While I do the majority of the cooking at our house, simply because I love it so much, we have slowly but surely been training our boys to read recipes and put simple meals together. Remember how they cooked for me on Mother’s Day? Dad played a big role in that, but still, it was impressive to me (as I sat locked in my office listening and blogging the play-by-play of the action) to hear that our boys know where ingredients are, and how to figure out a brand new recipe.
Most impressive to me, however, is the fact that our boys have learned to adapt recipes to make them healthier. I really had no idea that I was inadvertently teaching them this skill as we’ve cooked together. But as our two middle boys (ages 10 and 12) dug through our Better Homes and Gardens cookbook one day recently and decided to make a Brownie Pudding Cake, I found myself preparing to walk them through how to exchange less healthy ingredients for those that we typically bake with.
To my surprise, my assistance was never needed. I heard them reading the recipe aloud, “1/4 cup sugar – okay, I’ll get out the sucanat.” and “1 Tablespoon cooking oil…I think coconut oil would be the best one for this cake.”
I stayed out of the kitchen the entire time. They had it under control and knew just what to do. Might they still need my assistance at times while they are cooking? Of course. Not everything about “healthifying” a recipe is as easy as switching out sugar for sucanat, one for one. But it goes to show that if you talk through recipes while you’re cooking with your kids, they will learn an incredible amount, whether you realize it or not!
In case you’re interested, here is my boys’ version of a very tasty cake. They even got a picture…after we taste tested it. :)
Coppinger Boys’ Brownie Pudding Cake
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sucanat
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup milk
1 Tablespoon melted coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup sucanat
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
3/4 cup boiling water
Stir together flour, 1/4 cup sucanat, 1 Tablespoon cocoa, and the baking powder. Add milk, oil and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Spread batter in a 1-quart baking dish. Combine 1/3 cup sucanat, and the remaining 2 Tablespoons of cocoa powder. Gradually stir in boiling water. Pour evenly over batter. Bake at 350° for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Serve warm. Makes 6 servings.
I’ve created a free downloadable Healthy Recipe Substitutions Chart
that you are welcome to print and keep in your kitchen.
Here is more information I’ve written on substituting healthy ingredients.
And now for the giveaway!
I’ve found that summer is a perfect time to give my kids more time and experience in the kitchen. Interested in joining me in this endeavor? (With your own kids, of course. My kids would probably love to come cook in your kitchen, but they’ll be too busy scrambling eggs and making muffins in mine. Sorry.)
Last summer, we finished and launched to new books: Teaching Your Kids to Cook (written for the parent) and Learn to Cook (written for the student). We’re giving away one of each today (the downloadable version) as a way to encourage you to get your kids in the kitchen with you. And watch closely over the next few days. There may or may not be a sale on those books soon. :)
If you’re interested in winning one of these books, head over to the book description page and look them over. Come back here and leave a comment, letting us know which one would work best for your family. If you’d like extra entries for more chances to win, share this giveaway on Facebook, like me on Facebook, follow me on Pinterest, subscribe to my blog, and/or come mop my floors. I’d be happy to give you extra entries for any or all of the above. ;)
I’ll draw two random winners on Monday, May 28. Please watch for a post stating the winners as you will be responsible for contacting me if your name is chosen.
How much baking powder?? I saw it in the writing of how to make it but not in the actual recipe.. :)
Oops, sorry about that. I added that in. Thanks for pointing out that I’d forgotten it!!
Thanks… :)
Would love a copy of Teaching your Kids to Cook!
Followed you on Pinterest. :)
I would absolutely adore having “Teaching Your Kids To Cook”!!! I’ve looked at it several times (just never at a time when I’ve actually been able to buy it :o( …) and it sounds like exactly what I am looking for. I have a 3 and 5 year old who both really enjoy helping me in the kitchen, but I have no idea how to help them learn (mostly because I just taught myself to cook within the last couple of years – my family was generationally a boxed/canned/fast food type of family where Campbell’s Tomato Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches (made w/ that processed Kraft mess) was a delicacy! However, thanks to some wonderful blogs and resources like your’s, I have slowly but surely learned (and am learning) to cook from scratch, and I LOVE IT!!! However, I haven’t quite learned how to effectively pass that knowledge on to my children ~ so some help from someone experienced would be invaluable in my book!! :o) Whether I win this book or not, hopefully, soon I will be able to purchase it because a resource like that sounds perfect for us!! Thank you!!
I love that picture of your son cooking. There is just something about him…Adorable! Would enjoy your book.
I really enjoy your recipes and ideas Laura ;)
I’d say Teaching Your Kids would fit us better right now as none of my kids are reading yet :)
Thanks!
I also subscribe to your blog.
I’d come mop the floor with my kids, but you live too far away :) And mine could use it too!
Heather
I think that the Teaching Your Kids to Cook – For Parents of Kids Ages 2-12 would work best for us – That is the age range my kids are and we are working on teaching the younger ones more in the kitchen.
I follow you on pintrest
Jessica
I would love to have Learn to Cook. My 9 year old loves to help in the kitchen. He says he wants to be a chef one day.
I’d love either book, but think my son would really enjoy the Learn to Cook book for himself!
Teaching Your Kids would work great for us right now! My girls really love being in the kitchen and this book looks like a great way to help them learn. Thanks!
What a fabulous example of how much our children learn by OUR example!! And their recipes sounds great! We’d love to have the Learn To Cook ebook at our house! :)
My boys would love Learn To Cook
I would love to win Teaching Your Kids to Cook! Thanks for the giveaway!
I subscribe to your blog.
I follow you on facebook.
I would love the Learn to Cook book. My daughter loves to learn independently of mom’s instruction (although I would love either one).
She is always wanting to cook something, this would be perfect for her.
I subscribe to your blog.
I would love the Teaching your kids to cook one.
Would love to win the Learn to Cook book. My three kids all love to help in the kitchen, but I’m not as patient with allowing them to help or teaching them. It’s sooo much faster to just do it myself. This book would help me and them at the same time. =)
I like you on facebook!
I follow you on interest
I subscribe by email
Oh, I really want a copy of Teaching Your Kids to Cook! Actually, both look great, but I think that I really could use some help in how to get my kids more involved. My son has a Sesame Street cookbook which he loves to read but every time he picks out a recipe, we have to change about 3/4 of the ingredients it seems! Anyway, this resource looks amazing!
I would love to win Teaching your kids to cook!!
I would be interested in Teaching Your Kids to Cook. Thanks!
I think that Teaching Your Kids to Cook would be perfect for my family, but I am also sure my almost 7 year old is ready to fearlessly take on the kitchen, so she would say Learn to Cook!
I liked Heavenly Homemakers on Facebook.
I follow you on Pinterest.
We would love the Learn to Cook. My daughters 9 and 10 love to cook on their own. I have been very happy also to see them getting the hang of substituting.
My 8 and 9 yr old would love “Learn to Cook” :) And I’ve subscribed to your blog :)
I would love to win Teaching Your Kids to Cook! Thank you for the giveaway.
I subscribe to Heavenly Homemakers via email.
I would like Teaching Your Kids to Cook! Those look like fun activities!
I subscribe by email
I follow you on FB
I follow you on Pinterest
I shared this giveaway on FB
My 9 year old son would LOVE your Learn to Cook book! He’s been helping me bake since he was 2 years old (back then it was mashing bananas for banana bread and stirring together the flour, salt, & soda) and LOVES it! If you ask him or my 4 year old what their favorite foods are, there responses are mushrooms, onions, and broccoli. I LOVE that they love the good stuff and actually prefer it over the sweets and stuff!! I’m definitely following you on pintrest!!
I think that Teaching Your Kids to Cook would be good for us at this point! Would love to have both eventually though since they both look fantastic! My older two are 8 and 10 and I really need to learn to allow them to help and I think that your book would teach me how to teach them. Thank you for such a great giveaway! :)
I “like” you on facebook!
I subscribe to your blog via RSS
The “Learn to Cook” book would work best for my family! Thanks for the opportunity!
I follow you on Facebook.
I also follow you on Pinterest.
I’d love a copy of Teaching Your Kids How to Cook. My daughter is 4 and has always loved to help me in the kitchen. She’s been doing it since before she was 1!
What a great book!
Teaching Your Kids to Work would be a wonderful resource for us. I need to let go of some of my perfectionistic tendencies and get my girls in the kitchen. ;)
I subscribe to your blog in my feedreader.
“Learn to Cook” would be great for our kids. They’d eat it up. (sorry, I couldn’t resist. :)
I like you on fb
I follow you on pintrest
I subscribe to your blog
I shared this link on fb
Hi , My two daughters (7, 9) enjoy cooking. So I think The Learn to Cook book would be greatly beneficial for them. Thank you for this opportunity. Besides this would be a great gift for them since May is their birthday month for both of them.
I just subscribed thru email
We would love Teaching Your Kids to Cook.
I like you on FB.
I would love to win the teaching the kids how to cook book. Thanks for the opportunity.
I do subscribe to your blog.
The cookbook looks great. It could really come in handy in my family.
I would like the teach your kids to cook one
I follow you on FB
I follow you on pinterest
I think I would like the Learn to Cook one. My 3 oldest boys (6,8, and 10) have started wanting to make their own scrambled eggs and eggs sandwiches so I think they would benefit from this. And I know I could benefit from it!
I like you on FB.
Learn to cook would be great for my 8 year old
The Learn to Cook looks great! Thanks for the chance to win!!
I think the childrens cookbook would be just the right thing to challenge my little ones. thank you for the offer!
I would love the teaching your kids to cook book. I have 4 & 5 year old boys that really want to help in the kitchen, but I’m never sure what to have them do. We have also started our whole foods journey and would love to have the cookbook to help. God Bless
rss google
I subscribed.
We would love to incorporate “Learn to cook” into our homeschool lessons!
I subscribe
I would love the Teach your kids to cook! My grandkids would love it!
OooOOOhhh, I would LOVE the Teach Your Kids to Cook. We are embarking on the homeschool journey as soon as public school gets out next month. My 10- and 12-year-old boys would love to do this! Thanks!
“Teaching your kids to cook” would be fantastic! I know my son would love it!
I subcribe to your blog! (love it by the way!!) :)
“Teaching your kids to cook” would be fantastic! I follow you on Pinterest!
“Teaching your kids to cook” would be fantastic! I “Like” you on Facebook!
I would love to win the “Learn to Cook” book for my 13 yr. old. As much as he’s eating now it’s time for him to learn to cook on his own!
Learn to Cook (for kids) would be great for our family! As summer approaches, I’ve been rolling around the idea of having the kids do some extra cooking with me. I’m looking forward to trying some of the recipes on your blog that we haven’t gotten to in the school year. I didn’t even know about these cookbooks – thanks for reintroducing them.
I “liked” you on Facebook
Would like to win the Teaching Your Kids to Cook.
I would love the Teach Your Kids to Cook since my kids are 6 and under. I have been wanting to get them into the kitchen more and this would be perfect!
I like you on Facebook
I am an email subscriber.
I follow you on Pinterest
I subscribe to your blog
you know my kids are in the kitchen with me all the time & cooking alongside, so my first reaction to this was I wouldn’t need it….but after looking over your free 15 pages, I’m impressed! I really like the idea of a grocery list & budget, my kids are good at adding to the list – but not really thinking it thru on the money end of it! But I really like your pictures of the utensils & what they are for – and the layout of the recipes….I think I would really like to get this book & just go thru it with my kids cover to cover! And to win it would be a really huge awesome blessing :)
I love what I read in your Teach Your Kids To Cook. My kids and grandkids are too big for this, but I have my first great grand daughter and I would love to teach her to cook.
I follow you by email.
I’d love to win Teach Your Kids to Cook. My kids are tiny, but already love to help in the kitchen!
I like Heavenly Homemakers on Facebook.
I subscribe by email.
I follow in Pinterest.
This is my favorite recipe from BH&G. I have made it for years! I’ve been subscribed by email for awhile.
I would enjoy this ebook because I would like to use them as an opportunity to cook more with my kids. I don’t feel as patient in this area with them.
Teaching Your Kids to Cook would be best for us. All of my kids are 7 and under.
I “Like” you on facebook.
Oh gosh, I’m not sure which one. Either one would be great! My kids are 4, almost 7, 12 and 16.
I follow you on Pinterest.
Learn to Cook would work for us! I have a 10 year old daughter who loves to help in the kitchen and a 12 year old son that helps when he gets inspired!
learn to cook would be great over here!
I subscribe via email.
Teaching your Kids to Cook. I have a 7-year old granddaughter that I want to teach to cook.
I’d love to have Learn to Cook
I like you on Facebook, follow you on Pinterest and subscribe to your blog.
Learn to Cook would be great for my two boys.
Do we leave a different comment for each thing we do? I think both books would be good for us as I have younger and older kids, but Teach your kids to cook would be the one I’d chose this time around :)
Both books look awesome. The Learn to Cook book would be a perfect birthday gift for my soon to be 8 year old daughter who loves to learn to make things in the kitchen. A couple years ago, she made a tuna salad all by herself, as a surprise lunch for Mom. BTW, she used to think “sugar” only comes in brown at our house (sucanat) and white at Grandma’s LOL. This book would be great in helping to develop her cooking skills, and view her kitchen mistakes as learning experiences.
I subscribe to your blog.
I’m subscribed to your blog. Thanks for the chance to win.
I followed you on FB.
Ooohhh – I would love to have Teaching Your Kids to Cook – I’m always looking for ways to include all my littles (2,4,4,6) in the kitchen! Thanks!
I also subscribe to your blog and follow you on facebook!
I’m following you on Pinterest. I’d love the Learn to cook book for my 7 yo.
Either would be wonderful, but I now have a son who I will be cooking with soon…. so prob the “Teaching your kids to cook”.
I think my oldest son would enjoy the Learn to Cook.
I think the “Learn to Cook” would work best for our family.
I subscribe to your blog.
I have liked you on FB.
Ooh I’d like the Teaching your kids to Cook one…I know I need to get them in the kitchen more. Thanks for doing another giveaway! How fun. :)
“Teaching Your Kids to Cook” would be best for our family.
I “liked” you on FB.
I subscribe to your blog.
I would love Teach Your Kids to Cook!!! I have an almost 3 year old who LOVES to help me and is eager to do so in the kitchen.
I’m subscribed to your blog.
I’ve liked you on Facebook.
I also posted about the giveaway on Facebook. :-)
Two of mine would definitely be ready for the Learn to Cook. What a fun giveaway and great recipe to let the kids start with!
I subscribe by email.
I would love both books, but I think Learn to Cook would be best for us.
I subscribe to your blog.
I like you on FB
I follow you on pinterest
my son would love Learn to Cook
I would love the Teaching your Kids to Cook
I follow on pinterest
I follow by email
Teaching Your kids to cook! Thanks
I would like teaching your kids to cook!
I subscribe to your blog too :)
Alright, Laura, how many times did your boys double this recipe? It makes 6 servings?? Really???!!! Mine is in the oven now, but I decided it needed to be doubled just to fit into my smaller baking pan. Does a 1-quart baking pan even exist? :)
Pretty sure they didn’t double it, and they just used a small pyrex baking dish that we have. The cookbook says that it makes four servings, but we cut it into six decent sized portions so we could each have some. :)
Teach your kids to cook. I have a two and four year old and find myself sending them to “play with Daddy” while I cook:0)
I’d like to win “Teaching Your Kids to Cook’ for my grandchildren who are not able to read yet.
Learn to Cook would be great – my 7 yr. old loves to bake, and my 11 yr old is starting to like preparing snacks, now to get the 9 yr old and 5 yr old on board! :)
We’d love to try “Learn to Cook” – thanks!
Teaching your kids to cook would be great!
I think the Learn to cook would be good for us with my 9 year old. But Teach your Kids to Cook would be good for my 4 and 7 year old. 1 year old would like either one because he just gets to eat it all!
I am an email subscriber.
I liked you on facebook.
We purchased Teaching Your Kids to Cook when it first came out, so we’d love to win Learn to Cook. THANKS for the opportunity to win!
Teach your Kids to Cook would come in handy with my 2 year old as I need to take more time now to let her help in the kitchen. I want her to enjoy cooking!
We would love to win “Learn to Cook.” My 7 year old son would be all about it! He is very into cooking and being healthy! What a fun way to encourage it even more!
I am following you on Pinterest!
I am a subscriber to your blog!
I like you on Facebook and all the time! ;)
I’d like to try “Teaching Your Kids to Cook,” but since they’re busy, I’d love to have that book to teach my own when they are old enough. Thanks!
I would LOVE both books but I suppose I would choose the Lean to Cook for my daughter who is 5 years old but very ready to begin helping cook.
I’d love teaching your kids to cook. Thanks!
Learn to Cook would be great for my 10 and 12 year olds. But Teaching Your Kids to Cook would be nice for my 2 and 3 year olds. So either one would be wonderful!
Thanks for a chance, I would love to try either.
Lots deliecious!
I have four children, the two older would use the Learn to Cook and the two younger the Teaching your Kids to Cook! Both look great!
Any of the books would be good. My granddaughter and I will be cooking together this summer.
Both books would benefit our family of six!
Hey-thank you for offering this! I would love Learn to Cook
I would love to win the “Teaching your child to cook” e-book. We will be homeschooling for kindergarten this year and this would be a wonderful addition to our curriculum. :)
I am a follower on Pinterest.
I am an e-mail subscriber.
Learn To Cook would be wonderful for my husband! As a fifty year old first time Dad-to-be, he’s been a wonderful support for me (an almost 40 year old first time Mum-to-be with major morning sickness and no energy), and has stepped up to the plate working full-time and also almost singlehandedly now taking over running the house, but he still lacks confidence in the kitchen so it’s still me running that part, even if it’s by me sitting in a deck chair in the kitchen and giving paint-by-numbers instructions to him as he goes. I’d love him to be able to plan and prepare a whole meal without me sometimes, particularly once the baby arrives! This would be a blessing if this prize came to me! (it’ll be a blessing to whoever wins, thank you, Laura for your continued generosity!)
Teaching your kids to cook would be the best for us,….we have 4 daughters ages 6-11, they would LOVE to do this over the summer!!! :o)
I’m an email subscriber as well and the “Teaching Your Kids to Cook” book looks great!!!
I am subscribed to your blog. :o)
I like you on FB. :o)
Teaching Your Kids to Cook would be wonderful for us — the littlies love to help out!
I would really like “Teaching Your Kids to Cook.” My daughters love to “cook” with me and want to try to help me a lot in the kitchen.
Teaching Your Kids to Cook would be wonderful to go through with my 1, almost 3, and 4 year old boys :)
Teaching Your Kids to Cook would give me some motivation to get my kids in the kitchen more!
I want Teaching Your kids to Cook. I have 2.5yo DD and I would like to start out slowly with her now.
I follow your blog on bloglovin
I like you on FB – Joy Thompson Wrenn
I follow you on Pinterest – Joy Wrenn / A Joyful Life
I am a subscriber. LOVE getting your new posts!!!!
I am following your Pins. Interesting…
I just shared this on FB.
I am torn on which book I want to enter for? I have 3 kids, Swimchick just turned 11, ChessMaster/Ballboy is 9 and Dancing Princess is 5. None of them cook, and all want to learn.
I think I would like the Teach to Cook book for starters. Thanks much!
This would be helpful!
Learn to Cook would be a great addition to our homeschool curriculum! I love that it has menu planning and budgeting.
Teaching your kids to cook would be very helpful for us. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Would love to add these to my library!!
I would love to have Teaching Your Kids to Cook for my 4 year old daughter. She loves to help in the kitchen, but I want to be able to let go and have fun making messes together, while she is learning to make treats for others.
I just subscribed to your blog.
Learning to Cook would be perfect for my two daughters! Thanks for the giveaway! Would love to be a winner!
Teaching Your Kids to Cook!
Teaching your kids to cook would be great since my kids are 5 and younger! Thanks
Teaching you kids to cook would be wonderful! I’ve got three little boys (3,2, and 2m)I really think that boys should learn to cook!
I can’t wait until my boys can cook in the kitchen!!!
I would love to have the student book because my 10 year old knows some things and I think he would love to do it just himself. Thanks!
I subscribe to your blog.
I would love to win the “Teach Your Kids to Cook” cookbook. Thank you for the chance to win.
We would enjoy the Learn to Cook cookbook because my children are older.
I would love teaching your kids to cook!
I would love Teaching Your Kids to Cook! I have a 6 year old daughter and we are slowly trying to teach her so this would be a big help!
I am subscribed to your blog!
I follow you on Facebook
I shared this on FB too!
I am following you on Pinterest
We’d love learn to cook at our house, because I don’t spend the time I should in the kitchen with my kids.
Thanks for another great giveaway!
What a wonderful give-away! I already like you on Facebook, and I read your blog every day. Thank you for offering this!
Liked you on facebook. Would love the teaching my kids how to cook cookbook.
We have “special helper” day at our house. Whose ever turn it is gets to “help” Mom in the kitchen prepare the meals. This would be a great tool to use with them!
Thank you!
I would love a copy of Teaching Your Kids to Cook for my little guys! (I’m another mama with four boys! :))