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??"