Cooking with your Child

Cooking with your child teaches them a life skill and makes lasting memories. Even if you're not a fantastic cook, you can still show them the basics and have fun while you do it.

Safety First - Show your child what is sharp or hot, what utensils they are allowed to use and when. Tie their hair back if it's long and make sure they have a stool if needed.

Explain or demonstrate how to do each step in the recipe before they try it. Kids will need help pouring heavy containers and cracking eggs.

RECIPES FOR KIDS:

1. Pancakes - Use a mix or start from scratch.

When using a premade mix, I like birch benders or Kodiak Power Cakes. For a gluten-free option, try the Simple Mills Almond Flour Pancake & Waffle Mix.

Recipe:

Wet ingredients

• 1 Egg

• 2 tbsp. Soft Butter (vegan or coconut oil is good too)

• 1 1/4 cup Milk of choice (Vanilla Almond milk has the best flavor)

• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Dry Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour

• 3 tsp Baking Powder

• 1/2 tsp Salt

• 3 tbsp. Sugar (Optional)

• 1 tsp Cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients in two separate bowls then combine.

Parents - Heat the pan to medium. Once it's heated, pour 1/4 cup of batter to make 4 inch round pancakes. Let them cook couple for a couple minutes. Flip when they start to bubble in the middle. Remove pancakes when they begin to brown on the bottom. Now, enjoy yummy pancakes with your favorite maple syrup.

Download pancake recipe here:

2. Pizza - All you need is dough, sauce, and cheese.

Dough - I buy the this premade - available at most stores - Trader Joes, Kroger, Wholefoods, and Safeway - which also has it in the Pillsbury easy-to-open cylinder container.
Roll - Sprinkle flour on the counter and on top of the dough. Demonstrate how to use the roller and then let your child try. After you're done rolling, you might need to stretch it out a little with your hands.

If you want to skip this step all together, find a premade pizza crust in the frozen pizza section. If you want something a little faster, check out the freshly baked bread section for flat bread or focaccia. If you're Gluten Free, try the Simple Mills Almond Flour Pizza Dough Mix. This dough is highly rated and can be fun to mix.

Sauce - Any pizza sauce works but I like to use marinara sauce. It just has more flavor and I already have it in my cabinet.
Cheese - Mozzarella or mixed shredded cheese.
Bake - For softer pizza, take it out of the oven about 2 minutes earlier or bake at a lower temperature (about 15 - 20 degrees less). Make sure an adult is the one that places the pan in the oven and takes it out.

3. Sandwich's

Put all the ingredients on the counter and supervise. They will need a butter knife or spoon to spread the sauce on the bread.

Now that my daughter knows how to make a sandwich, she always wants to make them, especially for daddy. I still have to help get the ingredients and supervise but I don't need to stand over her. She feels confident and it makes her happy that she can contribute.

4. Pasta with sauce or butter

Let your child pick the pasta and pour it into the pot. Then fill it with cold water. Before you turn on the stove, let them add a little salt and stir it up. When the pasta is cooked, the adult should always be the one to drain the water. Now you're little one can add their favorite ingredients.

5. Cookies -A soft Sugar cookie recipe is the easiest.

Here's a simple recipe from Prettysimplesweet.com

Eventually you'll need super cute matching chef aprons!

Get started with the 2 Pack Cotton Adjustable Parent and Child Apron with Pockets by Hillhome. Only $16 on Amazon.