Easy Macaroni and Cheese One Dish Meal with Tuna and Peas - Kids Cook Monday Recipe
So Easy a Child Can Make It
Cooking with kids can be fun and rewarding—especially for the kids! My brothers and I grew up watching our mother in the kitchen, sitting on the cabinets when we were only toddlers, watching her and sampling her wares, especially if it involved licking the beaters from the latest homemade cake batter. Besides the desserts, though, we helped out in the kitchen where we could and were often given jobs as appropriate to our ages.
Even little kids can stir something or spread butter on bread. As they get older, they can read simple instructions and mix up recipes. When they're responsible enough, they can handle pots on the stove without it being a danger. This recipe includes all of the tasks I just mentioned. And in no time at all, you have a meal for the whole family. It's quick, too, which is an added bonus for a week-night meal.
Kids in the kitchen
To this day, my brothers and I can all find our way around the kitchen. We can cook basic stuff, follow a recipe, or even be creative and make something up. As children, helping in the kitchen gave satisfaction. As adults, it’s a valuable skill, and, I don’t know about everyone else, but experimenting in the kitchen still gives me great pleasure.
Healthy foods to mix with macaroni and cheese
Today, I was having a craving for macaroni and cheese, but I wanted more with it. Then it came to me a recipe I hadn’t made in years—one that I used to mix up myself at home with mom. This recipe carried me through several times in college and many times as a young adult cooking on my own. This one is not only easy enough for the kids to make, but it's tasty enough for the whole family. Plus, it includes a healthy fish and a green vegetable…a real plus with mac and cheese!
Ingredients for All-in-One Mac and Cheese Meal
1 box macaroni and cheese mix, prepared according to the box
1 can tuna in water, drained
1 can sweet green peas, drained
Optional ingredients:
ground black pepper
1-2 garlic cloves, minced, or several sprinkles of garlic salt
What do You Think of this Recipe?
Get the kids involved with cooking!
A child of ten or twelve, with adult supervision, can read the instructions on the mac and cheese box, and cook it according to that. Generally, all the mac and cheese requires is boiling water, cooking for around seven minutes, and then adding some milk, butter, and the cheese flavored packet that is included.
The canned tuna and sweet green peas should be opened, drained, and added to the pot once the macaroni and cheese is fully cooked and mixed up. Simply pour in the tuna and peas and stir it all up. A younger child can help to pour in or mix up the ingredients if the pot is reachable and not too hot.
I add pepper to my recipe, as I love pepper. Also, a clove or two of garlic--or a few sprinkles of garlic salt--is excellent in this meal if your family likes garlic. Garlic is an ingredient that also has health benefits.
This meal is quick and easy, and even kind of attractive. Assign a child or two to spread butter or margarine on bread slices for everyone, and you’ve got a meal. And the children will feel proud, knowing that they helped.
A Simple Tasty Dinner
