Kids in the Kitchen

I knew it would only be a matter of time before my child would be coming up with their own recipes. Still, it surprised me a bit when their first real recipe (as defined by having involved more than one step and more than three ingredients) was a savory side dish instead of something like dessert. That said, their Baked Double Taters make an excellent accompaniment to meat loaf:

Now, I'll be honest and say this recipe is really a collaboration project that involved both their base recipe and two tweaks by me. Still, the idea of mixing red potatoes and sweet potatoes was theirs, as well as the addition of garlic, paprika, and yogurt in the mash. My contributions to what you see above was the idea of putting that mixture into a casserole dish, sprinkling it with fried shallots (or fried onions), and giving it a little time in the oven before serving it. I gotta say, we make a good team! I don't know if I'll ever make my meat loaf again without having this to serve alongside it. Even my husband, who isn't a big potato fan, liked this combination!

Some people ask how I get grey to be so adventurous about food and eager to tell people about their favorites: which include a lot of vegetables. For me, the answer is pretty simple. Food isn't just something that gets put in front of my kid. From very early on, Grey's been involved in growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs that end up in our meals. They've been to farms that provide everything from eggs to hamburger. They are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the kitchen. And Grey's always been curious enough to ask about what ingredients are or why a particular technique is used. Since they are encouraged to explore all things culinary, it's a world that Grey is a part of, rather than something that gets foisted upon them night after night. Their enthusiasm about cooking has even led them to declare that paprika is their favorite spice … plus some other ones, of course!

So when Grey decided to mix red and sweet potatoes and then wonder aloud about what else to add, I was all about helping them put together something of their own. Then, I said I liked what they did so much that I wanted them to help me make it again and add a few things of my own to make it a team-inspired recipe. The next thing I knew, we had a great recipe for comfort food meals. I bet this would be amazing alongside grilled pork chops or roasted chicken. Hmm, maybe that will be our next adventure!

So next time you're trying to involve your kids in meal ideas, don't just stop with asking what they'd like for dinner. Have them help pick out produce at the market, spend time in gardens and at farms, explore in the kitchen, and enjoy the fruits of their labors. Even setting a youngster up with a butter knife and a cucumber can be the start of a new fascination with vegetables, so take the time to get them involved now and you'll set them up with skills they'll keep thanking you for when they're all grown up. And besides, the memories you make will be treasured long after the meals you make are forgotten!