Kids love to cook, and these recipes can be made as a family activity. Your child will learn to measure and combine basic ingredients, and they'll see how food transforms from raw to cooked!

Quick and easy recipes for kids

Creepy Cat Sandwiches

These sandwiches are simple enough for young children to make with minimal assistance. You can use any type of roll or sandwich bread cut into circles (the dark bread looks more dramatic), and choose your children’s favourite filling. This recipe will serve 4.

• 4 round rolls
• Salad
• Cheese
• Ham
• Breadsticks
• Low salt tomato sauce 

Slice the rolls in half and top with cheese, ham and salad.

1. Add 6 bread sticks to each sandwich to form the whiskers, and 4 breadsticks for the ears.
2. Break 2 breadsticks in half and poke to halves to form the eyes.
3. Squeeze tomato sauce around each eye.

Eerie Eyeball Pasta

• 400g lean beef mince
• 30g breadcrumbs
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 Tbs. parmesan
• 2 Tbs.Tomato paste
• 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• Fresh basil
• Stock cube (look for a low-salt variety)
• 200g Spaghetti
• ¾ cup light sour cream
• 1 can pitted sliced olives

Meatballs:

1. Boil pasta in boiling water until cooked
2. Mix mince, onion, garlic, herbs and egg
3. Gradually add the breadcrumbs until mixture is firm, yet moist 
4. Roll mixture into medium sized balls 
5. Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat.
6. Fry the meatballs until brown – keep them separated and be careful when you turn them to keep them from breaking. 
7. Pour off excess oil

Tomato Sauce:

1. Saute tomatoes, stock and paste for 45 minutes (the longer the better). Sauce can be made in advance and frozen or refrigerated. 
2. Add basil
3. To serve, place pasta in bowl and top with a generous layer of tomato sauce. Top with meatballs dipped in sour cream. Garnish the meatballs with olives and you’ve got some eerie eyeballs!

Fairy Cakes

These are delicious and very easy to make – and kids love to decorate the top with sweets. This recipe makes 15 cakes. 

• 1 Tbs. milk
• 3 eggs
• 125 g caster sugar
• 125g self-raising flour
• 80g butter, melted
• 15 muffin cases
• 80g low fat cream cheese
• Hot water
• 50g icing sugar
• Dried fruit or sweets for decoration 

1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (350°F and line a muffin tin with the paper cases.
2. Whisk the milk, eggs and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy.
3. Gently fold in the flour and butter.
4. Fill the cases (until they are approximately half full).
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until they are cooked and golden
6. Cool on a wire rack
7. Beat the water and icing sugar until thick and smooth and spread on the cakes. 
8. Decorate with sweets

Pizzas

Everyone loves pizza! Pitta bread makes a yummy, healthy base which leaves more room for topping than the usual variety. Just be prepared for some mess! This recipe will serve 4-6.

• 4 Lebanese flat bread or pitta bread
• Tomato paste or puree
• Oregano
• Selection of cut vegetables such as peppers, mushrooms and onion
• Fresh pineapple
• 40g diced ham
• 200g pizza cheese (mixture of mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan)

1. Preheat oven to 200°C
2. Spread tomato paste over the bread
3. Top with a selection of vegetables and meat
4. Sprinkle with cheese 
5. Place pizzas in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted