Jun 27, 2012

Project No More "I'm Bored!": Cooking with Your Kids




I decided this Summer that I wanted to start training my Little Men to be future Super Men. 

So far they aren't loving all of my training.

They really don't appreciate my training in clothes coordination. They feel that matching should not be a necessity. I often get, "MOM! Why do you always want things to go?"

Oh I just do son!

They also have not truly liked my training them to clean up. For this whole chore thing I get, "MOM! I really don't like this whole chore thing!"

Sorry son, I almost feel bad for you.

I know some day they will appreciate all my hard work. Being able to dress all handsome, clean things all sparkly, and having charming manners will pay off in the long run...

I guess when you are 8 and 5 it is hard to see that. Future older sons of mine...you will thank me. Current sons...quit your bellyaching and just trust your Momma.

Now, I will say there is a task they like to learn. 

Cooking. They love to help me cook.

In fact, that is one of the big Project No More, "I'm Bored!" for the Summer.

At the beginning of the Summer, I implemented a once a week kids cooking night. The older boys switch off weeks. So one boy has a turn every other week. On their scheduled day, they pick out a dinner recipe (with a little bit of guidance from me) and a dessert recipe. They are then in charge of helping me put together the dishes.

They LOVE their day to cook.

They love picking out and making yummy treats...like this Strawberry Shortcake Rice Crispie Treat.


I put them to work on the parts of the recipe they can do. Here Middle is cutting cubes of some shortcake. He is concentrating so hard that his little tongue is sticking out. So cute.



I help with the things he can't do, like melting and pouring the giant vat of melted mallows.


Little hands love to get messy...


Okay well Middle liked getting his hands dirty while making the dessert. The meatloaf cupcakes he chose to make...yeah he didn't so much want to get his hands all in the meat mixture. Good thing I am a meat mixing pro.

Tasting the dessert is more up his responsibilities alley.


There are almost always a few things that little helping hands can do. It is a great opportunity to teach them cooking lingo and cooking tips.

You know, like don't whip the cream at too high of a speed or you might get a mess.



Yup, I will make cooks out of them yet.

Stand back and be amazed at how happy finishing a recipe will make your kiddo.


Cooking with your kids is such an easy thing to do. I help my Little Men pick recipes that are easy enough to help out with. I make sure they do the parts of the recipe that they can accomplish safely. I even let Older break open an egg a couple of weeks ago.

He did awesome.

The little bit of work and planning is totally worth seeing the excitement and accomplishment as they finish their menu item of the day.


Didn't Middle pick a yummy dessert?


I thought I would share this recipe so that you could also cook it with your kiddos.

Strawberry Shortcake Rice Crispie Treats
adapted from Sweet Treats and More


5 cups rice crispies
4 1/2 cups  mini marshmallows
1 1/2 cup of cut up shortcake pieces
3 TBS butter

1 cup whipping cream
2-3 TBS sugar
1 1/2 tsp of vanilla
several cups of diced strawberries

In a large bowl melt the marshmallows and butter together in the microwave, until smooth. Gently stir in rice crispies and cake pieces.

Press into a greased 8x8 pan for thicker bars or a 9x13 for thinner bars and let them set.

Meanwhile, combine cream, sugar, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Whip together until cream forms with stiff peaks.

Top each individual rice crispie square with a dollop of cream and a couple of spoonfuls of strawberries.

OH...and you will probably want to eat this rice crispie with a fork, not so much your hands.

If you have some bored kids, for sure get them to help you in the kitchen.


2 comments:

Stockhoff Family said...

You are pretty amazing girlfriend!! Cool Mom!

Melanie said...

I must say....YUM! Seriously...YUM!

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