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“Cooking with Kids is not just about ingredients, recipes, and cooking. It’s about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity.”

– Guy Fieri

Cooking with kids can be really messy yet super fun! Kids love to cook and create their own foods. They want to be creative and experimental in the kitchen. That’s why parents need to carefully watch and guide them especially in using the kitchen tools.

Here’s are 3 foods that you can cook with your kid:

• Pineapple Mango Salmon Barbecue

This is the main dish. Instead of cooking the usual salmon, make it a salmon barbecue by putting it in a stick after cooking. Here’s how to make it, from Food For My Family.

Ingredients

1-pound salmon fillet

2 limes

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro and parsley, minced

kosher salt

cracked black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups pineapple-mango salsa

Directions

Start by squeezing the limes over the flesh side of the salmon fillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and minced herbs. Allow to sit for 30 minutes while you preheat your grill to 500° F.

When the grill is hot, spray fish lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place flesh side down on the grill and cook for 3 minutes. Carefully flip the salmon to the skin side and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Remove from grill. Top with pineapple-mango salsa and serve.

Makes 3-4 servings.

• Kids Caesar Salad

A new meal for kids to try and cook, from the BBC Goodfood website, Kiddo TV gives you a healthy meal with both chicken and veggies. This is the a healthy appetizer salad that your kid can personally create and add toppings.

Ingredients

• 1 medium ciabatta loaf (or 4 thick slices crusty white bread)

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast

• 1 large cos or romaine lettuce, leaves separated

For the Dressing

• 1 garlic clove

• 2 anchovy

• from a tin

• medium block Parmesan

• or Grano Padano cheese for grating and shaving (you won’t use it all)

• 5 tbsp mayonnaise

• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Tear the bread into big, ragged croutons or, if you prefer, cut with a bread knife. Spread over a large baking sheet or tray and sprinkle over 2 tbsp olive oil. Rub the oil into the bread and season with a little salt if you like (sea salt crystals are best for this). Bake for 8-10 mins, turning the croutons a few times during cooking so they brown evenly.

2. Rub chicken breasts with remaining oil, season. Place pan over a medium heat for 1 min, until hot, but not smoking. Lay the chicken on the pan (it will sizzle if it’s hot enough) and leave for 4 mins. Turn the chicken, then cook for 4 mins more. Check if it’s cooked by poking the tip of a sharp knife into the thickest part; there should be no sign of pink and juices will run clear.

3. Bash the garlic with the flat of a knife and peel off the skin. Crush with a garlic crusher. Mash the anchovies with a fork against the side of a small bowl. Grate a handful of cheese and mix with the rest of the dressing ingredients. Season to taste. It should be the consistency of yogurt – if yours is thicker, stir in a few tsps water to thin it.

4. Shave the cheese with a peeler. Tear lettuce into large pieces and put in a large bowl. Pull chicken into bite-size strips and scatter half over the leaves, along with half the croutons. Add most of the dressing and toss with your fingers. Scatter the rest of the chicken and croutons, then drizzle with the remaining dressing. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top and serve straight away.

• DIY Taco for Kids

Tacos is an all-time kids favorite. Instead of giving chips, create a homemade taco with your child and let him/her personalized the taco. From Real Simple food recipe on the net, Kiddo TV gives you the recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 pound skirt steak, cut into 3 pieces

• Kosher salt and black pepper

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2 cups chopped pineapple

• ½ red chili, sliced

• 86-inch corn tortillas, warmed

• Cilantro and lime wedges, for serving

Directions

1. Season the steak with 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the steak to the desired doneness, 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium-rare; slice.

2. Add the pineapple and chili to the skillet and cook, tossing frequently, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes.

3. Dividing evenly, top the tortillas with the steak and pineapple. Serve with the cilantro and lime wedges.

Cooking with kids is never boring when you’re having fun with your loved ones. Making the dishes more creative, personalized and kid-friendly is the art of cooking with your kids.  

It’s also a great way to make your child eat well since he/she is the great chef of the served dish. Here’s a video on some tips for parents when cooking with kids.

Video from AOL On Food