Teaching kids to cook

madmum33

Home made beefburgers would probably be popular and won't take too long.

liz545

Chicken nuggets are definately a good idea, part of the struggle with the girls is they tend to subsist on junk food, so it can be a challenge to persuade them to try something different. Showing them how to do healthier versions is a great idea! I'm also going to try cauliflower cheese, as that means I can also teach white sauce, and a vegetable curry. I think my mum has a be-ro book - I have fond memories of making the cheesy marmite fingers when I was little

jovichick123

I remember learning to make Vegetable lasagne at school - mind, I made enough for tea at home that night, Mum was horrified to find that I'd borrowed my best mates garlic and been a little, shall we say, creative... she had to put it in the bin after 5 mins, it stunk the whole house out lol

Congrats on the new position, it's a great opportunity for the kids, good luck,

Sarah xx

Iguana

Cottage pie.
Casserole although they might find that rather long winded.
Soup, Delia Smith does a good pasta and bean one which is easy to do in one is fun.
Pancakes sweet or savoury fillings.
Spanish omelette/Tortilla
Corn beef hash

carolt

Well done - v important and useful thing to be doing.

I've just started giving my 7 and a half year old cookery 'lessons' once or twice a week. As you say, it takes a lot longer than you think as a lot of it is explaining safety issues and hygiene issues. So far we've done boiled eggs - twice! - and cooking pasta - basic, yes, but she does it all herself, with my just supervising so that she remembers everything and would be able to do it without me there. Planning to do fried and scrambled eggs next and porridge so has a range of breakfasts! and cheese on toast, baked potatoes with filling of choice and omelettes so has some light lunches/dinners. Also have had requests for a cake of some type. (Maybe weetabix brownies - they're easy, quick and healthyish - well, sort of.) Am also planning to do crumble - she'll like the hands-on-ness of it, and I make it lots. And possibly a roast dinner or roast veg - though probably you wouldn't have time for those in your class.

Obviously my daughter is younger than your students but she has grown up watching me cook and yet her ignorance knows no bounds (eg Q What do you need to boil an egg? A Water and er... oil?) Don't make stuff that's too complicated or they won't remember it or be likely to use it themselves. Basic stuff with rules that they can reuse in different recipes like your white sauce in cauliflower cheese are good. Or the basic mince ragu thing for spag bol, which will let them cook chilli, lasagne etc if they so choose.

Let's hope govt introduces more and wider cooking classes for kids....

dm1465

Hi, what a fantastic idea. My daughter who is 11 has got the Sam Stern cookery books which are aimed at that age range, I got them from the book people but you might be able to get them from the library. Also, when my friend's son went off to university I bought him a student cook book, can't remember who it was by, but there were two basic paperbacks, one veggy, one ordinary, and they had really good quick basic recipes in which were pretty healthy too. Sorry I can't tell you more than that but will try to find out the auther and let you know. Best of luck. Deb

Mado

I was going to suggest basic sauces (ie white sauce, yogurt + ketchup as a dip and basic french dressing).
I have a great recipe for buttermilk pancakes, great for a treat breakfast.
If nut allergy is not an issue, my kids love chicken satay sticks: Slice a chicken breat in strips, mix natural yogurt with peanut butter and a bit of sweet chilli sauce: Thread the chicken on bamboo sticks and coat with the peanut paste. Grill. It's fun and different.

dianadors

I have used my school cookery book - It started with the basics ie baking but taught me everything I know today and I can follow any recipe put in front of me. I was taught in the day (1971-1976)when "Home Economics" involved nutrition, cost effectivness, time planning etc and it has stood me in really good stead. I have always baked and cooked with my kids since they were tiny - because that is how I was introduced to cooking (although by my gran not my mum). My kids know basic nutrition now and how to disguise the tase of things that they dont like (ie veg whizzzed in tomato sauce for pasta etc). I would love to do what you are doing, perhaps for people in their early 20's who can only do ready meals.

Justamum

nikibella wrote: »

Hi,
there is a new website of the EU to teach the children cooking and healthy eating. http://eu.mini-chefs.eu

Seemingly, according to this, the UK is not in the EU!

lex

What a fantastic idea! Well done you for volunteering.

Few ideas are

omelette
pancakes (good cheap quick snack for hungry teenagers etc)
toad in the hole

pasta with some kind of sauce
stir fry rice
spaghetti bolognase
tuna pasta bake

fruit crumble (my 4 year old makes better crumble than me )
basic sponge cake
flapjacks
basic cookies

I've mentioned a few sweet things, as though they aren't excessively healthy, it helps with the enthusiasm of cooking to cook something "treat" like I find...

lex