Anyone have kid friendly recipes?

[rob62521]

I'm a teacher and I work in a high poverty school. An area our students are low in is measurement. So, I put an ad in the local district newsletter and asked for a free breadmachine. The children and I have been making bread at school and they measure out the ingredients and we discuss the ingredients and the measurement. When the bread is finished, I slice it and they enjoy it. My question is, do you know any recipes that kids would eat that doesn't use a stove? We have no stove at school. I have a microwave, the bread machine, and a coffee maker at my disposal.

Thanks for your help!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

There are recipes out there for making cake in bread machines. If the model name and number are on your bread machine, you can probably find the manufacturer's instruction book with recipes on the web. My son got an old bread machine at an estate sale and found the recipe booklet that way.

Sounds like you need some no-cook recipes, too. You might be able to find some no cook candies and cookies. For example, there are some that mix together things such as peanut butter, dry milk, powdered sugar and rolled oats.

I think a recipe for a warm spiced cider would work in your coffee pot. Maybe something that uses apple cider, pineapple juice and spices.

And how about an instant cocoa recipe. I think mom-from-missouri posted one here not too long ago. Those are simple. You only need dry milk, cocoa, sugar. Some people put in powdered coffee creamer for richness. But the kids could measure up and mix those things, then use the hot water from the coffee pot to serve. If you have tiny cups, one pot could have enough hot water for the roomful of kids to have a sample.

How old are the kids? A playdough recipe that uses oil, flour, salt, water and food coloring could be great.

In a similar vein, some families will just have made a no-cooking Christmas craft dough that is made solely from powdered cinnamon and applesauce. (I've seen recipes that also call for Elmer's glue in it, but that is not necessary.) the dough turns out amazingly lightweight and airy and you can roll it out and use cookie cutters on it. Then you let it dry. It makes fragrant little ornaments. Ours are freehand cut gingerbread men, but any shape would be satisfying. I made some ten years ago and they are still nice. I think it could also me made into large beads.

And I would say repeat the recipes that the kids liked. Every measuring/cooking experience does not need to be novel. Repetition really drives it home. If kids make a recipe often enough that they feel like it is familiar and "theirs," it adds to their sense of competence and willingness to try similar things now or when they are older. I think there is a lot to be learned from cooking.

How about if you bring some packaged cookies or graham crackers let the kids make buttercream frosting for them. They could first measure out and mix the frosting, then measure up the frosting, one teaspoon for each cookie.

How about something they each take home if they have first brought in an empty plastic bottle? For example, they could make salad dressings from scratch. Could be a simple as vinegar and oil, with some powdered spices.

Could you use any instant mixes? Like--an instant pudding, plus the measured milk? Just stir and serve, no real need to refrigerate.

There could be some other non-food things to measure and make. There are furniture polishes for example that use something like olive oil with a few drops of orange oil.

Or they could make a dry batch of laundry soap. There are some recipes for laundry soap elsewhere on savingadvice.com. Typical ingredients are grated bar hand soap plus washing soda plus borax. All are powdered ingredients. I suppose they could each take home a measured amount of the finished result and get to have their own clothes washed with it.

You could also do plaster of paris art projects. In that case, they need to measure up only water and the plaster powder.

Another non-food fun thing would be homemade "GAK" That uses cornstarch, white glue, and usually food coloring. Fun, and potentially messy, but can also be played with while sealed inside a zipper sandwich bag.

Well, this was fun thinking about. I'll leave it to you to search for the actual recipes if any of the ideas sound worthwhile.

[PrincessPerky]

trail mix could be measured though it tastes good regardless. (the kids could come up with the amounts so long as the ingredients are healthy.)

[mom-from-missouri]

Get on the website for your states extension center. They should have a section of kid recipes. Also, if you have an office in your town (most are located at the county seat) call them and also your local WIC office. Sometimes they will send someone out to discuss nutrition, give out recipies and coloring books and such. When I had my preschool, I got some contacts from a grocery store manager of food vendors. We had someone from Kraft come and give samples and show a movie about cheese, and a local green house brought various vegitable plants to show us, then some raw veggies to eat. Head Start may also have some contacts for you.

If you have no peanut allergies, mix equal parts of plain yogurt and peanut butter. Use it for a dip for apple slices.

[rob62521]

Thanks for all the great ideas!

[LuxLiving]

My boys used to like Pizza Dogs - Microwave hotdogs, and then also microwave a can spaghetti sauce w/1 T. italian seasonings in a glass bowl. Spread the sauce in the hd bun, insert dog, top w/grated mozarella cheese.

Same theory - Pizza English Muffins - Split English Muffins, spread on spaghetti sauce that you've added italian seasonings to then top w/pepperoni slices & cheese, zap for 25-45 seconds in the microwave.

Chicken Quesidias - Flour tortilla, thin sliced deli-style chicken meat, add some cheddar cheese on top and fold over. Zap in microwave, then use a pizza cutter to cut into fractionated pie shapes. Dip in sour cream or salsa or my kids liked ranch dressing.

Pickle Roll Ups - Flour Tortilla Shell, spread w/mayo, add a dill pickle spear, chopped tomato, onion, grated cheddar, whatever ingrediants sound good to the kiddos. Roll up, wrap tightly in saran wrap, refrigerate at least an hour, better if overnight.

[rob62521]

Thanks, I think I can use some of these and food speaks their language!

[cschin4]

Aren't most schools serving breakfast AND lunch? At least half of our school district gets free breakfast and lunch.

[mom-from-missouri]

Sadly, I think most of the children in this district get free meals also. But to buy them here, it is expensive! Last time I subbed, my lunch was $2.50. Of course I had the adult lunch with bigger portions, but I had brought my own drink. My same selections for a child lunch would have been $2. For a family with several kids, that adds up. Breakfast for kids at the middle school is $1. I can pack several school lunches for that.

Several times I have had to rob the change jar so I could buy my lunch. I try to keep something in the freezer for those last minute call to sub days, but often the call comes too late in the morning for me to pack my lunch.

I also see kids who buy their school lunches, then throw over half of it away, then they whine all afternoon they are hungry. If they had a sack lunch, they may be more inclined to eat it if they pack what they like. When my kids were in school, I made them bring their leftovers home so I could judge what they ate and didn't eat--esp. for my DD4 who has medical issues.

[rob62521]

Yes, our district offers lunch and breakfast. However, for a big share of the students at my school, that's their meals for the day. One little girl was telling us how she really likes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but a lot of times they just have peanut butter because they can't afford the jelly. And her parent works!

[DebbieL]

Is there any way you could buy a cheap hot plate and bring it in? Kids love things like grilled cheese, etc. How about a panini maker or something - there's lots of fun recipes you can do with those.

PS - You sound like a wonderful, caring person. The kids are lucky to have such a teacher.

[rob62521]

Thanks for your kind words, DebbieL!

Good idea on the hot plate or panini maker! Thanks!

[DebbieL]

You're welcome. Have you checked out All recipes – complete resource for recipes and cooking tips. It's a great site if you're looking for ANY recipe (and they're all rated by the users so it's helpful to read the reviews before making them). I'm sure you will find lots of great ideas there.

[rob62521]

No, I haven't, but I will. You are a wealth of knowledge!

[jasanderson]

HOw about making a healthy vegetable soup in a crock pot? You can buy frozen vegetables pretty reasonable and if you make a roast or something at home bring in the leftover meat.