Kids in the Kitchen

I love crooking family recipes, many times as I prepare a dish the aroma brings back the memory of how I learn to make it. Sharing the recipes with my children and now with my grandchildren, I regale them with stories of the recipe’s original owner, this links the generation together and allows the kids to get to know relatives they never met.

Plastic gloves make is safe for older kids to work with raw meat. Learning to set up a breading station was fun for my 8 year old, we used tongs (because in her words it was " just so gross"). Lia was very proud of her fried chicken.

Two year old Bella was very accomplished with a whisk. Her Mom always had her in the kitchen, in her bouncer in the beginning . She is four now and skilled with a rolling pin, she loves to bake cookies.

It really doesn't matter what job you give them, they will love spending time with you. This is a great time to encourage tasting and smelling of spices or other ingredients. Of course good helpers get to lick the spoon or enjoy a shot of whipped cream and sprinkles, one of my favorite treats to hand out.

The kitchen may be a little messier but I guarantee your heart will be full of joy when you see the pride on your little sous chiefs faces when they serve their dishes.