1Future Chefs
Somos/Veer/ Getty ImagesYour kids adore Iron Chef, Top Chef, and all the competition cooking shows. Bring the action home and host your own culinary showdown — for the younger crowd. We've got tips on how to transform your kitchen into your very own Kitchen Stadium. Ready, set, cook!
2The Teams
Digital Vision/ Getty ImagesBefore getting started, form your cooking teams. For birthday parties, aprons can make great party favors and help keep clothes clean. Each team should have a teen or parent acting as sous-chef, handling the heavy knife work and any stove use. If you need extra hands, ask babysitters for help. Depending on how many guests you're expecting, and their ages, feel free to form three teams of two or two teams of three — mix it up however will work best.
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3The Rules
Blend Images/ Getty ImagesInstead of winging it like the pros, give your teams a game plan. Create cards with a simple recipe on them — main dishes and desserts work well. Teams should then pick a recipe to cook using the theme ingredient. For instance, if the theme is "eggs," teams might square off to cook Classic Cheese Omelet or Bacon and Egg Cups. A dessert-themed challenge could pit Indoor S'mores against Cozy Cocoa Rice Pudding for a chocolaty finish. By picking easy recipes with familiar ingredients, you can introduce your kids to new dishes and flavors in a fun way.
4The Secret Ingredient
Caroline Schiff/ Getty ImagesThe most dramatic moment of any competition cooking show, especially
Iron Chef, is the reveal of the secret ingredient. But how to pick an ingredient that guarantees success? Keep in mind the children's ages and taste preferences. Are you hoping they'll try something new, or do you just want them to have plain old fun? Besides eggs, foods like apples, cheese, and bread make for versatile and kid-friendly selections. You can also choose a theme like Smoothie Showdown or No-Bake Cookie Contest. Check out simple, kid-friendly recipes like
Quick Applesauce,
Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwiches, and
No-Bake Chocolate Crackles for inspiration.
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5The Judging Panel
Lew Robertson/CorbisWhile kids can take turns judging each other's food, it helps to add an objective parental palate or two to the mix. Remind your little chefs that they're looking to impress the judges, so gross-out dishes with lima beans won't cut it. Even if a dish doesn't taste like Top Chef material, judges can award points for creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, and presentation. Can your kids think of a new way to serve classics like Macaroni and Cheese? To make judging easier, use two 10-point scales: one for taste and one for creativity. The team closest to 20 points wins.
6Everybody Wins
Ant Strack/CorbisNo matter how the points are distributed, everybody wins: Cooking together brings families closer. Children learn the basics of food preparation and kitchen safety, and parents can use this activity as an opportunity to discuss healthy eating and nutrition. Best of all, family time is invaluable, and you've just created some very happy and tasty memories together.
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