FOR those of us that love food, we hope that our children do too. Of course they like food and want food, but I suppose we can try and influence them as much as possible to eat the very best they can.
With all that in mind, it’s great to get kids involved in any way possible when it comes to cooking and preparing food in the kitchen.
Getting their hands in amongst the mess is what it is all about – even if it is only a bowl of flour, but the involvement lends itself to the sense of inclusion and satisfaction at the end.
Avoid tedious tasks and just let them do one thing at a time as it will help and not hinder. It is to be a fun time so don’t worry, the mess, from crushed muffins to clouds of white flour, can be cleaned up in the end.
Here’s a few dishes that you could try.
Sausage with herby beans
WITH only two main ingredients and a host of ancillaries, this makes a great dish to get them involved in. You cook the sausages and get them to pull apart the herbs and squeeze the lemon juice.
WHAT YOU NEED
450g of sausages – pick a good quality sausage that is high in meat content
Olive oil
1 clover garlic, finely chopped
2 tins of white beans
Fresh sage (or rosemary)
Fresh lemon juice
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
WHAT TO DO
In a large pan over a medium heat, brown the sausages on all sides and cook through. Once cooked, set them aside on a plate. In the same pan, add a little olive oil and the chopped garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant. Add the drained beans and sage (or rosemary) and heat through. Finish with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve in bowls with the sausage on top.
