Fun in the
Kitchen Cooking with your child creates a bonding opportunity
Story and photos by Katlyn Sanden “Chopped” has got nothing on 8-year old Emri Koning of western Bureau County. Preparing different foods has become a hobby for Emri as she elegantly plates her masterpieces for her parents, asking them if it needs any different seasonings, oils, herbs, or anything else. But her cooking has led to more than just tasty dishes. “We’re making memories,” said Emri’s mom, Tauni Koning. “We like to bake together.” And bake they do. From tried-andtrue family recipes to new ones they find online, there’s not much the baking duo won’t try. Their favorites are roasted carrots, Korean beef lettuce wraps, coffee cake, taco dip, sugar cookies, and just about any pancake conceivable. When the pandemic hit, Emri seized every chance she had to try a new type of pancake. Finding herself with a lot more extra time, she experimented with raspberry, almond, and peach flavoring, and then she branched out into
12 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Emri Koning loves these cute and flavorful turkey pancakes. The duo gets creative coming up with healthy foods to make the faces.
creating different animals such as her “Purrfect Pancakes,” where she used strawberries, blueberries, and apples to make it look like a cat. She even created a turkey pancake for Thanksgiving, which ended up being her favorite See COOKING page 14
