Cooking with Kids

Here are some recipes that are super simple and fun to make with the whole family.

Homemade Ice Cream

This is a cool recipe to make and eat. All you need is a couple of plastic zip bags, a few ingredients and a helper or two. The first step is to combine 1 cup of half-and-half, 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract in a small resealable bag. Remove the air, seal and set aside. In a gallon-size zip bag, combine 3 cups of ice and 1/3 cup of kosher salt. This will be your “ice cream maker.” Place the sealed bag with the ingredients inside the larger bag with the ice, seal the larger bag and shake for about 10 minutes, until the ice cream mixture has frozen. Remove the small bag and dish out your delicious treat.

Princess Toast

This snack takes a slice of bread to magical levels. First toast your bread, then smear on seedless strawberry jam or another favorite flavor. Mix some buttercream frosting with a few different colors of food coloring and put dollops of each color side by side on the toast. Take a butter knife and swipe the colors over the toast like a rainbow. Decorate with sprinkles and edible glitter for an added touch. For a quick and simple step-by-step video, visit tasteofhome.com/recipes/princess-toast/.  

Smoothie-licious

For something on the healthier side that will temp those taste buds, have the kids choose some fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables to blend into smoothies. Yogurt makes a great base, and chocolate almond milk does, too. Experiment to see what combination your kiddoes like best. Strawberry-avocado? Apple-carrot? Chocolate-banana? A pinch of chia or flax seed can also be added for a nutrient boost. For inspiration, visit delish.com/cooking/g4142/smoothie-recipes-for-kids/.

Individual Pizzas

Pizza makes a great meal or snack, and it can be made a variety of ways. You don’t need to make pizza dough, or buy it for that matter. Use what you have. English muffins, bagels, flat bread or even biscuits all work well. Lightly toast any bread you might be using, spread marinara sauce over the top, and let the kids layer on the toppings. There’s no right or wrong here. Break out the cheese, pineapple, ham, spinach, or even that leftover chicken or pasta you might have in the fridge. Mac n’ cheese pizza? Pepperoni and pickle? We won’t judge. Pop them in the oven on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees, and once they are thoroughly heated, you’ll have yourself a hearty snack.