Well, those that know me well enough know I can make my way around the kitchen, but in most cases I avoid it.  Cooking is one of my least desired tasks.

Fortunately, that isn’t the case for Embug.  She has a growing interests and enough confidence to give it a shot.  So what was my approach?  Probably not the standard best practices, but here it is.

I gave her some magazines that feature between 10 and 12 recipes per issue.  Let her look through them and target 3-4 recipes she wanted to try that could be a meal for the family.  We reviewed the ingredients list for them, preparation involved and then determined when she would make them.  Together we made a grocery list.  This first go around I did not take her with me to the store because it was on my way home from work.  However, as part of this process I will involve her in the grocery buying as well.

Once I purchased all the ingredients, then it was up to her.  I let her figure things out.  She was very resourceful, Googling how to do things like clean a Portabello mushroom, and of course asking her dad and I for assistance when she needed it.

What I learned:

1.  She has observed a lot over the years of seeing me and her dad “work” and “prepare” food in the kitchen.

2.  She is very adventurous and always saw the learning in the process even when the final product wasn’t the hoped result.

3.  She is quite the natural.

4.  She enjoys this and it helps her “think” and “process” in a non-academic setting that is building problem-solving muscles that will benefit her in academic settings.

5.  She grew in knowing herself and seeing what she is capable of doing.

Her first epicurean adventure was Portobello Mushroom Burgers:

She also made a seafood chowder one day when I was at work, but her dad was nearby (home office day).  I didn’t get pictures of it, but she did phenomenal.

Her third adventure was Chicago Style Pan Pizza, which she did with the help of a good friend:

Her latest endeavor was Stuffing Filled Artichokes.  It was a lot of work and minimal on the result.  It was probably her biggest disappointment.

Funny thing about this is we, as a family, decided we did like the artichokes… even Kritter.  Embug just determined the stuffing was unneccessary.  So we will have steamed artichokes again… just not as the recipe calls.

Not a bad start for Embug and we all are so excited someone likes to whip up a storm in the kitchen!

If you have a suggestion for our budding chef please share!  What ways is your home being adventurous via your children?