If you are new around here, you may not know that my family loves to bake. Really, my husband loves to bake and has shared that love with our kids. If anyone mentions a new treat around Brian, chances are, he’ll try to bake it! We have done our best to give our kids the opportunity to bake by themselves. You learn the best by actually doing. Sometimes it is hard to relinquish control over the food that you make, though. Just last night for dinner I found myself hesitating to say, “yes” to my 4-year-old as he requested to shake some parmesan cheese on the garlic bread I was baking. My initial reaction is just to get it done quickly and with as little mess as possible. I recognized my hesitation and reminded myself that it really is the best way to learn, and he may not always want to help when I’m ready to teach. So I handed him the cheese and gently guided his sloppy attempts at seasoning the bread. Soon enough, my 7-year-old was at my side wanting to butter the bread. Why did I still want to say, “no?” The truth is, is that with 6 children, or any kids, you are constantly cleaning up a mess. It is just plain easier to avoid the mess in the first place. I chose to let her and after watching her first application that was far too generous (she loves butter, what can I say?? Don’t we all?) I had her scrape some off to show her the proper amount for what we were baking right then. I’m certain that I will find the right time and place to allow her to generously butter bread for a family meal.
In our home, especially in the summer, my big kids take turns each week preparing a meal. I have them select a recipe-it can be one that we use regularly or a new one that they’ve found, depending on the demands of the day. They then insure that we have all the ingredients on hand, and make a grocery list if we do not. Then I often give them a budget with which they can buy those ingredients (not always, because truthfully, sometimes I forget or I am in a hurry). I allow my younger kids to cut up fruits and vegetables for meals, for sure, but when it’s time for my big kids to cook, I rarely intervene unless it’s requested of me. I want it to be a good experience for them, but really want them to be empowered to make a meal on their own. They learn how to time when to start different parts of the meal, and how to clean up along the way so there isn’t a huge mess at the end to clean up.
We also will have nights that I have them look around the kitchen for meal options. If I am out of ideas, or we haven’t done it in awhile, I’ll have the older 2 or 3 (ages 13, 11, and 9) look around our pantry, fridge, and freezer and help decide what meal we can make with what we have. At our house, meals must include at least 3 things, a source of protein, a fruit, vegetable, or green salad, and a starch or carbohydrate ie: potatoes, pasta, bread, quinoa, rice etc.
It is fun for them to experiment with different ingredients and determine what combinations go together. In turn, it is fun for me to watch them take pride in their own creations and to help guide them in the choices they make. This admittedly takes patience on my part, though. Sometimes we’ll miss a couple of weeks and then I remember and I have to gear up for the extra time it takes to allow them to just do it. Just like anything worthwhile, it takes extra time, patience, and practice. I find that if I get frustrated with them while they are making something, they shrink and do not want to do it. When I choose patience it always turns out better.
Now, I let my kids help out in the kitchen as toddlers, but not actually handling the oven until around 9 or 10. It definitely depends on the kid though. I have let all my kids help me make cookies, but if they can’t safely hold a cookie sheet with cookies on it with 1 hand, then I will do the oven part, but they will determine when to take the cookies out. This means we have had some undercooked and overcooked cookies before. Nothing teaches quite like experience!!
I do not anticipate that any of them will be great chefs, but hey, maybe!?? My hope is that they will be empowered to go to the store and buy the proper ingredients for any given recipe. That they will not feel intimidated to make homemade bread or stew or salsa!! If Brian or myself were to get sick I know that they could make a meal in a pinch. Or if I am busy with another task, I know that they can make cookies or rolls for a neighbor that needs some love. My oldest just made a cake from scratch for the birthday of one of his best friends. It was awesome to see his hard work and how much it was appreciated!
Home is where life skills are learned, and I intend to send my people out into the world knowing their way around the kitchen, and who knows, maybe when I’m old and tired they will make something delicious just for me!!
Kayleen
