Cooking with Your Kids

Let's get something straight, right from the beginning: Dads can cook! Certainly, not all dads... but for the most part, we men-folk can get in the kitchen and emerge with something to eat that didn't come out of a can or the freezer. Whether our families want to eat our manly food is another matter entirely, and not the subject of today's post.

My youngest child, Soccergirl, takes after her father. She loves to eat. Moreover, she connects the fact that I do the cooking in our house with the result that I get more to eat, because I'm the guy making the food.

Smart kid.

Soccergirl has decided that it is time for her to apprentice as my "junior chef". Very often she will help me prepare meals, which I am pleased to do with her. It's just one of those things that we have that is just for the two of us.

My young apprentice has gotten into the habit of checking out cookbooks from her elementary school library. It isn't uncommon for us to spend the short ride from school to our house, discussing what we are going to make together over the weekend. Well, two weeks ago was no different, and Soccergirl decided that on that particular Saturday, she wanted Deviled Eggs.

So what is a father to do? Go to the supermarket and get the makings for deviled eggs, that's what!

We had to start early, because we had a soccer game to play that day. So... we began, of course with six extra large eggs, at room temperature, and a pot of water at a rolling boil. We boiled the eggs for the appropriate amount of time, removed them from the water and allowed them to cool while we had our soccer game, and then went on to lunch.


When we returned home, we assembled the rest of our ingredients: Garlic paste, dried Dill weed, salt, pepper, paprika, Ranch dressing, and some bacon bits.


Next, we shelled our eggs, and split them in half, down the middle.














Next, you can poor yourself a beer if it suits you... I did, see?

In a small mixing bowl, we combined the cooked yolks with the garlic paste, bacon bits, dill weed, salt, pepper, and some ranch dressing. All amounts are to taste... add or delete things as you see fit.






Next, you take a spoon, or an icing pipe and fill the already boiled & split eggs.

Put them on a plate and refrigerate for at least an hour. Sprinkle with paprika for a little color, and serve!


OK, I realize that this is the most scintillating cooking you have ever seen me do, but a dad's gotta do what a dad's gotta do.