As my three boys have advanced through the cub scout program, this easy activity has become a beloved tradition. If you have a Wolf Cub Scout, I highly recommend this activity. You’ll knock off several Wolf requirements and a few Faith in God requirements in one fell swoop – and have a blast doing it.

Thus, Super-Charged!

Though not structured like a traditional Family Home Evening, we’ve always done this as a family party and consider it a fantastic FHE.

Tips: Use what you have and keep it simple. This is meant to be easy and fun, and certainly doesn’t need the “polish” you tend to see when the grown-ups are in charge. If you make this a family party, it’s much easier to let go of the reigns and let your kids truly make this party their own.

Let the Party begin:

Let your Wolf scout help plan the party. The party can be indoors or outdoors, but outdoors fulfills more requirements.

He should help decorate, help prepare a treat, and help prepare your picnic lunch or dinner. Our youngest boy just threw his party, which actually fell between lunch and dinner. His menu consisted of popcorn and rice krispy treats (both of which he helped make), peanut butter crackers, mini marshmallows, and juice boxes. As you can see, he was in charge of the menu. However, if the meal is “nutritious” it will qualify for an additional requirement in the Faith in God program.

If the dinner is something that he cooks outdoors, that fulfills yet another requirement. Hot dogs or hobo dinners are easy ideas.

Have him plan and help set up the following games (see pg 128 of the Wolf book for illustrations of these games):

Pie Pan Washer Toss (Each player tosses five washers at a pie tin. Score 1 point for each washer that stays in the pan. You can also use buttons.)

Bean Bag Toss (Have him make the beanbags for each person to use and keep as a party favor and knock off another requirement. If you don’t have time for that, use tiny stuffed animals for the beanbags.)

Bean Bag Archery (This one is on page 90 of the Wolf book. My sons draw the targets on paper.)

Marble Sharpshooter (Each player rolls five marbles at glass bottle targets. Score one point for each marble that rolls between the bottles and misses them. We’ve substituted empty plastic jars used for freezer jam.)

Ring Toss (Use rolled up newspaper shaped into rings for this traditional game.)

A Game of Marbles (See this fun site for a refresher on how to play marbles.)

Obstacle Course (He can make up his own ideas; here are the ideas from page 197 of the Wolf book – jump across an imaginary river, crawl through a cardboard tunnel, jump up and ring a bell, toss a ball into a can, do one forward roll, walk like an elephant for five steps.)

The Super-Charged Super List:

That’s it! Depending on what you did, your wolf cub scout just fulfilled 2 requirements and 8 or 9 electives, along with some of his Faith in God requirements! Here’s the complete list:

Wolf requirements 8c or 8e, and 10b; and Wolf electives 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 9a, 9b, 18a or 18b, and 18d. Faith in God, Serving Others 4 and 7 (plus part of requirement 5 if you have younger siblings at the party).

Looking for more activity ideas for your party? Check out Wolf requirement 1, and Wolf electives 18c or 18e.

My favorite FHE’s are the ones where one of my children taught the lesson. And not just because I got out of teaching for the week.

It’s sweet to see them sharing a thought or reading a story from The Friend with that serious, reverent demeanor they tend to have when they’re the ones in charge. Rather than resisting the idea of teaching a lesson, my children seem to love the opportunity.

In general, I let them pick their own topic and source of inspiration. On occasion I’ll suggest an idea that comes from their Faith in God booklet, or something along those lines.

If you sometimes like to do the same, this post is for you.

Below are all the requirements from the various LDS programs which require a child or youth to lead a Family Home Evening.

Faith in God

Learning and Living the Gospel, requirement #1: Explain how taking the sacrament helps you renew your baptismal covenant. In a family home evening, teach others about things we can do to remain faithful.

Learning and Living the Gospel, requirement #2: Give a family home evening lesson on Joseph Smith’s First Vision (see Joseph Smith—History 1:1–20). Discuss how Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayers. (Also counts toward the Cub Scout Religious Square Knot Patch)

Personal Progress

Faith Value Requirement #3: Living gospel principles requires faith. Read about faith in the Bible Dictionary or True to the Faith. Faith in the Savior Jesus Christ leads to action. Choose a principle such as prayer, tithing, fasting, repentance, or keeping the Sabbath day holy. In your own home or another setting, plan and present a family home evening lesson about how faith helps you live that gospel principle. If possible, ask a family member to share an experience that has strengthened his or her faith. Share your own experiences as well. In your journal write down one of those experiences and describe your feelings about faith.

Knowledge Value Requirement #4: Select a gospel principle you would like to understand better (for example, faith, repentance, charity, eternal families, or baptismal covenants). Read scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets that relate to the principle. Prepare a five-minute talk on the subject, and give the talk in a sacrament meeting, in a Young Women meeting, to your family, or to your class. Record in your journal how you can apply this gospel principle in your life.

Knowledge Value Requirement #7: At Young Women camp you learn skills in first aid, safety, sanitation, and survival. Review these teachings in your Young Women Camp Manual [link downloads PDF file] and note in your journal how you could apply them in your home to keep your family safe. Develop a list of basic supplies your family will need in case of an emergency. Teach a family home evening lesson or share with a Young Women leader what you have learned and what additional skills you would like to learn to be prepared for emergencies.

Good Works Value Requirement #4: Teach a lesson about service in family home evening or in another setting. Use pictures, music, examples, or demonstrations in your lesson. You may want to use the manual Teaching, No Greater Call as a resource.

Duty to God

While there are no longer specific requirements for young men to teach a Family Home Evening in the new Duty to God program, most “Learn” and “Act” activities are followed by a “Share” activity, which can nearly always be fulfilled by teaching a Family Home Evening lesson about the topic the young man has been studying.

"Tap Tap" Journals

There are many journaling requirements sprinkled throughout the LDS youth and Scouting programs (see below), so why not pick up one of these “Tap Tap” journals and do some good while you’re at it?

I came across these adorable journals when I discovered Project HOPE Art yesterday. They’re only $14.99 and $5 benefits Project HOPE Art and their work with Haitian orphans. How can I help but spread the word?

Also available are the “Tap Tap” Journals in white and the Haiti Mural Journal composed of mural art created by Haiti children:

That’s the one I ordered and I chose the blank page option (you can also get lined, dots, or planner pages). I think I’m going to use it to try some of Kathy Barbro’s projects, which I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. She has some new projects at her website which look like fun.

LDS Youth and Scouting Program Requirements Involving Journaling:

Faith in God – Preparing for Young Women #3: “Write in your journal how you can serve the Lord as you stand for truth and righteousness.”

Bear Scout – Family Requirement #8f: “Start your own history: keep a journal for 2 weeks.”

Bear Scout – Jot It Down Requirement #18c: “Keep a daily record of your activities for 2 weeks.”

Webelos – Scholar #5: “List in writing some important things you can do now because of what you’ve learned in school.”

Cub Scouts – Communicating Pin #2: “Keep a journal of daily activities for at least seven days.”

Cub Scouts – Reading and Writing Belt Loop #3: “Keep a diary of your activities for one week. Read it to your den or family.”

Communications Merit Badge Requirements 1a or 1b: Keeping a log of communication activities for a day, or keeping a journal of “listening” experiences for three days.

Personal Management Merit Badge Requirement 8c: “Follow the one-week schedule you planned. Keep a daily diary or journal during each of the seven days of this week’s activities, writing down when you completed each of the tasks on your “to do” list compared to when you scheduled them.”

Duty to God requirements often encourage journaling, and a general requirement of the Personal Progress program is to keep a personal journal.

Venturing Religious Life Bronze Award requirement 4b: “Keep a personal journal of your experiences each time you worked as a volunteer.” (After three months of volunteer work, see requirement 4a.)

What kid doesn’t love McDonald’s? Chicken McNuggets, Happy Meal toys, indoor playgrounds, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. What’s not to like?

Of course, your kids DO know about the Ronald McDonald House, right?

Come to think of it, I’m not sure my kids know about it. Hang on a minute…  Okay. Now they know.

Anyway, there are lots of ways kids can help out their favorite clown and get in on the philanthropic action. Whether they want to serve from the security of their own home or make a trip to an actual House, there are lots of easy ways kids can get involved.

This is also a great way to fulfill service requirements (and a few extra requirements, depending on your chosen act of service) in the Faith in God, Personal Progress, Duty to God or Scouting programs. A handy list of links to those requirements is at the end of this post.

First, what can kids do to help?

* Collect or make greeting cards to donate to your local House. Homemade cards, new cards, or the fronts of used cards are all useful. Ronald McDonald House gives these to families, who can send them to their ill child or give them out as thank you notes.

* Collect pop tabs. Not all chapters participate in this program, so check first. Your local chapter will also be able to tell you if there are drop-off locations elsewhere in your community, or provide you with pop tab collection containers to place in new areas. This is a great way to help Houses raise much-needed funds.

* Provide service at the House. Contact your local House to see what they need. You can help serve meals, plant flowers or do some cleaning.

* Sponsor a food drive to help stock their pantry with non-perishable goods.

* Collect items for a community yard sale and donate the proceeds.

* Help prepare and serve dinner at the House.

* Plan an activity for the children living at the house, like a face-painting party or story hour.

* Bake homemade cookies, decorate them, and donate them to families staying at your local House.

* Wash the cars of the families staying at the House.

* Make quilts for the beds. Check with the House first to see what’s needed. Some Houses have nicely decorated, themed rooms (often donated to the House by individuals or groups) and so may not be in need of this.  Other Houses have worn bedding and would greatly appreciate something new and fresh!

The needs of these Houses is huge and varied. You’re bound to find something of interest to your son or daughter. For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities or to find a local House, go to the official website right HERE.

Related LDS Youth Program and Scouting Program Requirements:

Faith in God – Serving Others requirement 1: “Read and discuss the parable of the good Samaritan (see Luke 10:30–37). Plan and complete a service project that helps a family member or neighbor. After completing the project, discuss how it helped your faith grow stronger.”

Faith in God – Serving Others requirement 4: “Plan, prepare, and serve a nutritious meal. ”

Faith in God – Serving Others requirement 7: “Plan and hold a parent-child activity, such as a dinner, picnic, hike, day trip, or service project.”

Faith in God – Serving Others requirement 8: “Read the twelfth article of faith. Discuss what it means to be a good citizen and how your actions can affect others. ”

Tiger cub scout elective 11: “Help collect food, clothing or toys for needy families with your den or pack.”

Tiger cub scout elective 12: “Make at least two cards or decorations and take them to a hospital or long-term care facility.”

Wolf cub scout elective 9b/c: “Make a gift or toy like one of these (examples shown in book) and give it to someone.”

Bear cub scout requirement 9a: “With an adult, bake cookies.”

Bear cub scout elective 21b: “Help with a garage sale or rummage sale. This can be with your family or a neighbor, or it can be a church, school, or pack event.”

Citizenship cub scout belt loop requirement 3:“Participate in a family, den, or school service project.”

Reading and Writing cub scout pin requirement 2: “Read a book to a child or group of children.”

Complete a 10-hour service project for the House to complete the Personal Progress Individual Worth Value Project or Good Works Value Project.

Personal Progress Good Works requirement 6: “Spend at least three hours giving service outside your family. Ask your ward or branch Relief Society president or a community leader for suggestions for service. For example, you might take care of children while parents attend the temple; collect, make, or recondition toys or games for a nursery; accept an assignment to clean the meetinghouse; or perform errands for or read to a homebound person or others in need. Record in your journal the reactions of the person you served and possible goals for future service opportunities.”

Second class boy scout rank requirement 5: “Participate in an approved (minimum of one hour) service project. ”

Star boy scout rank requirement 4: “While a First Class Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.”

Life boy scout rank requirement 4: “While a Star Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster. ”

This is a good idea for the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project if you turn it into something significant, perhaps raising funds in order to redecorate and update rooms at the Ronald McDonald House.

Citizenship in the Community merit badge requirement 7, which includes learning about a community service organization and donating at least 8 hours serving that organization.

Do service at the Ronald McDonald House as part of the requirements to earn the Boy Scout Special Award in honor of the late, great Jimmy Stewart, the James M. Stewart Good Citizenship award.

Venturing Religious Life Bronze Award requirement 3: “ Plan and lead a service project such as helping to build a Habitat for Humanity house, participating in a community cleanup project, or taking on a fix-up project for a nursing home or nursery.”

Choose Ronald McDonald House Charities as your organization to serve as part of the Venturing TRUST Award requirements.

Serve the Ronald McDonald House as part of the “Serve Others” requirements in the Duty to God program.

Time to pack up the family for a little road trip.

As promised in my Xanadu post, here’s a list of requirements from the various programs that may blend well with (or inspire) your family summer plans.

Well, this is part one. There are so many possibilities with merit badges alone that I scooted them into their own post, coming up later today.

If you’re specifically looking for outdoor activities (camping and more), check out my Before You Go Camping post for a succinct list of requirements for Cub and Boy Scouts.

Possible summertime-fun requirements:

Faith in God Serving Others requirement 7: “Plan and hold a parent-child activity, such as a dinner, picnic, hike, day trip, or service project.”

Faith in God Developing Talents requirement 5: “Visit an art museum or attend a concert, play, or other cultural event. Share your experience with your family or activity day group. ”

Tiger Scout requirement 1G: “Go to a library, historical society, museum, old farm, or historical building, or visit an older person in your community.  Discover how family life was the same and how it was different many years ago.”

Tiger Scout elective 22: “With your family or with your den, have a picnic — indoors or outdoors.”

Tiger Scout elective 41: “Visit a train station, bus station, airport or boat dock.”

Tiger Scout elective 42: “Visit a zoo or aquarium.”

Wolf Scout requirement 10c: “Plan a walk. Go to a park or a wooded area, or visit a zoo or museum with your family.” and 10f: “Attend a concert, a play, or other live program with your family.”

Wolf Scout elective 18a: “Help plan and hold a picnic with your family or den.” and 18b: “With an adult, help plan and run a family or den outing.”

If you like to fish, check out the six fishing activities for Wolf Scout elective 19 Fishing.

Likewise for the Cub Scout Fishing Belt Loop and Pin.

Wolf Scout elective 23h: “With your den or pack or family, participate in a worship service outdoors.”

Bear Scout requirement 3d: “Find out where places of historical interest are located in or near your town or city. Go and visit one of them with your family or den.” (Great for the Stay-cation!”)

Bear Scout requirement 5d: “Visit one of the following: Zoo, Nature center, Aviary, Wildlife refuge, Game preserve.”

Bear Scout requirement 9e: “Make some trail food for a hike.” and 9g: “With an adult, cook something outdoors.”

Bear Scout requirement 10a: “Go on a day trip or evening out with members of your family.”

More camping, hiking, picnic-ing and outdoor fun options in the five requirements for Bear Scout requirement 12: Family Outdoor Adventure.

Bear Scout elective 1c: “Visit a planetarium.”

Bear Scout elective 5a: “Help an adult rig and sail a real boat. (Wear your PFD.)”

Bear Scout elective 9b: “Visit an art museum or picture gallery with your den or family.”

Bear Scout elective 15c: “Visit a burned-out forest or prairie area, or a slide area, with your den or your family. Talk to a soil and water conservation officer or forest ranger about how the area will be planted and cared for so that it will grow to be the way it was before the fire or slide”

Bear Scout elective 16d: “With your family or den, visit a livestock exhibit at a county or state fair.”

Bear Scout elective 23e: “Mark a map showing the way to a place you would like to visit that is at least 50 miles from your home.”

Webelos Scout Family Member activity badge requirement 8: “Tell what your family does for fun. Make a list of fun things your family might do for little or no cost. Plan a family fun night.”

It would be easy to earn the Webelos Scout Traveler activity badge while on a family trip. Be sure to leave some time beforehand for your scout to help map and plan the trip.

Webelos Scout Geologist activity badge requirement 8: “Take a field trip to a geological site, geological laboratory, or rock show. Discuss what you learned at your next Webelos den meeting.”

Webelos Scout Naturalist activity badge requirement 4: “Visit a museum of natural history, nature center, or zoo with your family, Webelos den, or pack. Tell what you saw.”

For several camping and hiking activities, including helping to pitch a tent and cook outdoor meals, see the Webelos Outdoorsman activity badge.

Webelos Aquanaut activity badge requirement 6: “With an adult on board, show that you know how to handle a rowboat.”

Cub Scout Art Pin requirement 1: “Visit an art museum, gallery, or exhibit. Discuss with an adult the art you saw.”

Cub Scout Astronomy Pin requirement 6: “Visit an observatory or a planetarium. Give a report on what you learned to your den.” (If you do this, see if you can talk to an astronomer to fulfill requirement 5.)

Cub Scout Citizenship Pin requirement 10: “Attend a community event or visit a landmark in your community.”

Cub Scout Collecting Belt Loop requirement 3: “Visit a show or museum that displays different collections.”

Cub Scout Communicating Pin requirement 12: “While traveling, make a list of road signs, animals, or license plates that you see.”

If you’re going on a family trip, be sure to check out the requirements for the Cub Scout Family Travel Belt Loop and Pin.

Cub Scout Geology Pin requirement 11: “Visit a mine, oil or gas field, gravel pit, stone quarry, or similar area of special interest related to geology.” Visiting with a geologist fulfills requirement 12. If you go to a cave, have your scout complete requirement 13: “Draw the inside of a cave showing the difference between stalactites and stalagmites.”

Cub Scout Heritages Pin requirement 2: “Attend a family reunion.” In fact, if you do this you may want to read through the requirements for the Heritages Belt Loop and Pin.

Cub Scout Music Pin requirement 6: “Attend a live musical performance or concert.”

Cub Scout Nutrition Pin requirement 11: “Visit a farm or ranch. Talk with the owner about how the farm or ranch produces food for families.” (We have an olive farm nearby that features a restaurant where you can eat freshly-baked bread and olive oil. Oh yeah baby. That’s nutritional, right?)

Cub Scout Photography Pin requirement 8: “Visit an art exhibit that features photography. Write a list of some of the things you saw and felt during your visit.”

Cub Scout Science Belt Loop requirement 3: “Visit a museum, a laboratory, an observatory, a zoo, an aquarium, or other facility that employs scientists. Talk to a scientist about his or her work.”

Cub Scout Wildlife Pin requirement 1: “Visit a wildlife sanctuary, nature center, or fish hatchery.” and 7: “Visit with a person who works in wildlife conservation, such as a park ranger, biologist, range manager, geologist, horticulturist, zookeeper, fishery technician, or conservation officer.” and 8: “Visit a state park or national park.”

Cub Scout Bicycling Pin requirement 7: “Go on a “bicycle hike” with your family or den. Obey traffic rules related to bicycling.” and 9: “Visit a bicycle race or exhibition.”

If you go hiking, check out the Cub Scout Hiking Belt Loop and Pin, just released this year.

Another new one, great for summer activities, is the Cub Scout Horseback Riding Belt Loop and Pin.

If you do any outdoor activities, check out the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award, a special award that’s fun to earn and can be earned again in each successive year of Cub Scouting.

Boy Scout Second Class rank requirement 1b: “Using a compass and map together, take a five-mile hike (or 10 miles by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian. (If you use a wheelchair or crutches, or if it is difficult for you to get around, you may substitute ‘trip’ for ‘hike’ in this requirement)”

Boy Scout First Class rank requirement 2: “Using a compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.).”

**Look for Merit Badges in an upcoming post**

Duty to God Deacon – Educational, Personal and Career Development requirement 6: “Attend a cultural event such as a church, school, or community play, music program, or musical.”

Looking for General Conference packets for your kids?

The Church has a new website with a packet, bingo cards, coloring page and fun online matching games kids can play (one for the apostles and one for latter-day prophets). There’s also a handy topical guide to the previous conference as well as a quick link for leader biographies.

Magnify or Simplify is the originator of fabulous packets that spread through the email chains like wildfire. Her packets are pretty extensive and have lots of activities for children of all ages. She always updates to include the most current apostles as well. I’ll go ahead and say this is my favorite packet.

Sugardoodle, naturally, has her own conference packet which (amazingly) is also available in Spanish or Portuguese.

For a cute, little preschool-aged packet, try here.

Now, you’re wondering about those delectable-looking rolls, aren’t you? Aren’t you?

Of course you are.

These rolls are a treat and an Easter lesson all rolled into one, with a little “magic” added in for good measure. We plan on making these Resurrection Rolls on Easter between sessions.

I. Can’t. Wait.

Finally, this post wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t give you a little heads up about the following:

Faith in God Learning and Living the Gospel requirement 4: “Read [or watch] a recent conference address given by the prophet. Decide what you can do to follow the prophet, and do it.”

Personal Progress Faith requirement 1: “The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Learn about faith from the scriptures and living prophets. Read Hebrews 11, Alma 32:17–43, Ether 12:6–22, and Joseph Smith—History 1:11–20. Read two general conference talks on faith. Exercise your own faith by establishing a habit of prayer in your life. Begin by saying your morning and evening prayers regularly. After three weeks of following this pattern, discuss with a parent or leader what you have learned about faith and how daily personal prayer has strengthened your faith. In your journal express your feelings about faith and prayer.”

Cooking a meal is one of those requirements you see in just about every scouting and LDS youth program. (See a short list of specific program requirements involving cooking at the end of this blog post.)

Try these simple meal ideas to help your children learn new skills without undue frustration (and hopefully not too much of a mess). Of course, cleaning up is a good culinary skill to learn too.

1. Taco Salad

This one tops the list in my household. It’s been a family favorite for years and because the taco salads are assembled in individual bowls, it’s easy to accommodate any picky eaters.

Skills new chefs will learn: browning and seasoning meat, washing and preparing vegetables, grating cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 lb extra-lean ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 bag Fritos corn chips
• lettuce, torn
• tomatoes, diced
• cheddar cheese, shredded
• sour cream
• salsa
• sliced black olives

Preparation

Brown the meat and drain off any fat. Add seasoning and water according to directions on packet. Prepare cheese and vegetables as indicated. In bowls, combine ingredients as desired. The Fritos really make this meal.

2. Pepperoni Spirals

This simple pasta dish has a twist (no pun intended) kids love. Serve with a salad and garlic bread.

Skills new chefs will learn: cooking pasta, principles of baking a casserole.

Ingredients

• 1 package spiral pasta
• 2 cups (or more, to taste) pizza sauce
• sliced pepperoni, cut in halves
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preparation

Cook pasta and drain. Combine pasta, half the cheese and remaining ingredients in a casserole dish. Top with the rest of the cheese. Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

3. Barbecue Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

These spiced up grilled cheese sandwiches are a healthier variety of the classic version. Serve with chilled grape clusters.

Skills new chefs will learn: Cooking on a griddle.

Ingredients (per sandwich)

• 2 slices bread (wheat or white)
• 3 oz or so cooked turkey breast, cut into strips
• 1 slice low fat cheddar cheese
• 1 Tbsp barbecue sauce
• 1 tsp light Ranch dressing

Preparation

Toss the turkey with half of the barbecue sauce and heat in the microwave for 20 seconds. Spread one slice of bread with the remaining barbecue sauce. Top with turkey and cheese. Spread the other slice of bread with the Ranch dressing and complete your sandwich. Spray a nonstick griddle with cooking spray and cook sandwich on medium-low heat, on both sides, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

4. Easy Chicken Parmesan

I’m not a fan of most chicken breast recipes because no matter what you do to the outside, the inside is still just miles of plain chicken. This recipe remedies that problem by pounding the chicken relatively thin, making every bite of the finished product full of flavor. The quick prep time is a bonus too.

Skills new chefs will learn: tenderizing meat, how to safely handle raw chicken, sauteing chicken.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• olive oil
• 1 and 1/2 cups red pasta sauce
• mozzarella cheese, sliced
• salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

Pound the chicken to a uniform thickness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add just enough olive oil to a nonstick pan to cover the bottom. Heat oil over medium-high heat. Saute each chicken breast until golden and heated through (3 to 5 minutes on each side). Pour sauce in a bowl and coat each chicken breast in the sauce. Place chicken in a casserole dish, cover with the rest of the sauce and top with slices of cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven until the cheese melts (about 5 minutes or so).

5. Easy Meatloaf

Is there anything more comforting than this traditional American dish? Serve with mashed potatoes and glazed carrots.

Skills new chefs will learn: beating an egg, handling raw beef, shaping a meatloaf

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (or crushed croutons)
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 lb ground beef
• ketchup

Preparation

In a large bowl, beat the raw egg. Add breadcrumbs and milk and mix. Add the meat and mix well. Place meat mixture in a glass loaf pan and shape. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes.

* For easy sweet and sour meatballs (my children’s favorite) shape the uncooked meatloaf mixture into balls (scoop by tablespoon fulls) and place on a cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, mix 1 cup ketchup and 1 cup brown sugar in your crockpot. Add the cooked meatballs, stirring to coat. Cook on low for 1-2 hours (depending on your crockpot). Serve over white rice.

P.S.

If you want fabulous advice on getting kids into the kitchen (and having fun while you’re doing it) check out the Teaching Your Kids to Cook blog by the Reluctant Gourmet.

Related requirements:

Faith in God – Serving Others… “Plan, prepare and serve a nutritious meal.”

Faith in God – Serving Others…”Plan and hold a parent-child activity, such as a dinner, picnic, hike, day trip or service project.”

Wolf - Requirement 8c…”Help fix at least one meal for your family. Help set the table, cook the food and wash the dishes.”

Bear – Requirement 9c…”With an adult, prepare one part of your breakfast, one part of your lunch, and one part of your supper.”

Webelos - Family Member Activity Badge…”With adult supervision, help plan the meals for your family for one week. Help buy the food and help prepare three meals for your family.”

Cub Scout Nutrition Belt Loop and Pin… there are several requirements that work here. See here for the full list of requirements.

Cub Scout Heritages Pin – option 9… “Help your parent or adult partner prepare one of your family’s traditional food dishes.” (The above recipes may not be one of your family’s traditional dishes, but I figure this is a good one to know about anyway, since we’re on the topic.)

Duty to God - Deacon – Family Activities… “With the help and permission of a parent, prepare at least 2 meals for your family. Where possible, also wash and iron your clothes for 1 month.”

Duty to God - Deacon – Education/Career… “Learn how to purify water and to wash and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables.”

Duty to God - Teacher – Spiritual Development…”Collect recipes for a dozen meals that a missionary can prepare quickly. Prepare at least 4 of these meals.”

Cooking Merit Badge – part of requirement 7…”Plan a menu for three full days of meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) to be cooked at home.”

Personal Progress – Good Works requirement 2… “Service is an essential principle of family living. Help plan your family’s menus, obtain the food, and prepare part of the meals for two weeks. During that time help your family gather to share mealtimes. Report to your class what you have learned.”