Well, the school holidays are just over, back into the routine of packing lunches instead of lazy meals at home or picnics in the park or at the beach. But the school room can still spill over and back into the home kitchen. Getting children involved in the magic of cooking has many advantages. It\u2019s a life skill that touches on many areas \u2013 maths, organisational skills, artistic elements, matters of diet, hygiene and health, the list goes on.<\/p>\n
But aside from all that, it\u2019s fun! A storehouse for building happy memories of times spent together creating and making something (hopefully, if the kitchen gods smile) to enjoy eating!<\/p>\n
Making such things as Anzac biscuits for example \u2013 that magic moment of adding the bi-carb soda which is dissolved in water, into the pot of gently warmed butter \u2013 it foams and heaves up \u2013 be quick now, add it to the bowl of flour, oats and sugar.<\/p>\n
Choosing fairly \u201crobust\u201d biscuit recipes is a good starting point, because the notion of gently shaping feather-light sponges etc, might be for next term holidays? The masterclasses perhaps!<\/p>\n
Making pizzas from scratch is another good option \u2013 making, kneading and proving the dough, shaping the base, \u201cdecorating\u201d or topping it with the child\u2019s favourite toppings, and the best bit, eating something you have proudly made yourself.<\/p>\n
For professional chefs this means having all the elements, all ingredients required prepared and laid out ready before you begin to cook! Good cross-training for many disciplines in life and work methinks!<\/p>\n
The alchemy of how seeming disparate ingredients \u2013 flour, yeast, salt, water \u2013 combine to make dough. It\u2019s truly a voyage of discovery and learning.<\/p>\n
Naturally, some safety measures must be thought through in the planning stages, but I believe with watchful instruction, children soon learn to handle kitchen utensils safely and well.<\/p>\n
The fun names given to some foods might be a way of enticing children to join in \u2013 I mean who could resist having a go at cooking rock cakes, or drop scones?<\/p>\n
Preheat the oven 180C and gather the ingredients, the trays, bowls, spoons, scales, etc that you need \u2013 think of it as if you are setting out items required for one of those quick, snappy \u201ccook-this-in fiveminutes\u201d shows \u2013 to immediately engage the attention span.<\/p>\n
In writing this down, I now have strong memories of the routines drilled into us in our Home Economics classes \u2013 the unit kitchens, each with our own work bench, one cupboard and a drawer had to be kept meticulously clean and organised!<\/p>\n
These days, now that I know so much more, we would call this mis en place.<\/p>\n
But let\u2019s start on the biscuits, which can be made totally by hand, or speed the process up a little, by using a food processor.<\/p>\n
I used pistachios \u2013 these can be shelled by the children. Begin with approximately 180gms to yield 100gms.<\/p>\n
Once the biscuit dough had been made I divided it in half.<\/p>\n
To one lot I added a tablespoon of Dutch cocoa with some coffee beans which I \u201csmashed\u201d in a mortar and pestle. These were for the \u201cgrown up kids\u201d and the other half became the pistachio-chocolate version for the \u201clittlies\u201d.<\/p>\n
Can you see those proud little faces in the school yard when Millie and Johnny proudly nibble away on their own homemade treats at playtime?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Well, the school holidays are just over, back into the routine of packing lunches instead of lazy meals at home or picnics in the park or at the beach. But the school room can still spill over and back into the home kitchen. Getting children involved in the magic of cooking has many advantages. It\u2019s […]<\/p>\n