Teaching Children to Cook

I come from a long line of great cooks on both sides of the family. Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls owes its existence to the love and patience my grandmother, mother and aunts showed in teaching my siblings and me to cook and bake when we were young.

It wasn’t until I had children of my own that I realized just how much patience was involved. As anyone who’s ever cooked with children knows, it can be a slightly challenging and time-consuming experience.

With three grown daughters and six grandchildren (it could be seven by the time you read this!), I’ve learned a few tricks along the way that I’d like to share:

(1) Begin with something your children enjoy eating. Their excitement about eating the fruits of their labor will keep them focused on the task at hand.

(2) Start with something simple, like a sandwich. When children experience success early on, they naturally want to repeat the experience. This recipe for ham sandwiches has only three ingredients.

Turkey Rolls

• 4 ounces of Orange marmalade
• 12 slices roasted or smoked turkey
• 1 pan thawed Parkerhouse Rolls

Spread small amount of orange marmalade on center of rolls and place slice of turkey on top. Cover until ready to serve.

Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Yield: 12 to 16 rolls

(3) Children learn by making mistakes. It’s okay to let them crack the eggs even if you have to fish out the shells.

(4) Messes are inevitable. When baking, your children might end up wearing as much flour as they put into the mixing bowl. Cleaning up the mess together presents another teaching opportunity.

As you cook with your children, keep in mind that you are creating memories that both you and they will treasure throughout your lives.

Until next time,