Kids in the Kitchen!

At the beginning of the Summer I received a sweet phone call from a beloved neighbor. She began to explain that she just wasn’t very confident in her cooking ability. She didn’t feel like much of a teacher to her children in this area…but, her heart’s desire was for her children to begin to learn how to cook! My first thought was “I’ll do it!” (before she even asked for my help) and my second thought was “What an awesome mom.”

So, it was set…we decided we were going to do a  ”kid swap”… She took my little ones for an afternoon and I took hers. I had the blessing of training her children up in the kitchen!

Here of some photos of her girls cooking with me. We made three lasagnas -one for my family, one for the girls to take home, and one for a friend who had surgery. We also made salads and homemade brownies! I enjoyed teaching these sweet girls and they seemed to have a ton of fun! I was so surprised how quickly they dug their hands into the ingredients and “got cookin”!

Here are some photos of our day…

Cooking ground beef/Italian sausage

Adding eggs to the Ricotta

What a fun afternoon!


Pretty good for their first time making lasagna, wouldn’t you say?

Ladies, let me be an encouragement to you to pull up those kitchen chairs to your countertop and let your little one’s watch and help you in the kitchen. Don’t worry about egg shells, milk spills, or flour on your floor…all of that can be cleaned up. The gift of hospitality is precious and will be such a blessing to your children.

Let me also encourage you to make a “little extra”, especially with meals like lasagna. One small tray can be a HUGE blessing to a family who could use a meal. You would be amazed at the gratitude shown when you take a meal to someone’s home who has just had surgery, had a baby, or is being weighed down with the stress of life. Be the arms and hands of Jesus and share His love generously!

Love to you,

Janelle

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About Janelle

Janelle is a Christian, a Wife, a Stay at Home Mom of 3 young children and a proud- to- claim- it “Foodie”. She absolutely loves to cook and typically has an audience of 3 children, pulled up on chairs, taking turns pouring ingredients into bowls. Her spiritual gifts are a mix of “hospitality and evangelism” and is here in the center of God’s will hoping to help you get a little more "comfy in your kitchen"! You can find her displaying step-by-step photos of her recipes, giving devotionals,and sharing meal ministry stories on her blog Comfy In the Kitchen.

  • Jenna

    This makes me tear up in a good way. My mom never taught me to cook. I have taught myself over the last 15 hrs I have been married. There truly is something magical when you teach children to cook. What a sweet ministry you are doing!

    • Janelle

      Jenna, thank you so very much for your comment. It is such an encouragement to me…Making meals with and for my family is so much more than just food. Isn’t it neat how God knew we would have to “need” something in order to take moments for ourselves and others? What an awesome God we serve.

  • Sharon

    I wish I had a neighbor like you! To teach me how to cook!!! And then I can teach my daughter how to cook (she’s only 20 months right now). I never was very interested in learning how to cook until I got out on my own and then got married. Now I have loads of recipes to try out (some from recipes you’ve posted on Courtney’s blog!) but I tend to get in a rut and stick with the tried and true recipes that I know how to make and typically have the ingredients for on hand. But, my husband is concerned about his health and I know a lot of that is attributed to the kinds of foods I make. I like the unhealthy ones (and he loves to eat them), but knows his pre-marriage diet was much healthier.

    • Natalie

      why not see if any of your friends have tried and tested recipes too and then have a monthly get together at each other’s houses to teach each other your recipes/learn how to make theirs. Finish off by eating the meal together … because official testing is THE most important thing :) 3 or 4 of you plus kids in the kitchen will be a bit insane but also good fun! What ‘unhealthy’ food do you like? You can usually make most ‘junk’ food healthy with a bit of thought. I always make my own pizza dough/burgers etc at home.

    • Janelle

      Aww, thank you so much Sharon! I wish I could help you in person too! I would love that. I have a “Comfy in my Jeans” section on my blog ( http://comfyinthekitchen.com/category/comfy-in-my-jeans/ ) which is all about “healthy”. I am very sensitive to those who are struggling in the kitchen-there are step by step photos that take you through the entire process… I know it isn’t in person, but it’s close. I also suggest purchasing grass-fed organic meats…it is amazing how much it matters. Doctors in my area refer people to one of our local farmer’s butcher shops in order to lower their cholesterol…they are still eating red meat, but it is less fatty! Amazing hu?! I also think many times we feel we need to make ALL of our meals “Kid friendly”, but we don’t have to… There are times I make my husband and I a nice dinner salad with grilled meat and give the children the chicken that I made for the salad with a fruit cup and some bread. Thank you so much for your kind comment and many prayers go out to you and your sweet family! Love to you, Janelle

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  • http://www.womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com womenlivingwell

    OH Janelle! Where can I sign my kids up for this cooking class in your home? – I think you are on to something lol!!! I LOVE this and your heart Janelle!!! As always – thanks for an inspiring post…my kids can finally crack an egg without a mess – (sigh of relief) – just a few short years and they’ll be true helpers. You encourage me to stick with it when the going gets tough!
    Courtney

    • Janelle

      Courtney…I would LOVE to give your kidos a cooking lesson! Let me know when/where it would fit in to homeschooling and you are on! ;) Plus, you get to take a free meal home…good deal. Love ya!

  • http://thechuppies.blogspot.com/ Kara @ The Chuppies

    Love your heart to welcome them in…and share the area where God has gifted you.
    Thanks for the encouragement to include our kiddos in the kitchen…
    I want to be your neighbor :)

    • http://thechuppies.blogspot.com/ Kara @ The Chuppies

      Side note–it’s SO true about the gift that a meal can be….

  • Joy

    Love it Janelle! This is so encouraging and so needed! I appreciate your heart of encouragement through food so much. Thanks for encouraging us today!!

  • http://www.babystam.blogpost.com Renee

    Amen, we love cooking her and have lots of little hands helping, what a blessing! Thank you for your encouragement today!

  • Muthering Heights

    That is so sweet! What a wonderful way to bless those sweet girls!