#3: Cook Together
Unless you're a master chef, your Thanksgiving recipes are probably the most basic, simple, time-tested dishes you make all year. That makes them good for including your child in the kitchen action.
- If your child is excited about cooking, name him "chef" and take your place as "sous chef" -- the one who does all the cutting, chopping, frying, boiling, and other preparation needed so that your little Emeril Jr. can mix it all together with flair. Type or write out a special copy of each recipe with just the steps your child needs to follow.
- Your child may enjoy doing just one or two kitchen tasks -- mashing potatoes, maybe, or putting dots of butter on top of a sweet-potato casserole. Find little jobs that your child can do without a lot of fuss or supervision.
- Does your child have a special dish she enjoys making with you that's not a normal part of the Thanksgiving menu? Make it part of your Thanksgiving menu.
- A super-organized or fact-obsessed child may be just the person to put in charge of the schedule of putting items in and out of the oven. Make her kitchen supervisor and be ready to do her bidding.
- Bringing full, hot plates of food to the table may be too much of a challenge for your child, but he may be happy to fetch empty platters and bowls for you to fill up.
- For an illustrated recipe to make with your child, try Jim's Apple Pie.
Next: #4: Host Together
