Pro Tip: Mastering the Grill with Kids!
Author: Lead Pitmaster Rosalie Pareja
IG: @castironskillz
Hey Grill Masters Club Nation, it's Rosalie, your lead Pitmaster! Labor Day weekend is right around the corner and football season has just begun!
Have your kids shown interest in grilling and cooking? A great way to get them out on the grill is to find ways to include them in your cooks!
We put together 3 awesome recipe ideas that will make grilling your kids' favorite hobby!
Check out these 3 awesome kid focused recipe ideas on the grill
1. Mini Pizzas
Did you know you can make a personal pizza on the grill? All you need is small flatbreads, store bought marinara, shredded mozzarella and pepperoni. Preheat your grill to 325F, while you prepare the pizzas with the kids.
I highly suggest opening packaging, portioning out and setting the preparation space before getting the kids involved. This will prevent any snags, extra messes, delays, or potentially meltdowns in the preparation process!
Start by adding a small flatbread per child to a sheet of foil or butcher paper. Let the kids add their marinara sauce, followed by cheese, pepperoni, and more cheese! I also like to provide some extra toppings for customization. I finds kids to really like basil and fresh mozzarella.
Cook the pizzas on the grill at 325 F for about 10-12 minutes (check out our new Pizzori Pizza Accessory Bundle here -- it includes a pizza peel, a pizza cutter and a 15" cast iron pizza stone you can use on any grill or the oven!).
Let cool and serve!
2. Smoked Lemonade
What’s better than some lemonade on a hot summer's day? SMOKED LEMONADE!
To make a pitcher of this smoked lemonade with kids, all you need is about 6 lemons, 1.5-2 cups cane sugar, ¾ gallon of water, and a lot of ice! Some fun straws won’t add to the flavor, but will make it more awesome.
Start by slicing the lemons in half. I encourage you to take the opportunity to use this part of the recipe to introduce your kids into the early stages of knife skills! You can talk safely, and let them cut the lemons using your hand as a guide.
Dip the lemons into your sugar, just enough to coat the surface. Grill the lemons at 325F for about 10 minutes, or smoke the lemons at 250F for 30 minutes. Remove the lemons and let cool. Juice the lemons! I highly suggest taking turns or having multiple juicers.
While the lemon juice is still somewhat warm, this is a great time to add the sugar so that it will fully dissolve. Sometimes I like to add honey, but about 1.5 cups of sugar will do the trick. A sugar substitute will also suffice. Add ice all the way to the top of a pitcher, followed by the sweetened lemon juice. Fill with water and stir.
Pour up and enjoy!
3. Viking S’mores
A couple years ago, I attended a backyard BBQ and I was introduced to the viking s’more! I saw all of these kids walking around, eating these massive croissants stuffed with toasted marshmallows and chocolate. Yep, it’s that easy!
Start by slicing pre-made croissants horizontally, about ¾ of the way through. Then let the kids stuff them with marshmallows and chocolate chips. You can even provide extra toppings like sprinkles, peanut butter cups, crushed graham crackers, etc. Place the croissants on the top rack of the grill until golden brown.
Let cool and enjoy. These were a hit!
These kid-centerted recipes are a great way to get the kids comfortable around the grill. However I also encourage you to invite them in on your everyday cooking; finding new ways to include them, educate them and utilize their help!
Make sure to practice safety, establish some fun rules and always explain why it’s important to follow the rules and be safe around the grill. Try to have some fun with it and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Cooking is all about trial and error, and sometimes you have to embrace the chaos! These experiences will turn into memories you will always cherish!
