How to Cook With Your Kids

 How to Cook With Your Kids

Your kids want to help in the kitchen, but the things to cook are not always exciting or safe for them to make with you. The following are some yummy, fun, and easy recipes you can make with your kids!

Steps

1. Mini-Pizzas  
   
   • What you need: 
   • A cookie sheet
   • 4 English muffins
   • 4 teaspoons salad or olive oil
   • 8-ounce can tomato sauce or tomatoes, mashed
   • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
   • 1 teaspoon dried basil
   • 8 slices mozzarella cheese
   • 8 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
   • Any toppings (pepperoni, cooked sausage, raw mushrooms, etc.)
2. Instructions:
   
   • Preheat oven too 400 degrees F.
   • Split the muffins in half with a fork, and spread each half with 1/2 teaspoon of the oil and 2 tablespoons of the tomato sauce or mashed tomatoes.
   • Sprinkle each muffin half with a little of the oregano and basil.
   • Top it off with a slice of mozzarella cheese an some of the grated Parmesan.
   • Put the other toppings on (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, etc.)
   • Arrange the pizzas on a cookie sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until cheese melts.
3. Early-Bird Cereal
   
   • What you need:
     
     • 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
     • 1/2 cup quick barely or another 1/2 cup rolled oats
     • 1/2 cup of dried fruit, such as apricots, apples, blueberries, cranberries, or raisins.
     • 1/3 cup chopped nuts or seeds, such as almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or walnuts (optional)
     • Milk or plain vanilla yogurt
     • Honey or sugar for sweet taste (optional)
     • Gummy worms (optional)
   • Instructions:
     
     • Pour the oats and barely into a mixing bowl.Stir in the dried fruit. You can use one type or fruit, or more for a total of 1/2 cup. Add the nuts if desired. Stir these together until well mixed, and store in an air tight container.
     • Serve the cereal in a bowl and top with milk. You can add a small amount of sugar or a teaspoon of honey to sweeten it. You can also serve cereal with plain or vanilla yogurt. Fresh fruit makes a nice addition, too. For a warm cereal, heat the milk before adding to the bowl.
     • For extra fun, add a gummy worm to the bowl for your child to find. In this case the early bird really does get the worm!
4. Bear Paw Cookies
   
   • What you need:
     • 1 cup sugar
     • 1/4 cup butter
     • 1/2 cup milk
     • 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
     • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
     • 1 1/2 cups uncooked rolled oats
     • Slivered almonds
     • Wax paper
   • Instructions:
     • Mix the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa together in a saucepan and bring to the rolling boil over medium heat. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
     • Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla and oats. Mix well. Allow to cool for a bit so your child won't get burned while making the paws. Batter should still be warm, though, when you move on to the next step.
     • To make a paw, drop a tablespoon of batter on wax paper. Press five almond slivers into one side of the paw to make the claws.
     • Allow to cool completely before digging in. Makes about 15 cookies.
5. Apple Volcanoes
   
   • What you need:
     • 1 apple per child
     • Apple corer
     • Creamy peanut butter
     • Sun flower seeds and/ or M&M's
   • Instructions:
     • Use the apple corer to take out the core of the apple.
     • Fill the hole of the apple with peanut butter using a butter knife or spoon. If the peanut butter is too stiff, pop it in the microwave for a couple seconds to soften it.
     • Sprinkle sunflower seeds and/ or M&M's on the top.
6. Nectar Smoothies
   • What you need (per one drink) :
     • 1 cup washed strawberries (capped)
     • 1 ripe banana
     • 4 ice cubes
     • 1 cup milk
     • Blender
   • Instructions
     
     • Put all ingredients in the blender until ice is completely crushed.
     • Pour into a glass and serve.
     • Remember: These ingredients only make 1 drink, double or triple for ingredients for 2 or 3.

Tips

• Those were just some of the many fun recipes that you and your kids can prepare together. I've only made some so you can think of your own or have your kids create or find a recipe themselves!
• Have fun with it!
• Let your kids do most of the preparing of the ingredients.
• Have fun eating your recipes while you clean up the kitchen!

Warnings

• Make sure to do it yourself for younger ones or assist older kids when using the blender, microwave, oven, or stove.