Home Is Where My Story Begins

Cooking With Kids

My kids and I love to bake together. They love to roll out the dough for sugar cookies, and then help frost and decorate. When we make bread, they help knead the dough. (Yes, the flour gets everywhere.)

Last week, my daughter and I got out all of our “kid cookbooks” and picked out a few new recipes to try. I have a pretty big collection of cookbooks written specifically for kids. Every year I do a cooking unit in my classroom, so I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive cookbooks to add to the collection. Cookbooks for kids are easy to find. There are usually big bins of books for sale at my grocery store. I find some on ebay or at Half Price Books. You’ll see them everywhere if you’re on the lookout.

This time, instead of choosing something to bake, my daughter and I picked a few recipes for dinners and snacks. We picked a broccoli mac and cheese, clam chowder, and a cereal based snack.

My daughter is only 5, and had a great time being in charge of dinner for the family. I love the way directions in kids’ cookbooks are written so simply. They are easy to follow and the language is just right for a beginning cook. They are full of photographs too, which make them ideal for young chefs. (But, really, who doesn’t love good pictures in their cookbook?)

Here are a few things we made:

Here’s the whole wheat mac and cheese with broccoli. Whole wheat pasta does not photograph well. It tastes better than it looks.

This is the cereal based snack mix we tried.

Here’s the clam chowder.

Overall, we had a great afternoon together. We had Sunday night dinner, snack for the week, and a casserole to put in the freezer for later. I purposely didn’t share these recipes because my daughter’s favorite part of cooking together is the hunt for the perfect recipe. If you haven’t cooked with kids before, I encourage you to find a few kids’ cookbooks and give it a try. Each year, when I do my cooking unit with my class, I’m amazed at how many kids NEVER help out in the kitchen. So, put them to work washing vegetables, tearing salad greens, and mixing ingredients. Cooking with kids is a joy!

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
https://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/

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The Comments

  • Becky aka. Bettie Rocker
    July 1, 2010

    Cooking with my 3 year old is my favorite thing in the world. Luckily he really enjoys it. Im going to heartbroken the day he grows up and is too cool for it. Lets hope that never happens though =)

  • Bonnie @ House of Grace
    July 1, 2010

    That looks like so much fun!!! Thanks for being my 500th follower! I am following you back. Happy 4th of July weekend!
    Bonnie

  • Erin
    July 2, 2010

    Wow, I thought I had a lot of kid cookbooks =o)
    Your recipes look delicious! I would like to eat the mac and cheese right now!

    http://www.makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com

  • Sarah @HarriganHowdy
    July 8, 2010

    Aww! That's so sweet. Love all the cookbooks you have, too. Sounds like such a fun time with your daughter. Thanks for linking to the REcipe Share Party.

    -Sarah