4 Easy-To-Make Dishes That You And Your Little One Will Love Cooking Together At Home!

For some people, the ongoing lockdown has been a blessing in disguise. Now that each one of us is forced to stay indoors, you must have ample time to spend with your little munchkin, and perhaps engage in some fun activities that will only make your bond stronger.

Cooking is a great way to make the most of your time during the lockdown and what better if you could get your kid help you out in the kitchen. No, seriously! Involving your child while cooking is always fun – not only does it give you something to bond over but also helps them imbibe some valuable skills for life ahead. However, be careful not to give them all the space in the kitchen. The child should always be under your supervision. Start by allowing them to assist you first, and then the two of you together can prepare a few dishes that are incredibly tasty and easy to make.

So what are you waiting for? Listed below are some easy recipes for kids –

1.     Grilled chicken sandwich

A grilled chicken sandwich is a great source of carbohydrates and proteins – and it is definitely healthier than fried chicken because unlike deep-frying, grilling does not require too much oil in the process.

Here are the ingredients you will need –

• 4 slices of brown bread
• 1 cup of boiled, shredded chicken (boneless)
• 1 tsp black pepper powder
• ¾ cup of mayonnaise
• ½ cup of grated cheese
• ½ cup of tomato ketchup
• Medium sliced boiled potatoes
• Medium sliced tomato
• Medium sliced cucumber
• Lettuce leaves
• Salt to taste
• Mint chutney

How to prepare –

• Lay the bread slices topped with mayonnaise on a plate
• Place sliced potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers on top of it
• Now place shredded chicken grated with cheese and topped with lettuce leaves
• Sprinkle some black pepper powder, salt, and ketchup on it and cover with another bread slice
• Grill the sandwich and serve with mint chutney if you please

Throughout the process, your child could help you place the sliced tomatoes or sprinkle some grated cheese on top – it’s that simple you see?

2.     Banana pancakes

Pancakes make for a filling breakfast providing a healthy dose of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Even if your kids make a fuss about eating bananas, we bet they’ll love these wholesome homemade banana pancakes.

Here are the ingredients you will need –

• 1 ½ cup of whole wheat flour
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• ½ cup of sugar
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup of milk
• 2 sliced bananas
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

How to prepare –

• Add sliced bananas, sugar, vanilla extract, milk, and eggs in a mixture and blend to smooth
• In a separate bowl, add flour and baking powder, and mix well
• Now add the banana mixture to it and make a smooth batter
• Heat up a pan and grease it with very little oil while reducing the flame to moderate-low
• Pour batter carefully in the pan and cook for about 2 minutes
• Now flip the other side and cook for another 2 minutes until the slices become fluffy
• Place the pancakes on a plate and fill the insides with sliced bananas and whipped cream
• Top it with maple syrup

Ask your little one to help you whisk the flour mixture, pour whipped cream, or slice bananas using a blunt knife or the back of a spoon so he/she does not end up getting hurt.

3.     Eggless chocolate muffins

Who doesn’t love chocolates? And when it comes to delicious, fluffy chocolate muffins, kids are left wanting for more. So what if all the bakeries and confectionaries are closed? With these simple and easily available ingredients, you can now bake some for your little one and perhaps get them to assist you as well.

Here are the ingredients you will need –

• 5 cups of whole wheat flour
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
• ½ cup of milk
• ¼ cup of cocoa powder
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ cup of baking soda
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 1 tsp coffee powder
• 5 tbsp water
• Chocolate chips

How to prepare –

• Add milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla essence in a bowl and mix well
• Now, add powdered sugar to it and whisk well
• Add whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa powder while mixing everything
• Whisk all ingredients in a bowl to make a smooth batter
• Now add water with instant coffee powder in a cup and put in inside the microwave for about 30 seconds
• Add the warm coffee mixture to the batter and mix well
• Now add vinegar and keep mixing until you get a smooth consistency
• Fill the cupcake liners ¾ way through with the mixture and top it with chocolate chips and bake for about half an hour at 350-degree F. Take them out and let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Let your kid do all the whisking and you can simply guide them through the whole process.

4.     Mac and cheese

Mac and cheese is total comfort food and this easy recipe will have you all the appreciation and applause from your kid. Besides, it’s not as unhealthy as you think. Macaroni is a healthy source of complex carbohydrates while cheese is an excellent source of calcium. And you can always top it with loads of veggies in case your child does not like having them otherwise.

Here are the ingredients you will need –

• 500gm of macaroni noodles
• ½ cup of salted butter
• ½ cup of whole wheat flour
• 1 ½ tsp of ground mustard
• 1 ½ tsp of onion powder
• 1 tsp of salt
• ½ tsp of white pepper
• 3 cups of milk
• 8 ounces of shredded cheese

How to prepare –

• Boil water in a saucepan and stir in the macaroni. Cook until al dente, and drain well.
• In another saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the pepper, salt, mustard powder and onion powder, and cook for about 2 minutes.
• Pour in milk and whisk until smooth. Cook over medium-high flame, stirring constantly for about 3-5 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken. Turn off heat and whisk in cheese until melted.
• Pour cooked pasta in the cheese sauce and stir well before serving hot

You will be delighted to see the beaming smile on your kid’s face as you satiate their craving for macaroni and cheese during the lockdown. And the best part is that they too would be contributing to the dish perhaps by helping you grate the cheese or pouring milk on the container.

So get your kids into the kitchen and see them turn into little chefs with these easy-to-cook recipes. Nevertheless, be around to supervise and guide them through and most importantly, make amazing memories that you both will cherish even when life gets moving again.