"Horry" wrote

> Is anyone able to suggest recipes suitable for a 12-year-old to cook/
> prepare?

Generally stick to ones that have not too much more than 5 ingredients
(unless the extras are a little measure of dried spices etc). This is a
good age to learn some simple cassaroles.

> At the moment, he's basically limited himself to baking cakes -- and I'd
> like to expand his repertoire.

Definately time.

> Dishes suited to a 12yo's palate would be best -- as he'd be reluctant to
> cook things he doesn't like to eat

What does he like? There's really little a kid age 12 cant manage unless
they arent used to a knife yet, and if so, supervise for a few months til
they get the hang of it.

> Obviously, no naked flames, hot liquids, sharp knives (unless it'd be
> possible for an adult to pre-prepare the parts of the recipe requiring
> those things).

Actually, naked flames as in gas stove is fine. Hot liquids fine but teach
him to use a ladle to pull out a portion of soup, and get a strainer on a
handle so he can dip out hot pastas (eblows and the like shapes) from the
boiling water (vice lifting the pot to the sink). Get some tongs for that
too as spagetti shaped things are easier to manage that way.

On knives, 12 is old enough but no matter what the age, supervision and
showing 'safe cutting techniques' is needed at the start.

In my opinion, 12 is actually past the age when I expect a kid to be able to
handle basics in the kitchen with a knife. Maybe not yet to the 'slit a
pork loin so we can stuff it' level, but common things like chopping carrots
and such are well in line with that age. It's ok though if you are just
starting that. Not all kids are the same on all things and if this is the
age when you start, it's still in plenty of time.

In our home, cooking is a fun little event and normally involves all 3 of us
doing some portion. Charlotte could load the breadmaker by age 8 though
we'd have to put the pan in for her (not tall enough). By age 6 she was
helping wash vegetables and by age 7 able to handle a safety peeler (looks a
bit like a cheese slicer). By age 10 she was well into cutting vegetables
but not yet to 'fancy cuts' (home fries were her level). She's 15 now and i
can call her and tell her I'm running late and ask what's for dinner ;-)

On Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:47:40 -0500, cshenk wrote:

> "Horry" wrote
>
>> Is anyone able to suggest recipes suitable for a 12-year-old to cook/
>> prepare?
>
> Generally stick to ones that have not too much more than 5 ingredients
> (unless the extras are a little measure of dried spices etc). This is a
> good age to learn some simple cassaroles.
>
>> At the moment, he's basically limited himself to baking cakes -- and
>> I'd like to expand his repertoire.
>
> Definately time.
>
>> Dishes suited to a 12yo's palate would be best -- as he'd be reluctant
>> to cook things he doesn't like to eat
>
> What does he like? There's really little a kid age 12 cant manage
> unless they arent used to a knife yet, and if so, supervise for a few
> months til they get the hang of it.

Save for gherkins/pickles, he's not fussy.

We might try your recipe (after replacing the tofu with sliced
sausage ).


>> Obviously, no naked flames, hot liquids, sharp knives (unless it'd be
>> possible for an adult to pre-prepare the parts of the recipe requiring
>> those things).
>
> Actually, naked flames as in gas stove is fine. Hot liquids fine but
> teach him to use a ladle to pull out a portion of soup, and get a
> strainer on a handle so he can dip out hot pastas (eblows and the like
> shapes) from the boiling water (vice lifting the pot to the sink). Get
> some tongs for that too as spagetti shaped things are easier to manage
> that way.
>
> On knives, 12 is old enough but no matter what the age, supervision and
> showing 'safe cutting techniques' is needed at the start.
>
> In my opinion, 12 is actually past the age when I expect a kid to be
> able to handle basics in the kitchen with a knife. Maybe not yet to the
> 'slit a pork loin so we can stuff it' level, but common things like
> chopping carrots and such are well in line with that age. It's ok
> though if you are just starting that. Not all kids are the same on all
> things and if this is the age when you start, it's still in plenty of
> time.
>
> In our home, cooking is a fun little event and normally involves all 3
> of us doing some portion. Charlotte could load the breadmaker by age 8
> though we'd have to put the pan in for her (not tall enough). By age 6
> she was helping wash vegetables and by age 7 able to handle a safety
> peeler (looks a bit like a cheese slicer). By age 10 she was well into
> cutting vegetables but not yet to 'fancy cuts' (home fries were her
> level).

Thanks for that. My main concern, at least for another year or so, is to
eradicate the possibility of accidents. If that necessitates wrapping
him in animal balloons and packing him in a cotton-lined coffin, so be
it...

I like your idea of involving everyone doing a portion.


> She's 15 now and i can call her and tell her I'm running late
> and ask what's for dinner ;-)

That's what I'm ultimately aiming for

In article >,
Horry > wrote:

> Thanks for that. My main concern, at least for another year or so, is to
> eradicate the possibility of accidents. If that necessitates wrapping
> him in animal balloons and packing him in a cotton-lined coffin, so be
> it...

Is he your only child? "Eradication" is impossible €” that's why they're
accidents. :-) And, believe me, they do happen. You can minimize the
likelihood of self-inflicted wounds, but you'll never eradicate them.
That's kind of why I said in my earlier post that teaching him about
some basic first aid is a good idea, too.

Timers are very handy to have, but only if you actually use them. :-)

Don't wrap him too tightly in the balloons and lined coffin; butterflies
fly because their wings are strong from the struggle of escaping the
cocoon. Encouraging them to get up without picking them up is a hard
thing to do but it helps them build confidence that they can move in the
world around them.

> > She's 15 now and i can call her and tell her I'm running late
> > and ask what's for dinner ;-)
>
> That's what I'm ultimately aiming for

Now, THAT'S an admirable goal!! Go, Carol! Go, Horry!
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
http://gallery.me.com/barbschaller/100041
-- a woman my age shouldn't
have this much fun!

"Melba's Jammin'" wrote
> Horry wrote:

>> Thanks for that. My main concern, at least for another year or so, is to
>> eradicate the possibility of accidents. If that necessitates wrapping

> Is he your only child? "Eradication" is impossible - that's why they're
> accidents. :-) And, believe me, they do happen. You can minimize the
> likelihood of self-inflicted wounds, but you'll never eradicate them.

Grin, he has reasons but I'll let him explain. He may not want his chat
repeated. Lets just say, it's totally sensible in his case for another 2
years or so.

>> > She's 15 now and i can call her and tell her I'm running late
>> > and ask what's for dinner ;-)
>>
>> That's what I'm ultimately aiming for

> Now, THAT'S an admirable goal!! Go, Carol! Go, Horry!

Grins! And it's not just a can of something either! Because I slept late,
she made lunch. (I work odd shifts so sometimes get off at 5am).

Horry, your son isnt up to parts of this one yet without supervision but he
may like to help with it. I'll add notes in adaptions he can do himself
when I get to those.

Charlotte made:

-Rice in the rice maker (no biggie, 1 part rice, 2 parts water)

-corn on the cob (use tongs to pull out of boiling water, Daddy had to help
husk as I'd frozen them whole)

-Fresh green beans with mirin and dashi seasoning (think, cooked in stock)

-Caremelized onions in butter and olive oil with tilapia and lemon pepper
seasoning (Horry, this one he needs help with or you may get blackened fish
by accident. Alternative recipe in his level if you have a microwave is use
a plastic baggie and coat the fish with lemon pepper and let sit in the
fridge a few hours. Then, remove to a microwave safe container and nuke
about 2 mins, test, then nuke a bit more as needed to your desired
doneness).

"Horry" wrote
cshenk wrote:

>>> Dishes suited to a 12yo's palate would be best -- as he'd be reluctant
>>> to cook things he doesn't like to eat

I'll add this is a great age to take him with you to the grocery store for a
quick trip to get some goodies and show some of the things he's not tried
before. Let him pick a few new things. Like 1 new fruit, 1 new veggie, and
a basic item he'd like to try. Its just the age where they start to expand
out again their eating if not pressed too hard.

Make it a quick trip as most dont have a great attention span for this, but
let him wander at will.

At this age, Charlotte had been with us shopping more times than I can
count. I'd be at sea and she was too young to be left at home (we got to
Japan when she was 7) and later she'd help carry it all back (no car, used
pull carts on wheels). Charlotte is a little odd in that she loves a nice
long trip to the grocery store.

> Save for gherkins/pickles, he's not fussy.

Good!

> We might try your recipe (after replacing the tofu with sliced
> sausage ).

Hehehe figured so, but the recie comes from Japan living so it was
considered pretty normal stuff.

>> cutting vegetables but not yet to 'fancy cuts' (home fries were her
>> level).

> Thanks for that. My main concern, at least for another year or so, is to
> eradicate the possibility of accidents. If that necessitates wrapping
> him in animal balloons and packing him in a cotton-lined coffin, so be
> it...

Yes, and in chat it was obvious why. Keep as you are doing, it's for the
best for now.

> I like your idea of involving everyone doing a portion.

It's how we like it, and it makes it all fun. To her, cooking is a way of
life.

Because Don needs reduced sodium, when we go to the store she checks labels
with me and has found some lovely products well in his line. She'd watch
what he was getting when I was at sea and make him put back things he wasnt
allowed (or not let him get too much stuff that was over his limits). In my
case, need a near diabetic diet (except I can tolerate starches like rice,
potatoes and all that just fine) so it's low sugar. Add that I have very
high cholestrol if not strictly diet controlled, and you end up needing
pretty much to scratch cook.

We work the 3 main needs into each meal and have fun. Oh, have to avoid
spinach or broccoli when Don's home. He doesnt like them ;-)

>> She's 15 now and i can call her and tell her I'm running late
>> and ask what's for dinner ;-)
>
> That's what I'm ultimately aiming for

Yeah, it's pretty neat. I don't push it but she enjoys it the few times it
happens. At 15, she's well capable in the kitchen with simple things. Then
again, due to a unique lifestyle, she's been at it since she was 7 in
various age appropriate ways.

Not saying that that I'm fancy like Emeril, but you can imagine his kids
cook too and play in the kitchen with Dad. It's kinda like that.

i found this recipe but dont no if it will help use


Cheesecake
Category:
Dessert, Party food

Ingredients:


250g plain sweet biscuits, crushed 125g butter, melted
3 tsp gelatine
2 tbsp boiling water
250g cream cheese
250g cream, whipped
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tsp grated lemon rind
1/2 cup caster sugar
Method:
Lightly grease a 20cm/ 9in spring form cheesecake pan with melted
butter (or perhaps a little oil). Line the base with baking paper.

Combine the crushed biscuits with the melted butter. Press biscuit
mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the spring form cheesecake
pan. Refrigerate the cheesecake base while you prepare the cheesecake
filling.

In a small bowl, dissolve the gelatine in the boiling water.

In a separate (larger) bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice
and rind until the mixture is smooth (less than 5 minutes if you're
using an electric mixer).

Add dissolved gelatine to the cream cheese mixture and mix well.

With a large metal spoon, gently fold the whipped cream into the other
ingredients.

Pour entire mixture into the cheesecake base and refrigerate until set
(approx 6 hours, but overnight is preferable).

On Feb 1, 3:47*pm, "cshenk" > wrote:
> "Horry" wrote
>
> > Is anyone able to suggest recipes suitable for a 12-year-old to cook/
> > prepare?
>
> Generally stick to ones that have not too much more than 5 ingredients
> (unless the extras are a little measure of dried spices etc). *This is a
> good age to learn some simple cassaroles.
>
> > At the moment, he's basically limited himself to baking cakes -- and I'd
> > like to expand his repertoire.
>
> Definately time.
>
> > Dishes suited to a 12yo's palate would be best -- as he'd be reluctant to
> > cook things he doesn't like to eat
>
> What does he like? *There's really little a kid age 12 cant manage unless
> they arent used to a knife yet, and if so, supervise for a few months til
> they get the hang of it.
>
> > Obviously, no naked flames, hot liquids, sharp knives (unless it'd be
> > possible for an adult to pre-prepare the parts of the recipe requiring
> > those things).
>
> Actually, naked flames as in gas stove is fine. *Hot liquids fine but teach
> him to use a ladle to pull out a portion of soup, and get a strainer on a
> handle so he can dip out hot pastas (eblows and the like shapes) from the
> boiling water (vice lifting the pot to the sink). *Get some tongs for that
> too as spagetti shaped things are easier to manage that way.
>
> On knives, 12 is old enough but no matter what the age, supervision and
> showing 'safe cutting techniques' is needed at the start.
>
> In my opinion, 12 is actually past the age when I expect a kid to be able to
> handle basics in the kitchen with a knife. *Maybe not yet to the 'slit a
> pork loin so we can stuff it' level, but common things like chopping carrots
> and such are well in line with that age. *It's ok though if you are just
> starting that. *Not all kids are the same on all things and if this is the
> age when you start, it's still in plenty of time.
>
> In our home,cookingis a fun little event and normally involves all 3 of us
> doing some portion. *Charlotte could load the breadmaker by age 8 though
> we'd have to put the pan in for her (not tall enough). *By age 6 she was
> helping wash vegetables and by age 7 able to handle a safety peeler (looks a
> bit like a cheese slicer). *By age 10 she was well into cutting vegetables
> but not yet to 'fancy cuts' (home fries were her level). *She's 15 now and i
> can call her and tell her I'm running late and ask what's for dinner ;-)



here you go, this is an easy recipe for a 12 year old . .so i was
told.


2 c (24) Chocolate-Creme filled Cookies (very finely chopped)

6 tbs Margarine, Softened

1 ea Env. Unflavored Gelatin

1/4 c Cold Water

8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)

1/2 c Sugar

3/4 c Milk

1 c Whipped Cream

1 1/4 c Chocolate-Creme filled Cookies (coarsely chopped)


How to Prepare :


Combine cookie crumbs and margarine; press onto the bottom of a 9-inch
spring-form pan. Soften gelatin in water; stir over low heat until
dissolved. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed with
an electric mixer until well blended.



Gradually add gelatin mixture and milk, mixing until well blended.
Chill until mixture is thickened but not set. Fold in whipped cream.
Reserve 1 1/2 C cream cheese mixture; pour remaining cream cheese
mixture over crust. Top with cookies and reserved cream cheese
mixture. Chill until firm.

On Feb 1, 3:47*pm, "cshenk" > wrote:
> "Horry" wrote
>
> > Is anyone able to suggest recipes suitable for a 12-year-old to cook/
> > prepare?
>
> Generally stick to ones that have not too much more than 5 ingredients
> (unless the extras are a little measure of dried spices etc). *This is a
> good age to learn some simple cassaroles.
> nonstr
> > At the moment, he's basically limited himself to baking cakes -- and I'd
> > like to expand his repertoire.
>
> Definately time.
>
> > Dishes suited to a 12yo's palate would be best -- as he'd be reluctant to
> > cook things he doesn't like to eat
>
> What does he like? *There's really little a kid age 12 cant manage unless
> they arent used to a knife yet, and if so, supervise for a few months til
> they get the hang of it.
>
> > Obviously, no naked flames, hot liquids, sharp knives (unless it'd be
> > possible for an adult to pre-prepare the parts of the recipe requiring
> > those things).
>
> Actually, naked flames as in gas stove is fine. *Hot liquids fine but teach
> him to use a ladle to pull out a portion of soup, and get a strainer on a
> handle so he can dip out hot pastas (eblows and the like shapes) from the
> boiling water (vice lifting the pot to the sink). *Get some tongs for that
> too as spagetti shaped things are easier to manage that way.
>
> On knives, 12 is old enough but no matter what the age, supervision and
> showing 'safe cutting techniques' is needed at the start.
>
> In my opinion, 12 is actually past the age when I expect a kid to be able to
> handle basics in the kitchen with a knife. *Maybe not yet to the 'slit a
> pork loin so we can stuff it' level, but common things like chopping carrots
> and such are well in line with that age. *It's ok though if you are just
> starting that. *Not all kids are the same on all things and if this is the
> age when you start, it's still in plenty of time.
>
> In our home,cookingis a fun little event and normally involves all 3 of us
> doing some portion. *Charlotte could load the breadmaker by age 8 though
> we'd have to put the pan in for her (not tall enough). *By age 6 she was
> helping wash vegetables and by age 7 able to handle a safety peeler (looks a
> bit like a cheese slicer). *By age 10 she was well into cutting vegetables
> but not yet to 'fancy cuts' (home fries were her level). *She's 15 now and i
> can call her and tell her I'm running late and ask what's for dinner ;-)