Cooking for and with kids
All our favorite family recipes, the kitchen equipment I love for my kids, the kitchen tools and cookbooks I can't live without
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As a parent, you know the role comes with an unofficial job title(s) — part short-order chef, part server, part cleaner. Cooking for kids (and kids’ diets) are personal to every family, and this post is simply a peek into what works for ours.
I actually love cooking. It’s my favorite creative outlet, which I realize puts me in the minority (no judgment, thank goodness for Seamless). I also happen to have a son who genuinely wants to be in the kitchen with me, which is both a blessing and a test of patience. But I’ve found that getting kids involved in the prep makes them far more likely to actually eat what ends up on their plate. So we keep at it.
Here are a handful of recipes that are on regular rotation in our house — and actually eaten by all parties. I'm always on the hunt for new ideas, so if you have a go-to kids' recipe you swear by, please hit reply and share it!
Everyday meatballs: This is always in the weekly rotation. I take out the garlic, parsley, pepper and cook them in Rao’s instead of canned tomatoes.
Zucchini rice & cheese bake: Another great the smitten kitchen digest recipe. My kids don’t even know the zucchini is in there.
Cheesy pizza beans: This one is so, so good. Super easy, and honestly tastes just like pizza.
Breaded cheesy chicken: I skip the parsley and never bother rolling it out or pounding them into thin cutlets, just cut a chicken breast in half. Great every time and I bring in the Rao’s as a fancy dipping sauce.
Chicken in a pot with lemon and orzo by Nigella Lawson: I love this one-pot meal. It tastes like a fancy, grown-up chicken noodle soup, but far better.
Sushi rolls: By using this mat and sheets of nori, we add sliced cucumber, carrots and avocado. The only annoying thing is slicing the veggies as finely as possible.
Summer rolls: A similar concept, but using rice paper instead. Add rice noodles, thinly sliced chicken, shrimp, and any other veggies they’ll eat. I add a ton of herbs (cilantro, mint and basil) to mine. Make this peanut sauce that everyone is obsessed with.
Smoothies: A breakfast staple in our house. I blend a banana, frozen blueberries, a large scoop of peanut butter, almond milk, and ice — and if I think they need a protein boost, I’ll sneak in a scoop of my favorite chocolate protein powder.
Banana muffins: I make these the evening before and it’s the most straightforward breakfast. I skip the brown sugar and no one notices.
We call it a look-out tower — the best way to get kids at counter-top height and in on the action. There are plenty of options out there, but this one is great as it folds.
I love this brand for kids' tableware. They don't break, come in great colors, and are available in a range of sizes. But the real game-changer? Filling up this pitcher with water before any meal and I no longer have to get up to refill water, a genuine game-changer.
If you’re not going the Falcon Enamelware route, Duralex is a great option for glassware. They’re so durable and a nice entry into the glassware world for kids. (and for me, always a lovely reminder of Paris)
Speaking of, I love this bistrot flatware and think it’s a nice kitchen upgrade (and worth the investment) that doesn’t seem too precious for kids to use
How sweet are these personalized napkin rings!? A real linen and these definitely take dinner to next level (and maybe help with table manners if I tell them it’s a fancy dinner!?)
A knife and food prep set for the kid who is ready for it, but we have these in the meantime and they’re also great.
Etsy makes the best personalized aprons for kids, I’m dying to get this one for my daughter, and this one is super cute too.
I have a deep love for kitchen equipment. Here are the items that have genuinely changed the way I cook since having kids:
Countertop toaster oven: This has been the biggest game-changer. I use it multiple times a day, for nearly every meal; roasting fish, warming up chicken, making cheesy bread and dino bites, I could go on and on. I don't know what I was doing before it. If you don’t have a countertop oven, you must run to get one.
I’m a big user of kitchen scissors when the kids are around: anything from cutting their pizza into strips, cutting the crust off their toast, it’s so much easier than a knife. I love it for cutting herbs, too.
Not all vegetable peelers are created equal and this one is superior. There’s something about the weight and glide. Get this upgrade!
Same goes for this lemon/lime juice squeezer.
This large 8-cup measuring bowl. It’s a go-to for when baking, making pancakes, scrambled egg prep, etc. Great for kids to help with the large side handle.
I've read that professional use these Cambro containers, so now, I do too. They’re great for storing pantry items (sugar, flour) but I also use them to marinate or food prep, too.
I never cook any protein without a meat thermometer by my side, nothing overdone, nor undercooked.
I thought this food scraper was a silly tool I’d never use, but I use it all the time (especially love it for garlic, onions, any chopped veggies)
This cookware set from Caraway is a staple, also always using the Always Pan 2.0 from Our Place (love the mini and the really large one)
There are so many Le Creuset variations worth owning, but especially love an 8 qt. dutch oven, a deep baking dish, a tiny saucepan (perfect for boiling an egg or melting butter) and this utensil crock.
Big Night on Lex and 73rd is worth a visit — it’s the perfect spot to pick up a hostess gift or treat yourself to a kitchen upgrade that sparks a little joy. So many things I love like these, these, this and this.
LOVE this glassware from CB2. They can easily break (definitely not for kids), but I’m okay with it given the price…They’re super, super thin, look chic and far more expensive than they really are. I just got these and almost love them more than the original.
Here are my kids’ and my favorite cookbooks. We have fun flipping through the pages, them enthusiastically telling me everything they want to make — and then, of course, refusing to eat half of it. But the cooking together part is a great time.
Kid in the Kitchen: I love Melissa Clark and her recipes on NYT Cooking. A lot of the recipes in here I’d cook just for myself, too.
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs: I also love anything Cook’s Illustrated puts out, this one is no exception. True to form, it has content on prep, technique, and equipment for kids. Here’s the baking version, which I love equally.
The River Cafe Look Book: At the intersection of a beautiful coffee table book and sophisticated recipes for kids. I love giving this one — it’s as beautiful as it is useful.
Also, if you have a science-loving child like I do, I strongly recommend this one. My son is obsessed.
Martha Stewart: 100 Favorite Recipes is a cookbook I frequently reference, along with anything Smitten Kitchen (by the smitten kitchen digest), goop’s It’s All Good, Nothing Fancy (by Alison Roman) and The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook (by Meredith Hayden)
I love all and anything Ina Garten and she just announced she’s coming out with a new cookbook in October: Simply Ina. How exciting is that?!
Maxine Sharf is a great follow on Instagram and I’ve saved so many of her recipes. I’m excited to check out her new cookbook that was recently released.
Bon appétit! I always love talking all things kitchen, so please feel free to respond back and tell me your favorite recipes and equipment.