You know a recipe is good when you keep telling yourself to stop eating and yet somehow little bites of deliciousness just keep finding their way into your mouth. This is one of those recipes. Cooking with children is an important part of the educational experience. Through cooking children gain an appreciation and knowledge of food, a healthy perception of eating, mathematical skills (measuring, addition, subtraction, division, fractions), sensory experiences (how does food look, feel, taste and smell), language development (seeing print, reading, listening to instructions) and scientific exploration (observing what happens when food is heated or frozen, what do certain ingredients do to help the recipe).
Even if you are more comfortable with a takeout menu then a cookbook I want you to try to cook with your kids. Don’t worry you can do this! Yes, sometimes flour will spill, or a recipe will turn out terrible- it’s okay! Keep in mind the focus should be on spending time with your children and sharing a meal. No matter what the recipe looks like in the end they are learning and growing, and so are you!
My Pumpkin Oat Chocolate Chip Bread is a great introductory recipe to cooking with kids as it is a ‘throw all ingredients in one bowl and stir’ kind of a recipe.
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- 15 ounces pumpkin puree
- ½ cup milk of choice (I used almond milk)
- ½ cup vegetable or coconut oil
- 1 cup maple syrup (use the real stuff, no imitation)
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup all purpose flour (look for unbleached)
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon clove
- ¾ cup chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli Bittersweet Chips)
- COOKING TOOLS:
- measuring cups- 1 Cup and ½ Cup
- teaspoon
- ½ teaspoon
- large bowl
- large spoon
- Begin by mixing together the pumpkin puree, milk, oil, maple syrup and eggs.
- Next add the oats, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
- Add the chocolate chips.
- Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
- The bread is done when you stick a knife in the middle and it comes out clean (it's okay if there is a little melted chocolate chip on the knife).
- Cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
- Run a knife along the edges of the bread and then turn the loaf pan upside down on a cooling rack or cutting board so that it comes out.
- Carefully flip right side up.
- I love this bread still warm! Slice into pieces.
AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT ENHANCED BY MAKING PUMPKIN OAT CHOCOLATE CHIP BREAD
appreciation and knowledge of food
healthy perception of eating
mathematical skills
language development
scientific exploration
TIME TO MAKE THE PUMPKIN OAT CHOCOLATE CHIP BREAD!
Prior to beginning find all the necessary ingredients and cooking tools and put them on a table or counter. Getting organized before inviting your children to help will help the cooking experience be successful! Don’t have everything you need? Enhance the learning experience by heading off to the grocery store with your child to buy the ingredients. Bring a list they can hold.
Once you have your ingredients and tools organized on a table invite your children to cook. Get yourself in the frame of mind that cooking with children is a slow and sometimes messy process, but it is worth it! Begin by introducing your children to the different ingredients in the recipe. Let them smell the spices and even touch and taste if they want to. Learning is a multi-sensory experience.
When I am working with small groups of children either at home or in a classroom I like to have each child take a turn as we go step by step through the recipe. Getting to pour milk into a bowl or crack an egg(!) is an incredibly powerful experience for a child!
Begin by mixing together the pumpkin puree, milk, oil, maple syrup and eggs. Have each child put an ingredient into the bowl. Next give each child the opportunity to stir the ingredients together until combined. To keep it fair and keep your little ones engaged we sing a song as we stir. This is an easy opportunity to practice basic counting, verbal directions and patience. We sing “We stir and we stir and we stop. We stir and we stir and we stop. We stir and we stir and we stir and we stir, we stir and we stir and we stop. Next person!” It’s a simple song that everyone can learn quickly and helps manage turn taking.
Next add the oats, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Proceed in the same manner by allowing each child a chance to pour in an ingredient and then stir and sing. Can’t forget the chocolate chips! Have fun with it. Hand a few to your taste testers. You have to make sure they are good, right? Pour the chocolate chips in and stir.
Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
The bread is done when you stick a knife in the middle and it comes out clean (it’s okay if there is a little melted chocolate chip on the knife). Cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Run a knife along the edges of the bread and then turn the loaf pan upside down on a cooling rack or cutting board so that it comes out. Carefully flip right side up. I love this bread still warm! Slice into pieces. Take the time to sit and eat together. Promote a healthy appreciation for food by eating with your children. Enjoy!
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