Cooking with the boys
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- December
- 30
As the only woman in my family of four, I’m usually the only one in the kitchen. My husband, who is happier than most men to do his share of chores and more, will avoid the kitchen like the plague. So it was a pleasant surprise when on Christmas Day, he and our oldest son said they wanted to help in the kitchen.
My Christmas cooking was simple. Born and raised in India where cooking is usually stove top, I’ve so far used my two oven for storing pots and pans. On Christmas Day I decided to give the ovens a try. On the menu was spinach soup, roast chicken, roasted potatoes and roasted vegetables. Now that I had decided to use the oven, why not go the whole hog!
Billi, who is 12, helped rinse out the herbs for the chicken — basil, rosemary, marjoram, parsley and bay leaves — and helped chop some which were to be stuffed under the skin of the chicken. He helped stuff the cavity with rosemary and lemons, drizzled olive oil over the chicken and sprinkled pepper and salt as I rubbed it into the chicken. My husband cleaned and cut the potatoes (he loved potatoes) and tied the chicken’s legs with a metal wire because we didn’t have the required string to do so.
The meal was a success and everyone tucked in because they had a part in putting it together. Aristu, our 2 year old, for once decided not to be fussy and declared after nibbling on a piece of chicken, “yumm … del …i…cious.” He even sang “happy Birthday” when we lit the candles on our table centerpiece.
The Christmas Day cooking has given my men a taste of the kitchen. They enjoyed it, though I have to say that they haven’t offered to help since. But now that they have taken the first step, I’m hoping the next time will be easier. Let’s see …
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 at 1:03 pm by Hema Easley.
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I too have 4 sons, now grown. To get them involved in cooking we initiated a once a week kid’s cooking night. Each son had a turn once a month to choose the dinner menu, help with the shopping, and do as much of the preparation as they could, with guidance and help from mom when needed. Some were more adventurous than others – we did have to limit the number of mac and cheese and taco dinners – but the result is that they each enjoy cooking, are good cooks, and are a big help in the kitchen when they aren’t cooking. So, keep up the good work – let them cook what they like at this age, and encourage them.