Aug. 22, 2007 - What happens when you let your kids make dinner
We recently watched a show on the food network called Iron Chef. Two chefs are given a surprise ingredient and access to a pantry and have to come up with several dishes to be judged in just an hour. Like most cooking shows, the end result is creative and beautiful on the plates.
My kids were inspired and one Sunday night I told them they could make their own dinners using leftover shrimp and whatever else they could find. Here is the menu they presented. (warning, if you are feeling queasy, pregnant sister, this may not be for you)
Peace:
Dried mango soaked in a warm oil glaze topped with crushed chow mein noodles.
Summery shrimp salad with featuring walnuts and corn, fresh off the cob.
A lemon –dill cream cheese on sourdough toast strips with coriander, pecans and corn.
Jessamyn:
Corn salad with a garlic ginger sauce and fresh basil
Shrimp in a crushed chow mein coating, with a side of cinnamon Thai BBQ sauce
A sourdough nectarine roll-up drizzled with a honey lemon mint glaze
Gabriel:
Fried shrimp with sourdough breading seasoned with chili, onion, Cajun spices and ginger, served with a warm lemon dill cream sauce
A half nectarine with honey glaze
A bread and corn loaf with basil garnish
Aren’t they “plated” beautifully? As we like to quote my Grams—Presentation is everything! And it all tasted really good at judging time.
For some reason, maybe because our family has so many adventurous cooks, our kids really like unusual and gourmet foods. I laugh at them because from a young age , they loved all these things most kids their age have never heard of or wouldn’t try—like pestos and tapenades and various curries and chipotle and smoked gouda and sun-dried tomatoes and hummus and lemongrass and peppercorns and ganauche and gelato and chabatta and parfaits….
Then there’s Bachelor Food. Gabriel has started making what he calls Concoctions. Basically you take a carb—leftover potatoes, rice, a ripped up tortilla, pasta, put it in a bowl, add cheese and many sauces and spices (usually with a lot of mustard) heat and eat. I remember my brother doing this only with vinegarette dressing instead of the mustard. And you have to eat it at about 9:30 pm after your mom already fed you a full dinner and you are supposed to be going to bed, but suddenly you’re so starving you will perish if you don’t have “real food”. No girl would ever dream up these combinations, that’s why I call it bachelor Food. Actually, the worst bachelor food I ever heard of was some guys I knew who would not even cook their ramen noodles, just sprinkle the flavor on and munch on the block. That would be too easy for my son. His has to have creativity and Presentation.
Peace makes the best Tofu. Really, she has a custom blend of spices. Jessamyn makes the best grilled cheese. You grill sourdough with Italian cheeses in butter in which you’ve fried fresh basil and garlic.
Comments
Aug. 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Rebeca
Yes, this is definitely not for pregnant sisters. But after your pregnant sister(s) have their babies, maybe your kids could come over and cook us up some gourmet delights.
Beca
Aug. 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Wow, they can come and cook for me anytime. What creative chefs you have.
Hope you are doing well and have enjoyed your summer. Love Shawna
Sep. 2, 2007 - You Iron Chefs
Posted by momblog
What a GREAT project! I applaud their use of ingredients, ideas and beautiful presentations.
So did you all decided what you liked best? Many of the dishes sounded absolutely delicious! Your children are welcome to come to our house and cook anytime.
I'd like to add that learning to improvise and cook without a recipe is a necessary, WONDERFUL skill that often takes years to hone.
Sep. 7, 2007 - Yummmm
Posted by AutumnTerrill
Can I come over and sample your inventions sometime? Sounds super yummY!
