Colonial recipes were known for being very innovative and delicious. The cooking traditions of the colonial times did not end there—they live on through historical sites and reenactments. Additionally, recipes that have been passed down for hundreds of years also allow colonial cooking to live on. Some might have changed over the years, but many recipes have remained essentially the same since they were first prepared hundreds of years ago. It is in this way that colonial cooking is not just a thing of the past. Elements of colonial cooking can be seen in modern day cooking, and they will most definitely be present in future kitchens as well.

The Same Old Shepherd’s Pie

One of the traditional colonial dishes that has remained a well-liked meal to this very day is shepherd’s pie. Shepherd’s pie is delicious, simple, and it is obviously popular enough to have transcended centuries. To prepare shepherd’s pie, you will fist need to gather the ingredients. The ingredients, which have remained very much the same since the time of colonial cooking, include: 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 2 pounds peeled and diced carrots, ½ pound peeled and diced turnips, 1 medium peeled and diced onion, 3 celery stalks, 13 cups of tomato paste, salt, pepper, one teaspoon of fresh thyme, ½ cup of flour, 2 cups of water or beef stock, 2 pounds of white or red potatoes, ¼ pound unsalted butter, 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, and 2 pounds of lean boneless leg of lamb.

To begin preparing shepherd’s pie, melt the butter in a Dutch oven (you can use a small saucepan if you wish) over medium high heat. Add the lamb, cook until finished, remove, and set aside. Next, add the vegetables and sauté for about 3 minutes. Add in the lamb, along with the thyme, and sprinkle the four over the mixture. Cook on low heat, and then add in the cold stock or water. Raise the heat so that it is medium high, bringing the mixture to a boil, and stir in the tomato paste. Add the salt and pepper, and continue to cook for 55 minutes.

While the lamb mixture is cooking, boil the potatoes over high heat for about fifteen minutes. Drain and mash them with the butter, egg, and yolk. Place this mixture in a pastry bag. When you are ready to serve, preheat your broiler. Place the lamb in small individual dishes, pipe the potatoes on top, and brown the potatoes over the broiler. Serve the shepherd’s pie immediately.

Don’t Mess With Tradition

Meals like shepherd’s pie have remained a classic favorite over the years. Since the time of colonial cooking, there are some things that have never changed.

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Cooking can be a chore for those of us who do it every day and bringing kids in to the equation is only a recipe for confusion and messes. However, this need not be true. Cooking can teach your children invaluable lessons and you never know they might grow up sooner than you think and take over. Just that thought may motivate you to read on.

Confidence and Creativity

As it is often said, confidence is the greatest gift you can give your child. When they help you make something and you give them the credit, you can see them feeling proud of their accomplishment and beaming from side to side. This is a big step in confidence because they feel they were able to create something which everyone is enjoying. Even if they mixed the dry ingredients when you were cooking or baking, the sense of accomplishment that ‘I did it’ is the most important lesson they learn.

Math Skills

While measuring ingredients, you can give them a practical math lesson while cooking with you. Asking them to double the ingredients if you are cooking two batches of soup or halving them if you are just making an appetizer size will help them practice their math skills without having to sit and work on a desk with paper and pens. They will also realize the practical aspect of math and may begin to put two and two together (literally) and like the subject even more when they can see how it is useful in everyday life.

Nutrition Skills

With childhood obesity levels at scary rates in the United States, cooking together is a great way to teach children some facts and figures about healthy eating and nutrition. Explaining how they just need a little olive or canola oil to make their French toast instead of deep frying the bread like there is no tomorrow is just one simple lesson you can impart. Trying out new fresh salads instead of desserts all the time is also setting a good example of healthy eating.

Equality

Equality in the kitchen is another great lesson you can teach by cooking with your kids. By telling your sons from a young age that they can pitch in too and that the kitchen is not only the woman’s domain, you are doing a big favor to is future wife and your next generation. Men who are involved in cooking and cleaning often have more respect for their spouses as they do not underestimate the time and effort it takes to whip up a meal and maintain a home.

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