Connecting With Your Teen in the Kitchen by Preparing a Gourmet Meat & Banana Dish Together

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

Since Sunday my triplet 13 year-olds and I have been shopping and cooking up a storm for the upcoming Jewish New Year, also known as Rosh Hashanah, which starts this Wednesday evening.  

We're expecting lots of guests over the three-day holiday, since the two-day Yom Tov (Jewish Holiday) is followed immediately by Shabbat (the Sabbath) this year.  So it's a good thing both my daughters love spending time in the kitchen creating with food.  I hope that this reassures those of you with boys and girls 12 and up that Yes, it is possible to communicate with teenagers.  All you have to do is find a common language like cooking together.

This morning, the older of my daughters prepared one of her favorite main courses called Costa Rican Ground Beef Patties with Grilled Bananas.  I acted as official photographer, as well as her prep cook, doing some of the more tedious tasks such as chopping onions, washing dishes, and cleaning counters, while she took center stage as chef.  

Apples are traditionally associated with both fall and Rosh Hashanah, so don't you think she looks festive in the colorful sturdy vinyl full apron she's wearing that we received from Davida Aprons?  

Watch for future posts of me and my girls wearing the other cheery apple finery Davida sent us.  This company, BTW, is well-known in the secular and Jewish worlds for their wonderful aprons and other themed items. In the meanwhile, check out the Davida Aprons site to learn more about why they are say they are the #1 manufacturers of Jewish Fun wear and Kitchen Kitsch that has been carried by stores such as Bloomingdale's.

I hope you'll try out the delicious recipe below which both kids and adults will enjoy any time of year.  Depending on their age (and abilities) you can have can have your own child do some or all of the easy steps involved in making this gourmet dish, too.  Even an elementary school kid will enjoy helping to mix the meat mixture together, for example.  The most important thing is to allow kids to do as much as they are able to.  Have fun, enjoy each other.  In the end, you will both feel so proud.

Costa Rican Ground Beef Patties

with Grilled Bananas

4 Servings

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef or turkey

1/4 c. matzo meal or bread crumbs

1 onion finely chopped

1 t. dry red pepper flakes

salt & pepper to taste

2 ripe bananas

6 T. melted margarine
You'll also need a little olive oil for frying the meat

Directions:

1. Mix in bowl all ingredients, except bananas and melted margarine

2. Firmly but gently shape meat mixture into small balls about 1 inch in diameter

3. Set rack in oven about 6 inches under heat and preheat broiler (you'll use this later for grilling the bananas later)

4. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a frying pan and then add the patties, cooking over medium high heat until meat is cooked through and browned nicely

5. While meat is frying, cut bananas first in half crosswise, then slice lengthwise (you'll end up with 4 pieces per banana) and place all bananas slices cut side up in baking plan and drizzle with melted margarine.

6. Carefully set prepared banana pan under the hot broiler for about 5 minutes until carmelized and browned, then remove from oven

7. Place meat patties onto serving dish first, then top with the grilled bananas

8. Serve hot with traditional Costa Rican side dishes such as rice and beans, either mixing the two together as one, or serving separate spoonfuls of each
9. Last, but most certainly foremost -- enjoy this for a nice sit-down dinner with your family 

What fun things do you do with your kids in the kitchen? Please feel free to post and share not only your ideas and recipes, but also your fondest memories of cooking with your children, too.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert's family received three apron apple-themed aprons from Davida Apron, including the one pictured to facilitate the test and review described but did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.   See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.