Taste of the Weekend: Back to School

Caprese kebabs are a great, easy, delicious kid-friendly lunch!

It’s back-to-school season! And after more than a year spent in remote learning, it’s finally time to embrace the madness that comes with returning to classrooms: shopping for a new outfit or two, dusting off the school shoes, hunting down lost supplies, and cleaning out backpacks that somehow, lasted an entire summer with last year’s homework inside.

With the craziness of back-to-school days in mind, this weekend, we’re making things easy for you. For every meal, we’ve got you covered with a list of uncomplicated, fun eats that will keep the little ones occupied and give you a chance to sit down and relax.

Breakfast

We all love donuts… just not the sugar rush that comes with them. Opt for a less-sugary and healthier option with these apple donuts, a meal and craft wrapped into one. All you need is a few big apples, a knife, and some fun toppings, like nut butter, caramel, or avocado.

Square Café is our choice for going out for breakfast. The restaurant is spacious and always buzzing, and their menu can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Look for the pint-sized meals on their ‘little ones’ menu. The buttermilk pancake is sure to be a hit!

Lunch

All you need for this lunch is cheese, meat, tomatoes, and a few leaves of fresh basil. Skewer them, add a dipping sauce, and you’ve got our Caprese Kebabs! They’re simple, delicious, and easy to clean up. Plus, our write-up comes with a few fun facts to share with the kids!

For something equally simple, head to your neighborhood Thai restaurant – we love Nicky’s Thai Kitchen – and order a spread. We know your kids will love fresh, healthy spring rolls, mild, sweet green curry, or nutty and salty Pad Thai, while you can indulge in super-spicy curries. Our advice? Over-order and save your leftovers for the next day’s lunch.

After-School Snack

We can all agree that Rice Krispie treats are not the healthiest snack in the pantry. These Cheerio bars take a nutritious approach to the sticky-sweet snack, adding nuts, coconut flakes, dried fruits, and warm, fall-ready spices to the mix for a more filling – but equally delicious – snack.

Find healthy snack options at local, vegan Mediterranean eatery, B52. The Lawrenceville restaurant packages up their housemade dips – smokey, eggplant-based baba ganouj and hummus – in eight-ounce containers for grab and go. Pair them with a bag of family-style pita and you’re ready for snack time!

Dinner

Every kid loves breakfast for dinner and pizza night – why not combine the two? This recipe for pizza pancakes gives a chance for your helping hands to design their own pizzas. Lay out the toppings and let them create!

Or, soak up the last of the summer fun, take a break from back-to-school planning, and find some kid-friendly eats at Spoonwood Brewing Co. Grab a beer or two and order from the brewery’s massive menu, including wood-fired pizzas (there’s even one topped with mac n’ cheese) and a full list of smoked meats. For the kids, check out their Junior Brewer’s menu, billing all the classics: burgers, chicken strips, and corn dogs.

Dessert

Though it may be easier to buy cookie dough at the store, we promise making this chocolate chip cookie cake from scratch is worth it. Brough to us by Crate Kitchenware and Cooking School, this giant cookie cake, drizzled with chocolate ganache, will satisfy any after-dinner sugar craving. And, it’s a great chance to get the kids in the kitchen with you. Throw them a couple of measuring cups and get to work!

However, back-to-school season may call for one last summer ice cream run. Stop by Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream for a sweet, crunchy waffle-cone stacked high with the shop’s summer flavors – strawberry cheesecake, peach sorbet, s’mores – or, treat your kids to an in-person science experiment at Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream. Pick your flavor and fillings and watch as, with a little liquid nitrogen, milk turns to ice cream right before your eyes.