The Great Kids Cook Challenge

In an effort to get my kids to cook this summer, I issued a challenge on Sunday evening at the dinner table.  I told the older 3 that the had to cook dinner one night this week for the family.  The dinner had to include an entree, fruit or veg, and dessert.  They also had to prepare their meal for $25.  Even if I had all the ingredients in the pantry, freezer, or refrigerator;  I would add in the cost to their total.
They were actually all very excited about the challenge, and they decided that there would be a vote on the best at the end of the week.
     Lauren decided Monday was her night.  She prepared her favorite Beefy Mac-n-Cheese, chocolate covered strawberries, watermelon wedges, and peanut butter cookies with M&Ms.  She did a great job preparing everything by herself.  She had browned sausage for me before, so I knew she could handle browning the beef.  The cost of her meal was $27.18.  Oopps!  She went over a little!

Lyndsey was upset that she was not included in the challenge, so on Monday night Lauren helped her put together a menu for Tuesday that she could prepare.  I did help her on Tuesday night.  My guidance was more telling her which things to do when so the meal came together within 45 minutes!  We were all hungry!  Lyndsey prepared spaghetti with meatballs, herb breadsticks, chocolate chip cookies (slice-and-bake), and watermelon/strawberry fruit kabobs with her PopChef!  The cost of her meal was $15.27.

Corynne cooked on Wednesday night.  She prepared chicken quesadillas, bananas and apples fruit salad, and a pumpkin spice-crunch cake.  Her cost was $19.75.  That was really good food for under $20!!

Tyler stepped up to the kitchen counter on Thursday night.  He prepared chocolate chip bread pudding, buffalo chicken sliders, cheese tator-tots, and apples with peanut butter as an appetizer.  The meal was really good, but he spent $26.33.  AND he left after he finished cooking because he got a call from a Trinity coach that they needed an extra player at practice so they could have a good scrimmage.  He was out of here before he could eat, so I got left with the dirty dishes :(

On Friday, I set up the voting booth because in this family it is always about a competition!  The kids cast their votes for each other because the rule was you could NOT vote for yourself.  We tallied the results on Saturday morning at breakfast.....

Points were assigned for the budget/cost of the meal.  Then point were given out for best entree, best side dish, and best dessert.  The winner was.....

CORYNNE!!!!  She sealed the deal with her delicious pumpkin spice crunch cake!  I think everyone had food in the kitchen, and we will definitely be doing this again this summer!  We will spread it out over more than 4 days because Mom actually missed being able to cook a meal this week!!!