I want to start involving my kids in cooking more often and I was hoping this could be a place where we could share recipes that work well for cooking with kids. Ideally the recipes would have steps that kids can do independently or with some minimal guidance, I think - but I 'm curious what works for everyone else.
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https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/ham-and-cheese-in-puff-pastry-recipe-1943937
Last night I made this with my kids (5 and 2.5) and it was a huge hit. They were able to help roll the pastry, spread the mustard and toppings, and got a huge kick out of doing the egg wash. Bonus - it was delicious!!
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Not really a recipe but we do personal pizzas on Friday nights. Everyone gets their own mini crust and my 3.5 year old will put her own sauce, cheese,and toppings on her pizza.
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@skinnycow: oh that's a cute idea!
This is probably pretty obvious, but my 3-year-old loves making from-scratch pancakes on weekends. One of his favorite books is an illustrated cookbook called Silver Spoon for Children, it's Italian recipes--I'm excited to make some of them with him when he gets a little bit older.
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@JennyPenny: Ina Garten is the queen, I love every recipe of hers. Thx for the recommendation, going to try it.
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More momma on Instagram has a meal plan and it’s meant to be with kids and she details which steps kids can do
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Following. My 3 1/2 year old wants to help me cook all.the.time. and it freaks me out that she's going to burn herself. I was thinking of the make your own mini pizzas, we may have to try that. But I'm interesting in hearing more ideas as well! All I remember helping with as a kid was frosting cookies and stirring the gravy. So, everything I learned, I learned as an adult lol I don't want that for my daughters!
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@skinnycow: That's actually basically the same steps as the puff pastry so that would probably be a hit at home too. I wonder if I could even get them to put some veggies on...
@LCTBQE: She absolutely is! And my kids liked that there was a video on the page with the recipe that we watched first.
@gotkimchi: Oooh thanks for the rec!
@JennyLayneAZ: yeah...I still haven't let the kids near a heat source yet. I'm not sure when I'll be ready for that, but hopefully soon. I'd like them to be confident cooks one day
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@JennyPenny: My kids love helping me bake everything! I'll let DS1 (age 5) measure (flour, baking powder, etc) and DS2 (who is 3) and DS3 (almost 2) can dump it. DS1 and DS2 also like scooping out cookie dough or whatever. They also like rolling out dough into buns. Mixing up any seasonings/rubs. Basically I let them do whatever they want (while I pray for patience
) as long as it's not flaming hot! We made pigs in a blanket the other day and they really liked doing that!
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I suck at letting the kids help me (I suck at cooking in general) but dh gets them to help with specific jobs. If there isn’t really anything they can do, he gets my son to write down everyone’s “order”.
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I feel like baking is an easy way to introduce kids to measuring and following a recipe. I’ve slowly ceded control to my five year old, and she can do most of it on her own at this point. I do have her crack the eggs into a separate bowl in case any shell parts end up in there, but she’s usually pretty careful.
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My five year old loves to help in the kitchen.
He helps me make cookies, cakes, muffins etc. from scratch or sometimes from a mix if we are short on time. He loves to crack the eggs, use the kitchen scale to measure ingredients, turn on the mixer, etc.
He can make scrambled eggs pretty much independently. He's a cautious kid and I am always right there with him. With supervision he has made us breakfast before: scrambled eggs, toast, and microwaved pre-cooked bacon.
He helps make pancakes. He likes to mix the batter, pour it on the griddle, and flip the pancakes.
We've started doing mini pizzas on Friday nights also. We use various types of crusts, sometimes even just tortillas or whole wheat English muffins. He loves to help assemble and it's gotten him into eating pizza for the very first time.
I got him some kid safe knives for Christmas and his own spatula and whisk.
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Smoothies is a super easy one for young kids! Just let them dump in frozen fruit, peel and break apart bananas, pour in water and put the lid on. Then they can take turns pressing the on button.
My kids help me bake all the time. Scooping, stirring, measuring, kneading dough.. we make cookies, brownies, breads, pies..
I also have kid friendly knives so they can chop up whatever I’m cooking (veggies, tofu...)
We have made sauerkraut which is a fun sensory experience since they have to squish the cabbage and salt mixture with their hands.
When I roast veggies or potatoes I have my son sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic and give him disposable plastic kitchen gloves so he can mix it up.
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@jhd: @mrs.kiwi: what kid safe knives do you have? I’ve been debating getting some!
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@bees_knees: these are the knives we got but we haven’t used them yet StarPack Nylon Kitchen Knife Set (3 Piece) - The Perfect Kids Knife, Lettuce Knife and Safe Kitchen Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0162AI724/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6K9dEbK37ZR1R
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@bees_knees: DD has these knives and she loves them!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Q5YH9C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1DD is five and helps a lot in the kitchen - mostly measuring, pouring, and stirring with whatever I am cooking. Mainly if she asks to help, I try to let her - even if I'm not sure she can do it or I'm worried about the mess. I'm regularly surprised at what she is capable of if I just agree to let her try. I've also found that involving her in the meal planning has made her even more interested in helping me cook.
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@catgirl: My MIL gave my 4 year old the same knives for Xmas and they are awesome!
I watched a friend’s kid (same age as my DD) one evening and planned on everyone making their own pizzas for fun. My friend’s DS could not have been more disinterested and it made me so sad! Cooking together are some of my most fav memories!
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Baking (though we don’t do it enough) - both my almost 5 and almost 2 year old helped me make cheesecake for Xmas dessert this year. Measuring/pouring/egg cracking. My recipe requires 5 boxes of cream cheese so my older one opened them all and the little one put the boxes in the recycling.
Then pizza night like others have mentioned. I usually buy dough and I do that part but my older one puts on the sauce and cheese. Also tonight she cut up cucumber using a pastry scraper which I bought for her.
Following for more ideas! My kids are really picky eaters but I feel the more I involve them the more they might try.
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@petitenoisette: yes to kids trying more foods if they are involved in cooking. My 5yo has tried several new foods lately as a result of just being in the kitchen helping me make things.
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My DS is 6.5 and loves helping in the kitchen.
Around 3 he started helping with baking, he’s now operating the kitchen aid in his own.
This summer I taught him how to do scrambled eggs and French toast. He has done it on his own, with supervision.
He likes to peel carrots & potatoes.
He has even helped with canning pickles the last couple years and he likes that.
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@ALV91711: French toast is next on my list of things to teach DS!
I forgot DS also loves to help make his Annie’s Mac and cheese. I drain the pasta from the boiling water but he does almost everything else
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@bees_knees: sorry for the late reply!
We have these “knives”.. toddlers can use them as well. They have chopped bananas, tofu, squash, cucumber, etc..
https://www.amazon.com/Fruit-Vegetable-Chopper-Stainless-Colors/dp/B0001XXCYC
) as long as it's not flaming hot! We made pigs in a blanket the other day and they really liked doing that!
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