cooking with kids

  • Cooking, FALL, INFORMATION, RECIPES

    Favorite Fall Recipes To Make With Kids

    Are you looking for some festive fall recipes to make with your kids? Need some delicious ideas for putting those pumpkins from the patch, apples from the orchard, and zucchini from your garden to good use? Well, today’s your lucky day! Wendy Cox, mom of 4 and garden educator from San Diego, California is sharing a variety of ways to use three popular and prevalent produce items as you cook with your kids this fall. She’s sharing the very best (and her kids’ favorite) fall recipes! Save this post so you can try them all. Which recipe will be your next fall favorite? Mmmm…enjoy! 

    Favorite fall recipes to make with kids

    Fall is wonderful for so many reasons, but one of those is because it’s the harvest season. Three crops that are harvested in abundance during this time of year are zucchini, apples, and pumpkins. Each is nutritious, delicious, and very versatile in recipes. Today, I’m excited to share all of the fun ways we can use these three items to whip up some tasty and nutritious snacks and meals for and with our kids.

    Kid-friendly zucchini recipes

    If you planted zucchini in your garden, you probably still have some plants that are producing into and through the fall. Not only do zuchinni plants produce will into the fall season, they grow fast! I have found that zucchini can grow inches seemingly overnight! One morning it will be a small zucchini with the blossom still attached, and the next, it’s bigger and heavier than your arm! When that happens, and you have pounds and pounds of zucchini to work with before it goes bad, refer back to these recipes, and you’ll use every bit of that zucchini in no time.

    Zucchini bread

    Zucchini bread is a must-make recipe, if you’ve got homegrown zucchini around the house. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults. My mom makes a wonderful hearty zucchini bread every year at Thanksgiving, and it’s one of the first things gone from the table. The smell of bread baking in the oven is sure to put everyone in a good mood. And if you get to enjoy a slice of still-warm zucchini bread with some butter melting on top of it, you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven.

    Ultimate zucchini bread recipe

    Here’s our favorite “Ultimate Zucchini Bread” recipe, adapted from this one from Smitten Kitchen.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 cups grated, packed zucchini
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2/3 cup melted unsalted butter
    • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea or table salt
    • 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoons raw sugar

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a loaf pan with nonstick spray. Place grated zucchini in a large bowl and add oil, eggs, sugars, vanilla, and salt. Use a fork to mix until combined. Sprinkle in cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and baking powder and mix until combined. Add flour and mix until just combined. Pour into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with the raw sugar. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick or tester inserted into the middle cake but also into the top of the cake, closer to the dome, comes out batter-free. Let cool completely in the pan. Leave in pan, unwrapped, overnight or 24 hours, until removing (carefully, so as not to ruin flaky lid) and serve in slices. 

    Zucchini boats

    Zucchini boats are another great (and really fun) way to use zucchini! The best thing about zucchini boats is that they can be eaten with your hands! Fewer dishes are always a win, in my book. And although you scrape out the center of the zucchini, you’ll want to chop it up and add it to the filling, so no part of the zucchini is wasted.

    Another great thing about zucchini boats is that you can use a variety of ingredients for the filling and make them however you want! Don’t have sausage? No problem, use ground beef or ground turkey. Vegetarian? Use beans instead of meat. Don’t have cheddar cheese? Substitute the type of cheese you have for the topping. Zucchini boats are very versatile and cook in 25-30 minutes. The recipe below for zucchini boats from Taste of Home is a big hit at our house (and SO easy)!

    Kid-friendly zucchini boat recipe

    Ingredients:

    • 2 medium zucchini
    • 3/4 pound ground beef
    • 1 small onion, chopped
    • 1/2 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
    • 1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
    • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese,
    • 2 tablespoons ketchup
    • Salt and pepper to taste
     

    Instructions:

    Trim the ends off the zucchini and cut them in half lengthwise. Scoop out the pulp, leaving 1/2-inch shells. Finely chop pulp. In a skillet, cook beef, zucchini pulp, onion, mushrooms, and peppers over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Remove from the heat. Add 1/2 cup cheese, ketchup, salt, and pepper; mix well. Spoon into the zucchini shells. Place in a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° until zucchini is tender, 25-30 minutes.

    Grilled zucchini

    You know we’re all about getting outdoors here at Run Wild, and grilling zucchini is a wonderful opportunity to do that! Have the kids help you slice up the zucchini into steaks or spears, toss them in some olive oil with your favorite grilling seasonings, and throw them on the grill. Or, add in some of your other favorite veggies (onions, squash, peppers) and pop them onto a kebab! In about ten minutes, you’ll have a tasty side dish. Try this recipe.

    Take your grilled zucchini to the next level by setting out some dipping options, too! We like to dip ours in ranch dressing or marinara sauce. This is an especially good tactic if you have kids who are picky eaters (or ones that say they don’t like zucchini). Sometimes dipping food in a sauce or dressing will get them to try it because, let’s be honest, isn’t it just more fun to eat that way?

    Zoodles

    Have you heard of zoodles? Zoodles are what you get when you take a spiralizer to a zucchini. The spiralizer cuts the zucchini into long, thin strips the size of a spaghetti noodle. Making zoodles with kids is so much fun because they can be several feet long. If you don’t have a spiralizer, I recommend this one. It’s inexpensive and easy enough for kids to use! They’ll love helping out in the kitchen for this project and turning zucchini into noodles! If you have more than one kid, you might even want to get two spiralizers and see who can make the longest zoodle.

    Zoodles can be used in place of spaghetti in any recipe that calls for pasta. The flavor is mild, and the consistency is very similar to a spaghetti noodle. Your kids will forget that they’re even eating a vegetable. If you cut thin strips off the zucchini lengthwise, they can be used in place of a lasagna noodle! 

    Zucchini fritters

    You can also use grated zucchini for fritters! This is a sure-fire win with my kids because they’re hot and crispy (and taste a bit like a flavorful hashbrown). Here’s our favorite zucchini fritter recipe inspired by Just a Taste.

    Ingredients:

    • 4 cups shredded zucchini
    • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
    • 1/3 cup sliced scallions (green and white parts)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • Sour cream for serving (optional)

    Instructions:

    Place the shredded zucchini in a colander set over a bowl and sprinkle the zucchini lightly with salt. Allow the zucchini to stand for 10 minutes. Using your hands, squeeze out as much liquid from the zucchini as possible. Transfer the zucchini to a large bowl. Add the flour, eggs, sliced scallions, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper to the bowl, stirring until the mixture is combined. Line a plate with paper towels.
     
    Add the olive oil to a large sauté pan set over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, scoop 3-tablespoon mounds of the zucchini mixture into the pan, pressing them lightly into rounds and spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Cook the zucchini fritters for 2 to 3 minutes, then flip them once and cook an additional 2 minutes until golden brown and cooked throughout. Transfer the zucchini fritters to the paper towel-lined plate and immediately sprinkle them with salt. Serve the zucchini fritters topped with sour cream (optional).

    Grated zucchini (freeze it!)

    Don’t forget that when you have zucchini coming out of your ears and won’t be able to use it all right away, you can always freeze it. This will keep it fresh for months and give you a taste of summer well into the winter months.

    First, grate the zucchini, squeeze out as much moisture as possible, put it in a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen zucchini will be good for up to three months. I like to add my frozen shredded zucchini to lots of the recipes I make during the week: omelets, soups, salads, ground meats, and basically any savory dish. I’ll even top a baked potato with shredded zucchini and some cheddar cheese. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! 

    Favorite fall apple recipes

    Visiting an apple orchard is fun, but the best part is eating the apples! Apples are a classic fall favorite staple and can be used in so many ways, making them one of the easiest and most versatile ingredients. They can be sweet, savory, and even spicy. They can be used in so many different dishes. And, they’re probably one of those things that your kids won’t ever complain about eating!

    We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite ways to enjoy apples in the fall. Here are a few recipes that kids will love to help out with and eat!

    Apple dipping station

    Have your kids been asking to have a play date at your house? I feel like mine are always wanting some friend or another to come play at our house. Hosting an apple-themed play date is easy and so much fun, especially in the fall when apples are aplenty. Maybe you even took the kids apple picking recently and have more apples than you know what to do with. Most kids like apples so they don’t need to be enticed to eat them.

    At your apple play date, why not set up an apple dipping station as the snack! As I mentioned before, it’s just more fun to eat something when you get to dip it first! All you’ll need to do is cut up some apples and have a variety of dips and toppings for the kids to choose from! Let them try them all and find their favorite flavor combinations. 

    Dips for apple slices:

    • Peanut butter/almond butter/sun butter
    • Caramel
    • Nutella
    • Cream cheese
    • Marshmallow fluff
    • Buttercream icing

    Apple slice toppings:

    • Mini chocolate chips
    • Chopped peanuts
    • Raisins
    • Mini marshmallows
    • Shredded coconut
    • Toffee bits
    • Crushed graham crackers
    • Sprinkles

    Applesauce

    If you’ve got apples to spare, it really doesn’t get any better than making your own homemade applesauce! And I promise it’s easier to make than you might imagine! You don’t even need to peel the apples if you don’t mind the applesauce being a little more tart.

    To make homemade applesauce, simply core and slice eight to ten apples (peel them only if you want). Throw them in the slow cooker with half a cup of water (and a cinnamon stick, if you like cinnamon applesauce), and let it cook until the apples are the desired tenderness. It will take about five to six hours on low heat. If you want smooth applesauce, put the mixture in the blender/food processor (or use a stick mixer) and puree. I like my applesauce a bit chunky, so I just smash the apples a bit with a potato masher. Add sugar (and maybe some cinnamon) to your liking, and that’s it! 

    Baked apples

    Bakes apples are almost as easy to make as applesauce, but because you cook them in the oven they take less time. I like to make baked apples for dessert on a cool fall night because they make the house smell amazing! Here is the recipe I use. These will need to cook for about 40 minutes to get really tender. You can let each kid customize their apple before putting it in the oven by having a variety of different spices (cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, allspice, clove, etc.) and sweeteners (sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey.) Top the baked apples with a scoop of ice cream for an extra special treat.

    And if you really want to make this a fun activity, instead of baking the apples in an oven, bake them over a campfire! They make an absolutely amazing treat when enjoying an evening outside in the backyard or on a camping trip! 

    Apple pie filling

    One of my sisters had an apple tree at her previous home, and some years that tree produced so many apples we could barely eat them all! In cases like that, we had to get creative with all the way to use the apples, so they wouldn’t go to waste.

    One of my favorite ways that she used them was to make jars and jars of apple pie filling using a simple apple pie filling recipe and gave them as Christmas gifts. Genius! What a great gift for your kids to give to their teacher or neighbor, as well. My jar was gone before the new year because it was so tasty!

    You could definitely use the filling to make a pie, but I also used it to top so many things, like ice cream, oatmeal, and yogurt. Or, how delicious would it be over-baked brie? What a great way to spend time making something special with your kids and have gifts to give to loved ones afterward! 

    Favorite pumpkin recipes to make with kids

    Last but not least, let’s talk about pumpkins. Pumpkins are the star of the season and have to be included in this list of favorite fall recipes to make with your kids. We see them used as decorations and love to carve them for Halloween, but most pumpkins are also edible and nutritious.

    Cooked pumpkin has high percentages of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, and iron. These nutrients keep our immune system strong and our skin and eyes healthy. Here are some ways to get all of those important vitamins and minerals into those little bodies that seem to have endless energy.

    Pumpkin pancakes

    Pancakes are a breakfast staple at my house, but when my kids drench them in syrup, I feel like it’s more of a dessert than a healthy breakfast. One way to add more nutrients to your pancakes is to add pumpkin puree. Pumpkin puree can be purchased in a can from the store (although, not to be confused with pumpkin pie filling), or you can make your own if you’re feeling extra ambitious. The more you add, the more orange-colored they will be, but in addition to color, it will add more pumpkin flavor and extra nutrients.

    Choose an amount of pumpkin puree that fits your family’s tastebuds. For every two cups of pancake mix, I typically add one cup of pumpkin puree. This works well for our family, and I get zero complaints about them tasting too pumpkiny. Pancakes are quick and easy and can be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer for use on those mornings when everyone sleeps in. My kids pop frozen pancakes into the toaster for an on-the-go breakfast. 

    Pumpkin bread

    Like zucchini bread, pumpkin bread is a HUGE hit at our house with kids and adults alike. We have been known to eat pumpkin bread for breakfast, but it could really be a dessert as well. You can make it in a bread loaf and slice it or even make it into muffins for on-the-go snacks. My youngest has started asking for his own loaf of pumpkin bread to take home from Thanksgiving when we go to Grandma’s house. 

    If you want to get extra-decadent, these pumpkin cream cheese muffins are just about the most amazing thing ever. 

    Pumpkin chili

    Who doesn’t love a warm bowl of chili on a cool fall afternoon? Chili is a fan favorite at our house and a staple on weekend evenings when we spend all day outside. A great way to add some flavor (and nutrients) to your chili is to add pumpkin puree to your favorite chili recipe. It makes it a little thicker and healthier. I always serve my chili with a generous portion of cornbread and some sour cream on top. Here is the pumpkin turkey chili recipe I use.

    Dinner in a pumpkin

    I’ve been saving the best for last! My birthday is at the end of October, and back before I can remember, my mom started making dinner in a pumpkin for my birthday! It was such a fun and unexpected tradition and something that still continues today. The dinner portion is comprised of wild rice mixed with sausage, peppers, and onions. However, you could serve chili, dip, soup, or even sloppy joe meat out of a pumpkin, as well! The options are endless! 

    Your family may like to have this meal on Halloween night because it’s served right out of the pumpkin! It makes for a fun centerpiece on your Halloween dinner table. This one does take a while to bake, so plan on getting it in the oven at least an hour before you want to eat. The time is so worth it, though! Your kids will love scooping their dinner right out of the pumpkin. 

    Cooking with kids

    Cooking with your kids is an experience they will not easily forget. Yes, there will be a large mess. Sure, it will take longer. Yeah, you will need a healthy dose of patience. But the benefits far outweigh the mess. Your kids will be learning math through measuring, counting, timing, and portioning. Teach them where each ingredient comes from as they add it to the bowl. Show them how heat rises when the steam drifts up from a pot of boiling water. Watch them coordinate their muscle movements as they slice a zucchini or grate cheese.

    Kids are absorbing so much information all the time. When we cook with our kids, we make sure that the information they receive is wholesome and will serve them well in the future. The chances that they eat the food they cook are also much higher than if someone else prepares the food for them, so get those kids in the kitchen with you! Need a little more motivation?

    Here is a blog post all about the benefits of cooking with kids.

    Take it outside

    After you’re done preparing all of this deliciousness, don’t be afraid to take your food outside. Pack a picnic and bring pumpkin bread for dessert. Set up a table on the patio and eat your chili by candlelight. Gather around a backyard bonfire and warm yourself up with some baked apples.

    They say that food tastes better outside, right? Let us know if that is true for you and your kids. Happy fall, and have a great time trying these delicious fall recipes to make with your kids!

    Which fall recipe do you want to make with your kids?

    About the author

    Wendy is a married momma living in central San Diego, CA, raising 4 human kids, 2 goat kids, 4 chickens, and one grumpy cat. She enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, backpacking, going to the beach, and generally getting out of doors. Wendy is a family photographer and also works at several local elementary schools as a garden educator. She dreams of traveling to all 50 states and beyond, and believes that there is great beauty to be found in all parts of the earth, we just have to open our eyes to see it.

    You can find more from Wendy online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @wendycoxphotography
    RWMC posts: Wendy Cox

  • Cooking, RECIPES, WINTER

    Cooking with Kids: 25+ Recipes To Make With Your Kids

    Cooking with kids is a great way to get young children involved in household duties. Cooking gives kids a sense of responsibility, it gets them excited about mealtime, it allows them to bond with you, and it increases their pride in their work. There are so many amazing benefits of cooking with kids. Today, we’re here to help convince you to get your kids involved in the cooking and meal-making process. We’ve got a list of kitchen tasks appropriate for kids of all ages and lots of fun ways to get them involved. Plus, we’re also sharing a few of our team’s favorite desserts and main courses to make (and eat) with our kids. Bon Appetit! 

    Cooking with kids

    Cooking is an everyday part of life, even if we sometimes wish it wasn’t. Kids love to be a part of (and even find joy in) the daily activities that long ago lost their novelty to us grownups. And while there are many people that enjoy cooking and even relish nourishing their families with healthy food, there are many others that do not find much joy in the kitchen.

    Cooking is one of those daily activities that kids absolutely want to be a part of, even from a young age. Kids naturally want to help and a lot of times, they’d do just about anything to spend more time with you. Including cooking chores! They love feeling like they contributed and are so proud of the work they do to help out.

    Cooking is not only a part of daily life, but it is something children all need to learn how to do. Only about 1/3 of children actually help prepare meals in their families. We’d love to help raise that number. There are so many great skills and lessons that kids can learn in the kitchen. Let’s get them involved! 

    Photo credit: Tiana Kubik

    Why kids should help cook

    Anyone who has ever cooked with kids knows that cooking with kids takes longer and the messes that are made are generally much larger than the ones you’d make yourself. This can be frustrating and when time is a factor, often not an option parents are willing to entertain. We get it. It is so hard to teach when doing it yourself is faster, easier, and less messy.

    However, cooking with kids is not only beneficial for the kids, but also for the parents. Cooking with your child gives you a bonding experience and quality time together doing something together that benefits the whole family. Eating meals together allows time for family bonding and may even improve mental health. Eating together contributes to fewer emotional and behavioral issues in children and greater feelings of mental well-being, according to recent studies. If you can’t let your child help you prepare meals daily, perhaps you can devote time once a week to cooking with your kids. 

    Benefits of cooking for kids

    There are so many benefits to sharing the task of cooking with children, beyond simply teaching them to cook. Shredding and chopping helps build fine motor skills. Following a recipe helps with reading. Measuring ingredients helps with math skills. Kids also take a lot of pride in the family meals they cook and are more likely to try new foods. While my kids might choose to eat macaroni and cheese, pizza, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets every day, we think it’s important to try unfamiliar foods that have a variety of ingredients. Cooking with kids is a great way to do that! 

    Here are a few science-backed reasons you should bring your children into the kitchen and let them help you cook on a regular basis.

    • Kids who cook, eat healthier foods. (Science Daily)
    • Baking is all about fractions and practical applications of math can help children understand concepts like fractions much better. (Institute of Education Sciences)
    • Allows kids to explore their senses – touching different textures, smelling a variety of ingredients, tasting food in different states of completion, etc. (Kids Health)
    • Kids will often decide to try new foods if they help prepare them. (National Library of Medicine)
    • Family traditions and routines help build stronger family relationships. (National Psychological Association)
    • Boosts a child’s confidence. (Kids Health)

    How kids can help cook (kitchen tasks by age)

    Children can easily help prep and cook almost any meal, but what and how they help depends on the age of your child. There are certain kitchen tasks that are more suitable for older kids, but lots of ways even the littlest ones can help and get involved. Young kids are great helpers, so don’t overlook them! There are lots of easy ways to get your children involved in the cooking process. The best way is sometimes to ask them what they’d like to help with (kids often have strong opinions on these subjects).

    Pro tip: For the younger kids, consider getting one of those kitchen helpers that adjust in height so that your child can safety step up to the counter to help. 

    Here is a general guide for how children can help you in the kitchen, broken down by age.

    Ages 0-1

    • Taste test edible ingredients
    • Help dump pre-measured ingredients into bowls
    • Play with unneeded cooking utensils

    Ages 2-5

    • Mash ingredients
    • Tear lettuce for a salad
    • Wash vegetables
    • Wash fruits
    • Knead dough
    • Wrap potatoes in foil
    • Mix ingredients
    • Testing kitchen tools

    Ages 5-7

    • Mix dry ingredients
    • Measure ingredients
    • Count items
    • Set the table
    • Crack eggs
    • Chop softer fruits and veggies
    • Begin learning to read recipes
    • Washing dishes

    Ages 8-12

    • Make shopping list
    • Unload groceries
    • Read recipes
    • Peel veggies
    • Toast bread
    • Mix a simple batter on their own
    • Wash and put away dishes
    • Make sandwiches

    Ages 12+

    • Make stovetop recipes
    • Bake on their own
    • Use sharp knives
    • Try new recipes
    • Learn to use a variety of kitchen gadgets

    These age-appropriate kitchen and cooking tasks for kids were taken from Taste of Home’s A Guide to Kitchen Tasks for Every Age. This is just a guide and can be adjusted as necessary for your child’s skill and interest level. Kids vary in abilities and desires and this is true with cooking as well. The idea is to involve them in some way, enjoy their company, teach skills, and instill healthy habits along the way.

    Photo credit: Kristen Ryan

    Fun recipes to cook with kids

    The Run Wild My Child Creative Team came together to share some of our favorite recipes. These are all recipes that our children love to eat and help prepare. Not only do each of the following recipes share how kids can help cook it, but they are all tested and loved by the children and families who shared them.

    We’ve included both desserts and main dish recipes below. There are vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, and meat-filled options. Some of these recipes are great for busy parents that need a quick weeknight meal and some take time. All of them are customizable to fit your own family’s needs and tastes. They’re tried and true and guaranteed to be a big hit with your young chefs. 

    Cooking with kids - Easy recipes to make with kids
    Photo credit: Tiana Kubik

    Dessert recipes kids love

    We all know dessert is technically supposed to be served after the main dish, but kids (and many grownups) love dessert. So we thought we would start with dessert and work our way to the main dishes! Here are some tried and true dessert recipes that you can cook with your kids!

    Almond meltaway cookies

    This awesome almond dessert was shared by Creative Team member Tiana Kubik. Her family loves this recipe because it is super yummy and much easier to make than her mother’s equally yummy Christmas cookie recipe. The kids literally beg to make these whenever they get a chance. The kids love to help measure and stir and her oldest is now the director, meaning he reads out the recipe and makes sure everyone stays on track!

    Ingredients

    Cookies

    • 3 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 cups butter or margarine, softened 
    • 2 tsp vanilla
    • 1 tsp almond extract
    • 2 eggs
    • 5 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 tsp baking soda
    • 2 tsp cream of tartar

    Decorating glaze

    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • 1/4 cup water
    • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract
    • Food coloring, as desired 

    Directions

    1. In a large bowl, beat 3 cups of powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, 1 teaspoon almond extract, and eggs with an electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with a spoon.
    2. Stir in flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
    3. Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
    4. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half 1/8 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with 3-inch cookie cutters. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
    5. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
    6. In a small bowl, beat all glaze ingredients except food colors on low speed until smooth.
    7. Divide among several small bowls. Stir desired food color, one drop at a time, into each until the desired color.
    8. Decorate cookies with glaze and other decorations as desired.
    vegan gluten-free apple crumble recipe
    Photo credit: Chelsea Furlong

    Apple crumble (vegan and gluten-free options)

    This delectable dessert is a favorite of Executive Team member Chelsea Furlong and her family. The best part is how easy the recipe is to tweak to be gluten-free and vegan. Plus, the literal hands-on mixing is a great sensory activity that kids of all ages will enjoy if they don’t mind getting a little messy. 

    Ingredients

    • 1 pie crust (you’ll only need one crust for the bottom) – Chelsea recommends using this gluten-free crust: Wholly Gluten Free Bakehouse Crust made by Wholly Wholesome 

    Apple filling

    • 6-8 McIntosh apples (can’t find McIntosh apples? Don’t worry, any crisp, tart apple will do; pink lady, honey crisp, gala, etc. are all good choices)
    • 1/2 cup sugar (you can use coconut palm sugar, cane sugar, or regular white sugar)
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
    • Dash of ground cloves
    • Dash of salt

    Crumble topping

    • 2/3 heaping cup of light brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup flour – Chelsea recommends a gluten-free flour blend
    • 1 cup old fashioned oats
    • 1/2 cup almond meal
    • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
    • Dash of salt
    • 2/3 cup butter – Chelsea recommends Earth Balance Butter Spread (the salted and soy-free option)

    Directions

    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
    2. Prepare your crust of choice. (either make the dough or start thawing the frozen dough)
    3. Peel apples and cut them into slices. (kids love helping with this part!)
    4. Put apple slices in a large bowl and add the following ingredients: (kids love adding the ingredients!)
      • Sugar
      • Cinnamon
      • Nutmeg
      • Ground clove
      • Salt
    5. Mix well with a spoon or your hands until spices and sugar are evenly distributed and coat apple slices.
    6. Now make the crumble topping! Add all crumble topping ingredients into a bowl and mix together until combined well. This is another perfect opportunity to get the kids to help. These ingredients mix together easiest when you use your hands. It’s the perfect bit of messy and fun that makes cooking exciting for kids. (If the messy bit doesn’t sound like fun, you can use a Kitchenaid mixer with the paddle attachment to combine these ingredients.)
    7. Once the crumble topping is finished, fill one prepared pie shell with the apple mixture. Then cover the pie completely with the crumble topping. I use my hands to do this part as well and kids love to help sprinkle the crumble topping on top of the apples.
    8. Place the pie on a metal baking sheet covered by tin foil. The pie mix may bake over and caramelize on the pan so the baking sheet and foil will protect your oven from a big mess!
    9. Bake for 20 minutes uncovered. Then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake for approximately 30 minutes more. Check occasionally to see if the top is browning. If your pie starts getting too dark or begins to burn, cover with foil.
    10. Pie is finished when apples are soft, topping is baked completely through, and has a nice brown, crunchy crust over the top.
    11. Serve as is, or topped with your favorite whipped topping or vanilla ice cream!

    Best chocolate chip cookies to make with kids

    Easy chocolate chip cookies

    This easy one-bowl cookie recipe is not only a hit with kids, but it’s vegan too! While traveling the country full-time, Executive Team member Katie Fox did not want to give up cooking with her kids, but she had to adapt recipes a bit to make it easy to do. Using fewer dishes is a huge bonus when you only have essential dishes due to space limitations, but also it makes cleanup so much easier! And when cooking with kids limiting messes is always a plus! This recipe was adapted from Cookie and Kate’s Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies.

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup oil (coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil work well)
    • 1/4 cup water
    • 1/2 cup brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup white sugar
    • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
    • 1 tsp baking power
    • 3/4 tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp cinnamon powder (optional)
    • 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
    • 1 cup chocolate chips

    Directions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare your baking pan. Use a cooking spray or parchment paper to prevent cookies from sticking.
    2. In a large mixing bowl mix together oil, water, brown sugar, and white sugar. Mix until both sugars have been incorporated into the oil and the texture is smooth. This takes about 1-2 minutes with a handheld or standup mixer. (kids love to mix things by hand, so let them watch the sugar dissolve in the oil while they mix by hand. You can always finish the job once their arm tires.)
    3. Next add in the vanilla (if you are using it), the baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon (if you are using it). Mix it all together. (kids love to scoop, measure, dump, and mix these ingredients in)
    4. Add in the flour one cup at a time, mixing the first cup in completely before adding the second cup. Don’t over mix, just mix until the flour is no longer visible.
    5. Finally, add the chocolate chips. The dough is a bit sticky.
    6. Use a spoon to scoop out walnut-sized amounts of dough (about 2 inches in diameter) and drop them onto the prepared baking pans. Leave 3-4 inches between each dough ball.
    7. Bake for 14-17 minutes – until the edges of the cookies are turning golden brown.
    8. Let them cool and enjoy!

    frozen fruit yogurt berry bark - easy recipes for kids

    Frozen yogurt berry bark

    If you’re in need of a sweet (yet very healthy) tasty treat, this is the perfect option! Super easy to make and kids love it! My big kids can now make this all by themselves. You can use fresh or frozen fruit (and feel free to swap out the berries for any fruit of your choice). Make sure to eat it quickly while it’s cold so it doesn’t melt all over! 

    Ingredients

    • 32 oz vanilla Greek yogurt
    • strawberries
    • raspberries
    • blueberries
    • 2-3 tablespoons honey
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean puree

    Directions

    1. Mix the honey and vanilla into the yogurt in a large bowl.
    2. Spread the yogurt out onto a baking sheet using a rubber spatula.
    3. Place berries on top.
    4. Freeze (at least 1-2 hours).
    5. Use a knife to break into pieces.
    6. Enjoy right away while it’s COLD!

    Child decorating apple slicesPhoto credit: @meghangarriott

    Apple donut rings

    Ingredients

    • apples
    • peanut butter (or other nut butter), Nutella, marshmallow cream
    • nuts, candies, chocolate chips, sprinkles

    Directions

    1. Core and slice apples crossways.
    2. Slather a thick coat of peanut butter, Nutella, or marshmallow cream for the “donut icing” onto each apple slice.
    3. Let your kids have fun with the toppings using chopped nuts, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. 
    4. Enjoy!
    Benefits of cooking with Kids - fun recipes to make with your kids
    Photo credit: @wonderclubexplorers

    Main dish recipes kids love

    Kids may love desserts, but those are “sometimes” foods. They are usually not cooked every day. But, most of us cook at least one meal every single day, if not more. Let’s dive into the heart of the meal with some fun main dish ideas that your kids will love. The recipes below are some of our team’s family favorites. 

    We encourage you to invite your kids to be a part of the everyday cooking experience. Give them the age-appropriate tasks suggested above or find something they like to do and find ways to incorporate that into your meal preparation. Cooking with kids is fun and when they help cook meals, like dinner, they are far more likely to eat it without complaint (which is always a bonus!). The following recipes provide many different ways to get kids helping cook main dishes too.

    best recipes to make with kids
    Photo credit: @wonderclubexplorers

    Krabby patties

    An ode to SpongeBob SquarePants, this is one item on the Krusty Krab menu just about anybody can eat! Creative Team member and lover of SpongeBob Michelle Garret shared this fun and kid-friendly recipe. Her family first made these Krabby patties (no crab involved) to celebrate the birthdate of Stephen Hillenburg, SpongeBob’s creator, but now the meal is a fun treat for any night of the week.

    Ingredients

    • Ground burger meat of choice (ground beef or turkey)
    • Burger meat seasonings of choice
    • Quality cheddar cheese slices

    Directions

    • Add seasonings to ground meat of choice and mix together. (Kids like mixing things together and using their hands to do it, let them help mix the seasonings in!)
    • Form the burger patties as you would any other burger. (Again, kids will love helping form the burger patties.)
    • Cut star shapes out of your cheddar cheese slices.
    • Cook your burger patties.
    • As the burgers finish cooking, place the star-shaped cheese slices on top of the burger and let it melt.
    • Enjoy!
    how to make Pierogies with kids
    Photo credit: Meghan Garriott

    Pierogies

    This savory dish was shared by Creative Team member Meghan Garriott. Pierogies are filled-dough dumplings and they can have many different fillings. Meghan’s family makes them with a potato and cream cheese filling and eats them on Christmas. Pierogi-making is laborious, which is why her family only does it once a year. But the best part about them (other than how delicious they are) is that the whole family makes them together. There are so many different tasks that kids can help out with while they spend time working on a special family dinner.

    Ingredients

    Potatoe filling

    • 12 medium potatoes (cooked and mashed)
    • 1 – 1 1/2 large packages of cream cheese
    • Salt to taste

    Dough

    • 4 eggs
    • 4 cups flour
    • 1 1/2 tsp salt
    • 12 generous tbsp sour cream

    Directions

    1. Cook potatoes. After they are cooked and while they are hot mash them.
    2. Mix in cream cheese and salt to taste and allow the potato mixture to cool.
    3. In a separate mixing bowl, add flour and 1 1/2 tsp salt and mix together.
    4. In another mixing bowl, add all eggs and whip them. Add in sour cream and whip until it is well mixed together.
    5. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and use a spoon to combine them. Once the dough comes together, use your hands and continue mixing and kneading the dough on a floured surface until the dough is smooth. (this is fun for kids to help with!) 
    6. The dough will still be slightly moist when done. 
    7. Cut dough into four pieces and on a floured surface roll out with a rolling pin.
    8. Using a round cookie cutter or the edge of a drinking glass cut the dough into circles. Make sure to put flour on the cutter/glass to avoid dough sticking to it.
    9. Add potato filling on top of each circle dough and fold over. Seal the half circles by pinching the dough together or using a floured fork to press the edges together.
    10. Bring a pot of water to boil. Reduce heat so water is gently boiling.
    11. Drop the pierogies into the boiling water and boil for 5-7 minutes or until the pierogies float to the top of the water.
    12. Drain and cover perogies with a lot of melted butter so they do not stick together.
    13. Enjoy!

    kid-friendly dinner ideas - chicken pot pie puffs

    Chicken pot pie puffs

    Since that last recipe was a bit complicated, let’s try a kid-friendly recipe that’s as easy as pie – chicken pot pie! This super easy 4 ingredient recipe was submitted by RWMC founder Sara McCarty. This is perfect to throw together when you need a super quick weeknight meal that’s warm, hearty, and filling. The puffs taste just like homemade chicken pot pie and are easy enough for kids to make all by themselves. 

    Ingredients:

    • 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
    • 1 can cream of chicken soup
    • 1 rotisserie chicken
    • 1 can biscuits

    Directions:

    1. Heat oven to 375°F. In a medium bowl, combine vegetables, chicken, and soup; mix well. 
    2. Press each biscuit into 5 1/2-inch rounds. Place 1 round in each of 8 greased regular-size muffin cups of a muffin tin. Firmly press in bottom and up side, forming 3/4-inch rim. 
    3. Spoon a generous 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each muffin cup. Pull edges of dough over filling toward center; pleat and pinch dough gently to hold in place.
    4. Bake at 375°F 20 to 22 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from pan.
    5. Enjoy!

    cooking with kids - best family meals and recipes

    Taco pizza

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
    • 1 packet taco seasoning mix
    • 2 (8 oz) tubes crescent rolls
    • 1 (16 oz) can refried beans
    • 2–3 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend
    • 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
    • 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
    • 4 green onions, chopped (optional)
    • chopped green/red bell pepper (optional)

    Directions

    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    2. In a skillet, brown beef and drain. Add taco seasoning according to the package directions.
    3. Unroll crescent rolls from tube. Place in an ungreased jelly roll pan or cookie sheet. Press dough over the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides to form crust.
    4. Bake at 375 for 11 -13 minutes or just until golden brown.
    5. Microwave beans in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute. Carefully spread beans over warm crust creating a thin layer.
    6. Top with cooked beef mixture.
    7. You can also sprinkle on the tomatoes, black olives, peppers, and green onion (or you can wait until after cooking to add them). Top with cheese.
    8. Return pizza to the oven for 3-6 more minutes until cheese is melted. Cut into squares and serve immediately!
    9. Enjoy!

    cooking with kids - easy foods to make with your kids

    Tried and true kid-friendly recipes

    Many of us search and find recipes all over the internet that turn into family favorites. Instead of sharing these recipes in full, we decided we would share the links to the original creators. Below you will find several recipes our team and their families love to cook and their kids enjoy. And just like above, they are separated by desserts (first of course) and main dishes.

    Desserts and muffins

    Main dishes

    cooking with kids - kid-friendly recipes they can help make

    What are your favorite recipes to cook with kids?

  • Cooking, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, RECIPES, SUMMER

    Outdoor Pizza Night: Cooking Pizza Outdoors with Kids

    Pizza is almost always a family favorite, even amongst the pickiest of eaters. And eating outdoors is an easy way to get kids outside in the summer! Plus, everyone knows that eating outdoors somehow makes the food taste better, right? If you love the smell of wood-fired pizza and you love eating outdoors, you’ll delight in our ideas for outdoor pizza cooking with kids! Jemma, Creative Team member, high school teacher, and mother of four, shares all about using an outdoor pizza oven and cooking pizza outside with kids! If you are looking for a fun way to change up mealtime,  tried and true pizza topping ideas, or different ways to make a pizza oven, then this post is for you!

    Cooking Pizza Outside - outdoor pizza night with kids

    Cooking pizza outdoors with kids

    If you’re looking for ideas to spend more time with kids outdoors, cooking with kids is a fun way to spend time together outside whilst also doing an activity they love. Making, kneading, and even proving the dough is an outdoor activity idea for the whole family. It can also be a great way to keep kids of all ages occupied if you’re entertaining. Why not even try cooking outdoor pizzas as a party activity or a fun science experiment?

    Why pick pizza?

    Cooking outside with kids can be wonderful and there are many ideas out there! Here are a few other ways you can spend time outdoors cooking with kids. But with so many fun options for meals and foods to make outside, why pick pizza? What’s so great about cooking pizza outside and why should you give it a try? Here are so reasons that may convince you just how fun and versatile pizza can be.

    Pizza is fun and easy

    Pizzas are really easy for kids to make! If your kids love cooking, outdoor pizzas are a great way to get kids to do something different outdoors. Plus, it gets them involved in the cooking process, which is something kids love to be a part of.

    Pizza gets kids to try new foods

    The choice in toppings will likely lead to trying new foods. Kids will love making their own dough and picking their own toppings. The free element of choice means that they are more likely to choose things they may not usually eat. Yes, that even means vegetables (maybe even vegetables from your own garden). Kids that don’t usually try new foods can often be encouraged to try them as a pizza topping because they’re in smaller quantities. See below for our favorite pizza toppings with a ton of healthy ideas for kids too!

    Healthy pizza options

    Pizza makes choosing healthy options easier. While pizza may not automatically sound like a healthy choice, it absolutely can be! It’s easy to get healthy toppings and ingredients into pizza, which makes it a good choice for parents! Try using a cauliflower-based crust or wholemeal flour crust to make your pizza even healthier. Veggies are easy to sneak onto a pizza too, especially things such as peppers, spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms! If your kids don’t like seeing their veggies, you can puree them into the pizza sauce for hidden nutrition. 

    Create memorable moments

    Cooking outside is a memorable experience in and of itself! Taking the meal prep, cooking, and eating outside is a simple change, but one that your whole family is sure to enjoy. Changing things up every once in a while can make a regular meal seem much more exciting and will create lasting memories!

    Outdoor Pizza Oven - cooking outside with kids

    Outdoor pizza oven options

    Pizza is one of the easiest and quickest things to cook outdoors if you have a pizza oven. The extreme heat of a pizza oven and its open flames help to produce the unique flavor and texture of a Neapolitan pizza. For anyone looking to replicate this style of pizza, then a pizza oven is what you need!

    There are a few different options for outdoor pizza ovens. You can buy a pizza oven, build your own pizza oven, or even use an existing gas grill! Any of these methods will produce incredibly delicious mouth-watering pizza, right in your own backyard! Here’s a little bit about each option.

    Buying a pizza oven

    If you’re looking to buy a pizza oven, our favorite outdoor pizza oven is the Roccbox from Gozney (also available here from Amazon). Although they are expensive, they’re a great investment for social events and parties because they cook pizzas in just 60 seconds! Yes, you heard that right! You’ll always be able to knock out something quickly to feed hungry guests and an outdoor pizza is a perfect thing to create quickly after a long day out on a family adventure!

    Building a pizza oven

    If you have some time on your hands and are looking for a long-lasting option, you can also build your own pizza oven for your backyard or garden. See here for a great tutorial to help you build your own outdoor pizza oven. If you want to create a temporary and fun family DIY cardboard pizza oven and use the summer sun to cook your dinner, then this Solar Pizza Oven tutorial is for you! 

    Using a gas grill as a pizza oven

    Not everyone has a pizza oven or the time to make one, but many of you may already have a gas grill! Turns out, this is perfect pizza oven equipment! There are a few different ways to convert your gas grill into an easy-to-use pizza oven. The folks over at Baking Steel share one way to use a gas grill as a pizza oven and it is so easy! Or, you can place your pizza dough directly on the grill to par-bake it, then flip and add toppings and finish cooking. Pizza on the grill is simple and fun! 
    outdoor pizza cooking with kids

    Pizza dough recipe

    Making and kneading the dough is my kids’ favorite part of pizza night. Sometimes we’ll buy pre-made dough from a grocery store or even use the dough from a can, but the very best dough is the kind you make yourself. It’s easier to make than you might expect and kids love being involved in the process. 

    Pizza dough ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast or 1 packet of pizza crust yeast
    • 2 cups lukewarm water
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 5.5 – 6 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

    Pizza dough instructions

    1. Dissolve the sugar, yeast, olive oil, and salt in the lukewarm water. If you’re using instant yeast, you can skip this step.
    2. Measure your flour by gently spooning it into a measuring cup, then sweeping off any excess (do not pack it down).
    3. Add the flour, starting with 5 1/2 cups and adding more as necessary to make a soft, smooth dough.
    4. Knead the dough with your hands until it’s smooth and elastic, about 7 to 10 minutes.
    5. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl or other container, cover it, and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours, whatever fits your schedule.
    6. Gently deflate the dough, and divide it into four pieces, for medium-crust pizza; or three pieces, for thicker crusts.
    7. Use a rolling pin to roll each piece, on a lightly greased surface, into a circle to fit a 12″ pizza pan. Let the dough rest several times to relax it and make it more cooperative. 

    Assembling your pizza

    1. Place the dough on pizza pans, baking sheets, or on parchment (if using a pizza stone).
    2. Preheat your pizza oven to 450°F. While it’s heating, get out your toppings, which you’ve prepared ahead. 
    3. Brush each crust with a bit of olive oil, sauce and toppings of your choice. Sprinkle the top with grated cheese.
    4. Bake the pizzas for 15 to 20 minutes, until they’re golden brown, the toppings are hot and bubbly, and the cheese is melted. Remove the pizzas from the oven.
    5. Immediately transfer pizzas to a cooling rack, so their bottoms don’t get soggy. After about 10 minutes (to allow the toppings to set), slice and serve.

    Cooking Pizza Outside with Kids -best outdoor pizza ovens

    Pizza topping ideas for kids

    We asked our Creative Team members what their (and their kids) favorite pizza toppings were. See below for their fun and creative pizza topping answers!  Use these ideas to create some new pizza topping combinations in the future!

    • BBQ chicken with cilantro and red onion
    • Pineapples, chicken, barbecue sauce
    • Pepperoni and olive (a classic)
    • Roasted red pepper and goat cheese
    • Mushrooms and olives
    • Garlic and ricotta cheese
    • Sweetcorn and goat cheese
    • Broccoli and olives
    • Red sauce and olives only (some kids just don’t like cheese)
    • Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella
    • Pineapple and ham (or Canadian bacon)
    • Taco pizza – taco meat, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, cheese and black olives
    • Feta, sundried tomatoes, and turkey kielbasa
    • Potato and goat cheese
    • Bacon, egg and arugala

    Not seeing your favorite or your child’s favorite topping choices above? No worries! Making pizza with your family is all about having fun! Offer different topping options, including those you know will be chosen by your family members, but also new toppings too! Let each person create their own topping combinations and then share the different outdoor oven-baked pizzas. This isn’t just a meal, it is a way to get outside while making memories!

    Outdoor pizza oven tips and tricks

    For pizza with a crispy crust and perfectly cooked toppings, high heat is required. This is where purpose-built pizza ovens shine since they can withstand temperatures far greater than those of regular home ovens. How long it takes to cook your pizza will depend upon your oven’s internal temperature, and can vary from as long as 10 minutes to as quickly as just 90 seconds! Once your oven is up to temperature, you’ll need to actually put your pizza in the oven.

    We don’t advise throwing a raw pizza into your oven with your bare hands, so a trusty pizza peel will be a valuable investment in your outdoor baking arsenal. A pizza peel is a flat, wide tool that helps you move pizza pies around. Some pizza peels are better designed to transfer a pizza from the countertop to your pizza oven while others are better for turning the pizza while it’s cooking in the oven. 

    Since the pizza dough can be a bit sticky, you’ll need something to keep it moving freely on the peel. You can use another sprinkling of flour or cornmeal on your pizza peel to prevent the dough from sticking and help it slide off the peel and into the oven in one swift movement. 

    You can cook all kinds of other food in your outdoor pizza oven, not just pizza. Try cooking and serving roasted vegetables, focaccia bread, cinnamon rolls, or even peach cobbler, all of which cook up amazingly well in an outdoor oven.

    Make outdoor pizza night a summer tradition

    We hope you’ll enjoy making pizza outdoors with your family  – it may even become a tried and tested household summer tradition. If your kids have got the outdoor cooking bug, then you’ll love our outdoor skills posts. Have a read of this one here giving tips for fire safety to help kids know how to use fires safely. 

    If you liked reading our ideas for pizzas you’ll love our other ideas for camping cookouts with kids! 

    Caution: You must be careful when using outdoor pizza ovens near kids. Pizza ovens are exceptionally hot and you should take extra care when using them around kids.

    Outdoor pizza night for kid - pizza dough recipe and kid-friendly pizza topping ideas

    What pizza toppings will you choose?

    About the author

    Jemma lives in London, England with her husband and kids. Her all-time favorite thing to do is take photos and capture memories of her family. She’s on a mission to ensure parenthood doesn’t rush by so quickly by creating mini family outdoor adventures and hopefully some big adventures too, one day! She’s a mum to four and an English teacher to many. She loves sharing her passion for storytelling, adventures, and nature crafts on her blog and here. 

    Find more from Jemma in the following locations:
    Instagram: @thimbleandtwig
    Blog: http://www.thimbleandtwig.com
    Facebook: @thimbleandtwig
    Etsy shop: ThimbleandTwig
    RWMC posts: Jemma

  • FALL, INFORMATION, OUTDOORS INSIDE, RECIPES

    Five Easy Fall Treats to Make With Kids from the Orchard or Patch

    Chances are, when you envision fall, your thoughts not only include changing colors and cooler temperatures, but incorporate the smells and taste of pumpkins, apples, and spices. Fall brings with it bountiful harvests and some of the most delectable foods of the year. Today, we have California mom of two and cookie-maker extraordinaire, Desirée Macke here sharing 5 easy and fun fall treats to make with your kids from ingredients you pick yourself at your local pumpkin patch or apple orchard. So, get yourself to a patch, orchard or farmer’s market soon and whip up some delish fall-inspired treats with your kids!

    Apple Pumpkin Recipes with Kids

    Fall in the kitchen

    For me, being outside and being in the kitchen are two of the most therapeutic places. In one place you can quite literally get lost amongst the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. In the other, you have ingredients to marry, creating an entirely different set of delights to saturate the senses. This time of year is one of the best times to blend those two worlds, all while including the kids.

    By now you may have had the fortune to visit an apple orchard or pumpkin patch. If you’re like my family, you can’t walk away from either without a few bushels of the literal fruits of your labor. And, after a few days of your kitchen overflowing with said goods, you’re at a loss as to just what to do with all your fruit.

    That’s where we come in! We’ve compiled a list of five fun, easy, delicious, apple/pumpkin kid-friendly treats that you can make together as a family.

    But first…

    Do a little prep before you get started

    Before everyone is corraled into the kitchen, do just a little legwork at the front end to make the process as smooth as possible for everyone.

    Select a few recipes you think you and your family would enjoy. Read through said recipes to make sure you 1) have all the necessary ingredients 2) it’s not too difficult that the kids (and you) will get frustrated. Pull out your ingredients, measuring cups/spoons, mixers, bowls, baking sheets, etc. and have them ready to go so you’re not wasting precious time. We all know how short our kids’ attention spans can be.

    apple pumpkin recipe prep

    Get the kids in the kitchen

    More often than not, when cooking or baking, I like to go at it alone. But, when it comes to making family treats, I welcome the help of my kids. They are always thrilled when I tell them we’re going to bake together. With some guidance and direction, I’m always amazed at how well they do. Turning a blind eye to the spilled flour, or knocked over salt, comes with the territory. Much like when we go outside to play in the rain, we expect the kids to get wet and muddy. The same concept applies here. It all cleans up in the end.

    Fall Recipe Kids Help

    Know when to fold ’em

    This probably goes without saying, but know when to let them do things themselves and know when to step in. Most kids love being able to do grown-up things (like operate a mixer or use a knife) themselves. Give them as much freedom and independence as you can, but know when to step in. Are the kids losing interest? Is there a step in the recipe that seems too advanced for them to complete? Let them experience as much of the baking process as possible, but step in when needed. You’ll save them from potential injury, serious mishaps, or a botched recipe, as well as saving your sanity.

    Apple Pumpkin Recipe Kids Help - best fall treats to make with kidsFive fall treats to make with kids

    The hardest part of this post on fall treats to make with kids was narrowing it down to just five recipes. I fell down the rabbit hole of autumn-inspired recipes – there are so many good ones! Anything with apples and cinnamon or pumpkins sounded amazing. I wanted to make them all! I decided to let the kids help me choose and they voted on three recipes to try (we bookmarked others to make later).

    Full disclosure, I steered the kids in the direction of baking more traditional fruit-filled treats. I know my kids and know that any recipe involving marshmallow teeth and chocolate chip eyes would result in those items being devoured. The sad-looking apple or pumpkin snack would be left to a fate in the rubbish pile. However, it’s safe to say, anytime the kids are allowed the hand-mixer or apple peeler, they think being in the kitchen is fun!

    Without further adieu, here are five fun, easy, and delicious fall treats to make with your kids.

    Making apple crisp with kids - Best fall treats to make with kids

    1. Apple Crisp

    This apple crisp is easy and comes together quickly, but tastes like you were in the kitchen for hours. The kids shook up our apples and did most of the ingredient dumping and dry-ingredient mixing, which is their favorite part of helping. The layers of cinnamony apples and the more than generous layer of crumble topping are positively drool-worthy. We had enough to share with neighbors, who ended up asking us for more. This is a recipe has been in my fall-recipe wheelhouse for years, and there’s no sign of stopping.

    Easy Apple Crisp

    This apple crisp comes together quickly and easily and uses ingredients you most likely already have on hand.

    This is delicious served alone, or with a scoop of ice cream.

    • 7 cups peeled, cored, sliced apples (Using a variety of apples ups the flavor.)
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
    • 1 cup oatmeal (Any oatmeal will work. I had quick oats and old-fashioned oats, so I used both.)
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1/2 tsp baking powder
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • 1/4 tsp baking soda
    • 2/3 cup butter (softened, but not melted.)
    1. Pre-heat oven to 350º.
    2. In the large mixing bowl or gallon-size baggie, add apples, granulated sugar, 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour, and cinnamon.
    3. Toss apples until they are evenly coated.
    4. In an even layer, add apples to 9×13 pan.
    5. In the small/medium mixing bowl, mix together brown sugar, oatmeal, 1 cup all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
    6. Cut in softened butter and mix until you have created a crumbly mixture.
    7. In an even layer, distribute crumble mixture to the top of the apples.
    8. Bake for 30 minutes.
    9. Allow to cool before serving.
     

    2. Apple Peanut Butter Teeth

    These adorable apple peanut butter teeth are one of those snacks that look so cute and beyond easy. It involves zero baking and are super fun for the kids to prepare and assemble themselves in only a minute or two. All you need to do is spread peanut butter (sun butter, cookie butter or apple butter) on one side of two slices of apple.  Arrange a line of mini marshmallows on one side of the apple and put them together to make an apple mouth filled with teeth! Easy peasy!

    This is one of those snacks my kids voted to make, but we didn’t (hence, no photo). I already know that my kids would have one-hundred percent picked out the marshmallow teeth to eat and left the rest of the goods to spoil. When I’m feeling brave enough to part with perfectly good apples we’ll make this one. That said if your kids will eat more of this snack than mine, be sure give this cute snack a try. It would be great for hungry after-school tummies.

    Easy & delicious fall treats to make with kids from the pumpkin patch or apple orchard

    3. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

    I couldn’t put this post together without including some sort of cookie. This pumpkin spin on the classic chocolate chip was so good it did not last long in my house. The kids were central in the creation of the dough, and even more vital in the role of devouring. Though these didn’t stick around long, they made for great after school snacks. It was also fun to slip into the kids’ lunchboxes as a little at-school treat. Since the last morsel has been polished off, I’ve had multiple requests for these to be made again.

    Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

    A pumpkin twist on the classic chocolate chips that will be sure to disappear quickly.

    • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1 cup unsalted butter (softened, not melted)
    • 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
    • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
    • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
    1. Pre-heat oven to 375º.
    2. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
    3. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
    4. In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract until combined, then add flour mixture. Beat on low until no raw flour appears, then fold in chocolate chips.
    5. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
    6. Scoop 1-inch balls onto prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart, and bake until puffed up and golden around the edges, about 12 minutes.
    7. Once baked, transfer to a cooling rack, and allow to cool before serving.

    Prior to baking, note the dough does require refrigeration. 

    pumpkin cookies with kids - fall treats to make with kids

    4. Pumpkin Pie Parfaits

    These awesome little pumpkin pie parfaits are another easy no-bake treat! I was (and still am) itching to make these cute little pumpkin treasures with layers of pumpkin-spiced pudding, whipped topping and cookie crumbs. These are also easy enough for kids to make and you can keep them stored in little jars in the fridge for when hunger strikes. To make the pudding, combine vanilla pudding with a can of pumpkin and some traditional pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves. Next, grab some whipped cream and let the kids crush some vanilla sandwich cookies in a plastic bag (why sure, you can use a hammer!). Line up nine half-pint jars and layer the ingredients starting with the cookie crumbs, followed by pudding and whipped topping.

    As much as I wanted to make these, that little voice in my head told me the kids would eat just the whipped cream. Which would inevitably lead to me eating all of the leftovers. While that sounds glutinously glorious, my jeans will likely thank me for opting to wait on these. These parfaits can be altered in multiple ways to fit your desired taste. And, they only take about 10-minutes to make. If you can convince your kids to eat past the whipped cream, please give these a try!

    super easy apple chips recipe to make with kids

    5. Apple Chips

    Last, but certainly not the least of the fall treats to make with kids are these crisp gems – apple chips! Who knew that apple chips would be so mind-blowingly easy to make. I gave the kids the reign of our apple peeler/corer/slicer, and they thought it was even better than the hand-mixer. I swear, it’s the little things…

    This was our first go at these, and my kids ravenously attacked them. We blew through about a dozen apples in two days thanks to this snack. I discovered this is the perfect way to get the kids to eat the not-so-perfect apples, which they tend to reach past. I also found these were great for packing in school lunches. Since our last chip has disappeared the request for these has been made almost daily.

    If you only try one of our suggested recipes, I urge it to be this one!

    Easy Apple Chips

    These easy-to-make apple chips are the perfect fall snack.

    • 2 apples (thinly sliced)
    • 2 tsp granulated sugar
    • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
    1. Pre-heat oven to 200º.
    2. In the large bowl, add sliced apples, cinnamon, sugar. Close lid tightly and toss apples until they are evenly coated.
    3. Place a cooling rack or grilling rack onto a baking sheet.
    4. Lay apple slices onto the cooling rack/grilling rack so that no apples overlap.
    5. Cook for 2-3 hours, flipping halfway through. (We baked ours for 3 hours for a crispier apple chip.)
    6. Bake until apples are dried out but still pliable. Apples will continue to crisp while cooling.
     

    fall treats to make with kids

    5 easy fall-inspired recipes to make with kids

    There you have it! Five super easy and insanely delicious fall treats to make with kids with goodies you bring home from the pumpkin patch or apple orchard. Let your kids have some fun in the kitchen with the fruits of their labor and create some delicious snacks. Getting them involved in the process from beginning to end not only teaches them about where food comes from, but helps them develop a skill and makes them appreciate the snacks even more.

    Have you tried any of these?
    What are your favorite fall treats to make with kids?

    Desiree Macke

    I’m Desirée; wife to Scott, mom to Marcus and Julia. I’m the domestic engineer (that’s my fancy term for stay-at-home-mom) of the family. Our family loves the outdoors. Our favorite ways to explore are hiking the coastal trails, as well as combing the tide pools for aquatic treasures. To quench our thirst for wide-open spaces beyond the hustle and bustle of our urban jungle we love to visit state and national parks, as well as conservation areas and nature preserves.

    You can find more from Desirée in the following locations:

    Instagram: @desireemacke
    Cookie business: @coolingrackconfections
    Website: Macke Monologues
    Cookie Facebook: Cooling Rack Confections
    All RWMC posts: Desirée Macke

  • CAMP, FALL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, RECIPES

    Outdoor Cooking with Kids: 7 Kid-Friendly Ways to Make Camp Cookouts Fun and Fuss-Free

    As the weather finally starts to cool down, we’re entering my all-time favorite time of year to go camping and have family cook-outs. Today, we are so lucky to have the amazing Julia from Culinatour here with her tips on how to make camp cookouts with kids fun and fuss-free. Julia is not only a mom, but she runs a business all about helping families eat delicious and healthy food while outdoors and exploring the world! Talk about my dream job…I can’t believe I didn’t think of this first!

    tips for making outdoor cooking with kids fun and fuss freeCamp food

    Mmmm…camp food. Those two words make my heart sing with joy!

    There’s something about outdoor cooking that adds a whole new flavor to food, right? As an outdoor adventure-loving mom, I’m constantly on a mission of sorts to pass on this love to my daughter. She may be just 2 years old, but that’s not going to stop me from equipping her with culinary skills. If, like me, you’d love your kids to be enthusiastic about outdoor cooking when you go camping the next time, you’re going to love this post.

    tips for outdoor cooking with kids

    Why teach outdoor cooking to kids

    First, let’s look at why children of all ages can (and should!) learn outdoor cooking.

    1. Increase self-sufficiency: When you know how to cook, you know you’ll never starve. Right? Equipping your kids with outdoor cooking skills gives them a solid head start on their self-sufficiency quotient.
    1. Add more fun to family travel: Family travel is all about enjoying activities and time together. There’s nothing better than getting everyone involved in cutting, chopping, stirring and sautéing. Cooking is a fun bonding activity and perfect for when you’re traveling.
    1. Encourage responsibility: When you assign a meal to a young chef, you’re instilling incredible responsibility in them. Even if it’s something as small as an evening snack, you’re sending a positive message to your child about your belief in their abilities to do the work and contribute to the family.
    1. Foster creativity: Cooking is the ultimate art form and a fabulous way to foster creative thinking in kids. Let them use their imagination when plating a dish or even tweaking a recipe and enjoy their creative culinary experiments!
    1. Excellent all-round education: Cooking is a great way to learn and master concepts for math, science and comprehension. That’s right. Reading and understanding a recipe is comprehension; making sense of measurements and portions is all about math; and, the process of cooking is the best way to learn about science! Plus, when you cook outdoors, you can teach the kids about foraging and plants as well!

    campfire cookout recipes and ideas

    Tips for enjoying outdoor cooking with kids

    Now that I’ve sold you on the importance of teaching kids the art of outdoor cooking, let’s look at how you can get started without getting stressed (or umm… screaming your head off at them)! Yeah, mamas can have meltdowns, too!

    getting kids involved in cooking while camping

    1. Plan to succeed

    The first and most important part is planning your camp meals. Sit down with the kids and involve them in deciding what you’ll make for the different meals.

    If you have kids of different ages, let the younger ones pick snacks which are usually the easiest and encourage the older ones to decide on the major meals.

    Cookbooks are a great way to make this process interactive and fun. For instance, I have Luisa sit with me and go through the photos in my cookbooks. She chooses her favorites and we menu plan together.

    kid-friendly outdoor camping recipes

    2. Shop before you chop

    Once you’ve made your menu plans for your camping and outdoor adventure trip, it’s time to make a shopping list. Involve kids of all ages in the shopping process as well.

    If you have older kids, then you can definitely send them off to the supermarket with a shopping list. For younger kids, take them with you to the store and encourage them to help you pick the produce and food products.

    Since Luisa is 2 years old, this works best with picture cards. Before we go to the supermarket, I make a set of picture cards showing some of the key ingredients of the foods we plan to make at camp. I hand her one card at a time and then, help her find the ingredient. It’s like a mini foodie treasure hunt for her! SO much fun.

    3. Prep work is key 

    Once you’re in your outdoor kitchen, get kids to help with food prep. Younger ones can help with washing the produce, lining up ingredients, measuring and counting. Older kids can help with chopping, peeling, dicing, grating, and slicing.

    Be sure to pack kid-friendly chopping boards, knives, and graters. The Curious Chef makes a great set of kid-friendly cooking tools.

    outdoor campfire cooking with kids

    4. Kid-friendly recipes, for the win  

    If your kids are old enough, have a stash of kid-friendly recipes that your children can either make independently or with very little help from you. This is a step you may want to include when you’re doing the menu planning with your kid(s). Being able to contribute to the group will make your child feel both proud and helpful. And if they’ve made the recipe before and know what to do and how it’ll turn out, you’re setting them up for success.

    Waffles are a family favorite for our camping trips so I have an easy orange waffle recipe that Luisa helps me mix. Need more inspiration? I got you covered. Check out these 8 campfire recipes that kids can make from the folks at Active Kids.

    how to make cooking while camping with kids fun

    5. Yes, we did start the fire 

    You may not want to involve young kids in lighting the campfire but you can definitely get them to help collect and pile up the kindling. It’s a great physical activity and gets them involved with the cooking process. Older kids will love helping to select your fire site, digging the fire pit, lining it with stones and collecting wood and kindling.

    teaching kids to cook outdoors

    6. Messes are welcome 

    Remember, when kids cook, messes will happen. Don’t stress about it and definitely don’t tell them to not make a mess because you’ll only curb their enthusiasm and creativity. Yes, I know that easier said than done, but trust me on this one.

    Instead, make cleaning up any mess their responsibility as well so they know that if they spill, they wipe up!

    Having said that, one of the joys of outdoor cooking is that the mess doesn’t hurt since the ground soaks up the liquids. Win-win!

    outdoor cooking with kids

    7. Service, please! 

    Finally, don’t forget to involve kids in serving the food as well. Your kids will be proud of the food they cook. so allow them the opportunity to help dish and serve it. They can answer questions about ingredients and the cooking process. Cheer them on when they hand out their dishes and encourage them to get creative with the plating. My daughter Luisa beams like a ray of sunshine when we ask her to serve the food and share with others. It’s a wonderful way to allow kids to give the gift of service and sustenance to those they love.

    tips for outdoor cooking with kids

    Cooking with kids

    Outdoor cooking is a wonderful activity for the whole family. Get your babies involved in outdoor cooking right from the start without fretting or fussing over them. You’ll be amazed at how much they enjoy it, how much they learn and how proud they are of their creations. Not to mention how wonderful you will feel when you don’t have to worry about cooking breakfast or dinner!

    Do you cook with your kids when camping?
    Share YOUR best tips with me in the comments below!

          

    Julia is an outdoor culinary business consultant based in Frankfurt, Germany. She is super passionate about spending time outdoors with her loved ones. She’s made it her mission to help families worry less and enjoy more when it comes to traveling and eating outdoors.

    You can check out Julia’s website and blog on https://culinatour.com or find out more about Culinatour by visiting Julia on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest