Menu With Chicken Cordon Bleu

Flattening the boneless chicken breasts on the counter evens out their thickness so you can roll them up more readily. Place a breast between two sheets of waxed paper and lightly smack it with a mallet or roll over the breast with a rolling pin or the side of a soup can. Next it's time to stuff and roll the flattened breast up for cooking. Place sliced ham and Swiss cheese on the chicken breast and roll the assembly tightly. Stick toothpicks through the roll to hold it together. You have two options for cooking the chicken rolls: in the oven or frying in a skillet. Drizzle a half-and-half sauce or a creamy dressing over the chicken before serving.

Virtually any vegetable side dish can complement chicken cordon bleu well. Make a spinach salad with cucumber slices and shredded carrot and a creamy dressing on the side. Steam broccoli spears and serve them with cheese sauce for a vegetable dish most kids gobble up happily. Cook baby carrots until they are tender and then drizzle maple syrup over the top for a sweet and savory combination the kids may love.

Choose a pasta noodle that kids will sink their teeth into -- rotini or medium shells hold onto a light sauce well to make a delicious side. Warm a little olive oil in a pan, stir in a clove of crushed garlic and fresh herbs such as parsley or basil. Add just a smidge of white wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste and whisk the ingredients quickly. Drizzle this over the noodles for a simple side that complements the chicken nicely.

Try keeping the meal healthy by opting for fresh fruit and vanilla yogurt instead of something cloyingly sweet. Try a combination of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries in individual bowls. Spool dollops of vanilla yogurt over the berries and watch the family devour the goodness.