Cooking with Kids: Caterpillars and Sailboats
Caterpillars Never Tasted so Good!
Words by Kayla & Justin Butts Photos by Rachel Benavides
When we tell our children they are having caterpillars for lunch, they get excited—like, really excited. They are even happier to eat a sailboat!
The caterpillars are melon balls on skewers decorated with healthy and delicious toppings. The sailboats are meatball hoagies designed to look like boats with sails made of cheese.
If you want your children to get excited about their food, make it fun and let them help prepare the dish. When kids help in the kitchen, they learn to value the work that goes into a good meal. They learn to be creative with food and to appreciate wholesome ingredients. They gain confidence in the kitchen. They are more likely to cook for themselves in the future.
We have to admit, we love this time in the kitchen as much as the kids. It is a joy to see our babes having so much fun, exploring with food, and increasing their skills. There is usually a mess to clean up after, but the laughter is more than worth it.
Making the caterpillars
To make your caterpillars, begin with cantaloupes, honeydew, and watermelons to get a variety of colors. Refrigerate the melons so the caterpillars are cold and refreshing–and easier to work with. Use a melon-baller to scoop out the flesh. Pierce the melon balls with wooden kabob skewers (we break off the sharp tips).
Top your caterpillars with granola, chopped nuts, dried coconut, fresh and dried fruit, honey, herbs, and even edible flowers, such as calendula. Use a toothpick to connect eyes of blueberries, dried cranberries, or chocolate chips. The antenna can be made from basil stems and leaves, rosemary, mint, or cilantro seed pods. The herbs add a surprising and wonderful flavor.
Line your serving platter with organic dried coconut, died a light green, to make a bed of “grass”. Everything on the platter is edible. We assure you, nothing will be left but a few wooden skewers.
Form the sailboat
For the sailboat, have the little ones form the meatballs from your meatball mixture. They will cook in only fifteen minutes. Meanwhile, have the children hollow out bolillo buns and make the sails from cheese. When they sit down at the table, the cheese sails will be gobbled down first, every time.
There is one element to this meal that your children may not appreciate for a long time. Many years from now, when they have children of their own, some of their best memories will likely come from the kitchen, cooking with mom and dad.
Your babes will make caterpillars and sailboats with their own children, and share the love, the laughter, and the good food you gave them. And you will see little ones eating caterpillars all over again.
Meatball Sub Sailboats
Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
Meatballs:
½ lb ground pastured pork
½ lb ground grass-fed beef
¾ cup parmesan, grated
¾ cup breadcrumbs
½ large sweet yellow onion, grated
½ cup carrots, chopped
2 tbsp fresh parsley, diced
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 egg
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp olive oil
Marinara Sauce:
1 tbsp olive oil
½ cup carrots, diced
½ large yellow sweet onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
16 oz can tomatoes (recommend San Marzano)
Salt and red pepper to taste
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
4 bolillos
1 cup fresh spinach or basil leaves
2 cups mozzarella
2 slices cheese (we used Havarti)
Directions:
For the Meatballs:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Using your hands or a wooden spoon, combine all of the ingredients (except for the olive oil) in a large bowl. Kids love to help mix and form meatballs! Divide mixture into 12 golf ball sized rounds.
In a large cast iron or oven-proof skillet, place olive oil over medium heat. Add meatballs to skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until nice and brown. Rotate meatballs and repeat, until brown on all sides.
Transfer skillet to oven and bake for 15 minutes.
For Marinara Sauce:
Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add carrots and onions and sauté until onions begin to turn translucent. Add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds before adding canned tomatoes. Season with salt and red pepper. Simmer over low heat for at least 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand an additional 10 minutes. Add basil and puree until smooth, making sure that kiddos get to press the button on the blender or food processor.
To assemble sail boats: Hollow out center of bolillo. Line hull with fresh basil or spinach. Scoop in two to three meatballs and cover with marinara sauce. Have kiddos sprinkle cheese on top of meatballs. Broil on HI for 2-3 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Cut sliced cheese diagonally to create a sail. Using a skewer, attach the sail to the sub.
Melon Caterpillars
Serves 6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
Whole watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, or your other favorite fruits
4 tbsp Honey
For decoration: Coconut, granola, chopped nuts, chia seeds, dried fruit, fresh berries, edible flowers, chocolate chips, fresh basil, fresh rosemary or fresh mint
Special equipment: melon baller, skewers, basting brush, and toothpicks
Directions:
Cut tips off of skewers using kitchen shears for younger chefs. Cut melon in half and spoon out seeds and pith. Using a melon baller, ask kiddos cut out as many melon balls as desired (6-7 pieces per caterpillar). Help children pierce fruit and form caterpillar according to fruit preference and visual interest.
Assist children in applying a thin layer of honey using a basting brush. Encourage kiddos to get creative with the toppings they apply – create antennae with herbs, “hair” with edible flower petals or coconut, and eyes with fresh berries or dried fruit. For extra insurance, use toothpicks to attach the eyes. Serve caterpillars with yogurt for a nutritious snack.
