What Happens When the Chef Is Eleven Years Old…

by Melanie | February 9th, 2012

That sounds like the start to a funny, or maybe even disgusting story, doesn’t it? And we’ve seen a few of those, too. I don’t think anyone will ever forget the Skittles in the rollups for lunch. They were, uh, memorable. Last night, though, was memorable in another way…

“Mom, can I make quiche for dinner?” I was head down in the taxes, so I didn’t even really think about it. “Okay, whatever.” He later asked if he could use the mushrooms in the fridge and a few chicken breasts. Soon, the most incredible smell came wafting out of the kitchen. It smelled like a fine French restaurant. Suddenly, I was starved.

Dinner was exquisite. Incredible. Wonderful. That eleven year old chef took a quiche recipe from my favorite cookbook and decided to adapt it, adding chicken and baby bella mushrooms. I was so enraptured, I posted about it on Facebook and someone asked, “How do you get an 11yo to have an interest in making dinner?”

Well, we assign him to, I told her with a smile. We go through a rotation of chores and chef is one of them (I love to cook, but am pretty swamped with the business/ministry tax stuff this time of year). The chef either helps me or does it themselves. Eleven to twelve year old boys are aching to become adults and would far rather do it themselves than help me. I also give them pretty wide latitude to decide to what to make within the confines of what we have on hand. They love being able to make decisions and be creative.

It’s really amazing what our boys can accomplish when we’re too tired to realize he just asked if he could make something complicated and messy! Bahaha

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Thanks to Jessica of Hove, UK for the lovely quiche picture since we were so starved from smelling ours no one was willing to wait while we found the camera!
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  • http://mystic-mom.blogspot.com/ Shanyn

    Love your chef!  Our son loves to help me cook as well…he is too young to use the stove and things on his own but he does love to be my sous chef!  

  • Anonymous

    my 11 yr old boy loves to cook as well. I haven’t let him loose in the kitchen for something like that, but I’ll have to consider it now!

    we linked up to the MOBSociety this week, too :)

    http://www.benandme.com/2012/02/growing.html 

  • Bekah Marshall

    I have a daughter that age, who will ask if she can make dinner if she gets hungry, and none appears to be immediately forthcoming :)  My son just tries to graze all day long (only 3, or I’d never be able to afford it!)

  • http://lens-and-pens.blogspot.com/ Tammy

    Great job!!!! It’s so nice when my boys cook a meal. :) Their future wives will thank you from the bottom of their hearts!

  • http://jennifervalerie.com Fruitfulvine2

    Wonderful. Our boys are 8 & 9 and they also have assigned days when they are responsible for breakfast.  We’ve enjoyed fried eggs, pancakes, sauteed veggies, bread & peanut butter, scrambled eggs.  God has really blessed us.  They asked me last week if they could be responsible for breakfast every day.  I told them sure except when we have to leave the house early. 

    I just discovered you site and subscribed in Google Reader. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts.