We are welcoming back one of our favorite series today!
Where we bring to you ideas and activities for the kids in your life.
We happen to think that sitting At the Kid’s Table is the place to be!
Today we are talking about…
We happen to think that sitting At the Kid’s Table is the place to be!
Today we are talking about…
Cooking with Kids
My little buddy and I have spent a lot of time in the kitchen together over the years.
He always loved helping me bake but of course liked licking the bowl, beaters and his fingers the most! Oh…my heart is kind of aching seeing this picture of him at 4 years old. Sigh…
Time keeps marching on and there are many things changing all around us (including another little 4 year old who also wants to help mommy), but the one thing that stays the same is that my now 8 year old boy still loves to help me in the kitchen.
He has actually discovered the joy of cooking and not just baking, even though it means there usually isn’t a spoon to lick. I always tell him that cooking is like a science experiment and this definitely speaks to his science and mathematic lovin’ heart.
And having that time with him in the kitchen speaks to my “mommy can’t believe how quickly her boy is growing and wants to spend as much time as possible with him” heart!
And having that time with him in the kitchen speaks to my “mommy can’t believe how quickly her boy is growing and wants to spend as much time as possible with him” heart!
This cookbook has become one of our favorite resources for easy recipes
for young chefs in the making! We go through it together, marking the ones we want to try.
The one he selected for this particular night was Chunky Cheddar Cheese Chowder.
Cooking with your kids is so wonderful on many different levels.
Not only does it give you that one-on-one time together, it helps promote reading and math skills, problem solving as well as the tools and techniques that go into proper food preparation.
He is still a bit young and hasn’t quite mastered the art of using a sharp knife. Plus, my heart can only handle so much and seeing him slicing into things is something I’m working up to!
One way I make the cooking process easier and yet still have him feel like he is the one doing the “cooking” is to chop my ingredients and put them into small bowls so that he can be the one to actually dump it out into the pot/pan.
I promise you his hair was combed when he left the house this morning!
This was a good opportunity to teach proper cheese grating technique.
Those graters might not seem sharp but just one time scraping your knuckles against it will prove to you otherwise!
This chowder may have had quite a bit of cheese in it, but it was also loaded with plenty of vegetables and the kids just gobbled them right up. Of course, the crumbled bacon on top didn’t hurt!
He was so proud to be the one to serve everyone dinner that night.
Don’t you love that expression on his face?
Well, now that we have dinner taken care of, let me share with you a little bit about what sits on our
Fall Family Table!
This is our Treasure Tray.
It may not be considered the most beautiful centerpiece to most folks, but it definitely is to me!
I clustered together candles on one of my favorite wooden trays.
And then I encouraged the kids to search for Autumn Treasures whenever we take walks or play in the backyard. My son really took this to mean that he should fill his pockets with things he finds on the playground and then promptly unload them onto the tray when he gets home!
(Be sure your acorns don’t have worms! We haven’t seen any but my friend found some in her apothecary jar she had filled with acorns. Gross!)
This truly is so simple and yet it has been a such fun way to make the most of the
beauty of Fall with our kiddos!
Now, if you will indulge me for a moment, I have one last thought to share with you about cooking with kids. The moments I have spent with my son (and now my daughter) in the kitchen have been some of the sweetest and most special. Not only have we made memories and created opportunities to learn life skills, it has provided little snippets of time for meaningful conversation. With a dash of silliness tossed in here and there for good measure (get it…dash…measure…hehehe)!
And let’s face it, boys will share a lot more with you when you are doing an actual
ACTIVITY together.
Can I get an Amen?
ACTIVITY together.
Can I get an Amen?
So, we decided to go through the rest of the cookbook and mark other recipes we would like to try.
My son might think we are just cooking together, but I know the truth…
We are making memories.
And hopefully building a foundation which will remain strong for years to come!
Thank you so much for joining me At the Kid’s Table today at the Fence,
Chunky Cheddar Cheese Chowder
1/4 cup butter or margarine 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 small onion, chopped 1 can (14 1/2 oz) chicken broth
2 carrots, chopped 2 cups mil
1 celery rib, chopped 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 small red or green bell pepper, chopped 1/2 tsp. salt
2 garlic cloves, minced 3/4 tsp. pepper
4 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
Melt butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat; stir in onion, carrot, celery, bell pepper and garlic.
Saute for 5 minutes or until mixture is tender and smells good. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Stir in chicken broth and milk; cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened and bubbly. Add shredded cheese, salt and pepper, stirring until cheese melts and mixture is smooth. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon. Makes 7 cups chowder.
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12 Comments on "At the Kids Table for Fall"
That certainly is a good idea to spend quality time with your kids while teaching them important life skills. Your son is so cute.
What a proud chef you have. I’ve always enjoyed cooking with my two boys. They are sixteen and eighteen now, well over six feet tall, and I still hold my breath when they use sharp utensils. lol
Oh I LOVE it… We have 5 children and we LIVE in the Kitchen…They all have there own little specialties that they enjoy cooking or baking up… I am So surprised to find that I Cook less and less as these days…And yes my heart aches as I see my Little Peas growing every day and look back at Kitchen time pictures of them… “SIGH” have a wonderful week…And thanks for sharing this yummy sounding recipe..
Nothing is better then having quality time with the kiddos!! Vanessa that chowder looks so YUMMY and your son is such a little cutie! Martina
So Vanessa….
I am pretty sure that you know how I feel about little helpers.
He did an amazing job, and you too, for allowing him to help.
I love his hair!
Perfectly disheveled in a Hollywood kind of way, if you ask me!
He is a cutie~
Happy Fall my sweet southern at heart friend!
p.s. If you lived even remotely close….I would bake you a pecan pie. It’s my favorite, too!
XO
Amen sister, you are so right! I so miss these times with my kids…why did they have to grow up?!
Enjoy every second…truly the best times ever!!!
You are just a great mommy!! I love this post, and yes I love the expression on his face at the end. The treasure tray was just an added bonus.
What a great little chef you are raising!!! He will always be able to entertain and take care of himself (my 18 year old can make a great omelette).
You are SUCH a fantastic Mommy! I love that you encourage your kiddos to help out in the kitchen! And, I LOVE the treasure tray. Jax loves bringing me rocks and shells which I love putting into one of my display bowls. They grow up so fast, don’t they? Thanks for the recommendation for the cookbook, too! xoxo
awwww How sweet. What fun that is. My son used to love cooking. Now he acts like he doesn’t want to, but while he is doing it has so much fun. My little girl helps with the baking in our kitchen.