Earnest Parenting » Cooking

How To Get Your Boy Interested in Cooking

Amy LeForge — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:17:27 +0000

иконопис(Editor’s note: please welcome Jocelyn who clearly knows what it takes to get boys interested in cooking. Thanks Jocelyn!)

We all know how insanely romantic it is when we were asked out on a date and the man not only knew the difference between basil and balsamic but offered to actually cook us a meal and then managed to pull it off spectacularly and delight us with tastes and smells we’d never experienced before. Right? Right. Well, have you now, oh-mother-of-a-four-year-old-boy ever wondered how in the world that happens? Have you ever banged your head into a wall trying to determine just how his momma pulled that off? Because, you, like me, can probably pretty quickly deduce that that man didn’t start cooking when he was 10 or 18. No, I’d put money on the fact that his mom had him in the kitchen since the day he was born.

Now, you may be staring hopelessly at your little man and finally understanding why the Calvin and Hobbes’ forays at the dinner table are actually so insanely accurate and wondering how you can possibly get him to understand food is for food, not for painting the walls. But, not to fear! Give your future daughter-in-law something to thank you for someday and start training him in the kitchen today. Yes, not tomorrow when you’re sure to be “less-tired”, today. Here are some of the very easiest ways not only to get him to eat, but to get him interested in helping you. I know, mind-blowing right? Not really, stick with me.

Roll with the Dinosaur Food While it Makes Sense

You might be tempted to feel like it’s annoying to have to pretend that every salad is Tyrannosaurus food and every spoonful of mashed potatoes just a volcano in the making, but let me tell you something, in 10 years when you can’t get that teenage boy to sit down and eat a meal with you for anything (minus, except maybe money), you will give anything to dye the gravy orange for appropriate lava effect. So, if it helps get him interested in what you’re doing, then I say roll with it while you can!

Make Shopping the Manly Thing to Do

You’d be amazed, if a food is a food that they chose themselves and handpicked, they’re going to be a heck of a lot more likely to eat it, even if it is a zucchini or avocado. Take your son shopping and give him an opportunity to pick 2 or 3 things. Hopefully you will be firmly planted in a semi “safe” area for this to happen in when you make the announcement, like the produce section as opposed to the candy or ice cream aisle. Heck, he might not even like tomatoes, but only you know that, and if he picked it, he’ll probably eat it just out of spite because he picked that particular one, and who knows, he may decide he likes it after all. Also, if he can pick something that he actually really does like (Maybe a yogurt? Maybe a cheese? Maybe a candy bar…) it will all help to mold the idea of grocery shopping into something good and something exciting. Deal is, you can never pick the same thing twice. And, if you can get dad involved in these shopping trips, (and dad picking good stuff) better yet.

Make it Easy (for Starters) and Beware of Overwhelming

There was a point in my life when I loved doing the dishes. At my home, once we reached a certain age, then we had to join in the dishes rotation. But me? I was too anxious to wait for this age, so I would regularly ask my brothers if I could do their dishes for them. However. I very vividly remember one night in particular when I had oh so joyfully volunteered to do the dishes for my eldest brother. But, once finished, I was in all heaps of trouble with my mom because I had not done the proper cleanup of the countertops and tables, and if I was going to do the dishes than I had to expect to do the rest and I better do the rest well. Well, guess what, that was the last time I ever volunteered to do the dishes, and I’ve hated them ever since. Go figure.

The moral of this story: don’t overwhelm. Take what you can get and applaud it. If you’re cooking, then let him cook with you, but have the prep work done and plan to take care of the cleanup afterwards yourself, even if he’s the one who made the gigantic mess and even if he’s perfectly capable of cleaning up said gigantic mess. Too much time at any one thing: prep work + cooking + cleanup is generally too much, and the end result is that the whole thing will wear him out and become unpleasant in his mind, which is the last thing you want. Have him help with prep and nothing else, or have him help with cooking and nothing else. Unless, of course, he wants to do more. Then use your best judgment. (Editor’s note: boys LOVE to crush ingredients with the rolling pin. Just make sure to supervise.)

Make the Stuff he REALLY Likes. Occasionally

He’s a young boy. Unless you’re blessed with a miracle boy who loves his green veggies more than his candy bars, you probably have to accept the fact that he loves the stuff that isn’t the best for him. Encourage him to help you make healthy portions of the main meal, and then as a occasional treat, do something really fun like pull out the ice cream maker and make homemade ice cream for dessert or for his birthday party. Let him grate cheese till his arms fall off for the macaroni and cheese he’s in love with. It’s still “work,” but it has a reward that he will love and that will help to build upon that notion of kitchen/cooking as rewarding and something he’d like to do more of.

It’s all a learning process, for both you and him. Whatever you can do to make it more fun and easier for him, the better off you’ll both be. Have quizzes about what might be in a certain dish and start training him to discern tastes and flavors. You’ll be amazed at what a 4 year old boy can pick up when he really wants to. More than anything, just enjoy your hands-on time with him, regardless of the mess and the patience required, because someday these days will be just precious and much missed memories.

Freelancer Jocelyn Anne writes primarily about families and her passion is to encourage them to eat healthier and enjoy the act of cooking as a family. At the moment she’s writing for an online company promoting small room heaters to save families the cost and energy of central systems this winter.

Earnest Parenting: tips for parents who want their boys to sweep women off their feet someday with their culinary skills.

Photo provided courtesy of sean dreillinger via Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.

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A Recipe for Fun: Cooking With Your Preschool Child

Amy LeForge — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:26:01 +0000

(Editor’s note: please welcome a guest post on cooking from Emily and Kathleen. Cooking with kids is a great thing to do. Thanks, ladies!)

Bubbling pots, sizzling skillets and delicious smells can make the kitchen the most desirable place for children to want to play. However, it can be the most dangerous place for them to play as well. The potential hazards don’t have to keep children out of the kitchen. Dr. Mary Zurn, vice president of Primrose Schools for early childhood education, says kitchen time can be a great way for families to regain some lost, but valuable, family time.

Dr. Zurn also says, “The kitchen is often the most popular place in the house for families to gather. It’s a place for learning and sharing, where the family can enjoy quality time. Children can also develop a sense of responsibility by participating in daily tasks.”

By following this simple recipe, parents can enjoy spending quality time with their children while teaching them about cooking in a safe learning environment:

1. Engage your child meaningfully. Think of independent tasks your children can accomplish themselves. Completing simple jobs like spreading butter, rolling dough and measuring sugar can boost a child’s sense of pride and accomplishment. Tearing bread, adding chocolate chips to sweets and shaking parmesan onto pasta are other safe, satisfying tasks children can easily accomplish. Even very young children can get involved – give them some pots, pans and wooden spoons so they can pretend to cook with you or use them for music-making. The tuneful accompaniment will let you know they’re safely engaged and give them a way to feel like they’re helping too.
2. Set some ground rules. Children need supervision when they’re in the kitchen, so establish a list of basic safety rules and make sure children are always within sight. To avoid spreading harmful germs, teach your child to wash their hands before and after they handle food. Discuss on a regular basis what’s safe to touch and what’s not. Another useful tip, make sure the handles of pots and pans on the stove are turned in so no one bumps them or runs into them spilling hot good or water.
3. Build up skills step-by-step. Children can develop many essential skills in the kitchen, such as following recipes or counting eggs. For more advanced skills, start slowly and have your child master easy tasks before attempting harder ones. Older children can be taught more advance tasks, such as using a dull knife. Give them soft items such as cooked noodles or bread to slice. Once your child’s coordination develops more, they can be introduced to slicing and cutting some tougher foods such as fruits and veggies.
4. Keep it fun. Cooking can be messy with or without children, so don’t stress over the “oops” and little accidents. If the cake batter ends up on the wall instead of inside the bowl after using a mixer, offer some guidance and let your child try again. Cleaning up can be just as fun as making the mess!
Complimenting your little chef on a job well done when the meal is complete is important as well. Offer them the first taste of whatever you cooked together and ask them what you should make next time. Bon appétit!

Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas
Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the network of child care facilities belonging to the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose child care schools. Primrose Schools are located in 16 states throughout the U.S. and are dedicated to delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum throughout their preschools.

Photo courtesy of sugarsnaptastic via Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.

Earnest Parenting: help for parents who want to cook with their children.

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Earnest Cooking

Amy LeForge — Thu, 19 May 2011 12:31:52 +0000

(Editor’s note: please welcome Benjamin, with a guest post on cooking strategies that are quite useful. Thanks, Benjamin!)

As a parent, you want to feed your kids wholesome, healthy meals as often as possible. Yet it is likely you’re juggling work, school, chores, shopping and extracurricular activities as well. Getting food on the table in the midst of all this may be hard, but there are steps you can take (that don’t require taking a class at one of the many cooking schools found online) to make preparing delicious food easy, fast and even fun.

Plan Your Meals

Planning the week’s meals in advance helps save both time and money. When you know beforehand what you will be cooking each night, you need only make one trip to the grocery store for the entire week. One large, planned trip as opposed to several hurried stops made after work saves money by allowing you to make more careful decisions when purchasing ingredients. Instead of grabbing what’s most convenient, you can pick and choose the best items for the meals you have in mind.

Do Some Prep

Despite the long cooking times of grains like brown rice, you can still incorporate them into quick meals by preparing servings ahead of time. Simply cook the rice when you are able, then allow it to cool to room temperature. Portion the cooled rice out into airtight containers and freeze until you’re ready to use it. Cooked rice may also be kept in the refrigerator for one or two days.

Prepping vegetables is also a big time-saver! Use this restaurant trick at home to reduce the time it takes to put a dish together. Chop the veggies you know you’ll need for the week, toss them in airtight containers and pop them in the fridge. When it’s time to cook, all you have to do is pull out the appropriate container and you’re ready to go.

Mix it Up

Making food fun can be as simple as trying a new dish. It doesn’t have to be complicated to be healthy and delicious. There are many cookbooks available full of great-tasting meals that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. Add one or two of these to your collection and pick a recipe to try each week. You may discover new favorites that are even quicker and easier to make than some of your “old standards!”

Learn to Love Leftovers

The word “leftovers” no doubt conjures the image of limp vegetables and dry meat. However with a little planning, leftovers can be just as delicious as fresh dishes. Things like stew, chili and curry are easy to make in large batches and store well in the freezer. Other good dishes to make and freeze include lasagna and other baked pasta, casseroles and shepherd’s pie. Having these homemade “convenience foods” on hand when you’re in a hurry takes the stress out of dinner by allowing you to simply defrost and reheat enough for the family. It’s also much healthier than relying on commercial boxed meals or frozen dinners.

Get the Kids Involved

Whether shopping for food, prepping ingredients or putting together a meal, getting the kids involved is a great way to make cooking enjoyable for the whole family. Helping with all aspects of dinner preparation gives kids real-world experience and allows them to learn the ins and outs of cooking. This is an invaluable skill that they can make use of for the rest of their lives.

Making a homemade meal every night doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With planning and preparation, cooking can become an enjoyable part of your everyday life. Sharing the results of your work in the kitchen with your family is a rewarding experience that is well worth the time.

Photo provided courtesy of THEMACGIRL* via Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.

Earnest Parenting: tips for keeping cooking manageable.

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WFMW: Peach Pie Filling

Amy LeForge — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:53:59 +0000

Remember last week, when I told you about the Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies? Did you know that the peach pie filling I used was home-made? Yep! It was, and it’s very easy to do. I’m telling you about it now so you can plan to make it yourself this summer when peaches are in season.

Here’s what you need:

6 pounds peaches
2 and 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons lemon peel
1/4 cup lemon juice
Fruit Fresh or other treatment to prevent darkening.

Wash and drain peaches. Then peel*, pit, and slice them. Sprinkle with Fruit Fresh to maintain color. Rinse peaches, mix with sugar, flour, and spices. Let stand until juices begin to flow, about 30 minutes. Cook over medium heat until mixture begins to thicken. Ladle into jars or freezer boxes.

I usually use jars and seal with the water bath process. (A quart jar of pie filling fills a deep dish pie perfectly.) Or you may cool and freeze. You’ll get a fresher taste freezing, but I prefer to can for storage space reasons.

*To peel peaches easily, drop into boiling water for one minute then remove and place in cold water. The skins will slip right off.

This Works for Me Wednesday post is submitted to WFMW headquarters: We Are That Family. For the rest of today’s WFMW posts go to the official site.

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WFMW: Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Amy LeForge — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:42:14 +0000

I stopped buying my yummy frozen breakfasts a couple of months ago because we’re trying to improve the ol’ bottom line around here. Cereal is fine, but I’ve been noticing (horror of horrors) that I like sweet things less and less. Isn’t that terrible? I’ve never been able to eat and drink sweets together; for example I couldn’t drink soda pop and eat a cookie. Bleh.

Now it’s extending to sweets in general. Cereals seem too much, even the yummy organic cranberry one I found a while back. It’s fantastic, and I occasionally have it for a snack. But first thing in the morning? No can do.

I happened to buy a box of the Quaker breakfast cookies (it was super cheap, so I thought I’d try) a while back and we all liked them. I’m not willing to pay regular price all the time though, so I pulled out a recipe I’d made once years ago.

It took a couple of tries to get it just right, but I’m very pleased with the result. Here’s the recipe:

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 and 1/2 cups quick oats
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup instant dry milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
approximately 1 and 1/4 cup pie filling (I used peach)

Cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Drop by 1/8 cupfuls onto cookie sheet, flatten into circle with slight indentation in center. Top with a rounded tablespoon of pie filling.

Bake at 350 degrees for 16-20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes on pan, transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Makes 18 cookies.

Note: the original recipe called for using 1/4 cup to measure out the dough but that was too huge in my opinion. Feel free to do what you like. They rise and spread while baking; I was only able to fit 9 on a sheet safely.

You can make these in advance and store in the refrigerator, and can change the flavor by using different pie filling.

This post was written for the Works For Me Wednesday blog carnival. For more WFMW posts, go to We are THAT family.

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