Baking and cooking together are things my granddaughter likes to do at my house. We usually make lunch for the ranch partners (her mom/my daughter and her 'papa'/my husband) and often treats for everyone. So it is an activity that keeps us busy and has good results. The results aren't just the goodies that come out of the oven - cooking with children is a great learning tool.A bit of searching yielded this list of skills that cooking with children helps build:
* Builds math skills
* Enriches oral vocabulary
* Teaches scientific concepts
* Boosts reading skills
* Introduces life skills
* Develops fine motor skills
* Promotes social skills
* Provides fun connect time together
At 3 1/2, some of these are beyond what we're doing now; but counting, fine motor skills, life skills, and vocabulary are part of our cooking time. And we have fun together!
We recently made Applesauce muffins from a children's cookbook that came with a food preservation guide from the University of Georgia. I think using good resources for recipes is important, U of Georgia is the go-to for home food preserving, so I expected a good set of recipes in the children's book also.
APPLESAUCE MUFFINS
Makes 12 servings/muffins
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
½ cup vegetable oil
1 ½ cups applesauce
2 eggs
1 cup chopped pecans
What to do:
1.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2.
Wash hands well with soap and water. Dry hands.
3.
Measure and combine flour, sugar, baking soda,
baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl; then stir well.
4.
Measure and combine oil and applesauce in a
smaller bowl, then crack open and add eggs. Remember to wash your hands after
handling raw eggs!
5.
Pour the wet ingredients onto the dry
ingredients and stir with a long handled spoon until mixed evenly. Measure and
stir in nuts if you like.
6.
Spray in 12-muffin pan with vegetable oil spray
or use muffin liners.
7.
Use a ladle to fill each muffin cup about ¾
full.
8.
Lower filled muffin pan carefully onto a rack in
the middle of the hot oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Test for doneness by
inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin – it if comes out clean then
the muffin is done baking.
9.
Carefully remove muffin pan from oven using oven
mitts or potholders and place on a cake-cooling rack or towel-covered
countertop to cool.
10. Enjoy
for breakfast, snack, or dessert!
Some of the tips I use when cooking with the Little:
* I tell her to stand by the refrigerator when I open the oven to keep her away from the hot stove.
* She loves to play in the flour - 'measuring', scooping, patting - it is like an indoor sandbox. So what if there's flour dust in the drawers?
* Keeping a small step stool in the kitchen makes her the right height for working at the counter and helps me reach the top shelves.
* We always count the ingredients to help her learn numbers.
* She develops fine motor skills with having her hands in the process.
* We talk about ingredients and nutrition - she's learned vocabulary and health.
* And we have a lot of fun together, making memories!
APPLESAUCE MUFFINS
Makes 12 servings/muffins
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
½ cup vegetable oil
1 ½ cups applesauce
2 eggs
1 cup chopped pecans
What to do:
1.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2.
Wash hands well with soap and water. Dry hands.
3.
Measure and combine flour, sugar, baking soda,
baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl; then stir well.
4.
Measure and combine oil and applesauce in a
smaller bowl, then crack open and add eggs. Remember to wash your hands after
handling raw eggs!
5.
Pour the wet ingredients onto the dry
ingredients and stir with a long handled spoon until mixed evenly. Measure and
stir in nuts if you like.
6.
Spray in 12-muffin pan with vegetable oil spray
or use muffin liners.
7.
Use a ladle to fill each muffin cup about ¾
full.
8.
Lower filled muffin pan carefully onto a rack in
the middle of the hot oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Test for doneness by
inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin – it if comes out clean then
the muffin is done baking.
9.
Carefully remove muffin pan from oven using oven
mitts or potholders and place on a cake-cooling rack or towel-covered
countertop to cool.
10. Enjoy
for breakfast, snack, or dessert!
 |
| The best part is sampling! |
 |
| The book from University of Georgia that had the recipe for Applesauce Muffins. |
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