A picky eater in the family can make cooking dinner difficult, but it’s important for everyone in your family to get the proper nutrition. If you’re looking for healthy, filling recipes that even small children will love, these three dishes are both simple and tasty.

Ham and Cheese Quesadillas [Real Simple]
Using deli ham and cheese instead of the usual complicated taco meats and seasonings, these ham and cheese quesadillas are ideal for nights when you don’t have much time to cook or when you’re short on groceries. Serve them with a slice of cantaloupe for a boost of healthy nutrients.

Taco Pizza [Martha Stewart]
This is a fun one that will get the kids excited to eat dinner. Taco pizza combines two of children’s favorite foods—pizza and tacos—and it takes just 25 minutes from start to finish. Use lean ground beef and fresh veggies to make it a bit healthier than the usual pizza.

Chicken Tenders With Creamy Honey Mustard [Kraft]
Even the pickiest eaters love chicken tenders, but this recipe is a less fattening alternative to the usual fast food fare. To make this dish even more convenient, the honey mustard sauce doubles as a dip for a side of vegetables.

CC-BY-SA-3.0/Flickr/jeffreyw

Torchy's Tacos originated in Austin, but the tales of these tacos have traveled across the state to Houston, where the franchise has debuted several locations. What started off as a somewhat far-fetched dream of chef Michael Rypka ended up becoming a wildly successful business.

Taco selections include the shrimp with coleslaw, jalapenos, and queso: the beef barbacoa with avocado, and cilantro; and fried mushroom with refried black beans, corn, and carrots. The meat is tender and juicy, the vegetables are fresh and well-seasoned, and there are plenty of vegetarian options.

Be sure to try Torchy's breakfasts, which feature crisp potatoes, scrambled eggs, tomatillo sauce, and expertly cooked bacon. Torchy's is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and opens at 8 a.m. on the weekends.

Torchy's Tacos
2411 South Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 595-8226
http://www.torchystacos.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/torchys-tacos-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/The Culinary Geek

Leave the grocery store frozen cookie dough behind in favor of something fresh, homemade, and much more flavorful. Making cookies from scratch is much easier than you may think, and if you follow a few simple guidelines, it doesn’t take much extra time, either. Here are some quick tips for making wonderful-tasting cookies at home.

1. Don’t skimp on ingredients. If a recipe calls for something unusual or specific, it’s likely because it’s important.
2. Always use pure forms of base ingredients. That means unsalted butter, large eggs, and pure vanilla extract.
3. Use parchment paper instead of cooking spray. Parchment paper creates much less mess to clean up, and it prevents your cookies from burning.
4. Adjust baking times to your unique preferences. If you prefer soft, chewy cookies, shave off a minute or two. If you like a crunchy cookie, add an extra minute.
5. Place cookies approximately two inches apart. If you place them too close together on the baking pan, your cookies will melt together and lose their nice, round shape.
6. For bar cookies, make sure you use the pan size indicated. It can be difficult to adjust the cooking time depending on the pan size, so it’s always smart to go with the size that the recipe specifies.

• Top 10 Cookie-Baking Tips [All Recipes]
• Tips for Baking Cookies [Better Homes and Gardens]

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