of our meals are seasonal dishes. There is nothing packaged in Eco-Products. Our worse than having the same items containers are compostable!!! Even on a menu all the time. We are also our straws. We mean it when we say involved with the Katy Culture and …..Doing Good to Our Bodies and Arts Alliance and will be having our Our Earth.” first mixer here on August 19th from 6 to 8 pm. We will be featuring the art So please make sure to give Good of a local artist and providing some To Go a call the next time you are of our catering delights both glutensitting in traffic or stuck at the office free and delicious bites. The event late. The menu is online and they is open and we invite anyone who can have it ready for you as you has a love of art and food (definitely head home or even deliver. Nothing me !! ) We are calling it “ As Worlds beats a home cooked meal and time Juxtapose”. One last question is with your family, except…. A home Why? What makes your restaurant cooked meal made by Good To Go so different? Tracy replied,” We and no dishes waiting for you afterare an all gluten-free, sugar free wards. Mentioned that you saw them restaurant. We make EVERYTHING in Katy Cuisine and Tracy will have in house from our condiments to our something special for your order. soup stocks.

That way we You can find Good To Go on the web at www. can ensure goodtogokaty.com , check out the menu and decide. that there is no Or you can save this number into your cell phone and gluten containdinner is just a moment away at all times so call them ing ingredients today at 281-712-2222. They are located at 23144C in everything Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy, Texas. we do. We can also control August 2011

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snack ideas! healthy and quick

A

re you looking for a healthy and quick snack for the kids? Here are a few yummy ideas that you can make together!

1. BUGS ON A LOG: They’ll love it just for the name! Simply spread peanut butter onto celery stalks, and then top with raisins (the bugs).

2. MELON BALLS: Show them that ice cream scoops can be used for more than just ice cream.

Scoop the “meat” out of watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe and serve them on a tray with colorful toothpicks in each one.

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katycuisine.com

3. QUESADILLAS: You don’t have to drive to a Mexican restaurant to enjoy these melted treats. Simply sprinkle shredded cheese onto a tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half and microwave it until the cheese is gooey. Cut the quesadilla into triangle-shaped wedges and dip in salsa.

4. FROZEN GRAPES: The entire family will enjoy this cool treat once summer arrives. Place a washed bowl of grapes into the freezer for an hour or so. Don’t forget to cut the grapes in half for smaller children and toddlers.

5. PEANUT BUTTER SQUARES: Kids will eat just about anything that’s covered in yummy peanut butter! Spread peanut butter onto a cracker (or a rice cake). Add a couple of apple slices then top with another cracker to form a little cracker sandwich.

6. SNACKERS DELIGHT: Children change their minds with the wind, so be prepared with a medley of their favorites! Fill each cup of a muffin tin with different treats such as nuts, raisins, cheese cubes, pretzels, carrot slices and sunflower seeds.

August 2011

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post storm

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food safety katycuisine.com

y

Storm-preparedness also means knowing how to keep your family safe when the storm has passed and power is out.

To reduce the risk of illness caused by bacteria, frozen and refrigerated food should remain under 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remind the kids to keep the refrigerator and freezer doors August 2011

closed; refrigerated food can stay cold up to four hours if you don’t release the cool air. A full freezer will maintain its temperature as long as two days.

Dry ice can keep food cold and safe to eat. Make sure to cook foods thorÂŹoughly to kill any bacteria that may exist. Refrigerated or frozen food that has been stored above 41 degrees for more than two hours should

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recipe

c rner

Quiche

Lorraine Ingredients

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single crust pie 12 slices bacon 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese 1/3 cup minced onion 4 eggs, beaten 2 cups light cream 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon white sugar 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

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Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

2. Place bacon in a large skillet, and fry over medium-high heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels, then chop coarsely. Sprinkle bacon, cheese and onion into pastry shell.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, salt, sugar and cayenne pepper. Pour mixture into pastry shell.

Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven.

Reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted 1 inch from edge comes out clean. Allow quiche to sit 10 minutes before cutting into wedges. katycuisine.com

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recipe

c rner

Grandma’s

LemonMeringue Pie Ingredients

1 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups water 2 lemons, juiced and zested 2 tablespoons butter 4 egg yolks, beaten 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked 4 egg whites 6 tablespoons white sugar SOURCE - ALLRECIPES.COM

August 2011

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. To Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil.

Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.

3. To Make Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.

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recipe

c rner

Seared Ahi T

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katycuisine.com

hi Tuna Steaks Tuna Steaks Couscous: Ingredients

Ingredients

Directions

Directions

2 (5 ounce) ahi tuna steaks 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns

Season the tuna steaks with salt and cayenne pepper.

Melt the butter with the olive oil in a skillet over mediumhigh heat. Cook the peppercorns in the mixture until they soften and pop, about 5 minutes. Gently place the seasoned tuna in the skillet and cook to desired doneness, 1 1/2 minutes per side for rare.

August 2011

2 1/4 cups water or chicken stock 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons butter 10 ounces couscous 1 cup diced tomatoes 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/2 cup green onions

Combine water or chicken stock, salt and butter in a saucepan, over medium heat and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous. Add diced tomatoes, crumbled feta, and green onions. Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.

Uncover, fluff with a fork, and serve hot or cold.

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recipe

c rner

Easy Baked

Tomato Sauce Ingredients

2/3 cup olive oil 1.5 lbs. Roma tomatoes, sliced lengthwise ¼ c. grated Romano cheese ¼ c. dry breadcrumbs 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 tsp. dried oregano Salt and pepper to taste

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Directions

Cover baking dish bottom with oil, dip cut sides of tomatoes, then place cut side up, close together. Combine other ingredients, sprin¬kle them over tomatoes, and bake for 40 minutes at 425°. Fabulous over spaghetti, even better tossed with penne pasta.

Serve with an Italian table wine and expect everyone to want to come back for more.

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advertise your business

MANGO SMOOTHIE

1 1/4 cups Yogurt 1/2 tsp Lemon juice 1/2 cup Fresh mango pulp 1/3 cup Cold water Sugar Ice cubes

281.781.4727 • SALES@KATYCUISINE.COM

Method: Peel the mango and remove flesh from pit and cut into small pieces.

Doing Good to Our Bodies and Our Earth

In a blender, add yogurt, lemon juice, mango pulp. water, and sugar.

Blend approximately 2 to 3 minutes or until you see a little forming in the mixture.

281-712-2222

goodtogokaty.com Add the ice and blend until frothy.

23144C Cinco Ranch Blvd.

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Cannot be combined with any other offer.

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5

shop local

reasons to

You know how much of your hard earned money you’re spending. But do you know where that money is going?

Shopping locally is matter of economics. And a lot more.

Economic impact studies show that on average, for every $100 spent at a locally owned store, $45 stays in the community. Shopping at a chain store leaves only $13. Need more reasons to shop locally? Here are HOO’s top 5!

5. ENTREPRENEURSHIP Entrepreneurship fuels America’s economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for families to move up. Mentoring and other inspirational roles help give our children reasons to pursue professional careers and aspirations.

2. COMPETITION A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. When you buy locally, you’re buying service.

AND THE TOP REASON IS...

1. PRODUCT DIVERSITY 4. PUBLIC BENEFITS AND COSTS A multitude of small businesses, Local stores usually require little in- each selecting products based on frastructure and make more efficient their own interests and the needs of use of public services. their customers– and not on national sales goals– guarantees a broader range of product choices and more 3. ENVIRONMENTAL unique choices. Not one of many but SUSTAINABILITY one of a kind!

Shopping locally helps sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers. With that we reduce urban sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.

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W

3

ALL THREE LOCATIONS ARE LOCATED IN THE VILLAGIO TOWN CENTER • 22764 Westheimer Pkwy @ Peek • Katy, Texas 77450

Bistro 829 IS BACK!!

In the Villagio Town Center

For Reservations: 281-646.0829 www.bistrokaty.com

The Food, the Music and the International Tapa Culture has arrived in Katy!!

We have Karaoke, Live Entertainment & Great Food Have your next Party or Networking event at Babaloo!

www.babaloocafe.net

281.391.4167

3 olives is a freestyle Italian restaurant in the heart of Cinco Ranch, Katy!

www.3oliveskaty.com August 2011

832.437.4062

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June 2011 | 21

hamburger history a bite of

Hamburgers trace their origin to a cook in Hamburg, Germany, who would butter and lightly toast two pieces of bread, then place a sizÂŹzling ground sausage beef patty topped with a fried egg, pickles and a dollop of mustard between them.

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katycuisine.com

ger

Colourful Waterplay

Now here’s

one of those activities for kids that is fun but

a bit messy so kids must play it outdoor with an apron. Head outside with bottles of water and a

variety of food colorings. Then let your kids mix and match the colors until everyone has the same uniform color in each bottle.

Bookworms

If you’re thinking of activi-

2275 (At W Suite

ties for kids that are butcentury also enrichSailors ofnot theonly latefun 19th ing, then consider reading books to them.with And loved the sandwich, especially

yes, books aren’t in your bedroom. A a stein or just tworead of beer.

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shaded part in your yard can a perfect place Hungry sailors areberespon¬sible

bringing the child. recipe to New York. to enjoyfor a book with your Spread a rug and The St. Louis Exposition of 1904, take out those books. the fair famous for launching ice introduced hamburgBe cream Sandycones, Let your little ones go wild in ers and hot dogs to the gentheir imagination by making anything such as eral public, and received pizza, cake and even rave castlesreviews. using sands. Just supply them with small buckets, yourearly old kitchIn the en utensils, and biscuit cutters. This indeed one 20thiscentury, of those activities for kids that can bring out the ketchup

M

4

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best in them.

Hidey-Hole

And when you think you’re

running out of ideas of fun activities for kids,

here’s one you should really try make an outdoor home using a sheet and some chairs.

Let Your Young Artist Shine

Make

the most out of a sunny day, by setting a table

outside. Next, arrange an easel, spread the cray-

ons, the glitter glue and encourage your kids to be crafty.

My list of fun activities for kids ends here.

Actually, the list can be endless if you just add your own activities in this list or even make your own variations. What is most important is that you and your kids will have fun!

August 2011 12 | www.katycuisine.com

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grill safely!

Grilling up dinner for family and friends? Barbecue season is upon us. But don’t fire up your grill until you do a thor¬ough safety inspection.

• Look for holes or leaks in gas hoses on propane grills.

• Make sure the grill is a safe distance from your house, garage and leaf or wood piles.

• Keep a bucket of water or hose nearby for emergencies.

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katycuisine.com

!

thawed and well drained 1 c. (4 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese

Homemade Fresh Italian Cuisine

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except cheese.

Choose your IngredIents, and let us Create a Spoon into a greased 2 quart CulInary masterpIeCe before your eyes! casserole. Bake, uncovered, at 400

Your Family Owned Authentic Italian Restaurant

degrees for 15 minutes.

Top with cheese and bake 5 minutes longer. Yield: 6-8 servings.

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Take Out & Catering Available 2001 Katy Mills Blvd. • Ste. A • Katy, TX 77494

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kids dining out with

It’s not impossible to teach young children restaurant etiquette, so that you can enjoy dinners out with the whole family. Don’t worry about which fork they use. Not yet.

Pick a restaurant where both you and the kids will be comfortable, like a casual family dining restau¬rant or a buffet. Make sure there’s something on the menu the kids will enjoy.

Bring along a bag of quiet toys, such as coloring books and games, to keep children busy during dinner.

Visit restaurants during “off-hours.” A lesscrowded restaurant is not as overwhelming to a young child, and you may have the op¬portunity to pick a table in an area that is somewhat secluded from other diners.

As children grow accustomed to eating out, they will learn appropri¬ate restaurant behavior.

When parents and kids can enjoy dinner out together without mis¬haps and meltdowns, everybody’s having fun!

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katycuisine.com

22 (A Su

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22758 Westheimer Pkwy, (At Westheimer & Peek) Suite 270 Katy, TX, 77450

281-395-3473 Mon - Thurs:

4PM - 2AM

HAPPY HOUR Daily Until 7:00PM

CR AWFISH BOIL Sunday June 12th

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Healthy Meals for Busy Lifestyles!

www.fitnfreshgourmet.com • 281.394.2494 August 2011

31 June 2011 | 13