Meal Theme Ideas And The Kids Are Cookin (with recipes)
Meal Theme Ideas And The Kids Are Cookin
Make a "Cooking with Emeril" party based on Chinese food. Have the kids make chef's hats. Provide a white apron for each child. First order of business is creating their own fortune cookies. Then it is on to Chicken Chow Mein. This is going to be messy but fun.
Makes 8 cookies
Ingredients:
*1/4 cup cake flour
*2 tablespoons sugar
*1-tablespoon cornstarch
*Dash of salt
*2 tablespoon cooking oil
*1 egg white
*1-tablespoon water
*Muffin tin that will hold 8 cookies
Instructions:
1. Have each child write or type up a fortune on small slips of paper before starting
2. Sift together flour, sugar, cornstarch and salt
3. Add oil and egg white
4. Sir until smooth
5. Add water and mix well
6. Make one cookie at a time
7. Pour 1 tablespoon batter onto lightly greased skillet or griddle
8. Spread batter to 3-01/2 inch circle.
9. Cook over low heat until lightly browned
10. With wide spatula lift and turn
11. Cook one minute more
12. Working quickly, place cookie on a potholder or oven mitt
13. Have kids place their fortune in center
14. Fold cookie half and fold again over edge of bowl
15. Place in muffin pan to cool.
Classic Chicken Chow Mein
Ingredients:
*1 pound chicken breast cut into `/4” x 1-1/2 inch pieces
*1-pound Chinese egg noodles, uncooked
*5 tablespoon cooking oil, divided
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1-teaspoon sherry
*2 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
*1-cup bamboo shoots
*1 cup Chinese cabbage, cut diagonally
*4-tablespoon soy sauce
*1/8-teaspoon pepper
*1 cup water chestnuts, sliced
*1 medium onion cut in wedges than halved
*2 ribs celery, cut diagonally
*1-cup green or red pepper cut in 1-inch squares
*1-cup fresh bean sprouts
*4 tablespoons cornstarch
*1-teaspoon ginger
*1-teaspoon sesame oil
*1-teaspoon oyster sauce
*1-cup chicken broth warmed
*Chinese Wok
Instructions:
1. Cook the Chinese egg noodles according to the package directions
2. Rinse the noodles
3. Toss with a very light olive oil coating to keep the Chinese noodles from sticking together
4. Put the noodles in a 13- by 9- by 2-inch pan
5. Cover with plastic wrap
6. Store the precooked Chinese egg noodles plus ingredients in the refrigerator in separate containers
Just before the Chinese Kids Meal Theme Party place each of the ingredients in plain view of the participants. The children will be able to select those items that they want included in their chow mein noodles.
Instructions:
1. Place a small amount of oil in large wok or non-stick fry pan
2. Spread cooked noodles in wok and cook without stirring until light brown about 2 minutes
3. Turn the pancake like noodles
4. Cook other side until light brown, about 2 minutes.
5. Divide noodles into each child’s bowl. As you cook each ingredient, put into separate bowls.
6. In same wok add more oil
7. Add chicken and sherry (alchohol content will cook off)
8. Stir-fry each ingredient for 3 minutes
9. Cook chicken
10. Mushrooms
11. Then bamboo shoots
12. Chinese cabbage
13. Water chestnuts
14. Onion
15. Celery
16. Green Pepper
17. Cook bean sprouts last
18. Have children assemble their chow mein ingredients
Allow the children to assemble their own ingredients for their chow mein.
Make the sauce in a small separate bowl
1. Mix together cornstarch and ginger
2. Stir in soy sauce to make a smooth paste like mixture
3. Add Sesame oil, and oyster sauce
4. Stir in warm chicken broth and bring to a boil
5. Slowly add cornstarch mixture
6. Stir to make smooth sauce
7. Put out for children to place on their Chow Mein
8. Chow mein can be served over fried noodles
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