One life skill I really want my kids to develop is learning how to cook. I love having my kids in the kitchen with me. Sure, it’s messier. And it takes longer, but I love spending quality time with my kids. And then they tend to want to eat dinner more.
But during the school year it can be hard to find the time. With homework, sports practice, and choir I know my kids need a break. A time to decompress and deal with pressures of jr. high and high school. And some nights homework takes forever. (Not because our school gives over demanding homework but my kids tend to have a hard time focusing)
That’s the beauty of summer. More family time. (if you are looking for more ways to connect check out this fun post for fitting in fun with your family) I thought I would take a week and teach my son how to cook. I carefully chose the recipes that would help him learn different cooking methods, and give him a nice variety of experience.
For the next week I will sharing a new meal everyday for my Teaching Teens to Cook Series. My cooking instructions will be written in simpler terms because sometimes we assume our kids know things. Prepare your kid by telling them you might teach them things that they already know, but you just want to make sure they know the basics.
And remember to have fun! Cooking should be enjoyable. And use this time to connect to your teen. Take time to listen and hear what they are thinking about and what’s important to them.
Making Omelettes
Eggs are an essential cooking skill required. They might already know how to make scrambled or over easy eggs. Eggs are cheap and very healthy. And perfect for college days. Below are skills you can teach:
- How to cook an omelette
- How to cut up tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, avocados, olive, green onions
- How to grate cheese
Start by cutting up your toppings. Sometimes there is a preference on wanting your bell peppers into strips or tiny bits. Feel free to adjust it to your family’s preference. Have your teen start by washing their hands. And then have them wash the vegetables too.
Preparing Toppings
Cutting Tomatoes:
Cut your tomato vertically into thin strips. Cut off the top and discard. Stack your strips and continue to chop your tomato so it’s diced into chunks.
Cutting Bell Peppers
After washing your bell pepper make a horizontal cut below the top. Remove the inside and all the little seeds. Discard the stem. I cut around the stem to get more bell pepper. Cut your bell pepper into quarter vertically. Keep in strips or continue chopping or dicing into chunks.
Cutting an Avocado
Slice your avocado through the middle, working around the seed. Twist the two parts apart. Slice out a slice with a knife or avocado spreader. Tell them the seed helps against browning.
Cutting Mushrooms
Be sure to wash mushrooms very well, rubbing off dirt. Then thinly slice.
Preparing Spinach
After washing cut your spinach into strips. If the stem is really thick you can cut it off and discard. Know that spinach cooks down quite a bit.
Cutting Green Onions
Cut the ends off that look like roots. Continue slicing. Sometimes the other ends looks warm and I will discard that portion. I like to have both the white and green parts of the green onion.
Preparing Olives
Open can and drain. Slice olives.
Other great toppings are cheese, bacon bits, chopped ham, or any leftovers that sound good. Show your teen how to grate cheese. Keep in mind they probably won’t be amazing at each of these skills. Avoid being critical or rushing in to save them or do it right. Unless there is a safety issue of course. Sometimes I like to work side by side so I can demonstrate and they can practice. Remember to give praise, but not false praise (they know) and focus on effort.
Your teen can work on these prep skills as you make future dinners. Call them in the kitchen sometime and have them grate cheese for you as you make the meat for tacos. Practice makes progress.
Making the Omelette:
Place pan on medium heat. Review where the pan handle should be while cooking and why. And let them know where to put a hot pan when you are done.
Demonstrate how to apply cooking spray from the proper distance to get good coverage. Or use butter. Beat 2 to 3 eggs in a bowl, depending on your pan size and the person eating.
Check the pan (I flick water on the pan to see if it sizzles) and make sure it’s ready. Pour your egg mixture in your pan.
Think about what ingredients to add first. I like to add thicker vegetables like peppers so everything can be cooked evenly. I also like my spinach cooked and I’m okay if my tomatoes are just barely cooked. Talk to your teen and let them decided on what to add and in what order.
Only apply toppings to half of the pan. They might want to add less toppings as the are beginning. When you have finished adding toppings and your omelette is looking set, using a flipping spatula flip your uncovered side over your toppings. Sometimes I will tilt my pan to help the uncooked egg move around so it will cook easier. I like to slide my omelette on to a pan when it’s ready.
I top mine with salt and pepper and sliced avocado. And if I’m honest, ketchup. Depending on the size of your family your teen can get quite a bit of practice at dinner time. And I always make mine last so I can eat it warm.
After dinner take time to clean up together and ask what they liked about the recipe or what was challenging. Find out if they would want to make this by them self sometime. And if they messed up the fold and their omelette fell apart remind them it still tastes great.
This is a great dinner or breakfast that can help your teen feel more confident in the kitchen. Check tomorrow to see the rest of the dinners we will be making with our teen
Did I miss your favorite topping? Share it in the comments below. And don’t forget to pin and share.
