You can’t exactly throw another Triceratops on the barbie for your children, but you can find a number of creative dinosaur recipes for hungry young paleontologists here. These recipes would be a good way to start with children’s fascination with dinosaurs to introduce aspects of cooking (and related concepts such as measuring).
I have not tested all of these recipes, and I cannot vouch for their effectiveness, nutritional value or taste. Of course, children should prepare food and eat with adult supervision. Many of these dinosaur recipes depend upon visual appeal and imagination, so you may be able to adapt your favorite recipes to a dinosaur theme.
Click on the link at the beginning of each paragraph to go to a page with the recipes and other information.
Bronto Burgers – Although there is a recipe for hamburger patties here, you can use your favorite (even a veggie burger) and follow the ideas about children garnishing the bun to make it look like a dinosaur.
Dinosaur Bread – Like the burgers above, this one gives you a basic recipe (for bread) with instructions on shaping dinosaurs from the dough. You can substitute your favorite bread dough recipe with your children.
Dinosaur Cake – Again, you have a simple recipe, appropriate for children, but the author says you can even substitute a cake from the store.
Dinosaur Dip– Here’s a recipe for a plain (but tasty) dip, but I can’t make a dinosaur connection with it, and I’m not sure children would like it.
Dinosaur Egg Meatloaf – The dinosaur egg shape is, again, more important than the recipe, but this has a nice “yolk” surprise (cheese) that will delight children.
Dinosaur Eggs – and another recipe – Your children could shape almost any cookie recipe into dinosaur eggs. These will give you an idea.
Dinosaur Pancakes – This mom has the right idea about this plain pancake recipe for children: “a dinosaur pancake tastes MUCH better than an ordinary round one. ”
Dinosaur Pizza – So does a pizza with a dinosaur face, especially if the children make the face themselves, regardless of recipe.
Dinosaur Punch – Nothing particularly dinosaur-ish about this recipe, but the author says the grape punch is “Barney-colored.” (Remember the children’s favorite Barney?)
Fossil Soup and Dinosaur Cookies – The soup recipe calls for a “dinosaur bone.” The cookies are particularly tasty (and easy); molasses makes any cookie good, no matter its shape, although these are – you guessed it – shaped like dinosaurs. These recipes are part of an elementary school unit on dinosaurs, so you can find other good ideas to share with children here.
Raptoriffic Dinosaur Chillers – Simple recipe: just add candy dinosaurs! Candy and dinosaurs: children will love this.
Stegosaurus Soup & Dinosaur Bread – Another “dinosaur bone” soup recipe and more dinosaur-shaped bread (no recipe, just frozen bread dough this time), but they are surrounded by other clever dinosaur ideas and activities for children.
Dinosaur Eggs (Soap Crayons) – Two good craft ideas for children in one simple recipe.
Fossil Dough – A page of recipes to make your own clay, slime, gak, silly putty, and more. Of course, every family or teacher has a favorite. These can be adapted to quite a few dinosaur ideas: making your own fossils, hiding toy dinosaurs in “rocks.” Ask the children; they’ll have more ideas than we can come up with.
Over Fifty Dinosaur Parties– Food, activities, decorations, not so many recipes, but some of these could be fun for adults as well as children.
Dining with Dinos – one page with Mount St. Helens Volcano Dip, Herbivore’s Fruit with Dino Dip, Crabby Triceratops Sandwiches, T. Rex P.B. & J. Sandwiches, Brachiosaurus Forage Slaw, Raptor Eggs, Dancing Dino Jigglers, Dino Cutout Cookies, for which your children will need to Make Your Own Dinosaur Cookie Cutters.
