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Fun With Kids in
the Kitchen
by Cyndi Roberts
Looking for something fun to do
with the kids this summer? Why not teach them to cook! It's a great way
to have fun without spending a lot of money!
Sure, sometimes it's a little more
to clean up when the children have "helped" but it's worth it for the
happy time spent together. Who knows, maybe you're raising the next
Julia Child!
There are lots of things even very
young children can do in the kitchen. When they have had a part in the
preparation of a meal, children are much more inclined to eat it!
Your toddler can pick out which
potatoes to peel; almost any age child can stir batter or hold the mixer
- maybe with a little help!
It's a good idea to keep a sturdy
step-stool handy for little ones. Also a couple of child- sized aprons
are a good idea!
A pattern for making an apron for your little helper can be found at:
http://www.cynroberts.com/mywebpage/Article18.html
Children love to get their hands
into whatever you're doing. How about letting them help knead the
biscuit dough tonight?
Are you making banana bread or
cake? Let your son or daughter mash the bananas. And then they can stir
it into the batter.
One of my sons didn't think I
could even make peanut butter cookies if he wasn't here to put the criss-crosses
on!
Here are a few fun recipes, some
don't really require much actual cooking, but they are fun recipes for
kids!
Some of these recipes may contain
ingredients that are not suitable for very young children.
* ANTS ON A
LOG *
-
Celery
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Peanut butter
-
Raisins
Clean celery and fill stalks with
peanut butter; top with raisins.
Cut in approximately 2 inch
pieces.
Chill and serve.
* BIRD SEED (Trail
Mix) *
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4 cups Cheerios
-
2 cups M&M's
-
2 cups raisins
-
2 cups nuts
Mix well. Place in individual
zipper bags for each child.
* COCA-COLA PORK
CHOPS *
-
8 pork chops
-
Salt and pepper to taste
-
1 cup catsup
-
1 cup Coca-Cola
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Brown sugar
Place the pork chops in a baking
pan. Season with salt and pepper. Mix the catsup and cola and pour over
the pork chops. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
Bake uncovered in a 350 degree
oven for 1 hour or until the pork chops are tender. Serves 8.
* PAINTED TOAST *
-
White bread
-
Milk
-
Food colors
-
Small clean brushes
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Paper cups
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Toaster
Divide small amounts of milk into
paper cups and add a different color to each.
Using the clean brushes, let the
children paint on their bread. Teach them to paint gently so they don't
tear the bread. And don't let them get the bread too wet.
Let them drop into toaster and see
what you have when it pops up!
When the kitchen is all cleaned up
and you're through for the day, here is one last recipe:
PERFECT HUG
-
2 people
-
4 arms
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2 hearts
-
A touch of love
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1 pinch of humor
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1 sprinkle of glee
Extend arms and wrap them around
each other. Clear your minds, take a look at each other, then pull
yourselves together and mix well.
Serves 2.
Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the
"1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the
website of the same name. Visit
http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a
free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free
e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".
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