Weekend Pancakes
Isn't it amazing how wise our grandmothers were? Old adages like "the kitchen is the heart of the home" and "family is made around the dinner table" continue to be as valid for us today as they were to past generations. Research has shown that children of all ages are happier and healthier if they regularly eat dinner as a family. And involving them in the cooking not only provides valuable family time, but also encourages better eating habits.
Start a Cooking Tradition
Involving your children in preparing meals may be a little more time consuming and, depending on their age, messier than doing it yourself, but the benefits will outweigh the down side. Kids who are involved with food preparation at home tend to eat more nutritious meals and are more likely to try new foods. Busy schedules may prevent the children from helping to prepare dinner every night, but how about starting a tradition of cooking breakfast together on the weekend? Breakfast is an important meal and there are so many fun and easy things to cook. Start by cooking one meal a week with the kids and before long they will be helping all the time.
Pancakes are Perfect
Pancakes are the perfect thing for a family cooking project. Not only are they fun and easy to make, but pancakes also encourage creativity with the addition of all kinds of delicious and nutritious ingredients and toppings. When cooking with children, safety is the most important consideration. Just remember to consider the skill level of the child when assigning tasks. An adult or older sibling should always handle anything hot or sharp.
Fun Pancake Ideas
- Put pancake batter in a squeeze bottle or plastic bag, snip off a corner and drizzle designs onto the griddle – hearts, numbers, initials... use your imagination.
- Fold, roll-up or top pancakes with yogurt, fruit and/or nuts.
- Silver dollar pancakes are always a favorite – about 1 tablespoon of batter is all it takes.
- Spread pancakes with peanut butter and top with bananas - or roll up to eat out of hand.
- Pour pancake batter onto griddle, then sprinkle with berries, nuts, chocolate chips or other ingredients for even distribution.
Kids will love Pigs in an Apple-Cinnamon Blanket, a new twist on an old favorite. They can be ready in a flash using a muffin mix and pre-cooked sausage links. Easy to make Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Mixed Berry Sauce are always a favorite and are delicious paired with fruit, peanut butter or a delectable fruit sauce.
For good old-fashioned flavor and texture, nothing beats buttermilk pancakes. Self- rising flour simplifies Easy Buttermilk Pancakes, a good basic recipe to serve plain or dress-up with your favorite additions like blueberries or pecans. Add this one to the favorites in your recipe box.