Hatrack River Forum: Cooking with kids

This is topic Cooking with kids in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Minerva (Member # 2991) on :

Does anyone have some good dinner recipes that let a child not allowed to use a knife or the stove help?

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

Sandwiches? Cold Cereal? Microwave Dinners?

Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :

It depends on whether you prefer your kids sautéed or baked.

Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :

Anything that involves measuring is good. I usually don't measure -- I eyeball most measurments -- but if the kids are helping I'll use measuring cups so they can help. Also cracking eggs, if you don't mind possibly having to pick bits of shell out.

They're also good at making instant pudding for dessert.

But I let both of mine cut soft things like mushrooms with a butter knife and stir things on the stove (with close supervision) when they were 18 months old. By the time John was 3 he could make french toast or scrambled eggs pretty much by himself.

Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

Give them a fork and a wide, deep bowl and let them mash up ripe avocados for guacamole.

Let them beat the eggs for scrambled eggs.

Let them mix the batter for cake or cookies or pancakes.

Let them sit in the bathtub covered with a marinade overnight, then pop them on the grill.

Let them shake the bag full of potatoes, olive oil, onion seasoning for delicious potato squares.

Let them measure what needs measuring.

Let them push the blender buttons.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

I see what you did there! [Wink]

Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :

Cooking with kids?

Come on, Scott, I thought you were going to jump on that one.

Edit: [Big Grin]

I didn't read carefully enough like rivka.

Posted by Sopwith2 (Member # 12372) on :

It really depends on how old the kid is. I let my 2-year old sit on the counter and whack the cans and boxes with a wooden spoon before I open them.

My five-year old, I let sit on the counter and stir food in the pan and sprinkle in the seasonings. She can also toss salads and put the garlic butter on bread.

At about seven or so, it's good to start teaching them how to use a knife correctly and safely.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Hey, Sopwith! LTNS! [Wave]

Posted by Sopwith2 (Member # 12372) on :

[Wave]

Sorry, I was a lil busy.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Busy? Anything you want to talk about? Or was it the kind of boring busy that is my life? [Wink]

Posted by Geraine (Member # 9913) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Minerva:
Does anyone have some good dinner recipes that let a child not allowed to use a knife or the stove help?

No bake cookies!!!! (Ok so you have to use the stove, but you could help them with that part!)

1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Geraine:
No bake cookies!!!!

I've had those. It's called a tube of cookie dough that you just can't help but to eat before it gets to the oven. [Big Grin]

Posted by Sopwith2 (Member # 12372) on :

We've had two kids, got out of $60k of debt, changed jobs twice, three times for my wife and wrote a novel. Just a wee bit busy. How has everyone else been?

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

Wow! Congratulations are in order...for the new additions, for getting out of debt, and for writing a novel!

That's awesome, you've been much more productive than I have.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

What Belle said!