Message Boards

Pigs in a blanket.  And muffins!  It's a bit messy when putting into muffin cups, but very fun (and only one bowl needed).  Also, mini english muffin pizzas.  Broil english muffins sprayed with cooking oil yourself for five minutes.  Then, let him put the sauce, cheese, and toppings on.  Then you can just bake at 400 for about 5-10 minutes.  YUM!  We've been eating these for years.  I got the recipe in high school home economics class. 

My mom started all her kids out on "Wacky Cake" since there are only a few ingredients and no eggs.  As you can see from the recipe below, pretty simple...  We all still love it...  We tweak it a little now that we're older and want more chocolate or add powdered sugar on top, but for a 6 yr old pretty simple.  I started out at the age of 5 with this one with a 8" round pyrex dish (I can still see myself standing on a stool and my mom giving me directions over my shoulder and showing me how to stir SLOWLY)...  Whatever recipe you try, relax and have fun :).

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour


• 1 cup sugar


• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa


• 1 teaspoon baking soda


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 1 teaspoon vinegar


• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil


• 1 cup cold water

Preparation:

In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, soda and salt. Make three wells in the flour mixture. In one put vanilla; in another the vinegar, and in the third the oil. Pour the cold water over the mixture and stir until moistened. Pour into 8 x 8-inch pan. Bake at 350°F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until it springs back when touched lightly.

My children always liked to help with cooking.  They can pour measured ingredients into a bowl or pot for you.  They can tear up lettuce for salads.  They can help choose what you will be cooking.  It really doesn’t take much for them to feel like they are helping you.  As you help them learn they can do more – but I would be cautious about hot stoves and knives at this point.  My grandson was making himself pb & j sandwiches (using a spoon instead of a butter knife) when he was only two years old.  He is now eleven and makes a lot of foods – including omelets – and asks to make a complete dinner for the whole family at least once a month

Hi Brino88:

We asked this to our Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/bettycrocker) and here are some of the responses (so far).

I have that cookbook.  Got in from one of the book clubs.  Its called Betty Crocker's Cook Book for boys and girls.  Originally published in 1957.  All the recipes are exactly as they appeared in the original book.  I bought it to use when my grandkids come to visit.  Its so well worth getting.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (Micro Safe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.
  Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
 Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
 Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?

Hi brino88,

How about the mini meatloaf recipe on this site?  A kid might like getting his hands into that!  He can also help putting the mixture into the tins.

I like to make biscuits out of crescent rolls.  I just open the roll and tear the sections along the lines and put them in muffin tins-doesn't matter how weird they look.  You can make them as small or big as you like.  For an extra treat try putting a tablespoon of your favorite jam or jelly in there.

Bar cookies would be fun and easy.  A couple of packs of cookie mixes pressed into a 13 x 9 pan.   When they're done and cooled you guys could make sundaes out of your favorite ice cream and toppings.

I bet you can tell I'm not a chef!!

Have fun!

at this time of year my kids always liked to help make applesauce ... you go to the orchard to pick them (or farm stand) ... cook them ... put throu the Foleys Food Mill ... pack in jars* and water bath ... then they give them to their teachers for xmas presents that are sure to be well appreciated! The advantage of the Food Mill (or any other similar sieve) is that you don't have to peel and core the apples ... just cut into chunks. The Mill will do the separating after the cooking. And, applesauce is a very forgiving sort of recipe ... no intricate measurings. Avoid Red Delicious and other too soft varieties better suited for eating as is.

In the winter you can take down a jar of this and bake an applesauce cake with the kids, too!

*always use canning jars, not product jars

I just want to thank everyone for all of their replies. Each idea was  amazing, I have tried a few out and they are big hits. Thank you all. I hope to learn more from others experiences and recipes. Thanks. :)