There! I’ve said it! I do cook with my kids anyway but I don’t enjoy it. I tend to stress; that’s very un-FunMum-ish ins’t it? I’m always looking for VERY easy, non-stressful recipes I can use with my children to minimise my dislike. I usually adapt recipes so I don’t have to beat things. This is my latest creation:
Simple Tea Cake
1 tablespoon of butter
1/2 cup of sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup SR flour
Extra butter, sugar and cinnamon
Method
With a fork, mix together butter and sugar. Add egg. Add Milk. Add Flour. Cook in a 180°C oven for about 25 min. Test by inserting a knife in the middle of the cake. If the knife comes out clean it’s ready.
Topping
After removing the cake from the oven, smear a little butter over the top. Then sprinkle a few teaspoons of cinnamon sugar over the top.
And do you know what? After this activity, my nephew (pictured) went to the sandpit and did a wonderful cake creation. So, yeah, I don’t like cooking with kids but I’m going to keep doing it. It’s worth it.
Simple Tea Cake Recipe Sheet (click for PDF)
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I have always cooked with my kids since they were toddlers and I think its easiest when they are younger to do really easy stuff and keep it simple. Hmm now for toddlers I would cut in big chunks things to make fruit kebabs for example..so I would cut up chunks of paw paw, rockmelon, pick off grapes, chunk up oranges and kiwi fruit etc..anything, pineapple..then put the dishes on the table and get the kids to make their own fruit kebabs. You can do the same with vege’s and even say chicken pieces. Also..we would drain two fruits and then use the liquid to make jelly, put some of the two fruits into the little cups as well..ummm..use those little ice cream cones and you make up marshmallow (or whatever you put in them) but let them chose the colour and then decorate the tops of them like faces or just with odd lollies etc.. My daughters are now 11 and 9 years and they cook dinner here for us. They make homemade sausage rolls and chicken wraps etc..they love to make brownies and cakes from packet mix or from a recipe..but when they are younger its easier to teach them from a packet to just add a few things like egg and oil..muffins are always a goodie..now I dont help them at all..if they need a hand they come out to ask me, but they like to do it alone. Just pick things to make that are stress free..like banana muffins! lol
Oh and they loved when they were small to make their own little pizza’s for dinner or even lunch..I would buy small pita breads or even just use normal bread. I would put little dishes on table with pineapple bits, tomato paste, grated cheese (if you have older ones they can grate it or buy it grated), ham, mushrooms etc..anything they like to eat on their pizza like olives or capsicum, pepperoni etc….they get to make their own pizza..which they then eat cause they made it themselves! yummy
Loving the look of that cake…might give it a try!!!! looks like it’s not to bad in that it only uses such a small amount of butter….really enjoying your posts Kelly! Thanks so much for the joy of being able to read them…
p.s your nephew is such a cutie!!!!! and i love his sand creation!
Riley just about jumps out of his skin when I pull out the electric mixer. He knows that at the end he gets to lick on and so does Zoe. Makes cooking easier as your hands are free if it is on a stand.
I agree with Amanda though. Keep it quick and simple.
Pikelets in the shape of letters Z O E is very popular in our house.
Anything with eggs. See my humpty dumpty eggs blog, my kids are happy to have scrambled eggs cooked in the microwave, its the cracking bit thats fun.
mash potato mountains are fun. spoonfuls of mash that they cover with peas before eating.
fairy bread
french toast
packet cakes
I must admit, I love to get into the kitchen on my own sometimes there is far less mess.
Have fun cooking, soon enough they will do it for you.
Thats my son!!!! Yay Hamish!!! I hate cooking with the kids too……good one Kell…..now I am going to HAVE to do it!!!!!
I am so with you Kelly! My kitchen is small and it can be very stressful. I used to opt for packet mixes when cooking with kids, easier to empty a packet than it is to measure but now that they are older there are so many lessons in cooking (I homeschool) so we measure and read etc . I do it because I want them to know how to cook. But the days that they are playing and I can have the kitchen to myself…. ahhhh.
My daughter is gluten intollerent and she got the 4 ingredients book for her birthday – so that has been (almost) fun, usually only a couple of things to measure, quick to mix or put together.
Hi Kelly,
I think my best tip for cooking with kids is to prepare double amounts.
2 eggs: one for the floor and one for the cake
cup of sugar: 1/2 for the sink and 1/2 for the cake, etc…
great cake recipe. I LOVE LOVE LOVE TO COOK & BAKE and educating my lil bugs on good food and good health. We can’t all love al areas though. Craft makes me feel stressed LOL i rather bake than do craft how un fun am I but yes I still do it and put the happy mask on LOL
So true. We all have our ‘thing’ don’t we. I like you Erin
@Kelly Be A Fun Mum,
naww thanks kell, dont think its much fo a secret that I like you too
Great recipe, I wonder if oil would work in place of butter too?
@Virginia, Not sure Virginia…give it a go and if it works…let me know!
The good ole tea cake. I’ve been making this recipe, or one very similar, since I was about 8 years old. Yes…32 plus years…and it NEVER disappoints!
@Paula, Yep, works every time. Fantastic to have recipes like this hey…
I have a very imaginative and active boy who has just started school in Prep and is having some behavioural challenges the teacher and I are addressing. We chose a behavioural goal last week and the reward he chose was to “Bake with Mummy”. I frequently bake when the kids are in bed to avoid the mess and hassle, but occassionally they are included when I can handle it. His request was a real reminder what a special and interactive time this really can be… his treat and motivation. They are so precious our children.
@Jenny McDonnell, That’s beautiful Jenny. Thanks for sharing xx
Kelly,
It is so refreshing to hear you admit that you do not like cooking with your kids. Sometimes I feel kind of guilty, especially around friends that seem to get so much pleasure from it. All is not lost, though, I am happy to say. My husband both enjoys cooking and cooking with the kids! Ahh, I guess I am blessed in so many ways.
Looking forward to trying the tea cake! Thanks.
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Yep cooking with my kids really stresses me out so I try to avoid it where possible. But my LOVE to help all the time. This looks relatively simple. I might give this a go. Thanks
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