'Rosie's Rules' Tostadas to Make with Kids

Tostadas are baked or fried corn tortillas that – when hardened – are the crunchy base of a delicious Mexican dish. You can eat tostadas plain or with toppings. Some people like to add lettuce, onion, sour cream, cheese and salsa but anyone can create their own tostada style.

When Rosie’s not able to go out to dinner with her family, she decides to create her own restaurant at home. Rosie and her little brother Iggy decide to make tostadas together. Along the way, Rosie learns that chefs are in charge of a lot of things – not just making the food! As members of her family show up to try her tostadas, Rosie lets her favorite flavors guide her to adjust the recipe with the ingredients she has at home.

Let your child lead this easy tostada recipe and then enjoy the meal together with your family. Making homemade tostadas allows kids to explore, and try new flavors. Encourage your child to be like a real chef by asking them to serve what they make to family and to help clean up!

Ingredients

12 tostadas
1 1/2 cups refried beans
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup cotija or fresh cheese
3 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
3 tomatoes
1/2 white onion, chopped
1 avocado

Directions

1. Wash the vegetables and chop them in small pieces. Invite your child to watch from a safe place or help them practice using a knife. Combine the tomato and avocado with the onion in a small bowl. Keep the lettuce separate in a different bowl with water. As you prepare the vegetables, explain how important it is to wash our food before eating it to take care of everyone's health. Talk about how chefs take care of others by being careful while they prepare food.

2. Look in your kitchen to see what ingredients you have to complement your tostadas. You can add other toppings or leftovers you have ready to use, such as chicken, meat, or fish. Encourage your child to experience each ingredient by touching, smelling, or tasting it if they feel like it.

3. Once all the ingredients are ready, it's time to make the tostada. Invite your child to spread refried beans on one tostada. If the tostada breaks, support your child by celebrating and suggesting that you make something new with the pieces, such as tortilla chips. Encourage your child to continue trying and move on to the next tostada.

4. One by one, add toppings on top of the refried beans. For example, your child can add lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and some onion with tomato. Ask your child questions, such as, “Do you think the order we add the toppings changes the taste?'' Play with your child and put toppings in a different order to see which presentation is your favorite. Remind your child that chefs also think about how their food looks. Ask your child about the colors of the toppings and what designs they can make.

5. Invite your child to set the table and discuss everything a chef has to do before and after creating a meal. Remind them that cleaning the kitchen and dishes is also a team effort and that chefs do more than just cook.