| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| star-schipp |
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 07:12:35 AM
What cooking skills do you teach your children before they leave home? I want to be sure my sons will cook for themselves and not rely on pizza and hot pockets LOL
I'm teaching them to roast a chicken but what other easy things do you think I should add?
http://estleschippfarm.blogspot.com/2014/12/sunday-cooking-easy-roast-chicken.html
If you can't feed one hundred people, then just feed one. -Mother Teresa
Star - farmgirl sister #1927
Estle Schipp Farm: Celebrate the Hobby Farm Lifestyle
http://EstleSchippFarm.blogspot.com
https://youngliving.org/starschipp
Master Food Preserver
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| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Dec 31 2014 : 11:21:29 AM
I was thinking along Catherine's lines. Cleanliness in the kitchen and safe food handling practices are #1, in my book. It's really important to know basic cooking times, temperatures and the best way to prepare certain meats, veggies, etc.. It's also a great thing to study the spice and herb bottles in the cupboard to know what seasonings go best with which types of food - remember to advise to start with less and gradually increase what goes in the pot as the food cooks. Also it's important to know basic cooking terms - like, what is braising, exactly, or par boiling... or what it means to blanch certain foods, and why these things are done. Further, having a general knowledge of what types of foods go well together is important. For example, it may sound silly, but apples go well with pork, but I'm not so fond of them with beef... you know what I mean? And giving them a really good basic cookbook like the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, which provides so many basic cooking techniques, explanations and recipes, is a great gift to get people started! Other than a few basics I learned from my grandparents and parents, this is pretty much how I taught myself to cook, as did my sister! Not too many complaints from diners at our tables, either, thank goodness! Finally, you always want to teach them recipes for family favorites...Those are the ones that they will always treasure and pass down through the generations. I know for a fact we're still enjoying foods that my great-grandparents handed down! How cool is THAT?! Finally, and most important: be ready for those phone calls for help and advice. I have always loved being there when my foster daughter calls, just as my mother has been there for me when I'm in a pickle. It's a great feeling to share!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Dec 29 2014 : 07:34:56 AM
I have taught my sons to grill, make homemade chicken soup, chili, rice, mashed potatoes, gravy, Steak Diane (for their special dates), salads (potato, green leaf, etc.) salad dressing, roast chicken, roast root vegetables, make a couple varieties of cookies (they rarely eat sweets), make different egg dishes, and cook bacon without burning it. The oldest two have been homeowners for awhile now and are happy they can make their own food and not waste money on junk or carry out food. I've preached away to them about avoiding processed foods as well and it seems to have worked. They are in great physical shape and are healthy, so they must be dong something right!
I'm slowly teaching my youngest son, who is 11, how to cook. Partly for the skill and also to respect how much work meals are and not to take them for granted. I am amazed how many young people are unable to even boil water. I have to wonder what their parents were thinking to raise them to be helpless.
Have fun teaching your children how to be independent!
Dawn in IL |
| cajungal |
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 4:42:51 PM
As my girls grew up and were homeschooled, I made a book of lists of 'Life Skills' I wanted them to have.
For cooking basics...
*How to brown ground beef
-how to substitute other ground meats like chicken and turkey
-how to add TVP to increase the amount without increasing cost of meat
-practice skills on variety of recipes, spaghetti sauce, sloppy joes, chili, cajun dirty rice, enchildadas, tacos, shepherds pie, etc....
*How to soak and cook a pot of beans
-how to soak overnight and how to quick soak
-how to cook all day on the stove
-how to cook in a slow cooker
-how to cook in a pressure cooker
-cooked beans can be eaten alone, over rice, added to other recipes like chili, taco meat, smash them for 'refried' beans, soups, etc....
*How to make a variety of sauces and gravies
-as a Cajun, my girls had to learn how to make a roux as one of their first skills
-white gravy, brown gravy, creamed gravy, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, hollandaise,
-chicken broth, beef broth, veggie broth
Those three basic skills will provide a bunch of good food. Of course, then there's baking pastries and desserts, baking whole chicken, cooking a roast, cooking fish, and on and on.
With the baking issue and gluten free diet, I suggest checking into recipes that come from Raw Food recipes. There are recipes that use avocado as the base with things like chocolate added. I know, sounds gross. But, oh so yummy!
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
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| hudsonsinaf |
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 08:26:34 AM
How old are your sons?
My oldest is an 11 yo girl - and she can follow just about any recipe. She has not learned how to "feel" meat to figure out the temps (honestly there are times I struggle), but can check the safety via a meat thermometer. She has also mastered canning, dehydrating, and freezing fruits and veggies. Baking is still a learning process, especially with us being gluten free.
My next oldest is a 9 yo boy - I'm not sure he can cook anything except chili.
The next is a 7 yo boy - he can fry eggs and make scrambled eggs. Not sure he can do much else without a lot of help!
My 5 yo dd is our "chopper" - she loves to chop veggies!!! Even onions!
And the 3 yo - welllll - he is our official taste tester ;)
ALL of my children will know how to make a handful of breakfasts and dinners at a minimum. While my family generally sticks to the "traditional gender roles," I also strongly believe in and encourage helping each other with things that are not their roles. After I had my surgery, my husband was a HUGE asset in the kitchen, because I simply could not cook! He and my oldest did all the cooking.
~ Shannon
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 07:57:03 AM
Before my son left for college he had mastered fudge, microwave beer cheese bread, the perfect wienie (he thought), ground turkey chili, and frozen pizza.
He learned to make the beer cheese bread when he was nine. He made it one night and then after school the next day I found a paper sack with egg shells, cheese wrapper, a measuring cup, 5 lb. empty flour bag, and empty beer can in his backpack.
He had put the bread & paper bag in his backpack for show & tell. He shared the bread with his classmates, made an A and I never heard from his teacher. I ask him why he hadn't told me, and he said "you wouldn't let me" and he would have been right. At that time we lived in a small town of 2200 and I can only imagine the look on his teacher's face when he pulled out the beer can.
Thanks for listening to my story. Now back to the subject. I would teach them about cross contamination and how to safely handle raw meats.
Sara
Walk in Peace - Live with Joy
FarmGirl Sister #6034 Aug 25, 2014 |
| MaryJane |
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 07:22:56 AM
This is soooooo important for both sexes. I can't tell you how many young adults I've come across lately who haven't a clue how to feed themselves or cook for a family.
I would suggest teaching them how to make a blockbuster pie. It'll be a huge source of pride if they can build a good pie for potlucks, etc.
Also, don't forget my BakeOver idea. It's a concept that will give someone hundreds of different meal options but with only one thing to learn, http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/bakeover/
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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