EtsyKids: Kids In The Kitchen

Posted Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Here in Australia Masterchef has just been on tv. Masterchef is a show where home cooks are given challenges and cook up a feast.
It is hugely popular and has encouraged parents and kids to get back into the kitchen and cook real food from fresh local ingredients from scratch.

Getting your children involved in preparing and cooking food is a wonderful chance to teach them some necessary life skills and loads of fun for them too. Use the time in the kitchen together to teach practical skills such as safety, hygiene and to identify healthy foods. Get the kids to read the food labels and see what ingredients the kids recognise. Discuss what additives and colours are and what the numbers mean in the ingredients list. Ask them what foods on the labels they know are healthy and where the foods come from.

Children are much more likely to eat food they have helped prepare themselves too. Try one of the very simple recipes below. They are fantastic recipes even for very fussy eaters.

Grape Caterpillars

Ingredients:

300g green grapes

short wooden skewers

1 x 50g tube writing fudge, white chocolate

mini milk chocolate bits

Method

Step 1. Remove grapes from stalks, wash and dry well.

Step 2. Thread grapes onto skewers.

Step 3. Trim points from skewers with scissors.

Step 4. Dot writing icing onto the back of the coated chocolate chips and place as eyes on each
caterpillar.

Chickpea Dip

Ingredients:

420g tin chickpeas, strained

1/2 cup Italian parsley leaves

zest and juice of 1/2 lemon

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tbs warm water

Method:

In a food processor/blender, add chickpeas, parsley, zest and lemon juice and blend until combined, approximately 30 seconds.

Remove lid and push the mixture down from the sides, add salt and pepper.

Replace lid, turn on again and drizzle in the oil. Continue to run for 30 seconds to combine. While the motor is still running, add water.

Once the mixture is thoroughly blended, remove and store in fridge for up to 7 days.

Just as fun as actual cooking and eating is pretending to cook and for kids to use their imagination in play. Take a look at some of the items below from talented Etsy kids team members.