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Fun With Kids in the Kitchen
by Cyndi Roberts
Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? Why
not teach them to cook! It's a great way to have fun without spending a lot of
money!
Sure, sometimes it's a little more to clean up when the children
have "helped" but it's worth it for the happy time spent together. Who knows,
maybe you're raising the next Julia Child!
There are lots of things even very young children can do in the
kitchen. When they have had a part in the preparation of a meal, children are
much more inclined to eat it!
Your toddler can pick out which potatoes to peel; almost any age
child can stir batter or hold the mixer - maybe with a little help!
It's a good idea to keep a sturdy step-stool handy for little
ones. Also a couple of child- sized aprons are a good idea! A pattern for making
an apron for your little helper can be found at:
http://www.cynroberts.com/mywebpage/Article18.html
Children love to get their hands into whatever you're doing. How
about letting them help knead the biscuit dough tonight?
Are you making banana bread or cake? Let your son or daughter
mash the bananas. And then they can stir it into the batter.
One of my sons didn't think I could even make peanut butter
cookies if he wasn't here to put the criss-crosses on!
Here are a few fun recipes, some don't really require much
actual cooking, but they are fun recipes for kids!
Some of these recipes may contain ingredients that are not
suitable for very young children.
* ANTS ON A LOG *
Celery
Peanut
butter
Raisins
Clean celery and fill stalks with peanut butter; top with
raisins. Cut in approximately 2 inch pieces. Chill and serve.
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* BIRD SEED (Trail Mix) *
4 cups
Cheerios
2 cups
M&M's
2 cups
raisins
2 cups
nuts
Mix well. Place in individual zipper bags for each child.
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* COCA-COLA PORK CHOPS *
8 pork
chops
Salt
and pepper to taste
1 cup
catsup
1 cup
Coca-
Cola Brown sugar
Place the pork chops in a baking pan. Season with salt and
pepper. Mix the catsup and cola and pour over the pork chops.
Sprinkle with brown sugar.
Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until the pork
chops are tender. Serves 8.
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* PAINTED TOAST *
White
bread
Milk
Food
colors
Small
clean brushes
Paper
cups
Toaster
Divide small amounts of milk into paper cups and add a different
color to each.
Using the clean brushes, let the children paint on their bread.
Teach them to paint gently so they don't tear the bread. And
don't let them get the bread too wet.
Let them drop into toaster and see what you have when it pops
up!
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When the kitchen is all cleaned up and you're through for the
day, here is one last recipe:
PERFECT HUG
2
people
4 arms
2 hearts
A touch of love
1 pinch of humor
1 sprinkle of glee
Extend arms and wrap them around each other. Clear your minds,
take a look at each other, then pull yourselves together and mix
well. Serves 2.
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Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly
newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit
http://www.cynroberts.com
to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to
the newsletter and receive the free e-course " Taming the Monster
Grocery Bill".
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