We know, it sounds messy. For little ones though, getting involved with food prep is not only a delicious and creative way to pass some time at home, but a sensory experience packed full of fun and learning opportunities. Not to mention the bonding… hey it’s teamwork, right?
If you’ve got a picky eater, research shows that getting them involved in the process when you’re prepping meals can open them up to new food types they wouldn’t ordinarily be keen on trying, and for most kids the chance to lend a hand and get involved will have them beaming with pride by the time the food makes it to a plate.
Read on for three easy to follow recipe ideas for creating delicious meals and snacks with the help of little hands.
Simple Chocolate Chip Shortbread – makes 15-18 biscuits
Ingredients
- 150g unsalted butter (room temp)
- 50g caster sugar
- 200g plain flour
- ½ tsp table salt
- 3 tbsp milk or dark choc chips
- 2 tsp baking powder
- Cream the butter and sugar together with whisk until light and fluffy.
- Mix all of the dry ingredients in separate bowl.
- Bit by bit add the dry ingredients to wet but be careful not overwork the dough – it’s really crumbly!
- Shape your dough into a log with the help of some greaseproof paper. Roll it up and pop it in the freezer for 15 mins while you heat the oven to 200C/180C fan.
- When it’s firmed up, slice the dough into discs and place them on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-18 mins until golden around the edges. Cool on wire rack.
No yeast pizza dough – makes 4 pizzas
Ingredients
- 700g flour
- 6 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp oil
- 350ml water
- Toppings of your choice!
Method
- Preheat your oven to 200C/180C fan.
- Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl, then add the oil and water, gradually mixing until it forms a ball. If it feels a bit too stiff, add a little more water - it should be soft but definitely not sticky.
- Tip out your dough and knead it on a floured surface for 3-4 mins. Separate and roll it into four balls and flatten using a rolling pin.
- Add all the toppings that take your fancy and bake each pizza on a baking sheet for 15 mins.
Chocolate Banana Cakes – makes 12-15 cakes
Ingredients
- 250g plain flour
- 25g cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- ¼ tsp table salt
- 200g caster sugar
- 2 ripe bananas
- 2 eggs
- 125g butter, melted
Method
- Preheat your oven to 180C/160C fan.
- Add cupcake cases to, or grease, a muffin tray
- Sift the plain flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and sugar into a large bowl and mix until well combined.
- I another bowl, mash the bananas and crack in the eggs one by one. Add the melted butter and mix well.
- Fold the wet mixture into the dry to combine it – be careful not to beat it too hard!
- Bake for 22-26 minutes, or until a skewer or knife inserted into the centre of your biggest cake comes out clean.
- Remove the cakes from the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack.
