Mother's Day Meals & Memories

Crunchy Onion Chicken
Crispy Onion Veggies

(Family Features) - No matter how you've celebrated Mother's Day in years past, why not try something new this year - cooking with your kids. It's never too early to begin creating meals and memories in the kitchen. Perhaps you remember the sights, smells and tastes associated with a special relative who taught you how to bake your first cake or knead dough for a loaf of freshly baked bread; now is the time to pass on these memories. You can create a Mother's Day menu with easy, delicious recipes, all prepared in under 10 minutes.

Before getting started, review these simple tips from the French's test kitchens:

• Always wash your hands
• Be sure activities are age appropriate. Consider the child's attention span as well as dexterity.
• Demonstrate proper techniques for common cooking terms such as beating, stirring, chopping, dicing, etc.
• Use this opportunity to introduce new foods--see our recipe for Crunchy Onion Veggies, which makes eating vegetables more appealing.
• Take advantage of the educational messages, from a geography lesson about where certain foods come from to simple science lessons inherent in baking. Measuring skills also teach math and spelling and reading can also be incorporated into the culinary experience.

The recipes below are not only easy to prepare, but mouthwatering, too. Perhaps Mother's Day will be the start of a new family tradition, enjoying quality time with your kids while cooking in the kitchen.

For more great recipes and cooking tips from the test kitchen at French's, please visit www.frenchsfoods.com.

Crunchy Onion Chicken
Makes 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

1 1/3 cups French's Original or Cheddar French Fried Onions
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 egg, beaten

1. Crush French Fried Onions in plastic bag.
   
2. Dip chicken into egg. Coat in onion crumbs.
   
3. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, or until no longer pink in center.

Crispy Onion Veggies
Makes 6 servings
Prepare these crispy veggies for Mother's Day or anytime holiday appetizers.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

1 1/3 cups French's French Fried Onions or Cheddar French Fried Onions
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 to 2 medium zucchini cut diagonally into 1/4-inch slices
1 egg, beaten

1. Crush French Fried Onions in plastic bag using hands or rolling pin.
2. Place flour into separate bag. Toss zucchini in flour; shake off excess.
3. Dip zucchini pieces into beaten egg; then toss in crushed onions, a few pieces at a time.
4. Arrange zucchini on greased rack set over rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes, or until tender.

Crispy Onion Mushrooms: Substitute one 10 ounce package whole button mushrooms. Proceed as above.

Crunchy Double Onion Rings: Crush 2 cups French Fried Onions in plastic bag and toss with 2 tablespoons flour; set aside. Slice 2 large onions into 1/2 inch thick rings. Coat onion rings in 1/4 cup flour. Dip into 2 beaten egg whites, then into crushed French Fried Onion mixture. Bake according to recipe above.

SOURCE: French's