Cooking with kids!

[Anonymous]

I thought the summer might be a good time to teach my ds10 and ds11 how to cook a couple of new meals. They sometimes help with cookies, spaghetti, tacos and pancakes. What do your kids know how to cook? Looking for some ideas and also what is age appropriate. I will be with them supervising the oven, etc. Ice cream is already on the menu!! Healthy would be nice too!

[Anonymous]

What an awesome idea. I'd start by asking them what they'd like to learn how to cook, e.g., favorite meal. Also, if you look at menus at places that offer cooking classes, that might give you some ideas.

I also think cookbooks with good pictures or watching recipe clips are helpful. I like real cooks like America's Test Kitchen regarding techniques. (A lot of the popular cooks with TV shows are more hair and make up than effective cooks.) Teaching knife skills is a good basic skill that will help them in preparing pretty much anything. Learning techniques like how to season, how pan frying a chicken breast, pork chop, or fish filet are similar. It's the timing that differs.

[Anonymous]

My kids have had to cook one dinner per week since they were six years old. On the night one cooks, the other cleans up.

Last night the 11 yr old made marinated steak tips with cous cous and steamed broccoli. The 8 yr old made baked ziti, garlic bread and salad Thursday night. Tomorrow night the 8 yr old is making salmon, corn on the cob, and asparagus. A few hours ago the 11 yr old cut up cantaloupe and then made a melon/banana smoothie. For breakfast the 8 yr old made scrambled eggs with avocado and tomato.

[Anonymous]

My oldest likes to roast a whole bird-chicken, Cornish game hens, whatever. It's easy but it looks so impressive. I think it's funny that she goes for the easiest recipes that look most impressive lol.

[Anonymous]

I agree it's a really great idea. I have twin boys who are nearly 11 and they are starting to learn how to cook with a pan on the stove. Scrambled eggs are a great place to start. They are also learning safe meat handling practices by making hamburgers that DH cooks on the grill. Another option is cooking hot dogs under the broiler or in boiling water.

[Anonymous]

Lasagna is a fun thing to make with kids.

[Anonymous]

Making homemade macaroni is very easy. There are lots of variations online. My children like to cut different shapes with butter knifes after it is rolled out. Fun activity to do together. My 7 yr old can now do it all himself.

[Anonymous]

Um, the kids started helping at 2 and 3 by getting dishes out of the bottom cupboard and silverware from the drawer. By 3-4, they can bring me veggies and fruits from the refrigerator. They start using a butter knife to cut mushrooms, bread and other softer foods by 6, sometimes 5. By 7 and 8, they are cooking with me, and by 10, the kids can follow a recipe and improvise their own meals. I don't have time to do everything, the kids are part of the household, they help run the household.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um, the kids started helping at 2 and 3 by getting dishes out of the bottom cupboard and silverware from the drawer. By 3-4, they can bring me veggies and fruits from the refrigerator. They start using a butter knife to cut mushrooms, bread and other softer foods by 6, sometimes 5. By 7 and 8, they are cooking with me, and by 10, the kids can follow a recipe and improvise their own meals. I don't have time to do everything, the kids are part of the household, they help run the household.

Are you this boring in real life? I can see why your kids help run the household, b/c you can't stay on task. The OP was actually asking about recipes. BTW, it's actually better to use a sharp knife when cutting; dull blades (like butter knives) cause more injuries.

[Anonymous]

Buy a fun cookbook they both help you choose and cool your way through it!

[Anonymous]

As a pre-teen, I remember rolling cheese & ham into crescent rolls to bake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um, the kids started helping at 2 and 3 by getting dishes out of the bottom cupboard and silverware from the drawer. By 3-4, they can bring me veggies and fruits from the refrigerator. They start using a butter knife to cut mushrooms, bread and other softer foods by 6, sometimes 5. By 7 and 8, they are cooking with me, and by 10, the kids can follow a recipe and improvise their own meals. I don't have time to do everything, the kids are part of the household, they help run the household.

Whoopdee doo for you! You didn't answer the question though and instead opted to be smug. Hope you feel better about yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um, the kids started helping at 2 and 3 by getting dishes out of the bottom cupboard and silverware from the drawer. By 3-4, they can bring me veggies and fruits from the refrigerator. They start using a butter knife to cut mushrooms, bread and other softer foods by 6, sometimes 5. By 7 and 8, they are cooking with me, and by 10, the kids can follow a recipe and improvise their own meals. I don't have time to do everything, the kids are part of the household, they help run the household.

You lost me at "Um," Valley Girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids have had to cook one dinner per week since they were six years old. On the night one cooks, the other cleans up.

Last night the 11 yr old made marinated steak tips with cous cous and steamed broccoli. The 8 yr old made baked ziti, garlic bread and salad Thursday night. Tomorrow night the 8 yr old is making salmon, corn on the cob, and asparagus. A few hours ago the 11 yr old cut up cantaloupe and then made a melon/banana smoothie. For breakfast the 8 yr old made scrambled eggs with avocado and tomato.

What did they cook when they were six?

[Anonymous]

My kids love learning family recipes that have been passed down from their grandparents or great grandparents