8 yr old DS wants to cook dinner for the family - suggestions please?

[Millie1]

He's been watching too much Junior Masterchef!! What on earth can I let him cook (there are 6 of us) that isn't spag bol, shep pie etc - something a little 'different' but without too much chopping. He suggested fish 'white, not salmon'. Obviously thinking about something he's seen 'I'll do it in a sauce', Me - 'What type of sauce?', him - 'I dunno, just something'.

Help!!!

How about a risotto? You could do pea and ham which has only very easy chopping, and the fact that he'll be stirring it for a while means that it feels like 'real' cooking. He could do a side-salad too, and even grate some parmesan if that wouldn't result in shredded knuckles.

My 9 year old DS likes making burgers and wedges, or a spanish omelette.

What about pasta tomato and rocket?
With grates/shaved parmesan on top.

Really easy to do
Cook pasta chop cherry toms in half and cook/warm through in a pan with olive oil.

Toss into cooked pasta and add a handfull of rocket cover pan and leave rocket to wilt for about 30 seconds, add parmesan on top

this is a great site

Herb crusted cod/haddock? He just needs to chuck bread, lemon zest, garlic, chives (or other herbs) in a blender to make herby breacrumbs, coat the fish in olive oil and lay the pieces on a foiled tray, then press the breadcrumb mixture into the top of the fish. Bake in the oven for 15 mins-ish - looks impressive.

He can serve with crushed roasted new potatoes - boil potatoes, allow to cool, crush with a fork, drizzle over loads of olive oil (can chuck in some lemon peel and/or whole garlic cloves) and roast until crispy. Goes very well with the fish. Plus a green salad.

I forgot to mention ... they're really fussy eaters . Risotto sounds ideal to me but they wouldn't eat it ... however, I shall suggest it because cooking it himself might make a difference. Spanish omlette is a good suggestions. Pasta - great. Am just off to look at Paula's site.

Thanks!

Brilliant Sambucca ... sounds lovely.

Quiche is good especially if you have ready made pastry in the house. Get him to chop some ham and chives and I don't know, onion? into a bowl, then there's the beating of eggs and milk which is fun, then pour the lot into the pastry shell.

Or there's a lot of good crustless quiche recipes out there too.

Soup? I make a very easy potato broccoli soup; chop onions, potato, saute in butter. Add broccoli bits and a lot of vegie stock, simmer till everything's soft. Get a potato masher, mash it into the pot until all the vegies are pulverised and you have, basically, vegie puree. Add cream. Eat.

I hope my kids want to cook for me when they're 8!

My DS, also 8, saw something on junior masterchef he fancied making and gave me this shopping list today:

chicken
bacon
feta cheese
spinach

I assume he is cooking tonight

Jamie Oliver's pasta & peas? My 10 year old cooks it.
Chop smoked bacon (he could use scissors), fry in olive oil, add frozen peas then a couple of spoons of creme fraiche and grated parmesan - add to cooked pasta.
Really easy and my kids certainly like it!

this is fantastic and should be encouraged..imagine what a catch he'll be when he's older
i've just started to let ds1 and dd into the kitchen and have really just focused on the basics like making a good white sauce,cooking perfect eggs etc etc
dd is quite keen to work towards her cub badge over the hols so will be looking to this thread with interest!

DD (5) loves helping me making schnitzels as it's noisy and messy

We flatten pork chops with the rolling pin, cover the pork in flour, dip them in egg and roll in breadcrumbs.
Also works with chicken and fish.

DS 9 goes to a cooking class once a month, last week he made spinach and ricotta canneloni, he recreated it for the whole family the next day and it was yummy. He has also made quiche, leek and potato soup, curry, meatballs and spaghetti and various sweet offerings. I am loving having a son who cooks and a couple of times when he hasn't been able to make it i have sent his sister instead so she is starting to learn too, she is 6.

Wow Geogteach ... your son's cooking club sounds fantastic!!

Schnitzels are another super idea ... I'm so glad I startd this thread - if he enjoys it we can make it a regular for DS1 to cook for us ! ASBM ... a great place to start - it took me ages to figure out a white sauce yet I could always bake.

Thanks again everyone for continuing to add to this!

how about chicken in balsamico sauce?

in an oven proof dish mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with 2 tablespoons of balsamico vinegar. add a teaspoon of dried oregano and a crushed clove of garlic.
place the chicken filets (skinless) in this and leave 20 min to marinade.
cover the chicken with soft brown sugar (abour 1 tablespoon per filet) and place one slice of lemon on top.
fill the dish with vegetable or chicken stock until the filets are nearly covered.
bake at 175°c for about 45 min (fan assisted oven)

serve with tomate rice: 1 cup of rice, 1 tablespoon tomato sauce, 1 handfull of chopped sundried or sunblushed tomatoes, 2 cups of water. bring to boil, turn off heat and wait until all water is absorbed.