April 16, 2005

Cooking Rocks! Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals for Kids

Anyone who knows me also knows how much I enjoy watching Rachael Ray's show "30 Minute Meals."  While I was shopping with my kids, my son saw her book "Cooking Rocks!  Rachael Ray 30 Minute Meals for Kids."  He actually talked me into buying it.  Okay, so he didn't have to talk long, but he convinced me that it would be a good idea to get it and we could cook together.

The book is very simple, and its approach is very appealing to kids (cartoon images of Rachael Ray for one).  It's divided by age group, so it is easier to determine which meals you should pick out to prepare.

I asked my son to pick out his favorite recipe for me to share.  Here it is:

Cheese Fries

1 sack frozen french fries, any brand or shape, prepared to package instructions

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 + 1/2 cups whole milk

2 + 1/2 cups shredded yellow cheddar cheese (approx 10 oz)

1/4 cup ketchup (about 3 squirts)

Read the package directions to see what temperature to set the oven at, and have your GH (Grown-up Helper) preset the oven.

Have your GH put the fries on a cookie sheet and put that in the oven.  Read the package directions to see how long to cook the fries and set the oven timer.  While fries are baking, have a GH place a saucepan on the stove and heat it over medium heat.  Add butter and melt it.  add the flour and stir.  Cook butter and flour together for 1 minute or so.  This is called roux (sounds like Roo, Tigger and Pooh Bear's friend), and it helps to thicken up sauces.

Use a whisk to stir as you pour the milk into the pot.  Keep stirring until the milk gets thicker.  Use a wooden spoon or heat-safe spatula to stir in the cheese.  When all of the cheese melts, take the sauce off the heat and stir in 3 squirts ketchup.  This is your SECRET ingredient.  when everyone asks what you put in your cheese sauce that makes it taste so good, just say milk and cheese, you can NEVER tell what secret ingredients you add!  Tell your GH to keep the secret, too, or they can never help you again!

Pour the cheese sauce over the fries or serve the sauce on the side if you like dipping better.

Bradley rates this recipe at 4 out of a possible 5 frying pans.  To quote Alton Brown, he says "These fries are good eats, Mommy!"