Cooking with Kids-Easy Kid Friendly Recipes

My son, J, can be quite a handful. Mood swings, low self esteem, negative attitudes are just some of his struggles. He is on the high functioning end of "The Spectrum" of Autism. Through collaboration between his teachers, specialists, hubster and I, we discovered he loves to cook and help out in the kitchen. We use it as a reward for good behavior at home and school. Every Friday is cooking day at school as long as he's done well, tried his best, and maintains a positive attitude. He also gets to help me in the kitchen with dinner if homework and chores are done and he maintains a positive attitude. Giving him something to work towards, works for him.

Here are a few of the fun treats he made in school the past few weeks. They must be yummy since only a few treats ever make it home! Since they are made during school, they don't take much time and clean up is fast.

Sorry for the poor quality photo. These were scanned from pictures his teacher sent home of his cooking reward days.

Sunday Morning Sweet Rolls
(perfect for Mother's Day which is next Sunday, March 14th)

• 
  
  1 pkg refrigerator crescent rolls
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 8 large marshmallows
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tbl cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 and grease a muffin tin with cooking spray. Mix sugar and cinnamon together. Dip marshmallow in butter, then sugar mixture. Wrap crescent roll around marshmallow, sealing all edges. Dip entire roll in butter and then sugar mixture. Place in muffin tins and bake for 10-13 minutes.

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Peanut Butter Cookies

• 
  
  1 cup peanut butter
• 
  
  1 cup sugar
• 
  
  1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a cookie sheet. Mix all three ingredients together. Drop by teaspoonfuls on a cookie sheet about an inch apart. Bake about 10 minutes.

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Hamburger Cookies

• 
  
  vanilla wafer cookies
• 
  
  chocolate covered mint cookies
• 
  
  red, green, and chocolate frosting
• 
  
  melted butter
• 
  
  sesame seeds

Frost flat side of a wafer with a little dot of chocolate frosting. Top with chocolate covered mint cookie. Squirt a bit of red and green frosting on top for the ketchup and pickles. Place another vanilla wafer cookie on top of green and red frosting. Brush the top vanilla wafer with a bit of melted butter and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Jenn also blogs at Frugal Front Porch where she talks about food, kids, crafts, house work and anything else she can do on a budget.