Sleepovers . . . Eat-Overs!

About author / Christine Gable

Culinary enthusiast; kids cuisine and slow cooking; magazine recipe developer; professional writer. Her simple recipes are great for family dinners.

Is there a kid alive who doesn’t love a sleepover? And anytime there’s a group of kids, you know it won’t be long until the hunger pangs strike.

I was listening to NPR the other day and heard an interesting segment on kids’ sleepovers. They were interviewing people and asking what they remembered about sleepovers when they were kids. There were stories that were as different (and quirky) as night and day. For some folks remembered the games, others remembered being up-all-night-with-no-sleep, and others remembered the goofy, wild things that kids dare each other to do once mom and dad are asleep.

Did anyone remember the food? I didn’t hear mention of it on this program, but maybe that’s because food at sleepovers is just the keep-it-going necessity that provides the underpinnings of good kid fun. And it’s pretty much a guaranteed thing that when kids get together and spend time together, there needs to be plenty of the good stuff.

If you’ve had any sleepovers at your house lately, you don’t need to be reminded that the refrig and pantry is definitely emptier after the crew heads home (Not to mention that the house looks like it needs a maid).

But if you’re like me, the laughter and giggles, the memories that were made, are worth it. For there’s such a short window of time that our kids are underfoot and in our homes actually wanting to do these crazy kid things, that if we don’t embrace and engage in them, time can slip by forever.

That’s why this book caught my eye recently. ‘Cause I tend to get a bit intimidated when I’m feeding more than my family. I worry that there will be enough … that there will be something that everyone likes … oh, you know the deal.

I’ve been relying on books for a lot of my kitchen inspiration lately, and actually have quite a stack building on my bedside table. The only thing I’m lacking most days is enough time to spend perusing them. But this—a way to make kids’ sleepovers a tad easier … perhaps even have the kids help make some of that food (even ahead of time)?

Check this one out:

Cool Cuisine for Super Sleepovers:
Easy Recipes for Kids to Cook
by Lisa Wagner
©2007, 32 pages

Not only is this book filled with fun ideas, it’s filled with easy-to-read recipes that kids will want to cook themselves. Best of all, the photos are appealing and appetizing—just one glance through its pages found us ready to mix up some easy chip dip to go with those tangy beef barbecue sandwiches. Small but simple, this book begets the best of ‘em—just think of real hot fudge for dessert (or ice cream and cookies pie!) and you’ll see what I mean. Just goes to show that a cookbook doesn’t have to be large to be good—and to provide much-needed inspiration!

Here’s an original recipe that was inspired by this book—we didn’t have cream and butter (and we’re always attempting to keep some recipes gluten-free for friends), and the kids and I created this delicious ice cream topping:

Serves/Makes: 1.25 cups

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon low-fat milk or soy milk