Let's face it, in order to get a parents' night out it can take a lot of preparation and foresight. So much so that sometimes it may not seem worth it. Well, bookmark this post because Weelicious shares 10 kid-friendly, easy-peasy recipes that the babysitter can make while entertaining the kids at the same time.
So, you have your sitter lined up, a stocked fridge, and a recipe printout -- you are well on your way to a grown-up evening out. Now there's no telling what the kitchen will look like when you get home, but you can worry about that after some serious "you" time.
10 Easy Babysitter Recipes (bolded shown above):
1. Banana Bites
2. Smoothie Your Way
3. Grilled Two-Cheese & Avocado Sandwich
4. Chicken, Cheese and Bean Quesadilla
5. Cream Cheese & Avocado Sammie
6. PB & J Panini
7. Mexican Pizza
8. Salmon Bites with Avocado Yogurt Dip
9. Rice Cooker Mac & Cheese
10. Pesto Shrimp Skewer
For the full recipe of each pay Weelicious a visit.
(Images: Weelicious)
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Recipe: Ham, Cheddar & Chive Egg Bakes
I'd like to speak up on behalf of the babysitter! I'm sure every situation is different, but if I am paying a teenager/young adult to watch my children in the evening, I want them watching my kids, not distracted by trying to whip up gourmet grilled cheese in the kitchen. So maybe you could prepare a meal ahead of time that can easily be pulled out and reheated or call me crazy, but order a pizza?
I vividly remember as a child getting to eat potpies any time we had a babysitter (not very often). My mom would start them before the babysitter arrived so they would be ready about the time my parents were leaving. It was the only time we got these and so it was a sodium-laced treat for me and my sisters.
As for leaving the cooking to the babysitter, I think it depends on the age of the children and the recipe. I'd totally leave something babysitter and kids could make together but right now, with my busy busy toddler, I just have the pizza delivered for her.
We just went out for the first time with a babysitter in our home (usually going out is reserved for trips back home to see our parents/siblings and we use them as babysitters.) And yes, it was a lot of work to get our two little ones ready for our 3 hour dinner excursion. I just made ravioli and meatballs and had it ready to eat by the time she came. I didn't want her worrying about preparing a meal with my 2 year old and 4 month old. I can see these ideas working best for a regular babysitter, like who cooks lunch or dinner meals on a regular basis for your kids.
We rarely have a paid babysitter anymore (thanks cousins!) but when we did I'd generally have a big supper meal at lunch time then just have her give them a typical lunch sandwich for supper.
I also remember sodium-laden dinners when my parents got a babysitter, but it was Swanson TV dinners. Salisbury steak, corn, mashed potatoes and gummy cherry pie. Loved it then, but EW! Now I would probably make something ahead instead of expecting a sitter to cook, but we eat extremely early anyway, so this has never been an issue.
We got Swanson, too. Fried chicken, corn potatoes and a gooey brownie. I LOVED it as a kid.
heck with the baby sitter some times i need a quick meal to whip up ;D
our house is open so the living, dinning and kitchen are all connected. but the kids are clinging to her anyway so there is no eye to be kept as the kids are underfoot!
long-time babysitter here - there usually isn't down time for this stuff. Please have something in the fridge or freezer or hand me the mac and cheese!
for us it was always Elios or Stouffers French Bread frozen pizza when babysitters came over!