Get the kids in the kitchen with 'The Princess and the Frog: Tiana's Cookbook Recipes for Kids'

November 11, 1:43 AMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

Previous Next

2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Early Childhood Parenting Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

The Princess and the Frog:
Tiana's Cookbook Recipes for Kids
Credit: Disney

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get the kids cooking in the kitchen. Get them trained and ready before attempting the "big meal" at the end of this month... with some fun, kid-friendly recipes from The Princess and the Frog: Tiana's Cookbook Recipes for Kids.

Something easy that they'll enjoy eating and that they can practice now and make them for the whole family for breakfast on Turkey Day- with your help of course- are the beignets in the cookbook. They are a New Orleans classic and when you explain to your kiddos that they are fancy doughnuts they are going to be pumped about this recipe! This would also be a fun recipe to make before going to see The Princess and the Frog movie when it opens December 11th!

The beignets we made with Tiana's Famous Beignets recipe.

My daughters (3.5 and 2 years old) helped me make these and had a blast. I let them do the mixing and the sugar dusting - but everything with the stove and oil I did myself, as should you! (Tips for having a great (and safe) time with toddlers in the kitchen plus kid-friendly cooking tools)

The folks at Disney have given permission to share it with you. You can check out more of the book HERE.

Tiana's Famous Beignets

• From: The Princess and the Frog: Tiana's Cookbook Recipes for Kids
• Makes about 2 dozen small beignets or 14 large ones

Ingredients:

• 3 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• vegetable oil (for frying)
• powdered sugar (for dusting)

Directions: (Note: this is my interpretation of the recipe and not the exact wording from the book)

1. In a bowl, combine dry ingredients, minus the powdered sugar (which is for the garnish) and 1/4 cup of the flour (you'll use that when kneeding the dough).
2. Whisk together the buttermilk, water, egg and vanilla.
3. Pour into flour mixture and mix into a dough.
4. Meantime, heat oil in a pan on the stove to a steady 325 degrees. Oil should be about 2 inches thick give or take. Note: this part should be done by an adult and it would be best to have kids no where near the stove in case the oil splatters when dough is dropped in! So if you're having your kids help out with making the dough be sure to do this at the table or another area of the counter.
5. Dust counter/table with remaining flour. Take your gooey dough out of the bowl and place into flour and kneed a bit.
6. Make dough into a large 1/2 inch thick square and slice into squares. About 2/5 inches for traditional beignets (or smaller for little kid mouths).
7. Drop a few beignets into the hot oil (making sure to keep the temperature constant and not let it get too hot). Fry for about 3 minutes then flip for 3 more. If making smaller ones, cook for 2 minutes or so on each side. They should be a nice golden brown color when done. Again - this is a step only adults should do because hot oil is dangerous.
8. Remove beignets with a slotted spoon and let cool on paper towels in a plate or on a wire rack.
9. Move back to your kid-friendly area and let the kids dust the tops of the beignets with the powdered sugar. Use a sifter for optimum dusting New Orleans style!

• Gift guide for little chefs
• Tips for having a great (and safe) time with toddlers in the kitchen plus kid-friendly cooking tools
• Safe and fun kids cooking tips from Disney's animated TV chef "ZeFronk"
  
• Make your own easy & cheap kids' chef hats and no-sew aprons for holiday cooking
• Monsters, Inc Blu-ray review
• 'Up' Blu-ray/DVD review
• Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving DVD review
  
• Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure review