School Holiday Cooking: Kid-Friendly Recipes Using Small Kitchen Appliances

What’s Cooking These School Holidays?

Gear up for some school holiday fun with meals and snacks you and the kids can make with these child-friendly recipes. We’ve hand-picked a selection of kids recipes that can be made any time of day. All recipes are perfect for bonding time which keeps kids entertained, learning a new skill and they’re rewarded with a cooked treat at the end of it.

Check out our school holiday recipes below!

1. TOAST TOPPING IDEAS

Having toast in the morning doesn’t have to be boring! Below, we share kid-friendly, delicious and easy toast toppings that will be a bright start to their (and your) day.

Make it with: De’Longhi’s Brillante 4-Slice Toaster

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SKU:CTJX4003W

Brillante 4 Slice Toaster - White

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With 4 toast slots, easy browning control knob and one-touch reheat and defrost buttons, this Brillante toaster from De’Longhi will prove to be a kitchen staple. Plus, with its “Extra-Lift” position, the kids can easily grab their favourite toasted bread on their own.

Simply toast your breads of choice and be inspired for toast fun with the below kid-friendly, tasty and healthy savoury and sweet toppings:

Savoury toppings:

• Avocado with scrambled eggs / baked beans
• Hummus with cucumber or tomato slices
• Pesto spread with ham/ chicken / scrambled eggs

Sweet toppings:

• Cottage cheese with thinly sliced strawberries / a drizzle of honey
• Peanut butter with banana & blueberries / apple slices
• Mashed bananas with cinnamon

2. FLIP IT FOR BRUNCH OR LUNCH

Get the kids involved with some simple cooking techniques that involve only a few basic ingredients and grilling that the kids can flip when the time is right!

Make it with: Sunbeam’s DiamondForce™ ReversaGrill™ BBQ Grill

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SKU:HGM3000DF

DiamondForce ReversaGrill BBQ Grill - Dark Blue

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This benchtop grill features a powerful 2200W heating element and reversible grill plate to meet any cooking need. Both are non-stick surfaces – the flat plate is great for cooking pancakes and fritters whilst the ribbed grill side will provide the grill effect required of foods like burgers, steak and bacon.

Recipe 1: Corn Fritters
Makes: 12
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 12 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 corn cobs
• 1/3 cup parsley leaves
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 3 eggs
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• cream cheese, rocket and smoked salmon, to serve

Method:

1. Remove corn kernels from cobs. Place half the corn in a food processor. Add parsley, flour and eggs. Pulse until combined.
2. Transfer to a bowl. Add remaining corn and green onions. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Preheat flat plate on setting MED. Add heaped tablespoons mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes each side or until golden.
4. Serve fritters topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon and rocket.

Recipe 2: BLTs
Serves: 4
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking: 6 minutes

Ingredients:

1. 4 thick rashers bacon, rind and fat removed
2. 2 large tomatoes, sliced
3. 8 slices bread, toasted
4. mayonnaise
5. salt and freshly ground black pepper
6. 8 lettuce leaves, torn

Method:

1. Preheat flat plate on setting MED. Cook bacon for 2-3 minutes each side or until golden.
2. Layer bacon and tomato evenly between toast that has been spread with mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Top with lettuce. Sandwich together. Cut in half to serve.

Recipes by Sunbeam

3. MICROWAVE RECIPES FOR ALL DAY MEALS

Simple prepare and then pop it into the microwave for effortless cooking even the kids will love! Let the microwave do all the hard work so that you and the kids can spend more time on play and other activities.

Make it with: Sharp’s 32L 1200W Flatbed Microwave

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SKU:SM327FHS

32L 1200W Flatbed Inverter Microwave – Stainless Steel

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Easy to cook with, this Sharp microwave features 1200W power, 23 Auto Menus and 2-Stage Cooking Sequence so that the microwave automatically moves from one stage to the next. Its flatbed design without a turntable also ensures easier cleaning!

Recipe 3: Easy Microwave Hummus

Ready in minutes, this hummus is an easy addition for toasts or a quick dip for snacks.

Ingredients:

• 1 can chickpeas (NOT drained)
• 2-4 cloves garlic (depending on how garlicky you prefer it)
• 1/2 cup tahini
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 3/4-1 tsp sea salt (depending on how salty you prefer it)
• 1-2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method:

1. Microwave undrained chickpeas and whole garlic cloves in a mixing bowl for 4-5 minutes.
2. NOTE: Reserve 1/2 of the chickpea liquid to add in as needed while blending. Add the other 1/2 of the chickpea liquid with the chickpeas and garlic to a blender or food processor and process with lemon juice, salt and tahini. Stream in olive oil while mixing.
3. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed. Add more of the reserved chickpea liquid as needed for creamier texture.
4. Taste and adjust seasonings as you prefer. We found 3/4 tsp of salt to be the perfect amount (amount as original recipe is written // refer to the lower end of range if altering batch size).
5. Garnish with a little more olive oil and paprika, and serve with veggies, crackers and pita. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or more. It tastes even better refrigerated, as it has time to thicken up and develop in flavour.

Recipes by Sharp

Recipe 4: Delicious Chocolate Mug Cake

Microwavable and sweet, this chocolate mug cake makes for the perfect sweet treat or dessert.

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon oil, vegetable or canola
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon chocolate hazelnut spread, plus more for topping
• powdered sugar, for topping, optional

Method:

1. In a 375 ml mug or larger, mix all ingredients (except the chocolate hazelnut spread) until just combined.
2. Once combined, spoon the chocolate hazelnut spread on top of the batter.
3. Microwave on high for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn’t spill over (depending on the size of the mug).
4. Let cool one minute before eating. Top with additional chocolate hazelnut spread and powdered sugar (optional).
5. Enjoy!

FAQs

1. What is a small kitchen appliance?
   • A small appliance is a compact benchtop kitchen appliance that will help prepare components of meals, reheat already-made dishes or completely cook dishes without the need for larger kitchen appliances. Small kitchen appliances include microwaves, mixers and blenders, multi-cookers and air fryers.
2. What are 5 small appliances that can make food preparation easier at home?
   • The choice of small appliance will ultimately depend on your cooking lifestyle and needs. For time-saving food and meal preparation at home, these are the top 5 small appliances to consider:
     1. Microwave Oven
     2. Food Processor
     3. Blender
     4. Air Fryer / Benchtop Oven
     5. Multi Cooker
3. How do you meal prep during holidays?
   • Make cooking easier during holiday periods by listing out family meal recipes everyone will want to eat. Cut down on time by having ingredients chopped and ready, such as fruit and vegetables. Take advantage of small appliances that will cook; like air fryers, multi-cookers, sandwich press and grills, so that all you need to do is assemble your dishes.
4. How to make cooking interesting for kids?
   • Let kids pick a recipe or dish and don’t forget to add lots of fruits and vegetables for a colourful and healthy meal!
   • Why not consider low maintenance meals that everyone can DIY, such as wraps, burgers, rice paper rolls, sushi or salad bowls.
   • Entice kids in the process by making sure they can help out, whether that’s mixing, watching the ‘cooking’ happen or assembling and garnishing the final product.
5. Where can I buy small kitchen appliances?
   • Small kitchen appliances can be purchased at electronic retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, Betta, Bing Lee, The Good Guys and Retravision. You can view the full list of retailers here. Each product page will also have a ‘Buy Now’ button that you can press to view retailers with stock in-store or online.