The author proposes that we begin teaching our children important life-skills and adult tasks, such as: budgeting, cleaning, cooking, etc. starting a very young age. One of my favorite parts of the book is the page where she lists age-appropriate chores beginning with age 3.
Anyway, the reason I bring this up and how it applies to my post today... is that it's the inspiration for me teaching Austin to cook this year. After reading her book and realizing how much more our kids are capable of doing, I decided that Austin needed to start contributing to the running of the household by doing dinner once a week. Great idea, right? He has made dinner once a week since the New Year, when he set the goal. He was totally excited about it. Tonight he chose a recipe from Rachel Ray's book "Yum-O!", another great find from our recent trip to the library.
EDITED TO ADD: I forgot to mention that I had Austin write out the grocery list, and if I could, I would have had him come to the store to see how much all the food cost! If I were following the book, in theory, I would have done that... but this isn't a perfect world!
I am not normally a huge fan of Rachel Ray, but I support anyone who is trying to help kids and parents eat healthier and learn their way around the kitchen, as she does on her website and through her non-profit organization called Yum-o!.
Here, Austin tries to determine which recipe looks the best, then chooses "Chili Cheese Dogs in Beach Blankets"!
Ingredients:
1 can chili (I used Nalley's Vegetarian) or make your own chili
1 tube refrigerated pizza dough (13.8 oz) or make your own, which I did
1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
8 beef, turkey or tofu dogs. (I used FF beef hot dogs)
Here's Austin rolling out the easiest pizza dough recipe in the world:
2 1/2 c. flour
1 cup water
1/2 packet of yeast
1 tsp. salt
Thanks to my neighbors the Aglers, we use this recipe often. Just mix it all up in the mixer and knead a few times on floured surface. Rise for about 30-40 minutes, if that long! It's so fast and easy.
After you have rolled out the dough, cut into 8 even pieces. Scoop a few tablespoons of chili onto each one.
Place a handful of cheese over the chili, then put a hot dog on top. Roll the dough around the hot dog, allowing the ends to hang out like Pigs in a Blanket. Place on a baking tray with folded edge down.
Bake for about 18 minutes on 400 degrees. Remove when crust is golden brown. Serve with a side salad or a side of delight over the fact that your 8 year old just made dinner! Nice.
This was the most normal face I could get out of him- you know 8 year old boys! Nice going Austin, I am so proud of you!
*Now, just as a side note, I make a small confession. I wanted Austin to choose whatever recipe he wanted, not what I wanted. Since I am not a hot dog girl (as anyone who knows me will agree) I used the dough to make myself a calzone. I filled it with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and some cottage cheese (subbed for ricotta) and some garlic flavored oil. It was delicious. So, if you want to make this recipe for your kids, it's very versatile. Just add your own filling to the dough or make a personal pizza, and you can keep everyone happy.
11 comments:
I love the idea of having our children contribute around the house.
Great job Austin!
I need to check out this book. My kids need to be doing so much more than they do! Good job- to Austin and to you!
I've been meaning to get this book because I've heard nothing but good things about it. I'm so impressed that Austin has been making dinner. I really need to have my kids do more.
Bella actually just told me about Austin making dinners the other day when she was begging, yes begging to help me cook dinner. I am happy she wants to help and need to be better about giving them all opportunities to learn. I think I don't look to the kids because I'm in a hurry to get dinner on the table. Thanks for reminding me to slow down...perhaps if they make it they will actually eat it.
I need to read that book.
I totally love this idea. My kids love to help in the kitchen but we haven't gone as far as them picking the meal and making it.
One of the best weeks of my life was when Alli had to make dinner for a week for personal progress. I will take your advice and try this with the younger kids for sure.
Oh and I had to laugh out loud (lol if i were more hip) at the comment you made about getting Austin to make a normal face for his picture!
I love everything about this post -- including the photo!!! :)
I am going to hunt down that book and try this out. THIS is a great idea!! And thank you for that pizza dough recipe. I am going to try it!
Thank you so much for this post!
P.S. Way to go Austin!!!!! I can't believe he made such an impressive dinner!!! I need to find the time to have my kids do more things like this, but I'm not sure how to make it work yet. Thanks for the inspiration.
You are so brave to just 'let go' and have Austin make dinner. I am too much of a control freak in the kitchen, but I have a feeling it is going to get me in the long run. I need to check that book out and put Harrison to work! (That's why we have kids, right? To be our slaves?) j/k Seriously, though, cooking is a life-skill. We don't want them to eat ramen or pb&j their entire mission.
I want to read that book! Mya would totally love having a meal to make herself. Thanks!
I am sooo impressed. There is nothing more satisfing than teaching a life skill to your kids. Alexei often, washes the toilets///when i am doing...and is always hands on things...I think this is awesome and it does wonders to their self-accomplishment. WONDERFUL. You go girl, it is not easy letting go....what a great example to his cousins and family.
great ideas. i think i will have to check out both of those books. i try to get Carly involved more around here. occasionally i ask carly to put away folded clothes and the other day she said "aGain". it had probably been a week since she had done it. i realized that i don't involve her enough!
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