Cooking with Kids

My mother’s nickname was Betty Crocker. It suited her well. Mom was a fabulous, creative cook and kept a stack of cookbooks on her nightstand. Her specialties were Banana Cream Pie, Peanut Brittle, and Triple-layered Caramel Brownies. An entire cupboard in our kitchen was filled with tin file boxes containing her hand-written recipes. I’m certain that “Betty” was happiest in her pretty pink kitchen, preparing a delectable culinary confection.

For Younger Children

I began sharing the joy of cooking with my granddaughter when she was three. Our first dessert was a double-layer cake.  After washing our hands, I helped her climb up on the kitchen counter. The largest mixing bowl was set in front of her, and I positioned her legs around it. Thus, she had a terrific target for pouring and catching the spills. The ingredients and utensils were gathered beforehand, and the baking pans were prepared. So it wasn’t necessary to leave the child unattended to reach for a forgotten item.

After measuring the ingredients, I’d pass the spoon or cup to my granddaughter who poured and stirred. When she could accurately measure by herself, the task was hers. Like most kids, she enjoyed tasting the batter before adding the raw eggs.

Most of all, my grandchildren loved baking, but they also enjoyed helping to assemble simple sandwiches. Crispy grilled cheese sandwiches were a favorite. They spread softened butter on whole wheat bread, then placed it face down in a cold frying pan. Next, they arranged slices of sharp cheddar cheese, and topped the sandwich with a second slice of bread, butter side up. I took over from there, cooking the sandwich until lightly browned, then flipped it over to crisp the other side.

For Older Children

Before cooking, I still ask the older kids, “What’s the first step?” They know it’s,  “Wash our hands.” The children can now read a recipe or follow the directions on a box mix. They gather the utensils, measure, pour, and stir the ingredients, plus use an electric mixer. Before a dish goes into the oven, one child reads the recipe to ensure we’ve added all the ingredients.

Making Gingerbread Cutout Cookies is one of our favorite holiday traditions. The children have learned how to roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface and use cookie cutters to carve a desired shape. After baking, the cooled cookies are iced with tinted frosting. Placing the cookies in an 8” x 8” pan or pie tin to catch the colored sprinkles saves on cleanup. The kids are proud of their culinary creations, and the family savors the sweet treats.

I welcome the children’s assistance with holiday meals and family dinners, although having one helper at a time works best for us. We list the tasks, and the kids choose which they want to help with.  

The kids have acquired valuable skills such as following directions, using kitchen utensils and equipment, and teamwork. They’re learning about food safety and good nutrition. They practice simple math skills when cooking. If a recipe calls for ¾ cup, I’ll pass the child a ¼ cup measure and ask how many times we should fill it.

Cooking promotes self-esteem and confidence in kids. We serve up heaps of praise during the meal, and the children are proud of their accomplishments. They’re also more likely to eat the foods they’ve helped to prepare.

I plan to continue sharing culinary skills with my grandchildren for years to come, while making sweet memories.