Create Lifelong Memories in the Kitchen
Give your family an opportunity to spend quality time together in the kitchen by engaging little ones. Simply involve them in the process to teach them some lifelong kitchen skills while having fun.
Turn cooking time into family time with these tips from Uncle Ben’s “Ben’s Beginners” campaign.
1. Have Kids Set the Table. Convince your kids to help set the table by putting out utensils, plates and napkins. It’s a simple task to get children of any age involved in family routines.
2. Let Them Stir. Give those fidgety fingers something to do by letting kids stir ingredients.
3. Get Clean. Use this time to teach food safety as your children help you scrub produce. As a bonus, it also helps reinforce washing hands.
4. Count on the Counter. Put your kids to the test to help count and measure ingredients as you add them to the recipe.
5. Rock ’n’ Roll. Blast some fun tunes. This can help hold kids’ attention while working.
6. Share the Joy. Make every moment sharable by staging the final product for a quick photo shoot.
7. Have Fun. Dress for the occasion with matching aprons and chefs’ hats. Tweak recipes to embrace your family’s interests and make dinner something to smile about.
For more tips and tricks on getting kids in the kitchen, and for recipes the entire family can cook together, visit beginners.unclebens.com.
Easy Rice
Prep time: 30-45 minutes
Servings: 6
1 box Uncle Ben’s Long Grain
& Wild Rice, Original
Recipe
2 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter,
divided
2 cups chopped leeks (white
parts only)
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped
fresh sage
1 large clove garlic, passed
through press
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
In 2-quart saucepan, add rice and
spice packet, water and 1/2 tablespoon
butter. Bring to boil, cover and reduce
heat to simmer. Cook 25 minutes.
In large skillet, melt remaining
butter. Add leeks and cook over
medium heat 15 minutes, stirring, until
soft and golden. Add orange juice,
lemon juice, sage and garlic. Cook
over high heat 2 minutes, stirring
constantly. Add cooked rice to skillet
and stir 1 minute until rice is hot. Add
salt and pepper, to taste, and cinnamon