6 easy and simple cooking ideas for children

6 easy and simple cooking ideas for children We are sure you enjoy eating your favorite dishes. It could be some yum sandwiches, crispy pizzas or creamy cakes. But do you also know that it is so much fun making these delicious dishes too! It is not always that you need someone else to cook for you, right? Even children can make some amazing dishes that are simple to make and tasty to eat. Of course, you get to eat the dish in the end, but did you know the process of cooking is so much fun. Let’s look at the benefits of cooking The biggest benefit is that we get to experiment and we can be the first one to try too. Following the steps in the recipes, we get to understand the basic math of measurements, addition, division and time monitoring, which are not taught in the classroom. Then we also get to realise the steps involved through step by step directions mentioned in the recipes. Simple tasks, such as making balls from the dough or whisking the batter also help with our motor skills. Besides, if they cook for special occasions, such as a Christmas Party it can give them a huge sense of achievement when the dish is ready to eat. With a little bit of help Kids can be great cooks, especially when it comes to decorating the dish. But children do require a little help when it comes to chopping or using the stove or oven. Cooking along with a parent or a grandparent is a wonderful way to bond and spend quality time together. It means to create something and then devour it too! Also, parents can be an added advantage for their young ones, especially during a celebration or a party. Cooking ideas for a festive season Making a festive meal can be more fulfilling, as you have more people, who would be around to relish your meal and compliment you too. Let’s take a look at a few recipes that children can easily make for their Christmas party! Toasted triangles – Ingredient: Bread, butter, cheese/mayonnaise, chopped vegetables like bell peppers, dried tomatoes, olives, salt, pepper, tomato ketchup Method: Put the bread in the toaster and wait for it to pop out. Once the toasts are done, spread butter, mayonnaise or cheese. Add some chopped vegetables, such as bell peppers, onions, dried tomatoes. Sprinkle salt, pepper and pour some tomato ketchup over it. Cut the toast diagonally and then another cut will give you four small triangles. You can add boiled eggs, chicken, pepperoni pieces, mashed potatoes or any other favorite sauce too. Another recipe could be making Sweet Toasted Triangles by pouring honey over toasted bread. Garnish these with dry fruits, dried cherries or apricots. Get creative, while serving - One can freely decide using one’s imagination to get creative in this dish. Make a face on the triangle using sauce and cheese slices. Or make a Christmas tree by spreading green chutney on the toast. Com'on put on your thinking hats and decorate your toast in different shapes and designs. Banana Pancakes – Ingredients: 1:1:1…. Yes some bit of easy math, 1 Banana, 1 cup flour, 1 egg Or 3 bananas, 3 cup flour with 3 eggs. Yes, you got it. Equal proportion of all ingredients. Method: Mash the banana and add to it an egg and a cup of flour. Mix it well. Now in a pan, heat a spoon of butter or oil. Then pour a spoonful of the batter. Sprinkle a bit of oil or ghee on the edges and then flip it over and cook for a while. Take parents’ help during the flipping process. Rest of it is pretty safe for children above the age of 8 or 9. Do not touch the edges of the pan without cooking gloves. Get Creative: Alright, so what can you make on a round pancake? A face, a football, the solar system or even a Santa or Christmas decoration shapes can be cut out from this! Decorate your pancake with cream, honey, maple syrup. Healthy choco balls – Ingredients: Cocoa powder, dry fruits (almonds, pistachios, cashews, walnuts etc.), dates, coconut oil or butter. Method: Crush different dry fruits along with dates in the mixture jar. Take someone’s help. However, it is very safe. Once made into a paste, take it out of the jar and add cocoa powder and a little bit of coconut or normal butter to it. Knead the mixture into a soft dough. Roll into small balls and refrigerate for a while before eating. Get Creative: Once the choco balls are ready you can dip them in chocolate sauce or cream. You can make tiny holes and decorate the ball or stick tiny gems or choco chips at the side of the balls. You can also insert a stick and make it into a chocolate stick too. And yes, you can get creative from the very beginning. Instead of making balls use cutters or different shapes to make the choco delight. Garden salad- Well they say, in India, winters are for vegetables and summers are for fruit. Ingredients: Fresh vegetables, such as cabbage, corn, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots. Fruits, such as apples, oranges or seasonal fruit. Salt, pepper, vinegar/lemon, honey. Mayonnaise, yogurt or curd (optional). Peanuts and dry fruit (optional). Method: Cut up the vegetables and fruits into a bowl. Do take someone’s help. There are scissors available for cutting too, which can be really safe. Add the peanuts if you like and toss all of it adding the rest of the ingredients. If you like it dry you can skip adding the mayonnaise or curd. Get Creative: You can have lots of fun tossing and cutting the vegetables and fruits. You can cut them in different shapes or mix up different colors to make the salad look beautiful. You can serve it in tiny portions or fill it all up in a single bowl. Or you can use spinach, celery or kale leaves and cherry tomatoes to make hollies to keep the Christmas spirit alive. And yes to make it healthier, you can also add cooked grams, chickpeas etc.