Recipes to make with the kids

Teaching kids to cook is a valuable life skill that will serve them well! Check out my pizza cookie recipe! Let the kids imagination run wild with their choice of toppings, whether is be fruits, chocolates or lollies, they’re bound to feel a great sense of achievement on completion of that dish! There’s also a sneaky recipe for the parents 😉

Mac & Cheese – for the older kids

Ingredients
375g macaroni
60g butter
1/2 cup plain flour
2 tsp dijon mustard
2 & 1/2 cups milk
1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup finely grated parmesan

Method
Adult supervision is required, assistance may be required. Add macaroni to pot of boiling water and cook until soft, then drain. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and mustard. Cook for 2 minutes and stir until the mixture bubbles and looks grainy. Turn the heat down to low, add milk slowly and stir. Continue to cook while stiring until the sauce boils and thickens. Remove from the heat and add the cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir the macaroni into the sauce. Spoon the mixture into an ovenproof dish. Combine the breadcrumbs and parmesan in a bowl and sprinkle evenly over the dish. Spray with cooking oil spray. Bake for 15 minutes or unitl golden.

Mini Quiches – for the younger kids

Ingredients
3 eggs
1 cup grated cheese
1/4 cup milk
2 puff pastry sheets
1/2 punnet of cherry tomatoes
100g ham or bacon

Additional ingredients could include: grated zucchini or carrot, mushrooms, corn shaved off the cob, shallots, garlic, thyme, feta, spinach, capsicum, even pumpkin!

Method
Adult supervision is required, assistance may be required. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Use a mug or an egg ring to cut out puff pastry circles. Grease the muffin/cupcake tin and then gently place the puff pastry circles into the tin. Whisk the eggs and milk in a bowl, then add most of the grated cheese. Add the remainder of the ingredients onto the puff pastry, excluding the remaining cheese. Pour egg mixture over the top of each until the pastry cups are full. Sprinkle some of the remaining cheese on top and bake for 10-15 minutes or until they turn a golden brown.

Pizza Cookies – for all ages

Ingredients
1 cup butter/margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp vanilla
2 & 1/4 cups flour
Cream cheese icing:
60g cream cheese, softened
30g butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
3/4 cup icing sugar mixture

Method
Mix together the ingredients in the order shown. Place all of the dough on baking paper on a large tray and spread evenly with a spatula, ensuring you leave room for expansion during cooking. Bake at 190 degrees for around 30 minutes or until golden brown. Once cooled, decorate with either cream cheese icing (coloured) or chocolate ganache and sprinkle with all of your favourite lollies!!

Double Shot Mocha Chocolate Cheesecake – for the parents

Ingredients
1 & 1/4 cups chocolate biscuits (crumbed in a food processor)
80g butter, melted
500g Cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup caster sugar
2 tsp gelatine dissolved in 1/4 of espresso coffee
225g dark chocolate melts, melted and cooled slightly
300ml thickened cream, whipped

Method
Combine the biscuit crumbs and butter. Press into the base of a greased and lined cheesecake pan. Chill in the fridge. Beat the cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the gelatine and chocolate and mix until combined. Fold in the cream. Pour the mixture over the prepared base. Chill for three hours or until set.