As we face a deep global recession with the coronavirus pandemic, resources that were once close at hand are now in short supply. Home-cooking is the best direction for everyone to be taking during the quarantine period as it is proven to be healthy. Resorting to restaurant takeout’s and food delivery services should not be an everyday reoccurring norm, especially when it involves kids. The lockdown period is the perfect time to spend as much quality time as possible with the kids and what better way to do this than making fun treats with them. Get your aprons on and head on to the kitchen with the little ones, let your child help as much as they can and be sure that they’re having fun while learning their way around the kitchen.
Home cooking is the best direction for everyone to be taking during the quarantine period as it is proven to be healthy, and it’s also economical in spite of the financial crisis our world is facing. Cooking and baking is also a fun activity that the whole family or just you and your child can bond over together. Many lessons can be taught to your child while cooking or baking together; math and science concepts are both involved when it comes to cooking or baking, such as measuring, counting, and teaching them about the foods that are healthy for us. Cooking with your child can also help develop your child’s vocabulary while engaging their senses to different smells and tastes. We’ve put together a list of recipes for the whole family to rejoice in a fun bonding session. Some of these dishes might even turn out to be your child’s favorite or the perfect potluck dish.
Rice Paper Fruit Wraps with a Honey Lime Dip
This recipe is the perfect snack that requires no cooking, and it will get your child to love fruits if they don’t already. Get a bunch of your child’s favorite fruits and some new ones as well, cut them up into bite-size or long pieces. Immerse rice papers one at a time in a bowl of hot water for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft, set them on a plate, and let your child fill the wraps with fruits. Fold them up and plate the multi-colored wraps, make the dip by mixing some honey and lime juice, and serve with the fruit wraps
Tomato Spaghetti (with Beef Meatballs)
Tomato spaghetti is the quickest meal to whip up, and kids love them. It’s also the perfect dish for the quarantine period as uncooked spaghetti noodles can be kept in storage for months, and cooked spaghetti can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Boil spaghetti noodles and drain them, add a few spoons of butter, so the noodles don’t stick together. For the sauce, canned tomatoes work just fine as they’re readily available, and they’re just like the real deal, packed with vitamin C and fiber. Chop up a few cloves of garlic, add the canned tomatoes and add a little ketchup for a bit of sweetness. Sprinkle some salt and pepper, and a tablespoon of oregano; let the sauce simmer on low heat. If you happen to have a little more time on your hands and the resources, make some meatballs. Combine minced beef, some breadcrumbs (grind cut up slices of toasted bread in a food processor), an egg, some salt, and pepper. Your child can help make the minced meat paste into rounds, put them in the oven, and drop into the pot of sauce. Plate the dish with your child’s help and garnish with some shredded cheese.
Fairy Bread
Traditional fairy bread is made with butter and sprinkles, but let your child’s imagination run wild and choose among the many spreads you happen to have around. Cut off the edges of the bread and cut them into squares. Let your child cut a heart or star shape using a cookie-cutter on only one slice of the cut-up bread. Spread the bread with butter, Nutella, PB&J, or whatever floats your child’s boat. Get your child to decorate with multi-colored or chocolate sprinkles.
Mini Pigs in a Blanket
Pigs in a blanket are easy and fun to make, and they’re a delicious snack for the whole family to enjoy. Separate the crescent dough into triangles. Starting at the end of the triangle-shaped dough, wrap the mini hot dogs up. Let your child wrap them while you grease the tray, combine a beaten egg and a tablespoon of water to prepare the egg wash. Set the mini pigs in a blanket on the greased tray and get your child to brush the egg wash on them. Bake them and let them cool down before your child can start snacking on them.
Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl
A hearty, delectable dish that will provide your child with essential nutrients with the right amount of vegetable intake. Mix some teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, and garlic in a bowl; add chicken into mixture and leave aside to marinate. Grease the bottom of the slow cooker, place the marinated chicken into it. Get your child to cut up carrots and broccoli with a child-safety knife, steam the vegetables. Serve bowls of cooked rice with the teriyaki chicken and steamed vegetables on top.
A hearty, delectable dish that will provide your child with essential nutrients with the right amount of vegetable intake. Mix some teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, and garlic in a bowl; add chicken into mixture and leave aside to marinate. Grease the bottom of the slow cooker, place the marinated chicken into it. Get your child to cut up carrots and broccoli with a child-safety knife, steam the vegetables. Serve bowls of cooked rice with the teriyaki chicken and steamed vegetables on top.
Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicles
Nothing is better than an ice-cold popsicle on a hot day, but most store-bought popsicles are just frozen sugar. This popsicle recipe is great to beat the heat while savoring on a healthy, delicious sweet treat: puree berries or a variety of fruits with a few teaspoons of honey. Let your child fill the popsicle mold with the puree and Greek yogurt in layers. Use a skewer or a small spoon to swirl the layers. Remove air bubbles by tapping the mold, insert the popsicle stick, and freeze the mold for 6 hours. Remove the Popsicles from the mold and relish in them with the entire family.