Kids in the Kitchen: Baking Blueberry Muffins!

Cooking with children can be one of two things: either a complete disaster (and the biggest mess your kitchen’s ever seen) or a wonderful time of bonding, fun, and equipping a younger generation with essential life skills. Kids love to help in the kitchen and, believe it or not, opportunities for “teachable moments” abound in the midst of measuring flour and creaming butter and sugar.

I spent many hours cooking with my own kids as they were growing up, and now that they’re grown and have children of their own, I’m having fun passing on a bit of culinary proficiency to our next generation. With five of them, seven and under, I always have willing participants when I ask, “Who wants to cook with Grammy?” Over the years, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to make the experience more enjoyable, not only for them, but for myself as well. Here’s my list:

• Pick a simple project they can feel successful at. Cookies, muffins, cupcakes are all great projects kids will enjoy. Give them a few choices of age-appropriate projects and let them help in the decision-making process.
• Get prepared before the kids even enter the kitchen: lay out supplies, equipment, measuring cups, spoons, scale, etc. Do any necessary (or dangerous) prep to make things run smoothly and safely. The kids don’t have to do the entire project, but make them feel like they’ve been responsible for the whole project.
• Divide the recipe into steps. If you’re working with more than one child at a time, take turns allowing each one to be “on stage.”
• Expect that the recipe will take longer and make more of a mess than if you do it yourself.
• Start with teaching them good kitchen hygiene; the importance of hand-washing and keeping surfaces and equipment clean.
• Talk about the recipe and encourage lots of participation. Let the older kids read the recipe or read it out loud to the younger ones.
• Set the ground rules in advance: cooperation, respecting each other, taking turns, etc.
• Make them think and solve problems appropriate to their age. Ask the kids questions as you proceed. “What would happen if we added too much flour?” “Why do we need to add baking powder, or, what would happen if we skipped the baking powder?” “What is vanilla used for?” There are also math problems that can be solved in the kitchen as well as history (when and how recipes have come into being) and geography (where a particular recipe originates from).
• Most importantly have fun! You’re creating memories both you and the children will carry with them for many years to come.

If you’re looking for a great way to start cooking with your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc., this blueberry muffin recipe is perfect.

It comes together quite easily with simple steps that offer lots of opportunities for participation. The results are fantastic bakery-style muffins filled with juicy berries and topped with a mound of buttery crumbs.

You can even include a foreign language lesson, teaching the kids to say, “Bon Appetit!” as they offer their delicious muffins to family, friends, and guests, who will be sure to offer rave reviews.