Kids Cook Night

The culinary highlight of the week for the littles occurs every Wednesday night at The Schell Cafe.  Wednesday’s are Kids Cook nights.  Early in the week, the older kids plan the menu, make sure we have all the ingredients and, if not, make a grocery list.  Then each Wednesday afternoon the whole clan gathers in the cafe to make whatever treat they’ve dreamed up.  As long as the meal contains something from at least one or two of the accepted food groups I don’t haggle.  This is the one night they get complete autonomy in the kitchen.  And, they love it!

You can imagine what fare the kiddos opt to make on Kids Cook night.  They’ve made pita pocket sandwiches, pizza, and one night they made Yoda Soda from the Star Wars Cookbook.  Tonight the littles cooked up a dish that Mia made for me as a young child.  There isn’t really a recipe, but if there was it would go something like this…..

some ground beef

American cheese, cubed

salt & pepper to taste (Crazy Jane’s mixed up salt is how Mia made it)

hamburger buns

The kids browned the meat in the electric skillet they inherited from our dear family friends over at casabonita.  An electric skillet is a wonderful kitchen tool for school aged children.  The girls added the cheese slowly and stirred with such intent.  Brother plated up the strawberries, broccoli and pickles.  Littlest made a huge mess landing most of her dinner on the floor.  Everyone played a role and dinner was a huge success. Their success.  Which makes this momma smile.