Thursday 31 January 2013

How To Get Your Children To Cook


Some of you seem amazed at what Emily (and Helen) can prepare in the kitchen when she turns her hands to it. My best piece of advise - start them at a very early age. And be prepared to clean up a mess, making it more important that it is fun rather than proficient. I think the photo below was taken the day we made pasta. Kids love that because if you make enough then they can treat the leftovers like playdough. That day they rolled out an extra long bit and put it on the floor, adding eyes and a tongue to make a snake. If you leave a pasta snake on the floor long enough it will dry there and need chiselling off. Ask me how I know.

The heart was necessary.
Emily needed a modesty screen.

Then one day, if you are lucky, they will make food like Emily did last night.


Thank you to everyone for all the lovely birthday wishes to Helen. She says thank you, as do I. And Emily says thank you for the chef comments.

Susan

41 comments:

  1. That still doesn't answer my question about when she's coming to mine to cook??? ; )

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  2. Ooh she can do the food for my birthday. I'll be lucky if I get cake!! My birthday comes after two others in our house, so no one want cake !!! Sarah

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  3. Susan, what an incredible mother you are!!!! It's simply amazing that your daughters can prepare this type of food - well done all of you! BTW, I'd still like a few recipes. :)

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  4. Great job!! My daughter is 27...do you think it is too late to try your plan now???

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  5. Mhmmmm, I love to get the instructions! It looks delicious

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  6. Wow! Your girls will be giving lessons to classmates before long!

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  7. The girls look so cute! Having a husband who does all the cooking and a son who is a chef, teaching all your 'children' to cook is one of the best things you can do for them ( and you!)

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  8. Oh my goodness, two cuties and a table of amazing food. I definitely agree about the cooking at an early age thing - a necessary life skill and one I intend to pass on to a certain young man!

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  9. I just need to book a flight but we'll be over soon for dinner!

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  10. I agree, starting them young works. Both my grown up children are proficient cooks and my daughter makes cakes for other people's special occasions.

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  11. Aww what cuties and the food looks very tasty! I did teach my 2 older ones to cook/bake but they seem to have gone off the idea, ah well lets hope J decides to keep it up.

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  12. So when exactly are you sending her up?!

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  13. Wow it all looks amazing! What a wonderful mummy you are investing so much time teaching them such important skills...it's certainly paid off, you must be very proud :-)

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  14. Starting young definitely. But being a mum willing and able to teach them to cook? Even more important! Kudos to you.

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  15. Looks very yummy. Tims eldest makes a great frog in a bog.

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  16. Weren't they just so cute! MInd you I think Emily will probably hate that photo as she gets older!

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  17. Well I do hope she got dressed before preparing this meal ;o)

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  18. I agree with you, start them young.
    That food look delish.
    When you send them up, I'll share with Sarah !!!!
    Polly
    xx

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  19. Can I do a swap with you...I could send you some lovely teenagers and you could send me some sushi making girlies!!

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  20. Can I do a swap with you...I could send you some lovely teenagers and you could send me some sushi making girlies!!

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  21. Look at those sweetiepies! Just showed pic of birthday tea to hubby and he wonders if Emily would like to know when his birthday is?

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  22. All looks yummy!

    And I, too know about chiselling pasta off surfaces. It is almost impossible off carpet. Especially when well walked in. Ask me how I know....

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  23. How cute are they! and I am even more impressed with the spread! I quite agree with the starting them young too!

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  24. Oh, the cuteness! All of that time chipping at tried pasta dough has finally paid off :)

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  25. That is is, I am sending my kidlet to your house for boot camp and you can send me your little chefs ;-)

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  26. Never mind teaching your bairns to cook, when are you coming to teach me?! I love baking, hate cooking ;o) That photo is so lovely!

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  27. My two have cooked from an early age too, and now its great on days when I am late hone and tea is already done. Love the piccie

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  28. What little cuties! They've learned from the best! Jxo

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  29. Holy smokes, what an impressive feast! Your girls are gorgeous. :D

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  30. Do we see future chef/catering mogul?
    Your girls are amazing and daring, hope she doesn't fry food in the buff? ;)

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  31. Ok....I'm not a big fan of kids, or mess but I seriously need a live in chef! Will you send her to live with me?

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  32. You have the best young women in your house!

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  33. They have come a long way and oh my they were adorable and still are. Talent certainly runs in your family.

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  34. Beautiful picture. they were such adorable cherubby toddlers. I have so many pics of my kids that need modesty screens, they really don't like wearing clothes! I have always cooked with my kids, more baking rather than meal prep though, so in the next couple of years I hope it pays me back. Emily, your meal prep skills are out of this world! You're a very clever girl! How old are you, 10 ish? I'm blown away.

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  35. I'm leaving BP with you in July for training. You can keep her for the rest of the year, or longer!!!!!!
    It shows your great mothering skills that they both enjoy cooking.

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  36. Well mine are up for a bit of stirring/pasta making already, so I will be writing to you to complain if I am not receiving perfectly presented sushi and dumplings in a few years!

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  37. Loving the bunches!!!

    I am still allergic to the mess - maybe we will try again in the summer when the heated floor is off!!

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  38. I'm totally with you. Could I comment to Sarah that they like baking when they're little cos they love to eat sweet things but it doesn't matter cooking veg'll come later. You're doin brill just getting in there with 'em.

    Also I was going to say that in this prepared age it's mums who like to cook that teach their kids but in my personal experience that's not so. My mother, who loves to cook and is the best cook I know, had a personal grievance against having any of the three of us in her kitchen and my mother in law, who hates cooking and only does so to feed her family who taught me to cook with love, patience and good humour!

    All of my four kids cook well which is just as well because now they are older when I'm sewing they can do the tea!!

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  39. Complete genius on your part to teach the girls how to cook ...more sewing time for you. Gotta say those cold rolls and dumpling things look freaking awesome!

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