Getting Kids Cooking

Getting your kids to help in the kitchen is a bear for most parents. Just as any mom or dad knows playing is simply more fun than kitchen duties. For my kids the end of dinner is always a time to complain, mope and have the need for an "emergency" bathroom break. Then once the dishes are done off they go to hide from the dreaded chore maker until its time to read a story or play a game. Just recently a miracle happened in my kitchen, my seven year old cooked. I am not talking about pouring a bowl of cereal or stirring the noodles I mean she really cooked. This particular afternoon I had been sitting at my computer working on my latest cookbook about leftover turkey when I got the urge to cook. I got up and went down to the kitchen to see what could be whipped up with what was on hand.

This is when she came in. She asked if she could help and instead of my usual list of get this from the fridge or do this I simply said do you want to do it. She said "you mean I can cook it all". When I said yes she was hooked. That afternoon we invented a recipe for sweetened pecan cinnamon custard. I must caution you the resulting recipe was terrible. No one ate it, but my seven year old declared that she ‘sure was happy when I let her do all of it’. Now that you know the trick here is a fun and easy recipe that kids like and will get your kids away from the TV and into the kitchen.

Muddy Crescent Dogs

One can of package crescent rolls
8 hot dogs, preferably good tasting hot dogs
Ketchup

Instruct your child to turn the oven on to 350º Fahrenheit. Remember kids still need help with the oven. I was nine when I caught my mother’s oven on fire, but that’s another story. Have your child get out a cookie sheet. Next have your child open the can of crescent rolls. If this is his/her first time opening the crescent rolls warn them that the can may make a loud noise when it first opens. The loud "pop" always sends my youngest into a fit of laughter when her sister squeals.Now have your child roll out each of the crescents on the cookie sheet.

Now have your child open the package of hot dogs. Once open have him/her place one hot dog on each crescent. Now comes the mud. Instruct you child to cover each hot dog with "mud", the ketchup, let him/her know the more the messier so go for it. Have your child roll up the crescent rolls around the hot dogs and place them in the oven for about 10-12 minutes or until browned. This is such an easy recipe for kids and if we parents remember to let them do it all they will have such a great time that maybe just maybe someday they will cook us dinner.

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating easy gourmet recipes for the everyday cook. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful meals that are easy to make and easy to eat. She is also the publisher of numerous cookbooks and runs Gourmayeats a foodie website dedicated to the everyday gourmet. To learn more about Shauna and see her latest cookbook visit her website at http://www.gourmayeats.com