The cupcakes were funny. You gotta let them learn about taste as well as cooking though. Many disasters have turned them into proper little Nigella's. They know what tastes good together now. I rarely cook these days. (never did have the cupcakes again) 

I love baking (when i can arsed!) My mom taught me and when ever i make pastry i think of her.... Never to late to learn you know

I agree about teaching boys too. It's not only a good basic skill to have but it's something to do together when they're young that doesn't involve a tv or computer. 

ooooh  so not only did it make them self sufficient it made it so you could sit and relax while they did it all . .result

 

enjoy the Fajitas Ells 

Hmm i suppose eating a couple of tuna cupcakes in return for this isn't that bad

I try.....a lot  they never taste good though.

 

My mum is a rotten cook  she really is.  So the only thing she has taught me is how NOT to cook!  Even when I was younger my dad would ask me to make him an omelette or a curry because he feared what my Mum was going to serve up  Everything goes in the frying pan with her.  She'd fry soup if she could!

I'd say the only drawback is the mess when they are young [or old] . .but then you can teach kids housework too and get them to clean up afterwards

 

oooh  just thought of a way of making the housework fun for the kids. .do it BB style and play an album and say right we are cleaning this room to this music. .get ready go!! 

 

Mind you I doubt it would have worked with me... my mother was a perfectionist so even if you did any housework she always complained it was never good enough. .I rebelled and became a bit of a slob, well more so now that I don't have to worry about people calling round much and live alone 

I asked my 8yr old son if he wanted to help with the flapjacks he was on PC at the time and said no... he does usually bake with us though.... We had a cool flour fight once that was fun.

Thanx for all the ideas peoples, i better go do some cleaning i shall be getting the kids to help! (even the tot, she loads the washing from washer to dryer quite well now )

 

byeee

 

hmmm spam...

first thing i ever cooked was cheese straws, mum said they were a bit grey and hard when they came out of the oven but she felt obliged to  eat one and  look as if she enjoyed it.

Olly I just saw your post about the boys helping too.  Master Cinds is almost 15 and he still loves make our own pizza nights.  Although I think it's about time I got him on to mixing cocktails for Mummy 

First thing was to wait until sainsbury's were selling their simple cheese n tomato pizzas for 60p, and then let grandson cut up various veg and design his own topping. next spaghetti bol Then a chicken curry with yellow rice. Also simple bakery kits. Daren't let him do jams or jellies yet, too unsafe.

I am going to be trying to recreate the meatball subway for myself in just a minute

On the C Beebies website there is the I Can Cook option from the kids TV programme - there's some really good simple ideas there - I've done a few bits with the boys before now!

Pitta Pizza's are a great easy way of getting kids into doing pizzas.

 

Use pitta bread as the base (slice a small slit in the side to stop them expanding with air)...

 

then, if you are going for really easy, a pot of ready made pizza topping or even a tube of tomato puree.    Grate a bit of cheese.

 

Add other toppings if you want (pepperoni, green pepper, onion, mushrooms)... 

 

then just grill them on a med grill til the cheese has all melted.

They taste lovely...  

Go for it, Jenstar. I never taught mine how to cook and each meal time is like working a restaurant with me being the chief cook, waitress and bottle washer 

Another good thing is ready made Puff pastry. You can get them to put veg in them to make pasties, and stuff on them to make pizzas and jam in them to make jam turnovers. 

I do a mean philly cheese steak, much better than subways.  Let me know how that one turns out.  A pic 

Just finished munching chicken and veg fajitas.  They hit the spot  Cheers for the tip Olly!!

nice one Ells

We watch that, but not alot of the food looks that nice plus my kids are a little older than that's aimed at (well the big two are)

Oh poor you! I do make mine load/unload the dishwasher and generally pull their weight with chores, would be easier to it myself sometimes but i want them to learn to do these things.

Pancakes are good to make, they can be turned into dinner and dessert, always make children use the back rings in a gas hob in case sleeves, hair, or anything else get ignited. 

Will try the pitta pizzas and ready made pastry at some point sounds easy and yummy too, thanx guys

 

Ells hope you have a great night tonight and hope you dont stink of spices after you fajitas!

Ow now that's a really good tip! I wouldn't let them use the hob just yet but i will definatly remember that one thanx Syd

I've been told tomorrow they're making a casserole of garlic and herb chicken, cocktail sausages, chorizo and new tatties 

 

Good tip about the hob rings Syd.