Those Kids Can Cook!

Four seven years one or more of my kids have competed in our 4H Small Animal Association Cook Off.  The make a recipe that fits in the categories of Poultry, Egg, Rabbit or Goat.  Then they present their finished product to a panel of judges.

I love that my kids can make their own food on some level.  Of course their age plays a part in how involved the recipe can be, but for the most part they decide on their own what they will make.  Sure, I may offer suggestions and set down guidelines, but the final decision is up to them.

They also decide what ingredients will go into their recipes.  At this point Jade, who is 13, pretty much decides on her own what she wants to make and sets out to find out how.  She may come to me with questions, but often I don't know any details until she's already put her plan in motion.

Megan (8) and Braden (6) take much more guidance from me.  I offer suggestions for things and help them brain storm, but in the end it is still their decision.  They still make the food themselves. 

Not only are they having fun, but they are learning a valuable life skill.  For me that is the best part.  I know that they will always be able to feed themselves.

And now here are the recipes they made, as written by them. 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of Nicole Weiss (because mom forgot her camera!)

Deep-Fried Pickles (Jade)

Ingredients:

1 jar of pickle chips

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/8 cup water

2 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoon vegetable oil

oil for frying

Directions

1.     In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.

2.    In a separate mixing bowl, combine water, beaten egg, and 2 tbsp. oil.

3.    Add wet ingredients to dry and combine until mixed.

4.    Drain pickles and blot with paper towel.

5.    Dip pickles in batter and fry in about 2 inches of oil until golden-brown.

6.    Salt. Serve with dipping sauces if desired.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Weiss (because mom forgot her camera!)

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (Megan)

2 Cups Peanut Butter
2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
Heat oven to 325 F. 

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

Place 1 inch balls on a cookie sheet about 1 inch apart, or use a small cookie scoop.  Press with a fork.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes.  Allow to cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet before moving to cooling rack.

Last, but not least, is Braden's recipe.  I don't have a picture for this one, but it's delicious none the less.  You can also make this with chicken if you don't happen to raise rabbits for your freezer like we do.

Rabbit Salad (Braden)

2 Cups Rabbit, cooked and chopped
1 Cup Mayonnaise
1/3 Cup Walnuts, chopped
1/2 Cup Granny Smith Apple, chopped
2 tsp. Dried Dill Weed
1/4 tsp. Ground Black Pepper
1/2 tsp. Salt
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until well combined.

Serve on bread, tortillas or crackers.

All three kids did great and I'm so proud of them!  I'm also impressed enough that I'm tempted to make dinner their responsibility now and then, or at least require their help in the kitchen more often.

It's All For The Kids

Some days I'd like to just stay in my nice warm bed.  I think about how nice it is snuggled under the blankets, all lost in dreamland.  Today is a day I long to go back there.  It's Saturday.  My day that I normally insist on sleeping as long as I want.

Today is also the annual 4H Small Animal Cook Off.  It's something my kids look forward to every year.  So for their sakes, I'm up and moving and through my second cup of coffee on a Saturday.

 I feel like I've packed up half of my kitchen with three kids making recipes this year.  Plus we are providing the majority of the ingredients for the club recipe this year as well. 

I'm am very excited about the foods my kids are making and since I know one of the judges does read this blog now and then, I won't say now what they are.  However, tomorrow I will post the recipes for everyone. 

My oldest has been doing this since her first in 4H.  I think this is her seventh year.  It's the fourth year for my middle child.  And the first year for my  youngest.

I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about my youngest.  Some days he's very out going and will talk to anyone about anything.  Others he becomes shy and won't talk at all.  Here's hoping he is in a talkative mood.

Enjoy Today

I have been so stressed lately worrying about finances, what's coming up with girl scouts, the 4H cook off we have coming up and finishing up first semester with the kids for school.  I'm constantly thinking about what is coming and I realized recently that I have forgotten to think about today.

It's good to be prepared for tomorrow and have a plan, but not to the extent that you forget to enjoy today.  It was when my kids and I settled down to watch and episode of Doctor Who that I realized how long it had been since we did that.  I realized that a majority of the time, I tell my kids I'm too busy to sit down and watch something with them. 

I realized I don't want to keep doing that.  I don't want my kids to grow up thinking I'm too busy for them.  My oldest turned 13 recently and I realize more than ever that they won't always be here.  I can't get this time back. 

I'm going to make an effort to play more board games with them, read more books together, and watch more movies with them.  I want to involve them more in the little things.  Instead of making meals for them, I want to make meals with them.  Any time I can spend doing something with them is a moment I get the chance to enjoy who they are right now. 

There will always be things to plan, financial issues to organize and people who need my time.  From this point on, I vow to remember none of it is as important as enjoying the little moments of today that I'll never get back.

Need Vs. Want

Not long ago my younger two children were learning about needs and wants in school.  I think this is a good thing for all of us to ponder from time to time.  It's especially important when you are financially strapped and trying to take a hard look at where you can cut expenses.

The last couple of weeks I've been really trying to look at how many things in my life I treat as needs, but really they are only wants.  I've discovered that I'm really good at convincing myself a want is a need if I want it bad enough. 

My new strategy is to ask myself if I really have to have it right now.  Usually the answer is no.  So I wait until the next payday and ask myself again.  I find the longer I wait for most things, the less I really feel I have to have it.

I have to wonder why it is that when I have no money, my desire to impulse buy is so much higher.  My current theory is that it's because I feel deprived and sorry for myself.  Somewhere in the recesses of my mind it's like I'm having a little pity party. 

Of course a person can't be expected to give up everything they want.  We all should have a little something now and then just because it makes us happy.  So now I'm working to prioritize my wants, and those of the rest of my family. 

The key for me here is to remember that just because something seems less important to me, doesn't mean that it is going to be less important to other members of my family.  I need to remember to let them tell me what is most important to them and work out together how to fit those things in.

For example, I don't mind drinking my coffee black.  So when things are tight, I can save a few dollars by cutting my flavored coffee creamer out of the budget.  My husband, however, holds his creamer much higher on his list of priority wants.  So that stays. 

I'm realizing that it's all about perspective and not comparing my situation to others.  Sure, I might want what someone else has.  But I shouldn't feel sorry for myself because they have it and I don't.  I need to focus on my goal and remind myself that even though I can't have everything I want now the pay off in the end will be worth it. 

Every want I pass up now is one step closer to financial security later on.