Teaching your kids to cook is an important part of their education outside of the classroom! Your (older) kids could cook these by themselves with a bit of practice, and can apply what they learn to other recipes down the road.
Fruity Breakfast Bruschetta
Pronounced bru-SKET-uh, enjoy this treat as breakfast, as a snack, or even served en masse for your next get-together. Substitute any of your child’s favorite veggies and cheese if you’d like a savory option!
Serves 8
1 baguette, sliced on an angle in ½ inch thick slices
4 oz cream cheese
1 container strawberries, leaves removed
1 container blueberries
2-3 kiwi, peeled and diced
Honey for drizzling (optional)
Turn your broiler to HIGH and arrange baguette slices on a large baking sheet. Place under broiler until just golden, about 1 minute. Remove, flip each piece over, and set aside.
Put strawberries and blueberries in a food processor. Pulse only a few times to get a rough puree, then transfer to a bowl. Stir in the diced kiwi and set aside.
Spread cream cheese on the untoasted side of each baguette slice, then spoon the fruit mixture on top of each piece. If using honey, lightly drizzle over the sheet of baguette pieces. Return to the broiler another minute, then remove and let cool slightly before eating.
Nutritional info per serving: 207 calories, 5 g fat, 16 mg cholesterol, 384 mg sodium, 184 mg potassium, 35 g carbohydrates, 3.3 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugar, 7 g protein. 83.8% DV Vitamin C.
French Onion Soup
This recipe takes a bit of patience, but it’s easy for an inexperienced cook. You could add other ingredients like carrots and peas, white beans, shredded chicken, or beef. Start in the late afternoon to be ready in time for dinner.
Serves about 4.
5-6 yellow onions (or whatever onions you have on hand)
3 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic, diced
4 cups beef (or vegetable) stock or broth
Salt & pepper
Crusty bread, sliced thickly
Gruyere or Swiss cheese, shredded
Slice the onions into half-moons, setting in a bowl as you go. To keep your eyes from tearing up, don’t stand directly over the onions when you slice them.
Melt the butter in a large, deep skillet (or Le Creuset) over medium heat, then add onions, tossing to coat with butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then reduce heat to medium-low and let the onions cook for at least 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. After 40 minutes, they should be a deep golden color.
Add the garlic and cook for another minute, then add the beef broth and bring to a boil, stirring slowly, scraping the bottom of the pan to get at all the caramelized flavor. When boiling, reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for another 30 minutes to let broth reduce.
Meanwhile, lay a few slices of bread on a baking sheet, sprinkle with shredded cheese, and broil until cheese is melted and the edges of the bread are toasted. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with the bread for dipping.
Nutritional info per serving: 297 calories, 13 g fat, 35 mg cholesterol, 1,005 mg sodium, 406 mg potassium, 34 carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 12.3 g protein. 11% DV Vitamin B-6, 18% DV Vitamin C, 18% DV calcium.
Cheesy Southwestern Quiche
This crustless quiche is as simple as mixing ingredients, pouring, and baking! Again, you can substitute whichever veggies your child prefers in the place of the ones here.
Serves about 8.
6 large eggs
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 sweet yellow onion, diced
3 medium tomatoes, diced
1 cup black beans (about 1 can)
½ cup salsa
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese (or Pepperjack)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well to make sure ingredients are distributed evenly. Pour into a pie pan, leaving a half-inch of space at the top, and bake for 45 minutes to an hour until golden on top and set all over. Use an extra pie pan for the excess mix, or pour into a greased muffin tins.
Nutritional info per serving: 156 calories, 8 g fat, 137 g cholesterol, 209 mg sodium, 323 mg potassium, 11 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, .6 g sugar, 10 g protein. 16% DV Vitamin A, 34% DV Vitamin C, 13% DV Calcium.
Dress Up a Plain Suit
