Looking for ways to entertain your kids? Why not make cooking a family activity? Preparing a meal is not only fun, it also helps foster a culinary awakening in children. Here is a delicious menu created with kids in mind, but that parents are also sure to love!
Famous mac ‘n’ cheese
A classic comfort food for those cold winter evenings, mac ‘n’ cheese is always a hit. Plus, it’s ready in no time!
Have your kids shred 2 cups of cheddar cheese while you sauté a chopped onion in 2 tablespoons of butter. Add a little flour and stir for one minute. Next, add 2 cups of warm milk and stir until you get a creamy texture.
Ask your little sous-chef to pour 2 cups of cooked macaroni into the mixture. Add the cheese and stir using a wooden spoon. Finally, add a pinch of paprika, salt, and pepper, and enjoy!
Exquisite waldorf salad
As a side, we suggest a delicious Waldorf salad. Children will love the flavourful apple and walnut flavours, and parents will appreciate how easy it is to put it all together.
Have older children dice two apples, one shallot, and a celery branch, and ask the little ones to crumble 1/3 cup of blue cheese by hand.
Meanwhile, you can make the vinaigrette, mixing 1/4 cup of mayo, 2 tablespoons of water, and 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
Once your children are done prepping the ingredients, add them to a salad bowl, along with walnuts, raisins, and blue cheese. Pour the vinaigrette over top and mix. It’ll be love at first bite!
Divine banana-chocolate cookies
Baking yummy cookies… what a great way to fill an afternoon! On top of being loads of fun, the kids will reap the benefits of their hard work!
In a large bowl, have them mix 2 cups of flour, ½ cup of oats, 2 tsp. of baking powder, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of baking soda.
In another bowl, using a mixer, mix ½ cup of softened butter with 1 cup of brown sugar until you get a creamy texture. Add two eggs, a drizzle of vanilla extract, and one mashed banana. Mix again.
Have your children pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and add 2 cups of chocolate chips. Using a small ice cream scooper, shape into small balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Slightly flatten each
ball by hand. Cook in a 400F preheated oven for about 12 minutes.
3 tips for cooking with kids
Get your kids kitchen ready! They’ll be even more motivated with their own apron, a chef’s hat, and plastic utensils made specifically for their little hands.
Opt for simple recipes with just a few steps. This helps limit the risk of messing up your dish. As your kids acquire more skills in the kitchen you can increase the complexity of the recipes.
Before you start making the meal, take out all the necessary ingredients and tools. This will help limit traffic in the kitchen.
With these suggestions in mind, cooking can become a fun activity for the whole family. Eating well has never felt better!
