2011Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service1 Couples in the Kitchen Provided by Barbara Brown, Ph.D.,...

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2011 Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Couples in the Kitchen

Provided by Barbara Brown, Ph.D., R.D.

Food SpecialistOklahoma Cooperative Extension

Service

Who are these people?

• Husband & wife• Engaged or dating couple• Others living together• Friends together for meal• Parent & child• Grandparent & grandchild

Benefits of cooking together

• 2002 survey found married & engaged couples who cook together at least 3 times/week are more satisfied with their relationships

Couples that cook together

• Talk more (30%)• Laugh more

(19%)• Work more as a

team (18%)• Are more

relaxed (13%)

Why it doesn’t happen• Traditional roles• Lack of skills• No interest in

cooking• Not enough space

for 2 to work at same time

• Conflicting schedules

• Lack of time

Make cooking “the” activity

• Activity to do together• Give it priority • Need not happen everyday•Can be cook ahead night

• Doesn’t have to be “scratch” or gourmet

Evaluate

• Either or both have cooking skills?•Read a recipe•Measure ingredients•Cut, chop, dice, slice, etc.

Evaluate

• What does each like to do?•Bake, stir-fry, grill, plan, shop,

clean-up, etc.

Evaluate

• What does each want/need to learn?•Everyone

should become self-sufficient

Evaluate

• What kind of foods do you want to prepare?•Nutrition needs,

preferences, occasion requirements

Evaluate

• How much money is available?•Special event,

everyday meal, tight food budget

Before cooking check equipment

• What equipment do you have?•Cake pans wrong size, oven not

working, lost the middle of the ice cream maker, waffle-iron broken, grill out of gas, still saving for food processor, lent electric skillet to a friend

•Can something substitute?• Is equipment clean?

How do the 2 add up?

• 1 inexperienced cook, 1 experienced

• 2 inexperienced cooks• 2 experienced cooks

Working with inexperience

• Strategy A•Give beginning cooks

simpler-to-master tasks•Choose simple recipes

•Chopping foods•Arranging foods•Setting table•Pouring beverages•Other?

• Strategy B•Demonstrate

tasks •Assume nothing•Supervise •Answer questions

• Husband & wife make cookies. As she read "drop dough on cookie sheet," she heard loud "clunk!" The husband—following directions to the letter—had dropped the bowl of dough on the cookie sheet!

Another story

• A cake recipe called for "egg whites." Looking at the egg, the new cook saw the egg shell as the "white" part of the egg & added it to the mix.

• Strategy C•Plan menu with

foods that can be prepared at different times. •Focus on helping the beginning cook

Example of Strategy C

• Put one dish in oven while rest of the meal is prepared•Menu:

•Chicken casserole•Fresh broccoli with lemon

•Raw baby carrots•Ice cream sundaes

Working with experience

• Strategy A•Divide tasks in a recipe•Play to each strengths & preferences•Don’t forget the chance to learn new skill

Working with experience

• Strategy B •Each prepares different recipes•Divide up menu

Tips for “together” success

• Be tolerant of how foods look•Berries sliced vs.

chopped• Lettuce cut vs. torn• Tomatoes sliced

vertically vs. horizontally•Glasses filled with ice vs.

only few cubes

For success

• Check the cupboards for ingredients & needed equipment before beginning to cook•Need to alter

menu?•Substitutions

available?

For success

• Serve snacks if you serving alcohol while cooking•Alcohol, empty stomach &

kitchen equipment can be dangerous combination

For success

• Have back up plan if cooking new recipes•Recipes can read better

than taste• Examples:

•Pizza in the freezer•“Pantry” menu available

For success

• Add ready-to-eat or take out foods

• Cooking all from scratch can be frantic, not fun•Examples: •Buy rolls or bread•Frozen vegetables•Frozen lasagna

Buy or cook?• Individual ingredients more

expensive than ready-made item?•Buy

• When equipment not available•Buy

• When main ingredients are in season•Cook

• Specific nutrition/food concerns•Cook

Set the mood• Play special music while

cooking & eating• Example: Cooking

Italian, listen to Italian music

•Adds to experience• In future will associate

music with the time cooking

When part of the couple is a young child:

• At first choose foods that don't have to be ready at a specific time•When hungry,

there's tendency to take over rather than let children learn

Give tasks appropriate for child’s age

• Be patient • Teach child how

to do these activities•Each has own

pace for learning

• Expect spills

Age appropriate tasks:2-year-olds:

•Bring ingredients from one place to another

•Wipe table tops•Tear lettuce or greens•Break cauliflower•Snap green beans•Play with utensils

Age appropriate tasks for 3-year-olds

• Can do what 2-year-olds can do, plus:•Wrap potatoes in foil for baking•Knead & shape yeast dough•Pour liquids from measuring cups•Mix ingredients•Shake liquids in covered containers•Spread soft spreads•Place things in trash

Age appropriate tasks 4-year olds:

• Can do all that 2- & 3-year-olds can do, plus:•Form round shapes with hands•Cut parsley, green onions with

dull scissors•Mash bananas, avocados with

fork•Set table

Age appropriate tasks5-to 6-year-olds:

• Can do all that 2-, 3-, & 4-year olds do plus:•Measure ingredients•Cut with a blunt knife•Use an egg beater

Remember food safety

Where to find recipes• Basic cookbooks•Look for simple instructions,

lots of pictures•Explanation of terms

• Magazines• Internet• Friends & family

Common challenge: cutting recipes

• Most can be cut in half or thirds• Dividing eggs: If recipe calls for

a large egg, use a small one or just the egg white

• May be easier to make the entire recipe & freeze rest for later

Recipe reduction math: half

When the recipe calls for

1/4 cup 2 tablespoons

1/3 cup2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons

1/2 cup 1/4 cup

2/3 cup 1/3 cup

3/4 cup1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons

1 tablespoon1 teaspoon + 1/2 teaspoon

1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon

1/2 teaspoon 1/4 teaspoon

Recipe reduction math: third

When the recipe calls for

1/4 cup1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon

1/3 cup1 tablespoon + 2-1/3 teaspoons

1/2 cup2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons

1 cup 1/3 cup

1 tablespoon 1 teaspoon

Put into practice

• Tonight’s menu•Meal in a Potato•Spinach-Orange Salad•Whole Wheat Rolls (purchased)•Yogurt-Strawberry Parfait

Strategies

• Divide into 4 groups• Each group will prepare entire

menu•1/2 make potato•1/2 make salad•All work on dessert

Strategies• Take a few minutes to learn

about skills & preferences• Decide on group strategy• Demonstrate, supervise, ask

questions• Everybody should be working• Find place to share meal

together

Thoughts on recipes

• Potato recipe•4 potatoes are already baked

for each group•Learn to prepare potatoes for

baking using 2 uncooked potatoes

Thoughts on recipes

• Salad recipe:•To prepare spinach:•Wash carefully & lift it out of the water•Remove tough stems•Dry well before tearing

•Section or chop oranges

Thoughts on recipes

• Strawberry Yogurt Parfait•Fatfree ice cream works will

too•Keep berries frozen for best

flavor

Review• Cooking together benefits more

than just speeding the process• Use different strategies to make

it work• Play to each person’s strengths

but let each try new things• Doesn’t have to happen

everyday• Be patient, have fun

2011Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service1 Couples in the Kitchen Provided by Barbara Brown, Ph.D.,...

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