Author: Melanie

Thanksgiving is just a week away, and that means a lot of us are looking for recipe ideas!!  I really like the idea of getting our older kids involved with the holiday meal planning and preparation!

Here’s another fun clip from Clive and Ian!  Oh, and it’s probably not a good idea to rub pie on the computer screen. The whip cream gets everywhere!

For today’s blog, I have interviewed my 12 year old son, David.  He’s been my official sous chef since completing a middle school cooking class last year.  I love cooking with my son, even though he’s been known to get a little bossy in the kitchen!  (I have no idea where he learned that trait!)

The recipes used for today’s blog are actually ones that David made in his cooking class and was graded on. We will be enjoying these dishes at our own Thanksgiving feast! –And yes, HE will be making them all by himself!

Zesty Zucchini Casserole (Great side dish for your feast!)

Ingredients:

3 Cups cooked brown rice

4 Med. zucchini

3 Med. tomatoes

1 lb Monterey Jack cheese

2 Cups sour cream

1 4oz can diced green chilies

1 T Parsley

2 T green bell pepper–chopped

2 T green onion

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:  Spread  rice in a 9”x13” pan.  Cover with zucchini and layer half of the cheese. Layer with tomatoes.  Mix sour cream, veggies, and seasonings, and then pour /spread over the tomatoes.  Top with the remaining cheese.  Bake at 350* for  30 minutes.

Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

Baking apples  1/ person

2 Cups Corn Flakes-crushed OR Oatmeal

Honey- enough to make the mixture stick together and be crumbly.

1/2 Cup walnuts (we substitute oats due to a nut allergy!)

Cinnamon-to taste!

nonstick spray

Directions: Slice apples and layer on the bottom of a pan, sprayed with nonstick spray.  Combine crushed cereal, honey, walnuts, and cinnamon into a crumbly mixture.

Pour / spread the crumb mixture over the top of the apples.  Bake at 350* for 30-40 minutes, until hot and bubbly. **Serve with ice cream or a dollop of whip cream!

Oh, David has asked me to remind everyone to please wash their hands and then make sure their cooking stations were cleaned up afterward! Thanks, Dave! (Bossy, isn’t he?)

Let’s encourage our bigger kids to make a genuine contribution to the Thanksgiving table!  It doesn’t have to be elaborate– in fact, a box mix of brownies are the perfect challenge for a beginning cook!!

Do your older kids help out in the kitchen?  If so, please share some of their achievements with us!  The holidays are a great time to experiment with some new dishes!