Kids in the Kitchen

Nature loves to cook and is always creating a new dish. Yesterday he made some oatmeal granola squares with the help of John Wayne. They were really yummy and didn't last long at all. Several days before that he made his favorite potato fries. The harder things he follows the recipe but easy things like quesadillas, he like to make his own concoctions. I encourage my children to cook and I try to give them opportunities to cook on their own because they love the feeling of making something by themselves. Hunter has been making the icing for my cinnamon rolls the last few batches and the other day he made some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. John Wayne likes to help others but hasn't quite ventured out on his own yet and Butterfly hasn't gotten any farther than frying eggs.

Do you encourage your children in the kitchen or do you usher them out of the way because it is easier and faster to do it on your own? I know that at first it takes patience and time to train them in the kitchen, but once you have, the benefits are worth it.  They can learn so much from cooking. There are so many math problems to learn and so many science experiments to be had. Not to mention that they will be adults one day and will probably need to learn to cook for themselves. Also, it is a great help to me when they help in the kitchen. They all also have regular kitchen duties such as washing dishes, putting away dishes, setting the table, getting food out and putting it away and helping me cook dinner. I encourage all of you to take the time to train your children in your kitchen; not just your daughters either, your sons will benefit from it as well.

Here is recipe for the granola bars he made.

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar (or sucanat)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups oats, uncooked

Melt  butter and sugar over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Spread into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool and then cut into squares.

He made them again this afternoon to take to our Fellowship Bible Study tonight :)

Blessings,
Rashel