Now that school is out, our mornings are a little less frantic, and the kids are constantly looking to be entertained. Cooking with kids can be a fun learning experience that takes advantage of the lazier days.
This summer, I vow to try out at least one fun recipe a week with my kids. The youngest ones learn all about measuring and mixing, while the older ones can learn actual cooking skills in the process.
Here is a fun recipe to start off with. It feeds a family of six, but you can half the recipe if you have a smaller family. We are a family of five, and our thin oldest child eats as though he was two people.
Watermelon Waffles (Adapted from the basic waffle recipe by Alton Brown).
Ingredients:
One quart carton of buttermilk at close to room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour (I used organic unbleached)
2 cups whole-wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
6 teaspoons sugar (I use evaporated cane sugar)
6 eggs, beaten
1 stick unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
Chocolate chips
Red gel food coloring
Green gel food coloring
You’ll also need: bowls, measuring cups, whisk or spoon and round waffle iron.
Directions:
In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
In a medium bowl beat together eggs and the melted butter. Add the buttermilk to the eggs and buttermilk mixture.
Next, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just
combined.
Pour about a cup of the batter into a measuring cup and add a few drops (strings) of the green food coloring and stir. Leave the rest of the batter in the bowl or pour it into a larger (at least 3-cup) measuring cup and add a few drops of red food coloring and stir. You’ll need more red than green coloring to make the colors bright.
Allow the batter to rest for 5 minutes while you preheat the waffle iron.
Using the green batter, pour a thin ring of batter around the outside edge of the waffle iron. Fill the middle in with red batter. If necessary, use a spoon the spread out the red batter to cover the bottom of the iron.
Add a few chocolate chips in the red batter to become the “seeds.”
Cook the waffles according to the directions that came with your waffle iron or until they are golden brown. Cut the waffle into its segments and serve.
You also might like to read:
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Oat Crumble Topping