During the summer holidays, your kids will have a lot of free time. This free time can be used to learn new and useful skills. If your kids enjoy certain foods, you can start by introducing them to the recipes of a few easy ones. Cooking is a skill every individual should learn and it is great to start young. Have a casserole or sets of hot cases to store and serve the meals that your kids make. If you are looking for some good recipes to cook with your kids, check out the following list.
What Are Some Easy Recipes That You Can Make with Your Kids?
1. Pasta
You can easily make a white sauce pasta with your kids. Make the sauce by stirring some flour, butter, and milk. Ask your kids to season the sauce with some salt black pepper. Be careful to keep away the boiling pasta water as they stir the creamy sauce before tossing it in the pasta. You can supervise as they finish the dish and transfer the pasta from the pan to a casserole dish. Once you have taught them how to safely use a grater, let them grate cheese and sprinkle some fresh herbs on top before serving from a casserole.
2. Mixed Fruit Slushies
Cold, fruity drinks are summertime staples. Your kids will love a refreshing drink on a hot afternoon and you can let them make some delicious slushies. Let them choose their favorite summer fruits for the slushies. You can then cut the fruits into small pieces and throw them in the blender. Add some water and crushed ice and blend. Pour the cold and pulpy slushies into insulated tumblers or glasses and garnish with mint leaves for extra freshness.
3. Nachos
A game night is incomplete without some delicious nachos. This is a dish that your kids will love. Ask them to place the nachos in a serving bowl and then let them help you make the toppings. Chop up some tomatoes, onions, and fresh coriander. Let your kids season the mixture with salt and pepper. You can then add some cheese or toss in lemon juice before layering the mix over the nachos. If you have very young children, do the chopping yourself but if your children can cut fruits and vegetables, let them take over.
4. Vegetable Kabobs
This is a fun way to get your kids to eat their vegetables! If you have space outside your home, set up a barbecue grill and have a picnic on a summer evening! Your kids can insert skewers through small cubes of vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, corn, and large mushrooms. Make sure that they season these vegetables with some olive oil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Stay nearby as they grill to keep an eye on the color of the vegetables. Once you see that the vegetables are charring, ask your kids to take them off the grill and put a dash of lime juice on top while serving from a casserole.
5. Egg Sandwich
Egg sandwiches are easy to prepare and they make wonderful snacks. Boil a couple of eggs and ask your kids to peel them after submerging the eggs in cold water. They can then use a spatula to mash the eggs and add some cheese or mayonnaise. Make sure that the eggs are seasoned with salt and pepper. Help your kids to spread the egg mash onto the bread and then slice the pieces to make sandwiches.
6. Pan-Fried Chicken
If your kids want to make some delicious snacks, then this is a great recipe! Cut some boneless chicken into bite-sized pieces. Let your kids help you marinate the chicken with ginger paste, garlic paste, vinegar, and salt. They can use lemon juice if you do not have vinegar at home. The chicken will need to be marinated for at least a few hours, if not overnight. After that, you can heat oil in a pan and ask your kids to slowly add the chicken pieces. Fry them till they are golden brown and then place them in a hot box or a casserole to keep warm and crisp.
7. Banana Cereal Pops
Cereal for breakfast does not need to be boring, especially in summer! Let your kids chop some bananas and roll the pieces in their favorite cereal. Once the banana pieces are coated in the cereals, place them on a plate and freeze. You kids will love munching on banana cereal pops for breakfast and they can even have them with a glass of milk for a more wholesome meal.
8. Cheese And Mushroom Pizza
Pizzas are loved by most kids and they are sure to be excited if they can make one at home. You can guide your kids to make a pan pizza with some cheese and mushrooms on top. Ask them to help you to knead the pizza dough and spread it out in the pan. They can then add the toppings of sautéed mushrooms, some onions, and cheese. Cover the pan and let the pizza cook on the stovetop. You will not need an oven. Once the pizza is done, allow your kids to carefully place it in a hot case to enjoy it later at dinner.
9. Watermelon Ice Pops
Ice pops are perfect for summer. Buy some popsicle molds and sticks so that your kids can make ice pops at home. They will have to chop up some fresh and juicy watermelon and then blend them with ice. Do not add any artificial sweeteners to the mixture. Assist your kids as they pour the mixture into the popsicle molds. Let the ice pops freeze until they are solid and then slowly pull them out of the molds.
10. Green Bean Salad with Potatoes
Green beans and potatoes can make a delicious salad. This is also a very healthy meal that you can make with your children. The green beans and potatoes will have to be blanched and then patted dry. Let your kids add the vegetables to a casserole and then toss them with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, mustard, and thyme to make a tasty dish. Store in a casserole to retain the freshness until it is time to serve.
Final Words
When your kids express an interest in cooking, choose the simplest recipes to start with. Let them understand certain techniques, before moving on to the more elaborate dishes. If your kids are helping you to cook a meal, keep a steel casserole nearby so that they can easily transfer the dish from the pan. Cooking a meal on their own will also prompt your kids to eat better and have fun.