There’s nothing better than a cozy family breakfast on a quiet Sunday morning. Brew a strong pot of coffee for Mom and Dad and lure the kids away from their cartoons by letting them help beat eggs for breakfast tacos, stir blueberries into pancake batter, or spoon yogurt and fruit into parfait glasses. Keep them involved with out-of-the-ordinary recipes and fun presentations, like the sausage and egg breakfast pizza featured here or pancakes in the shape of their initials.

Tips for Cooking with Kids

• Set the mood by putting on their favorite album to listen to while you cook.Get kids to the kitchen when you’re beginning a recipe and stand little ones on chairs if necessary so they can see what you’re doing.
• Get their input. Little ones are more likely to eat food they selected and helped make. 
• Assign each child an age-appropriate task they’ll be able to do on their own. Even the littlest cooks can dump pre-measured ingredients into a bowl or stir eggs with a fork (see below for kid-friendly cooking tasks for each recipe).
• Give kids a colorful apron and lay out all ingredients and tools ahead of time.

Morning Jump-Start: Coffee Brewing 101

• Start with fresh cold water for the best flavor. For regular-strength coffee, use 1 tablespoon of ground coffee with ¾ cup water per serving. For a stronger brew, use 2 tablespoons of ground coffee with ¾ cup water per serving.
• Serve hot coffee as soon as it’s done brewing, or within 15 minutes. The longer coffee stays in contact with heat, the more harsh and bitter it becomes. If you aren’t going to drink it right away, pour it into an insulated container.
• Know your roasts:
  • American is the lightest roast, with a caramel-like flavor.
  • French and Italian are very dark roasts, with deep, aromatic flavors.
  • Full city is a dark roast with notes of caramel and chocolate.

Menu Ideas

• Slice the bananas with a plastic knife.
• Put the cereal in a plastic bag and crush it with their hands.
• Sprinkle crushed cereal on top of the smoothies.

• Slice strawberries with a plastic knife.
• Layer fruit slices on top of yogurt and cereal in glasses.
• Top each glass with toasted coconut.

• Add dressing ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine.
• Make watermelon balls with a melon baller.
• Drizzle dressing over fruit salad.

• Add pancake ingredients to a bowl.
• Mix batter with a fork until smooth.
• Gently stir blueberries into batter.

• Grease muffin cups.
• Combine batter ingredients.
• Roll baked muffins in sugar and cinnamon (make sure they're not too hot first!).

• Beat eggs with a fork.
• Top pizzas with shredded cheese.

• Whisk eggs to combine.
• Stir cheese, salsa, chilies, salt and pepper into the egg mixture.
• Use pepperoni and grape tomatoes to decorate the taco shell.

• Top the coffee with whipped cream.
• Add a cinnamon stick to each mug.
• Play quietly with their toys while you savor a moment of peace.