DIT: Easy Weeknight Dinner

In a new series called it Do-It-Themselves, I'll suggest simple meal ideas that your kids can prepare (almost) entirely on their own.

The key to DIT dinners are healthy, pre-packaged (but as fresh as possible!) items that the under-10 crowd can unwrap and combine with minimal intervention. Okay, it's not rocket science, and anyone out there reading this can certainly complete the steps below without a recipe. But there's still an emphasis on creativity with dressings and spices that will give kids a sense of accomplishment, and most importantly, it lets you, the parent, see just how much they're capable of.

Here's an easy Monday night dinner that my 4-year-old pulled off in under 30 minutes--all I had to do was monitor the pots on the stove.

DIT #1: Butternut Squash Ravioli with Salad and Garlic Bread (serves 4)

• 2 packages refrigerated butternut squash ravioli (Trader Joe's or Cucina Fresca make delicious ones)
• 1 jar marinara sauce
• 1 bag pre-washed mixed baby salad greens
• 1 yellow or orange bell pepper
• 10-15 cherry tomatoes
• 1 baguette
• softened butter or margarine/spread
• olive oil
• rice vinegar or cider vinegar
• dried spices: dill, black pepper, salt, garlic powder

Parent Prep Tasks:

• Fill a large pot with water and set over high heat to boil
• Preheat oven to 375
• Slice baguette in half lengthwise
• Assemble all required ingredients in child's reach, including a non-slip cutting board, child-safe scissors and knife

Now you're ready to walk them through the list of instructions below.

Child Prep Tasks:

• Empty jar of sauce into a saucepan (Parent: place pot on stove and heat)
• Spread butter or margarine on both sides of sliced baguette
• Sprinkle buttered baguette with garlic powder, black pepper, and salt (optional)
• "Close" the baguette back up and wrap with aluminum foil (Parent: place in heated oven for 15-20 minutes)
• Cut open bag of salad greens and empty into a large bowl
• Sprinkle salad greens with dill and black pepper (salt optional)
• Wash bell pepper, slice into small pieces and add to salad
• Wash cherry tomatoes, slice in half and add to salad
• Measure 2 tbsp olive oil into a small bowl.
• Add 1 tbsp vinegar to olive oil. Combine with a whisk or small fork.
• Pour oil/vinegar over salad and toss using two large spoons.
• Set the table

Parent Wrap-Up Tasks:

• Add ravioli to boiling water and cook according to package directions.
• Drain ravioli and combine with sauce.
• Remove bread from oven, unwrap, and slice.

Aside from the extra help you'll get in the kitchen, you'll be amazed at how much your child can do on his own. I was completely impressed with my daughter's knife skills--her bell peppers were perfectly and uniformly diced--and not once the entire time did I hear, "I'M HUNGRY!" or "WHEN WILL DINNER BE READY??"

Recipe: Asian Lettuce Wraps

This recipe derives from the popular appetizer-version served at P.F. Chang's restaurants around the country. I've modified it for simplicity and kid-friendliness by adding more veggies and leaving the spicy elements out. With rice on the side, it makes a light but satisfying main dish.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 3-4

For the wraps:

• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 lb. ground turkey
• 1 cup sliced water chestnuts
• 2/3 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot
• 3 tablespoons chopped onions
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
• 6-8 leaves iceberg lettuce or napa cabbage
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

For the special sauce:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

1. Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.
2. Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve. (DO AHEAD: prepare up to 48 hours in advance)
3. Mince water chestnuts and mushrooms to about the size of small peas.
4. Heat oil to medium-high in a large frying pan.
5. Add ground turkey and saute, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes or until cooked through.
6. Add carrots, garlic, ginger, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan.
7. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until mushrooms are done.
8. While turkey mixture is cooking, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice wine vinegar in a small bowl and pour into frying pan. Simmer until most of the stir-fry sauce is absorbed.
9. Serve family style: assembly turkey in lettuce cups and top with special sauce. Add hot chili-garlic paste or Sriracha if desired.
   

Here are a few timesaving tips, as well as suggestions on how your toddler can help.

Timesavers:

• Buy water chestnuts and mushrooms already sliced, and carrots pre-shredded (typically available in organic varieties)
• Use jarred, minced garlic and ginger (found in the produce aisle)
  

Toddler Tasks:

• Pat lettuce leaves dry with a paper towel
• Fill measuring cup with shredded carrot
• Hold measuring spoon for liquid ingredients and add to bowl
• Stir special sauce with a whisk or fork
• Scoop minced garlic/ginger from jar

Finally, we'll cover food safety more in a future post, but a few quick reminders:

• Keep knives and other sharp implements well out of child's reach
• Do not allow child to add ingredients over a hot stove, or to a heated pan
• Avoid handling of raw poultry by child and follow steps to prevent cross-contamination

Have fun, and enjoy!

Product Review: Training Chopsticks

Being the sushiphiles that we are, my husband and I could hardly wait to get a pair of chopsticks into our daughter's hands. On her first birthday, she received the Combi Chopsticks Training Set and immediately set about trying to pick up everything from Cheerios to crayons.

What we liked about them: the thumb grip is reversible, to suit righties or lefties, and can be removed when the child has graduated to the next level. They're lightweight plastic but dishwasher safe, and grooved at the end to keep food from slipping out.

What we didn't like: they're confusing. Frankly, I'm still not sure which way the thumb grip should point for right-handed use. And in the long run, our little girl wanted to do exactly what Mommy & Daddy were doing, and that meant using 'grownup' chopsticks.

Our take: for under $10, they're cute, make a great gift, and won't break the bank. But it turns out that we've had the most success with cheap wooden chopsticks secured at the top with a rubber band and spaced with the folded-up paper wrapper (a trick we learned at our favorite sushi spot in Portland). Do-it-yourself instructions here.