Cooking With Your Kids

I loved to play in the kitchen with my mom and older siblings when I was younger. We would measure out the ingredients, mix the ingredients, make shapes out of our cookies, and take turns scrubbing the dishes. We would talk, tell jokes, and laugh while being together. I practiced my math skills when I measured out the flour, learned organization when I got the ingredients out, and practiced teamwork when I worked with my siblings to bake successfully. I absolutely loved the time in the kitchen! One fun thing to make is bread because as you are rolling some of the dough, the children can be making shapes and animals out of the rest of the dough. 

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Here is an easy recipe for bread:

Ingredients:

1 1/4-oz. pkg. yeast

1/2 cup lukewarm water

1 tsp. plus 1/4 cup sugar

3 tbsp. butter

1 1/2 cups milk

2 tsp. salt

2 cups whole wheat flour

3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the sugar and let it sit for 5 minutes, or until bubbles begin to form. In a saucepan, melt the butter. Add the milk and heat until just warm.

Pour this mixture into the yeast mixture along with the remaining sugar and the salt. Next, add both flours, 1 cup at a time, until the dough feels stiff. Cover the dough and let it rise until double in size. Bake for 20-25 minutes if you created animals or shapes out of the bread dough. Cook until bread is golden brown on top in a greased bread pan.

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You can add poppyseeds, raisins, garlic press, and other things to help your children create animals such as a fish, lamb, lion, horse, and so on! This recipe is from http://bit.ly/83yGyK Check it out for other fun ideas! 

What is your favorite food to make with your kids?