Kyla rolling sugar cookies.

When I was pregnant with each of my five children, there was always a time when I was so sick that I could not fix dinner.  I laid on the couch with a bowl in my hand trying to ignore my family’s question, “Hey, mom, what’s for dinner?”  Thank goodness my husband can cook a few dishes.  He would come in and immediately go to the kitchen and begin preparing dinner.  What a lifesaver!

Lane can grill anything from vegetables to meat.  He makes the best eggs.  He makes award-winning chili.  These are his specialties.  Of course, he can follow any recipe.  His occasional help in the kitchen has saved us a lot of money.  We have not had to buy processed frozen dinners or order take-out from a local restaurant.

I have always cooked with my children.  As soon as they can sit on the kitchen counter, they watch me work and “help” when needed.  As they grow older, they help more and more until I am just supervising their cooking.  Eventually, I let them cook solo.

My daughter, Kyla, has always been interested in cooking.  She loves to bake.  In fact, her little brother Isaac only seems to think Kyla can make cookies.  If he asks for a cookie and I tell him we don’t have any, he shouts, “Kyla, make some cookies.”  She cooks independently most of the time and I have noticed that Isaac usually “helps” her.  She is going to make such a good mother.

Clayton is just getting interested in cooking.  I have told him time and time again that he cannot assume his future wife will be a good cook.  I have pointed out the many times when Daddy had to cook because I was gone or sick.  I have also pointed out that he will probably be a bachelor who will need to feed himself.  Lately he has been a big help to me in the kitchen.  I call him my sous chef.  He washes, chops, and minces the vegetables.  As I cook with him,  I explain why I am doing what I am doing.

Isaac is helping me ice a gluten-free brownie cake.

The other day Clayton made vegetable stir-fry all by himself for the whole family.  It was a delicious blend of fresh and frozen vegetables.  He chopped up the onion and garlic.  He shredded the cabbage.  He used a few bags of frozen stir-fry blends.  He chose to grate some ginger and added some crushed red chili peppers.  He also used a little wheat-free tamari sauce.  His stir-fry was so good served on jasmine rice.

As I sat there enjoying every mouthful, I wondered, “Does food always taste better when you did not make it?”  The answer is only when the person who made it can cook.  And, Clayton can cook.  He is now interested in making spring rolls.  Kyla wants to learn how to make lasagna by herself.  Jake wants to grill hamburgers.  I will continue to help my children learn to cook the dishes that interest them.  One day they might be able to teach me a thing or two.  That would be fantastic, a full circle moment.

I encourage every parent to teach their child to cook regardless of gender.  Males and females both need to eat; therefore, they both need to know how to cook.  The ability to make healthy and nutritious meals as well as having them aesthetically pleasing is a gift.  A gift that you can share with your children.  So tonight, teach a cooking 101 class.