Kids Can Cook: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Compliments of our kids- I had nothing to do with the beautiful display!

Throughout the years of our homeschooling journey, I've discovered educating our children is about more than just academics.  It's about developing godly character and preparing our children for adult life.  In preparing them for adult life, one area I've really spent time with them on is being confident in the kitchen.

One day, when our littles move out of the house, I hope they'll be able to open a cookbook and prepare a wonderful, healthy meal for themselves or others.

A recipe they have mastered is Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Each one of them can make a delicious, mouth watering batch of cookies in less than a half hour.

I truly believe in order to make cooking and baking inviting to children a parent needs to:

• Allow children to experiment.  Not every recipe will turn out, but most will.  I think the averages are higher for success than failure!  Just read the recipe ahead of time, make sure you have the ingredients and get to cooking!  Mom and dad, stand back, guide the kids, but don't do it all for them.
• Make cookbooks and recipes available and accessible.  Make trips to the local library, bookstore or check out Amazon for great cookbooks finds. Sit around and look at the books marking recipes they want to try.
• Be okay with a mess.  The best, most productive kitchens make a lot of dirty dishes.  Don't stress over dirty dishes.
• Let your kids bless others with their creations.  A plate of warm cookies to a neighbor blesses them and your child will experience the blessing of giving.
• Allow your child to be part of the whole process: shopping, preparing, and clean-up.  If they're involved in all facets they take ownership in the process and develop independence in the kitchen.
• Let your children know you believe in them.  Praise them in the kitchen!

As shown in the photo above, our children have mastered beautiful Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I no longer help them at all in the baking of their all-time favorite.  Our youngest still needs help getting the cookie sheets in and out of the oven, but other than that she's completely independent in the process.

We use our recipe so often we have it taped inside the cupboard door above our Kitchen Aid mixer.  This way, all the kids need to do is open the cupboard and there they find their favorite recipe.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, melted (2 cubes)

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Mix butter and sugars until combined.  Add egg and vanilla, mix well.  Add dry ingredients.  

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.  

De-Lish!