Cooking Coach Grampa can help build Gramkid's Self Image!

You're in a great position, Grampa, to help pump up a gramkid's self image by empowering him or her to gently take over the kitchen and "cook"!

Mother's day is a perfect day to unleash a creative combination: You and the kid in the kitchen whipping up great stuff just for the Great Moms  and Grand Mothers in the house.

The neighbor's surrogate gramkids and I "invented Choc-O-Cheese Sandwiches one rainy afternoon. when we were watching each other.   They liked them so much they asked their mom to make the little soda cracker, cheddar and chocolate syrup concoctions the next Sunday after church. The key to making these little treats is to first, ask for volunteers and then supervise with gentle shadow leadership from an invisible spot behind the junior chef*. My old friend Joe, the five year old, shot his hand in the air--and I gave him the component ingredients and got out of his way. I noticed how he smiled broadly and set about putting them together and passing out HIS creations to his brothers and sisters. I was for the moment forgotten. I was content with a few cracker crumbs in my mustache!

Here's ten simple recipes from Stephanie Gallagher on About.com that even younger gramchillins can put together with a little advance planning, a fun joint trip to the pantry and/or grocery store and restrained, gentle encouraging supervision from you, Gramps! Each title has a link to the simple, tasty recipe. Make a pact with one of your grams, pick a couple and plan on suprizing a mom or two at your house with some good things to eat and drink!

Ten Mother's Day Recipes Kids Can Make All By Themselves
Easy Mother's Day Breakfast Recipes, Dinner Recipes and Desserts
By Stephanie Gallagher, About.com Guide

1. Strawberry Smoothies

If the kids can operate a blender, they can make these easy fruit smoothies. They taste great, they're super healthy, and they go with everything. Even better: No mess for mom to clean up later. Now that's a great Mother's Day recipe!

2. Blueberry Muffins with Lemon Streusel Topping

These blueberry muffins are tender and light, and bursting with blueberries. The lemon sugar streusel topping really makes these blueberry muffins special. Although this is one of those Mother's Day recipes the kids can definitely make, be sure to help young kids with zesting the lemons (microplanes and zesters are sharp), and of course, using the oven.

3. Mini Frittatas

These frittatas are perfect for little hands to make and eat. If you're in a hurry, use a regular-size muffin tin instead of a mini muffin tin for this Mother's Day recipe, and bake 18-25 minutes until set.

4. Strawberry Yogurt Parfaits

Kids don't even have to go near a stove for this tasty, no-cook recipe. And who doesn't love a good yogurt parfait? This is one of those Mother's Day recipes you'll want to make with and for the kids long after Mother's Day is over.

5. Peanut Butter Stuffed French Toast

Kids will love making this peanut butter stuffed French toast, and everyone will enjoy eating this sumptious French toast? What more could you want in a Mother's Day recipe?
6. Green Salad with Grapes and Bacon

Sweet, juicy grapes combine with salty bacon and crunchy croutons in this Mother's Day salad recipe that is guaranteed to be a hit with kids and adults alike.

7. Egg and Sausage Breakfast Casserole

This layered Mother's Day recipe is easy enough for kids to make (with a little help from a parent or gramparent), yet still challenging enough for them to feel like they're really cooking. And the best part is you can have the leftovers for dinner!

8. Italian Pasta Salad

Mother's Day recipes should please everyone at the table, and this pasta salad will. Feel free to vary the vegetables to suit your tastes.

9. Watergate Salad

This cool and creamy pistachio pudding recipe works as either a side dish or a dessert. Either way, Watergate salad is delicious and this is definitely one of those Mother's Day recipes that's easy enough for the kids to make all by themselves.

10. Lemon Bars

"Mother's Day Recipes - Lemon Bars"Stephanie Gallagher
A little sweet, a little tart, these lemon bars are the perfect end to a Mother's Day meal. Everyone likes them, and they're portable, so if you're bringing dessert, this is an easy choice. 

*One more thing:  Grampa's Teaching Techniques are pretty well outlined in the post entitled  I took a Little Child's Hand in Mine. Click the link if you would like a little review.