There’s nothing more real and heartwarming than bringing the family together and creating new family traditions through cooking. Have you ever noticed how whenever friends or family members get together, they somehow always end up hanging around the kitchen. There’s just something about delicious food cooking on the stove and everyone pitching it that makes everything feel warm and cozy. Kitchens aren’t just for cooking. They’re also for bringing your family and loved ones together. When everyone pitches in to create delicious meals together, your heart will practically explode, watching your family create a legacy. Create a family legacy by cooking some hearty Italian recipes, and you’re taking it to the next level!
Everyone Gets to Learn New Skills
Cooking together as a family is one of the best ways to bond and create new family traditions. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, there’s always something to cook no matter what your skill set. Can you think of anything more amazing for the adults and children to cook together than a sumptuous, classic Italian Chicken Parmesan? This is the kind of meal that everyone in the family loves. Your family will love it even more if they had a hand in making it.
Let the kids pound the chicken with the mallets, and allow them to be responsible for seasoning and dipping the chicken into the spicy batter like mini master chefs. They’ll have a ball being so hands on, and they’ll be more likely to eat the finished product, too! Kids are more likely to eat food they’ve had a hand in making.
If you have older children, they can be responsible for pre-cooking the chicken in olive oil before it’s time to put the entire batch into the baking dish. This is where everyone can work together tossing in layers of basil, spices and cheese. Cook up a batch of pasta while this is cooking in the oven so that you’ve got a delicious bed of noodles to layer everything. You can now christen this Family Chicken Parmesan night, and it’s almost guaranteed that your kids will want to do more.
Cooking Together Brings Busy Loved Ones Closer
Everyone’s busy these days. Your partner may work late a lot, or you may have random and inconsistent hours that make scheduling anything difficult. Set aside a special night to cook together. It doesn’t matter how far in advance it is. Just knowing that you’ll be cooking together will fill you both with excitement.
Another amazing meal that can work its magic on busy family members is Balsamic Chicken. This recipe is so simple that you almost can’t get it wrong, but it’s aso just labor-intensive enough that it makes for a fun cooking session for two. Good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar are key here since those two ingredients make the recipe. Open up a bottle of a bold, rich pinot noir in order for it to balance nicely with the spicy, acidic chicken.
In no time at all, you’ve got a delicious meal that the two of you have made together. You’ve most likely laughed and talked in ways that you’re not always able to due to your schedules. This is another way that cooking together as a family brings you closer together. Working together to create something delicious and nourishing for each other brings you closer.
Cooking Together Teaches Healthy Habits
It’s so easy to grab takeout after a busy day or week. The problem with ordering takeout is that you’re usually ordering food that is not the best in terms of nutrition. By cooking together as a family, everyone gets to learn how to make recipes that are healthy and taste good. Italian Chicken Skillet is perfect because it’s quick and easy to make, it’s nutritious and it tastes delicious.
Loaded with skinless chicken breast, bunches of fresh spinach, diced tomatoes and pasta, it’s ready to eat in 40 minutes, making it the definition of healthy fast food. Your family will learn that there are ways for them to prep quickly and get all of their nutrients without sacrificing taste, even with sumptuous Italian recipes. This dish will make you feel much better than the chicken lo-mein from the questionable takeout spot.
Follow It All up With a Tasty Sweet Treat
After your family has put in the work for a delicious family meal, let them have a bit more fun by assembling a nice, sweet treat for dessert. We suggest the Squeeze ‘n Easy Gourmet Cannoli Kits which can be whipped together in a few minutes, straight out of the box. Each kit can make six cannoli, including mini chocolate chips and cherries as garnish. Drizzle a bit of your favorite chocolate syrup to take it to the next level.
