Dads, you have many incentives for being in the kitchen and cooking. Whether you are a single parent, a dad who loves to cook, or out of necessity, you are the designated cook in the family, there are steps you can take to make cooking fun and trouble-free. Are you a science-oriented person; then you will probably feel comfortable following a specific recipe. If you have an artistic personality, then you will probably feel comfortable deviating from a recipe; you can vary the recipe to suit different tastes. If you have never cooked an entire meal yourself, then start with a very simple menu. Recipes are easy to get; you can ask family and friends for their favorites, or you can go online and select meals from numerous websites. What seems to cause the most problem for dads is the planning and the clean up. These two factors are what we will work on together. I will make recommendations and suggest various ways to increase your enjoyment, while decreasing your time and effort.
Let us begin with the first meal of the day, breakfast. Start with a basic menu, such as French toast with fruit. I recommend that you make certain you have all the necessary ingredients and utensils before you commence cooking. It may seem foolish to consider this step important, however many cooks have been caught by surprise because they did not make the necessary preparations. Do yourself a favor by making sure you have at least a cup of milk, four eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, powder sugar, and 2-3 slices of bread for each person. Many people, including myself have used regular sliced bread, but it can easily absorb too much milk and egg and become soft and flimsy. I recommend using a loaf of French or Italian bread; slice the loaf into two-inch wedges. It is vital that you include the kids in all your cooking activities, whenever possible. They can whip the milk and egg batter, pour the milk into the glasses, or set the table. In the morning, blend approximately a half cup of milk with two eggs, and one-quarter teaspoon vanilla. You may use a fork or a whisk to mix the ingredients. Use margarine, butter, or a pan spray to grease your frying pan. Soak the bread slices in the batter for 30 seconds on each side; put your bread into a heated frying pan on medium heat. When the down-turned side is a golden brown, flip the bread over. When both sides are a toasty color, remove them from the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon or powder sugar. Choose any fruit that is a family favorite; cut up and serve with your French toast. The importance of working together on this meal is to give you the opportunity to check their readiness for school, last minute quiz practice, notice any problems. It is a great fun time for everyone before the children go to school and you go to work.
Lunch can be a versatile meal; you can serve soup and a sandwich, along with cold vegetables, like carrot spears and celery stalks. It is easier to wash the dirty cookware immediately after a meal; sing silly songs or play a game, while you and the kids clean the dishes. These are great opportunities to teach valuable skills and lessons to your children and strengthen that bond between you.
The dinner menu can be more elaborate; you can serve pot-roast including potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions, along with a tossed salad. Season your roast with salt, pepper, just about any seasoning that appeals to you. Clean and slice the vegetables, put them and the roast into a large pot on a low heat setting. You can use any large pot with a lid on top of the stove or try using a crock-pot. The food will slowly cook for several hours. Have fun.