originally posted — May 2009

Disney Channel Stars Share Their Favorite Family Recipes

By Barb Oates

Just about every mom has one or two signature dishes that are special to her family -- a favorite that's frequently requested by her children. And just about every mom struggles with finding new dishes to break up their mealtime monotony. Seeing as it's Mother's Day this month, we've gathered the favorite family recipes from a handful of Disney Channel stars to help spice up your menu.

It's hard to believe, but the Jonas Brothers, stars of the new JONAS series, do spend some time at home, where their mom, Denise Jonas, prepares one of their favorite dishes -- Filet Mignon With Chinese Coleslaw. "When I serve this salad to guests, I always have a recipe card on hand because I am usually asked for it." She credits a family friend for the recipe and says, "It has been a great way to teach the boys how to use the grill."

Get the Filet Mignon With Chinese Coleslaw recipe!

Mandy Teefey, mom to Selena Gomez of Wizards of Waverly Place, says her Lettuce Wrap recipe was actually the first meal she cooked in their new house. "We had always lived in apartments so when we finally got settled into our very first home, it was the first thing we made. We always cook with Frank Sinatra or Judy Garland playing." She claims this recipe is good, easy and "it takes no time and [there's] very little cleanup."

Get the Lettuce Wrap recipe!

Things get loud in the kitchen when Moises Arias, who stars as Miley Cyrus' little brother Rico in Hannah Montana, and his mom cook up their favorite family recipe. "Every time I prepare this dish my pet bird immediately recognizes the smell," says Monica Arias, about her Arroz Con Pollo recipe. "Even though she is a 'pollo' she eats the pollo off the 'arroz con pollo' so my family always says, 'this dish is so good that even the bird loves it!"

Arias says her family asks her to make the recipe at least once a week. "It is their favorite Colombian recipe and once they start eating they say "Is there more in the pan?" There is never one grain of rice left on the plate."

Get the Arroz con Pollo recipe!

Demi Lovato, star of Camp Rock, Sonny With a Chance and the new Disney original movie Princess Protection Program (debuting this summer), enjoys Mexican food and meatloaf. Her mom, Dianna De La Garza, claims Meatloaf Wednesday as a special mealtime for her family.

"One evening, Demi asked for meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and it quickly became a weekly tradition where we would invite all of our friends who don't always have time for a home-cooked meal," De La Garza says. But, it's her Tex Mex Chicken Fajitas with Lime Cabbage Slaw and Jicama Salad that's the favorite she's sharing.

"Mexican food is popular in Texas and our family loves fajitas in particular. Since Tex-Mex food is typically very heavy with lots of cheese and sauces, we add the jicama salad to our fajitas to make it fresher and has a healthy twist."

Get the Tex Mex Chicken Fajitas with Lime Cabbage Slaw and Jicama Salad recipe!

Wizards of Waverely Place star David Henrie and his mom Linda share a love for Italian food. "We're Italian and we love spaghetti and spaghetti sauce! The touch of added sugar to the sauce makes it a tad bit sweet and kids just love that," Linda says. "Tomato sauce is special to our family since it is the traditional food of our heritage. I love to cook this recipe."

Get the Eggplant Parmesan recipe!

originally posted — May 2009