Cooking with my grand kids is the best fun – and what I love to do most. The mess is truly irrelevant – teaching good healthy habits -like cleaning hands before cooking, wearing a clean apron, cleaning all utensils before using them, cleaning up while you are cooking so that there is no big mess when you are done – looking out for hot surfaces, feeling the different textures of food, smelling and tasting new things – as well as measuring and getting the idea of what a tablespoon or a teaspoon or half or one third cup looks like. So much to be taught – collaboration and team work, sharing – a biggie for two year olds – and then the fun of a delicious meal or dish to be shared with the family. A very worthwhile experience – despite the practicality of answering the question’ what are we having for our meal today?’ – all little ones love the idea that they are HELPING!!!
Here is a really simple recipe to prepare with your kids.
Fig, Mint and Feta Cheese Salad
- 4 ripe black and 4 ripe green figs (we grow our own – remember to have enough for tasting as little ones will need to munch while cooking!)
- 3 cups of feta pieces crumbled ( we make our own from our goats milk – yum)
- Four fresh mint leaves torn into small pieces
- Balsamic Vinegar (1/4 cup) ( adjust to taste)
- Olive oil ( 1/8 cup) ( adjust to taste)
- Lemon Juice of one lemon ( no pits)
Directions:
1. You cut the figs into four pieces each – set aside
2. Have the children crumble the feta ( they will love to squish the pieces into smaller ones)
3. Show the kids how to measure the vinegar and oil into a bowl and cut the lemon, take out the pits and give them each a quarter to squeeze into the bowl. Then give them each a wooden spoon to stir the dressing.
4. Cut the stem out of the mint leaves and give to the children so that they can tear into small pieces.
5. Show the children how to gently add everything to a salad bowl, then spoon the dressing over it.
6. Lay out table mats in brightly colored designs with napkins to match – have each child lay his or her place.
7. Using some of the delightful high quality decorated plastic plates that are now so readily available, spoon some salad onto each child’s plate. Show them how beautiful food will taste better than food thrown on a plate. Then show them how to hold their knife/spoon and fork and eat slowly so as to appreciate the tastes, smells and beauty of freshly prepared natural and organic food!
8. ENJOY!
Below some Little Farm little farm figs and home made feta….delicious!
