November 01, 2006
Avoiding the Crazy Moments
in teaching your kids to cook
November Topic -Avoiding crazy times in the kitchen
Kids Cooking Activities Newsletter
....Helping kids learn and grow up in the kitchen
Head Chef: Debbie Madson
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The Head Chef Notes
Our apple tree has given us boxes and boxes of fruit this year. We have even bought a new toy, an apple, corer, slicer that has made the apples even easier to use. So far we've made apple pie, apple turnovers, apple butter, apple dumplings, apple smiles and applesauce. WHEW!! The kids have loved it and it has given me a chance to add pictures to our
apple recipes page.
Now that October has turned to November I guess we'll have to move on to pumpkins and Thanksgiving recipes!
This month we are going to talk about avoiding the crazy moments of teaching your kids to cook. I know I have those moments when everyone wants to help at the same time, my kids want to do it their own way or the last egg in the house is now splattered on the floor.
Hopefully you don't have those times but if you do I have some tips and ideas for you in this month's issue.
Ask the Head Chef
Many of you have asked if I could compile the cooking lessons in one ebook. I realize that would be easier to print off and use while cooking with your kids so I will be working on putting this together to sell in the next few months. (And also adding a few more things that is not available on the website.)If you have a question, contact me here. Until next issue, Enjoy cooking with your kids!
Our featured kids cooking product review
Buying your kids a special apron is a great way to start cooking lessons or cooking activities with them. Before we started our cooking lessons I took a simple apron and used that as my pattern. Then I cut out fun material with my apron pattern and sewed the aprons together. It was a great start to cooking with my kids. If you don't sew here are some really cute aprons you can buy.Chick apron
--This child's apron has a red background with chicks.Bugs apron
--This child's apron has a blue background with bugs.Lady bugs apron
--This child's apron has a green background with ladybugs.I only wish they had adult versions, as these are really cute!
6 tips to help, you as the teacher, avoid the crazy moments in teaching your kids to cook.
1. Let go of the doing things “right” attitude. I have to stop myself sometimes when cooking with my kids to not say no it is suppose to go this way. In most aspects of cooking there is an element of creativity. Let your kids shine and don't scare them away by telling them to do it your way.2. Realize a little milk will spill, an egg may get broken or the apple dumplings may not turn out too beautiful but that is okay. Your kids will love cooking more if you don't “stress the small stuff.”
3. If working with more than one child take turns or delegate tasks. This will also help kids learn team work.
4. Read through your recipes ahead of time, do any prep work, make sure everything is available then start your cooking lesson or activity. This is especially helpful with younger kids whose attention may not last long.
5. Establish the rule of waiting for instructions. Sometimes it is okay to let kids creativity rein but other times it is important for younger kids to wait for instructions.
6. If you find the weekdays are just too busy and you don't have enough time, schedule a cooking lesson or an activity on the weekend or sometime when you aren't in a hurry.
Perhaps I should have titled this How to teach your kids to cook and remain sane in the process!
I really think that teaching your kids to cook should be a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. So if you find yourself getting a little too stressed it is okay to say to your young chefs, “No, I need to do this myself today but tomorrow we can cook together when I have more time available.”
In all things just remember to enjoy your times together cooking and making memories.
Kid Chef Section:
Do you have an experience cooking with your kids that you'd like to share with our readers? A recipe your kids enjoy making with you? Or a picture of your kids cooking? Feel free to send it to us to share.
POPCORN BALLSThis is not really a recipe. We just make popcorn and then mix in whatever we have or want at the time. We put in different things for different seasons, also. Sometimes, it's pretzels (we use different shapes too, sometimes the sticks, sometimes the knots, or the checkerboards, we've even used yogurt covered pretzels before), nuts, dried fruit, sometimes candies, chocolate chips or peanut butter chips. We have put in teddy grahams before too.
We mix in whatever we want and then melt a package of marshmallows. Stir everything so it is coated with the melted marshmallows. You can make them into popcorn balls, but we usually just leave it in a big bowl and everybody can pick out of the bowl.
Thanks Noah, for sharing your families favorite recipe with us.