Kids in the Kitchen

My "visual" recipe to help me keep
both kids busy while we cook together

My kids are getting older and I haven't taught them to cook. I have a new goal for us to cook together until they know how to cook meals independently. Along with preparation, I want them to learn meal planning too.

We started this week cooking together again. No one wants to stop their activities to prepare meals, but since we all like to eat, we gather in the kitchen!

I print all my recipes on printer paper (8 1/2"x11") and store them in sheet protectors in a 3-ring binder. Each week when I plan meals, I pull out the recipe for planning the grocery shopping list and then hang it on the fridge.

For each meal we've made so far, I've made a "visual" recipe to help us with the steps. This has helped me keep each child on task without long periods waiting for me.

Since starting this blog, we've had spurts of cooking together, but now is the time to "compleat" their education!

What Doesn't Change is CHANGE

The thing that stays the same is that nothing stays the same! (I think I even started the last post with this statement)!

My husband and I are discussing joining forces and losing weight together, so this busts open my current meal plan. I've been relying on old favorites to plan meals, but it isn't really what we NEED.

Today I took a look at my weekly plan and what we could do differently. Currently, we have dinner at Costco together once a week and then go grocery shopping. I love doing this together! But during a conversation this morning, my husband expressed he doesn't want to eat Costco food anymore...so we talked about keeping the routine, but maybe doing something different (like bringing him a salad).

Here's how I'm changing it up as I look at what we want to do with our summer routine:
Sunday: homemade pizza
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Costco (plus salad?)
Thursday: Chicken Broc Dijon or Southwest Turkey
Friday: special favorite meal (stroganoff, taco salad, chick enchiladas)
Saturday: this day is always different, so it needs special planning (crockpot, sandwiches, out, guests, frozen casserole, chili, etc)

This only really leaves Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday to plan for! WOW! After taking a little time to jot down our weekly plan (we're making some changes there), I can see a little better what needs to change...and I'm welcoming it!