u/Crinni_Boo

So I’m the stepmom who was looking for recipes a little while back to teach her 12 (almost 13) year old stepson how to cook and I have fantastic news!

We had him for some time over Mother’s Day weekend and we made strudels together! He’s a natural in the kitchen and I could not be prouder 🥹

We’ve been very busy this weekend too! So far he’s learned how to make grilled cheese, watermelon soda, coconut milk fudge-sicles, burgers and corn on the cob! I showed him around the kitchen, taught him to never be afraid of any kitchen tool no matter how dangerous it seems- just appreciate what it can do, respect it and just be careful. I said, “For example- the blender has super sharp blades to blend whatever you put in it. I know those blades could hurt me if I touch them- I respect the blender is gonna use those blades to blend and do what I need it to do for my recipe. I am just careful not to touch them- a little common sense will keep you out of most trouble.” He said “Oh, I have plenty of that”- perfect! 🤷‍♀️ He looked at our veggie chopper and said he was looking forward to using that soon. I said “well I’m always looking for new recipes to make so today won’t be the last day we cook together” and he said “I hope not, this is so much fun!!” 🥹 He requested we make a cherry pie together today since “I see we have pie crust mix and cherries”. Am I the proudest stepmom in the universe rn? 😭 Nobody will ever tell me otherwise!!

ALSO- bio parents agreed to nylon safety knives thanks to some suggestions I read on my last post so he got to try out the set we bought him. He felt like a big deal having his own stuff and used it like he was born to do so! I told him in between weekends that he’s here try to think of recipes he’d like to try or that he wants me to teach him. I feel like this is the start of something beautiful and my heart is gonna burst with pride 🥰 I admittedly got a little misty eyed watching him chop up the watermelon with little to no guidance- I just told him to cut the green parts off and he went to town.

ALSO (part 2)- i had a legend planner cookbook notebook thing in the kitchen that I’d never used so I started a food diary for him for when he gets older. I wrote down all the funny things we talked about or that happened while we made the recipes together and I’m putting them in the order we made them / marking them with the date. I might only be stepmom but I’ll be damned if he’s not gonna be able to eat well!

So I’m a stepmom to a 12, almost 13 year old boy and would like to get him in the kitchen more with me (my husband and I have every recipe we’ve ever made together archived in a recipe box which we plan on leaving to him one day).

I would love to hear everyone’s go to recipes or kid safe / kid friendly ones (I’m happy to do the chopping but if there’s recipes that don’t need knives at all that would be great too!) Thank you all in advance!!