Keeping My Kids Busy During Spring Break

My Spring Break project? Teaching my children how to cook! (As well as a couple of their friends) How fun!

I've had the idea for a while and this week at home has given me the perfect opportunity. I've given then all a binder filled with plastic page protectors. I've also typed out simple recipes in large fonts that are easy to read and follow. My plan is to hold regular cooking classes, teaching a new recipe each time. After the lesson, they get to put the recipe in their binder, building their own collection. The page protectors are great because if any food gets on the page while cooking, it can just be wiped off. Here is a picture of our binders.

Emily's dear friend Sheely has been visiting this week.

Here they are showing the covers they've made.

Lesson 1 covered cooking safety, kitchen rules and making a simple oven baked recipe. The second lesson taught different ways to make eggs. The first few pages of their binder are kitchen rules and safety, as well as a list of cooking tools. Feel free to print out any pages you would like to use. I'm not sure how to attach a document, so for now, you'll just have to cut and paste what I have into a word processor and print from there.

Page 1

RULES

1. Always have an adult with you when you are cooking

2. Follow your recipe

3. Always clean up when you are finished!

Page 2

KITCHEN SAFETY

Gas Stove Top

1. Clear stove area of fire hazards

2. Put your pot or pan on burner

3. Turn knob to light stove, then turn to correct flame level

4. Be sure there is always a flame when gas is on

5. Always keep towels and clothing away from the flame

6. Turn burner off when you are finished using the stove

Oven Safety

1. Check oven to be sure it's empty before turning it on
2. Turn oven on and to the correct temperature
3. Use an oven mitt to put food in oven
4. Set timer for cooking
5. Use an oven mitt to take food out when it's finished

Microwave Oven Safety

1. Make sure microwave is empty
2. Use a microwave safe container (no metal)
3. Place food in microwave and start
4. Use an oven mitt to remove food from microwave

Page 3

GADGETS AND GIZMOS

Cooking Tools

• Slotted Spoon-to remove food from a pot of water
• Ladle-to scoop liquid out of a pot (usually soup)
• Rubber Spatula-to scrape the sides of a bowl or pot
• Spatula-used to flip food in a pan or on a griddle
• Wooden Spoon-to stir food on the stove
• Spaghetti Server-to cook and serve spaghetti or noodles
• Serving Spoon-used at the table to serve food
• Salad Thongs-used to toss and serve salad
• Metal Thongs-used to turn or remove items while cooking

Knives

• Steak Knife-used at the table to cut food
• Serrated Bread Knife-to prep food and cut bread
• Paring Knife-to peal and cut vegetables
• Butter Knife-to spread butter and jam on bread or rolls

Pots and Pans

• Frying Pan-for frying foods
• Saucepan-comes in several sizes and it used to boil water and cook sauces
• Stew Pot-for large amounts of water or soups