Okay, so you’ve taken my earlier advice about wanting to bring your child(ren) into the kitchen but your not sure where to start. What do we do to get them interested in food? We get them to help make it! You’d be surprised at how much more willing they are to try new foods this way.
As a parent you must decide what feels comfortable for their kitchen duties. You know your children, their abilities and temperament so take that information and decide how much responsibility you want to give them. My own daughter has always been in the kitchen somehow. From very young in the high chair I would give her measuring spoons and cups to play with and check out. As she got older and was able to stand up I’d get her to help mix, then add wet ingredients to dry, crack eggs… well you get the picture. Now at age 8 she wants to run the show. I’m not quite ready to let her near the gas flame but I’m working on that.
I think muffins are a great recipe to start with. Even though baking is a much more precise science then cooking, muffins are fairly forgiving to any extra ingredient whether added on purpose or not. A number of muffin recipes can also be altered with special additions such as fruit, nuts ect. ( the recipe to follow is a good one.)
Muffins are a great way to get fruit into a child’s diet too. Even vegetables like shredded carrots or zucchini can be added. They give the muffin a yummy moist texture. I usually add 4 to 6 tbsp. of ground flax seed as well to add some fiber.
As long as the muffin is not dry I find that most kids love them. Muffins are a great lunch box item, an after school snack, or a quick portable breakfast.
I’d love to hear about your messes and success, let me know- click on my name at the end of the article to email me.
Basic Muffin recipe: (adapted from everyday food)
Makes 12 muffins
Preheat oven to 375, place either muffin liners into muffin tin or grease and flour pan well
11/2 stick of unsalted butter, melted
2 cups all purpose flour
2 large eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
- in a small bowl whisk together cooled melted butter, eggs, milk and vanilla
- in a larger bowl put all dry ingredients together, make a well in the middle and pour in wet ingredients in. With a spatula gently mix until moist. Don’t over mix.
These are a couple mix in ideas: ( to be added at the end of mixing gently fold into mixture.)
11/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
11/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (my favorite)
You can use lower fat milk, the texture is a bit different but not that noticeable.
I also use some apple sauce in place of 1/2 cup of butter
Enjoy!
