AIBU...To let you know one way I'm keeping my dc busy in lockdown?

[Knowhowufeel2]

Hi

Just thought others might find this idea useful during lockdown.

We're trying to use up everything in our cupboards to avoid going out and my 15 and 18 yo are bored, whilst I'm ill with it.

Starting a few days ago, after hearing them say 'dont fancy that!' (again!) to my suggestion for dinner, I challenged them to do better.

At first they thought great, I can make whatever I fancy, but the rules are:

● Mum chooses 1 ingredient that needs using up, which they have to incorporate into the recipe they choose
● it has to be something they've not made (themselves) before
● it has to be something the whole family will at least try to eat (we have 1 fussy one)
● it has to be made entirely from what we have in the fridge, cupboards and freezers, paying attention to (and making use of) those items with the shortest dates so nothing is wasted.

At first there were grumbles, but they're actually enjoying it, and as I'm ill they're having to do so without any input from me... normally I'd be around for advice/help when they're cooking (eg, youngest can be a bit nervous when frying things as she got burnt before).

15 yo is normally 'the baker', and only cooks a few savoury dishes so this it's more challenging for her as she's less confident with savoury dishes. She's also the fussy one.

18yo loves cooking, but very particular styles only; mainly Japanese, which younger one struggles with as she doesn't really like spicy food, although she will try it.

We're obviously trying to minimise waste which includes not making something no one will eat.

18yo also prefers to just cook for herself and isn't great at following recipes because she likes to improvise, which isn't ideal now food is more difficult to get, so she's got to work on sticking to the recipe as it needs to be balanced.
( A couple of previous meals way before lockdown haven't been great, and were just about edible )

Just thought it might be something for others to try and can easily be adapted to suit different ages

It will actually help the older one who will hopefully still be going to uni later on.

She's a good cook, but likes to make fancy stuff (sushi, etc) which she won't have the money for as a student.

I'm hoping it will teach both of them how to rustle up a meal just from what they've got in, which is a great skill to have.

I'm also hoping they'll realise the mental energy that goes into meal planning, etc, and so be a bit more mindful about it.

So far this is what they've made:

15yo went first. Star ingredient was bulgur wheat

Sweet and sour chicken (from scratch, no jars!) with bulgur wheat instead of rice. Was really good.

She also made shortbread for the first time.

18yo's turn was tonight & star ingredient was asparagus.

She made an asparagus and potato frittata, which was really nice, and also used up an old onion and 3 potatoes that were going wrinkly.

She also made Dorset apple cake (1st time ever!) using up 2 apples that had been forgotten about and were getting wrinkly. It's beautiful and moist, and she's really proud as she doesn't usually bake.

I'm hoping it will teach both of them how to rustle up a meal just from what they've got in, which is a great skill to have.

I'm also hoping they'll realise the mental energy that goes into meal planning, etc, and so be a bit more mindful about

Isn't this what you are supposed to teach your kids anyway, so they grow up to be independent, functioning adults?

Ignore the patronising first comment OP this sounds like a brilliant idea!

I know Ola makes a valid point about how we need to teach our kids to cook etc. But I like how you have done it - giving them a list of 'rules' as opposed to whatever you can find in the cupboard. My oldest might be able to manage something like this so I do appreciate your idea.

Well done OP great idea! Wish I could get my kids to do the same but they're only 6 and 3! I bet they'd love the chance of being let loose in the kitchen though......

Sounds like a great idea. Bit like ready steady cook. All looks delicious.

They've always baked and cooked, from a young age, thanks.
Normally they can choose whatever they fancy making, now they're having to make do with what eve goe and building a meal around that.

To me they're different skill sets.

They've always had chores, etc, but I still do most of the mental load, like most women.

I'm hoping this will make them realise there's more to cooking than having fun and making something you like/fancy, etc.

Really @OlaEliza ?

I think this is a great idea OP!

That looks really lovely OP. I’d love to be able to let my kids do this. They’re only 7 and 4 and also only eat about 15 different items of food.

I’ve managed to keep them busy today by letting them dig a hole in the garden. I think the place they dug must’ve been an old rubbish tip and there was lots of old burnt stuff, absolutely loads of bits of crockery and quite a lot of animal bones.

Sounds like a great idea, but this made me laugh
18yo loves cooking, but very particular styles only; mainly Japanese, which younger one struggles with as she doesn't really like spicy food, although she will try it.

Japanese food is bland as fuck unless you add wasabi on the side

Thanks, callme.

Drogon, mine still cooked and baked at those ages, just much more simply with a lot more guidance from me.
So your 3yo could help you make bread (soda bread, if no yeast) by helping measure and mix, whilst your 6yo could help with getting ingredients together prepping some of the veg, etc, adding spices, mixing, and frying under guidance.
Eg, they could help with scrambled egg, bacon and mushroom on toast or something similar.

Mine have gone through phases of wanting to cook, etc, so I try to take advantage of their willingness then.

This is a great idea especially for your older ones. As you say, having the skills to bake etc are fine but budget restraints etc make a huge difference when trying to make a daily meal. Definitely good practice for living independently. Well done. :)

Knowhowufeel2 - fabulous idea. Mine are younger, but I am going to start them off.

NastyOldBag - do you know about mudlarking? There's a Facebook page about it (looking for interesting objects on the Thames shoreline) - as everyone is stuck at home, they are encouraging people to do exactly what you have been doing in the garden.

Great idea!

Do you have a recipe for the apple cake?!

Japanese food isn’t spicy but it isn’t bland either. So either you’ve not had the good stuff, or you’ve an unsophisticated palate (gentle teasing rather than being a twat)

This is a great idea. Mine are lazy gits but I’m going to try getting them to do this.

I like the idea. Your giving them guidance on managing food in cupboards and making meals. Win win

Excellent!
Hopefully fussy one will become a bit less fussy in the process, too.

vet, I did say mainly Japanese and as I said, she improvises with spices as she likes stuff to be spicy. She also loves wasabi.
She does make meals from other cuisines and the spicy stuff is generally the Indian dishes she makes.

It's definitely keeping them from being too bored and giving them confidence as I'm in isolation so really can't help at all.

They already know a lot of this, but normally I'd be around to help/advise and it is different for them (especially the 15yo who lacks confidence) doing it 100% alone, including timings, etc. Eg, dinner at 6pm so when do I need to start, what needs doing first, etc.

Like most of us, they both tend to stick to dishes they already know.

Bluetrews25, that's definitely been happening lately anyway as she's trying to eat more healthily, but I was pleasantly surprised by the 2 choices she had it down to (the other one was stuffed peppers).

She realised that the sweet n sour dish would make the veg stretch further, so we've still got a couple of peppers left for use in another meal. Normally, they wouldn't think of stuff like that.

OhCaptain,
The cake recipe is from BBC food site:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/dorset-apple-cake%3famp

Thanks for the positive comments, I was wondering what I'd done wrong.

I swear this site has become more unkind lately, some posters are quite arsey.
I guess it could be the stress we're all living with though

Younger ones can bake biscuits with help and supervision, learn how to boil eggs, pasta, peel veg and chop etc. Even using weighing scales can be a bit towards a maths lesson at the same time. Literacy from reading the recipe.
Plus it’s fun. They can help clean and tidy down the kitchen and wash up with help too. Mine have helped from 2/3 years old. Holding a veg peeler together, mixing and measuring etc.
Aprons at the ready.

@OlaEliza pointless comment.

Yes, I agree, Merryweather80, and that's what I've always tried to do, although tbh, there have been times when it's fallen by the wayside and not happened as often.
That's life though. ..it has a habit of getting in the way.

Sounds great. We are doing a lot more baking here now that we've got time. Yesterday was carrot cake. Before that we had fruit buns. Running out of flour so tomorrow will probably be stewed rhubarb because there is loads in the garden.