Cooking with kids
September 24, 2007 by Sherry Osborne
Filed under Parenting
I love the concept of cooking with kids. I haven’t done it as often lately, because with school having started, my daughter is tired and cranky by that time of day. However, I do enjoy it when she helps me out, pouring things into mixing bowls, stirring, anything that is safe for her age. I’ve even brought my toddler into the action, giving her a measuring cup full of lentils or rice to pour into an empty pot before I start cooking (unfortunately, she then gets irate that she can’t do anything else, but she’s only 22 months so she’s pretty limited to what she can do just yet!).
I want to get my hands on this awesome looking cookbook called Kids Cook 1-2-3: Recipes for Young Chefs Using Only 3 Ingredients. Three ingredients would be likely to keep a recipe from being overwhelming to kids (and makes life easier for Mom and Dad too, not having to go through 15 ingredients and 28 steps with someone really young!), and it will help them learn to follow recipes too.
Basically, the authour Rozanne Gold takes good recipes and strips it down to just the essential ingredients to make a delicious and simple meal without dumbing it down just because it’s for kids.
The book has plenty of desserts (hello Chocolate-Pecan Fudge!) which will please kids, for sure. However, they also cover main meals like chicken, flounder, and side dishes with impressive names like “Green Beans Almondine” and “Steamed Broccoli with Stir-Fried Pacans”.
Apparently the book is meant for kids who are 10-12 years old, but I bet that you could do the recipes with younger kids too, as long as you’re able to supervise and help out if needed.
I really want to get my hands on this book!
What do you like to cook with your kids?
Cedar likes to help me make bread. We can make organic cheaper than buy it so we try to usually make homemade. He gets tired of the kneading but loves to punch it. He also likes to sprinkle on stuff like flax and oats. Honestly, I think he likes the idea of cooking better than the actual cooking (he’s six so maybe that will change).
The other day we were supposed to make cookies together. The day went on and we did other stuff. Every time I mentioned the cookies he’d say no lets…. whatever. So, it gets to be about 8pm and I come into the living room and he’s crying. I say what’s the matter and he says, “I really wanted a nice warm cookie for dessert…but I’m too tired to cook.”
What could I do — I had to make the darn cookies and do you know that child ate 1/2 of one! I swear. But he’s just too cute to resist.
I can remember my mom booting me out of the kitchen as a child (you’re in the way kid) lol
So needless to say, when I got married I was challenged in the meal prep department.
I don’t want my dd to find herself in a similar position, so I try to get her involved as much as possible & she loves every moment!