Getting kids in the kitchen is really important. Teaches them leadership, life skills and respect! Time to share what the kids cooked in January! Excited to add this monthly update to the blog!
What The Kids Cooked – January Edition
Well, 2021 is all about new goals, new traditions and new memories. January is over and we are moving into the second month of 2021! Crazy. While 2021 has shown some challenges I do have to admit that January was pretty pleasant! And now, I am really excited to share something that the kids and I will be doing for 2021 – Kids Cooking!!
January – Starting A New Tradition
This idea came to me after sitting at the dinner table for the one millionth time in 2020 and having both kids throw a fit about what was prepared for dinner. I remember thinking, oh great, glad they appreciate that their mom planned and prepared a meal for them. It clicked – they have no idea the steps it takes to put a homecooked meal on the table every night.
The kids are with me every other weekend and I decided that we would alternate who was cooking one evening on the weekends they were here with me. So for January we had three weekends of kids cooking! Jude had two meals and Teagan had one. We will continue this alternating plan every other weekend.
The Plan
A few days before their evening to cook, I sit down with them and we go through cook books and Pinterest finding a recipe they would like to try. We make a shopping list and I order our groceries online. If COVID wasn’t happening, I would make sure they came with me to the store to see that side of the plan as well. When the evening comes, they join me in the kitchen. We prepare the meal and side dishes and they are also responsible for setting the table. And now it is time to share what the kids cooked in January!
Jude – Spaghetti Pie
This recipe has been talked about a few times on this blog and it is no surprise that is one of the kids very favorite meals. It is a perfect weekend meal and is quite a treat. It was a great first recipe to start with since Jude was familiar with what goes into the meal.
Make sure you add this one to your must try list. It is so good! I think what I loved the most about this experience was when we sat down for dinner and Teagan looked at Jude and thanked him for making dinner. This made me realize that the extra mess in the kitchen that evening was WELL worth it. I think these simple moments will be great for both of them, no matter who is preparing the meal.
As I sat down with Teagan to plan her meal, she struggled a bit. She didn’t really understand how to start looking for something to make. In the end the way that we came up with making Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches is I started asking her where she likes to eat when we go out for dinner. She brought up the mall food court (remember those? lol) and the Charley’s sandwiches. Boom! Then I showed her how we can find a recipe to try to duplicate that yummy sandwich she loves.
This one took me out of my comfort zone as I am not a big steak or red meat eater but they turned out great. We used this recipe from The Toasty Kitchen. She decided that this sandwich deserved some tots on the side too!
Finding Confidence With Cooking
From the beginning I told the kids that picking new recipes out of a cookbook or off of the internet is a great way to challenge yourself as a cook but also helps you try new foods too. The Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches helped me show them this – I had never sliced ribeye steaks before but they saw me do it! Confidence – even for mom. HA!
Teagan sat down to her sandwich and was so proud. Looked at me and said that they tasted better than the ones at the mall!
Jude – Sausage and Shrimp Fettucine
Meal two for Jude was something out of a cookbook. This kid loves shrimp so he was all over the seafood section of this cookbook. I had to put some limits on his requests as I am not one to buy lobster and crab! HA!! Put we came to an agreement that shrimp was a good choice. This particular recipe called for a few things he is not a fan of, black olives and mushrooms. What was great is that I was able to explain to him that we can remove those from the recipe and it is okay. Cooking is about finding your perfect meals!
Another meal that was a yummy creation that we all enjoyed! Once again, seeing them both complement each other on their cooking was such a good feeling.
Teachable Moments In The Kitchen
Well, we are one month into this new tradition and I think all three of us are really enjoying it. Not only is it teaching them to plan and prepare for meals but it is allowing them to learn how to prepare the meals – using knives, learning what pots and pans to use, and even how the oven works and the safety we must remember when in the kitchen. Hello life skills!
But what I love the most is seeing their behavior change when I prepare a meal for them now. They see the work that it takes, they understand how hurtful it can be if someone says they don’t like the meal and they have started being thankful for the food in front them. Oh and another bonus…I get some help in the kitchen on my nights to cook too!
Teagan is the first one up for February. I am excited to share what meals they cook this month!
Do you get your kids in the kitchen to help you prepare family meals? If so, what are their favorite recipes to prepare?
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I love this idea. I am going to have Zander start cooking one night a week.