Cooking with your kids is a great way to build literacy skills, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Reading simple recipes, even off a box or package, teaches children to pay attention to details, and to read and follow directions. Here’s a simple summer meal you can make together as a family. HINT: Make the cheesecake first and have it chilling in the fridge.
Main Dish: Frito Pie
This was one of my favorites that my mom would let us help with.
Ingredients:
- 4-5 cups of Fritos corn chips
- 2 15- ounce cans of chili.
- 1 onion
- 2 cups of shredded cheese
Instructions:
- Set oven to 350 degrees F
- Dice onion into small pieces.
- Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 baking pan
- Dump Fritos into the bottom of the baking dish and crush.
- Sprinkle diced onions over crushed Fritos.
- Pour chili over onions and Fritos.
- Top with shredded cheese.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.
You can add cooked hamburger or shredded chicken, as well as diced peppers.
Side: Veggies and Ranch Dressing
Put the kids in charge of washing fresh veggies and pouring the ranch dressing into a small serving bowl. Parents should assist with any chopping.
Ingredients:
Pick three veggies:
- Baby carrots
- Broccoli
- Green or red sweet peppers
- Sugar Peas
- Sliced cucumbers
- Cherry or grape tomatoes
1 Bottle ranch dressing
Sweet Endings: Pineapple Cheesecake
This Crosley-approved dessert begins with a boxed cheesecake mix.
- Boxed cheesecake mix. Check the ingredient list on the box. You may need butter and milk.
- One small can of crushed pineapple
Instructions:
- Prepare cheesecake according to the directions on the box.
- Cool cheesecake in the fridge
- Drain crushed pineapple
- Top cheesecake with crushed pineapple just before serving.
Set the picnic table and enjoy! Happy summer cooking (and reading)!