7-10 years

Recipes

Family project 7-10

1. Chemist’s Dumplings

Making dumplings can bring the whole family together, and preparing the dough can feel like conducting an actual chemistry experiment!
You will need:
  • 600 grams of flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 beetroot
  • 150 grams of spinach
  • 1 tablespoon of turmeric
This scientific-culinary experiment aims to get three pieces of dough in different colors: red, green, and yellow.
  1. First, grate the beetroot and squeeze the juice into a deep bowl.
  2. Next, pour boiling water over the spinach, chop it with a blender, and place it in another container.
  3. In the third bowl, mix turmeric with 50 milliliters of warm water.
  4. Beat the egg with salt, mix it with 150 milliliters of water, and divide this liquid equally among the containers with the natural colorants. Add 200 grams of flour to each bowl.
  5. Knead three pieces of dough, wrap each in cling film, and leave them in a warm place for 20 minutes.
  6. After this, you can start the traditional process of making dumplings. Roll out each portion of dough, cut out circles with a glass, place meat filling in each, and shape the dumplings, which will be surprising in their color.

2. Charlotte

It is a beautiful and tasty pie that allows parents to keep children engaged in its preparation for a long time. Arranging an apple flower is a slow but interesting and valuable activity for a child’s motor skills.
You will need:
  • 5 apples
  • 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
  • 3 eggs
  • 150 grams of sour cream
  • 80 grams of vegetable oil
  • 250 grams of flour
  • 10 grams of baking powder
  • 200 grams of sugar
  • A pinch of salt
  • A packet of vanilla sugar
Preparation:
  1. Beat the eggs with regular and vanilla sugar and salt using a mixer until the volume doubles.
  2. Add sour cream, vegetable oil, and flour with baking powder, then mix everything thoroughly.
  3. Pour the batter into a greased round baking dish.
  4. Halve the apples, remove the cores, and slice them.
  5. Arrange the apple slices in rows around the dish, sticking them into the batter. It should look like a giant flower with apple petals.
  6. Optionally sprinkle the top with sugar for a caramel crust.
  7. Bake the charlotte in a preheated 190°C (374°F) oven for about an hour.

3. Syrniki (Cheese Pancakes)

A delicious and simple breakfast that you can prepare with your child.
You will need:
  • 700 grams of cottage cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar
  • A little vanilla sugar
  • 100 grams of flour
Preparation:
  1. Mix the cottage cheese, eggs, sugar, and about 100 grams of flour—adjust the amount of flour as needed. The dough should neither be too soft nor too firm.
  2. Shape the dough into uniform balls and flatten them into patties with even sides.
  3. Fry the syrniki for a few minutes on each side in a pan with a little vegetable or coconut oil.

4. Heart-Shaped Pizza

Making pizza together is exciting and fun. Children enjoy participating in the process and later devouring the culinary masterpiece.
You will need:
  • 1 pack (500 grams) of puff pastry
  • 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
  • 2 large tomatoes
  • 100 grams of hard cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of corn
  • 5 mushrooms
  • 300 grams of cooked chicken breast, ham, or sausage (a mix of deli meats works too)
  • Fresh herbs to taste
Preparation:
  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F) while preparing the toppings.
  2. Roll out the dough, shape it into a heart, and then spread the base with tomato paste.
  3. Peel and slice the tomatoes into rings and arrange them on the base.
  4. Grate the cheese and set it aside in a bowl.
  5. Peel the mushrooms and slice them thinly.
  6. Dice the deli meats into medium-sized cubes.
  7. Top the pizza with mushrooms, corn, and meat, sprinkle with cheese, and garnish with chopped herbs.
  8. Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes.

5. Pasta in Cream Sauce

Many children love pasta, so they will enjoy learning to make it with you.
You will need:
  • 300 grams of any pasta
  • 1 onion
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 80 grams of hard cheese
  • 100 grams of walnuts
  • A few sprigs of fresh herbs
  • 1 tablespoon of butter
  • 250 milliliters of cream
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
Preparation:
  1. Peel and finely chop the onion. Leave the garlic whole or halve if large.
  2. Rinse, dry, and chop the herbs.
  3. Grate the cheese on a medium grater.
  4. Toast the walnuts in a dry pan until fragrant, then let them cool and chop.
  5. Cook the pasta in lightly salted water until done, then drain.
  6. Heat the butter in a pan and sauté the onion and garlic until soft. Add the parsley and cook for a couple more minutes.
  7. Add the cream and walnuts to the pan, boil, reduce the heat, and cook until thickened—season with salt and pepper.
Combine the sauce with the cooked pasta, mix well, let the flavors meld for a couple of minutes, then serve.