Kids learn by touching, smelling, reading and listening – which is why your home kitchen is the perfect environment to learn new skills! It is also the perfect place to talk about the importance of eating healthy foods, as well as showing your kids just how much fun healthy eating can be.
Light and crispy, covered in cherry tomatoes and full of fresh flavour – bruschetta is the perfect appetizer for any family gathering. Best of all, it’s easy to make with only a few ingredients. Preparing bruschetta – or almost any type of meal – can also support kids to develop their skills in decision-making, problem solving, counting, patience, teamwork and using their hands.
Cooking with your kids offers a wide variety of opportunities for them to learn and grow! Here’s how to make Easter Bunny-shaped Bruschetta and why it’s a fantastic way to teach your kids some life-long skills.
How to make Easter Bunny Bruschetta:
Preparation time: 20 mins
Cooking Time: 2 mins
Serves: 4-6 people
Ingredients:
• One French bread stick
• 1/2 punnet red cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 punnet yellow cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 medium-sized red onion
• 10 basil leaves
• 1/2 cup bocconcini balls
• 8 tablespoons of pesto
• Balsamic glaze
• Salt and pepper
Method:
Step 1: Slice your bread stick into 8 pieces (approximately 2cm wide)
Step 2: Toast bread until golden brown (you can use either a toaster or oven)
Tip: toast your bread for longer than usual so it doesn’t become soggy
Step 3: Slice half a cup of bocconcini balls into quarters
Step 4: Chop both red and yellow cherry tomatoes in half
Step 5: Dice half a medium-sized red onion
Step 6: Once your bread is toasted, use a butter knife or spoon to spread your pesto paste
Step 7: Using a small spoon or your fingers, evenly place the tomatoes, bocconcini and red onion on top of the bread
Step 8: Sprinkle with salt and pepper
Step 9: Garnish each piece with 2-3 basil leaves
Step 10: Time to drizzle the balsamic glaze over each piece!
It’s best to serve your bruschetta straight away so the bread stays crunchy and fresh!
4 Amazing Benefits of Learning to Cook:
Build your Communication Skills
Describing what you are doing as you cook or reading the recipe together exposes your kids to new words and phrases – which is expanding their vocabulary! Asking your kids to explain what they can smell, see or feel encourages them to think and choose the best words to describe what they are seeing or experiencing.
Your In-home Science Lab
When kids mix ingredients together they can see foods change colour, shape and texture – this is a great opportunity to make predictions. For example, what happens if the toaster time is set incorrectly? What happens when you add milk to flour? And what happens if you add heat to bread? All of these are cause-and-effect relationships (or reactions) which support the development of analytical and critical thinking skills important for school work.
Building Your Strength and Coordination
Mixing, chopping, stirring, kneading – cooking requires you to get active and use your hands. This can be great for kids who want to improve their strength, coordination and fine motor skills.
Learn Life Skills
Cooking is a valuable life skill and kids can learn early on how to be independent in the kitchen! They can learn how to make their own lunch, pour milk into their breakfast and safely use the toaster. Older kids can also learn how to cook meals for themselves and the family. Cooking also teaches kids various safety lessons, such as how to work with hot surfaces and safely use sharp objects.
Join Cooking School at Novita! It’s great for building confidence for kids, teens and adults, developing independence, and making new friends along the way. Cooking School participants are encouraged to share conversations about food and cooking and often share in a food-related game while they wait for their meals to cook in the oven. Whether you’ve got a budding Master Chef in the kitchen or someone who hates trying new foods – Cooking School is great for learning new skills.
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