As a kid, cooking with your parents in the kitchen creates tasty memories that last a lifetime. Chef Francis Reznick of Rustika Cafe shares three of her favorite recipes that her and her granddaughter, make together constantly when the hustle and bustle at the cafe slows down and they share the kitchen together. These are scrumptious bonding moments they’ll take to their kitchen tables one day.

Rustika Cafe
3237 Southwest Freeway
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 665-6226
rustikacafe.com/French Toast

For breakfast, French toast is a favorite choice. Rustica uses challah bread, although you can pick the bread of your choice. Whisk together eggs and milk. Then add in cinnamon and vanillae. Soak the bread in the egg mixture. While you are getting your bread ready, you can add a little water to your pan and start warming it. When it is warm, start adding the toast to the pan. Turn the toast over one to two times, or until the bread looks cooked. Pour powdered sugar on a plate. Flip the french toast over on both sides in the powdered sugar. Add syrup if you wish.

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Chicken StripsChicken strips are an easy-to-make dish at home with your children. Take chicken breast, either that you have cut into slices or that you have bought already cut up into strips. You will make three separate plates. One plate will be filled with egg yolks and whites, one with flour, and one with bread crumbs. Dip both sides of the chicken into the egg plate. Then dip both sides of the chicken into the flour, and back into the egg plate. Add the chicken to the bread crumb plate. Repeat until all of the chicken breast strips have been dipped in the egg, flour and bread crumb plates. Add a little oil to your pan and cook the chicken breasts on a medium heat until they are cooked through.

Pasta with Meatballs

A hands-on recipe that is sure to be a favorite at dinner, start by making the meatballs. Stir together ground beef and an egg. Season the beef, but be sure to leave out the onions because most children don’t like them. Roll the beef into balls, and place them in the refrigerator. To make your pasta, boil the water in a large pan. Add a little salt and a dollop of oil to the water. This keeps the pasta from sticking. Drop in the spaghetti pasta or any type of pasta you wish. Once the water starts to boil, turn the temperature down. Let the pasta simmer for about 20 minutes or until it is tender. Add your choice of sauce, cut up tomatoes and the meatballs to a pan. Let them cook on a medium heat until they’re done. Then pour your meatball sauce over your pasta and enjoy.

About Chef Francis Reznick
After moving to Houston from Mexico City, Reznick decided one day that she wanted to go after her dream as a baker. Having her degree in another field did not stop her. She pursued her passion in baking and has become one of Houston’s most wel- known and accomplished bakers. She and her husband, along with their children, run Rustika Cafe and Bakery. It offers a delicious mix of food, including breakfast all day, soups, sandwiches, pasta, tacos and some of the most delicious melt-in-your-mouth baked goods and breads you can find in this city.

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Kelli Kelly is a freelance writer who resides in Houston, Texas. Discovering how to make recipes family friendly, healthy, and in a short amount of time using ingredients that can usually be found in your pantry already is a passion of Kelli’s. She also helps to teach children’s cooking/baking classes and parties. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.