Meal Ideas

Kids in the Kitchen

By: janelle

When I was thinking about becoming a mother, I knew that I wanted my children – whatever their gender – to be self-sufficient in their life.

One of the best memories I have is one of watching my nanna cook and then my mum teaching me basic dishes. By the time I was 15, I was cooking the family evening meal.

By teaching cooking skills to children from a young age, you are instilling confidence in them.

An added benefit is that they’ll probably be more willing to eat family meals if they to helped prepare them. And I think you’ll all have loads of fun!

When my son was two, he started off helping me stir. The first dish we made together was White Christmas. He loved pouring the rice bubbles and icing sugar into the bowl and mixing with a big spoon. We do this every year together so it has become a family Christmas tradition. My younger son now also lends a helping hand.

When he was four he helped me do some chopping. I bought a kids’ safety knife and he chopped lettuce and mushrooms. He also helped grate carrot and cheese. I received an awesome tips from the kindergarten teacher and that was to get some child safety scissors, just for the kitchen, and the children can use them to ‘cut’ lettuce, mushrooms, sliced cheese and capsicum.

Now he is six he helps me make a mince meat sauce for tacos. He even stirs it on the stove for me. He can also make a simple butter or chocolate cake from start to finish and can read a basic recipe.

Tips for having children help you in the kitchen:

Lower expectations. Just get them to do what they can and praise them for it.
Expect mess. The flour will go on the floor. An egg may break.
Start simple. Even if you start with a cake mix to get them used to pouring water/milk in and stirring.
Set kitchen rules. My 6 year old knows he cannot open the oven door or pick a saucepan up.
Practice kitchen safety. Be sensible about when they can use a knife. We have a children’s safety knife as well as the children’s scissors.
Practice kitchen hygiene. Washing hands, wearing an apron and not tasting the food after every stir.

Some recipe ideas of what you can cook with your children.

Cakes and cookies
Chocolate balls
Pizzas
Tacos
Fritters
Pancakes
Quiche
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Meat Kebabs
Fruit Kebabs
Salads
Smoothies
Fried Rice

Cake Pops

This is something my son and I make together for birthdays and Christmas celebrations.

1. Make up a plain cake. We use a basic cake mix that comes with frosting mix.
2. Allow the cooked cake to cool in the fridge, then break it up in a large bowl.
3. Make the frosting and add it to the cake crumbs. Mix well.
4. Roll into smallish balls and place on a baking tray.
5. Put the mixture into the freezer for a few hours.
6. Melt the chocolate.
7. Make a little hole in the ball.
8. Dip a lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and then stick into the hole.
9. Hold onto the stick and pour the chocolate over the ball. We use a spoon.
10. Keep turning the ball to make sure it is evenly coated.
11. Add some decorations – like sprinkles or some lollies.
12. Place them gently back on the baking tray or stand them in a small glass/pot.
13. Freeze them for a few more hours, then serve.

So yummy!

We also make Taco’s together. If you put everything out on the table or bench, the kids love assembling their own tacos.

Beef Tacos

Ingredients

1 onion chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
500 grams beef mince
1 can diced tomatoes
Taco seasoning
Taco shells
Lettuce
Tomato, diced
Tasty cheese, grated
Sour cream
Avocado, seeded and diced

Method

1. Heat a saucepan on medium heat with a little oil
2. Cook the onions for a few minutes
3. Add the tomato paste and cook a few more minutes
4. Add the mince, diced tomatoes and taco seasoning and stir well.
5. Let it simmer for about 15 – 20 mins, stirring every few minutes
6. Heat the taco shells as per directions on the pack
7. Pop everything into serving dishes and let them assemble their tacos.
8. Have plenty of serviettes on hand.

Make cooking enjoyable and fun and you will hopefully reap the rewards when they are older and want to cook dinner for you.

Mother’s Day breakfast may also become something you look forward to!

How do you feel about having your kids in the kitchen? Has it been a rewarding experience for you?