15 recipe projects to take on this weekend

Make Saturday night Dumpling Night! They’re super fun to make with kids—their small hands are often ideal for filling and sealing them up. Add them to soup or simply pan fry and eat them with a slurpy sauce. Get the recipe: Asian Soup Dumplings

Making cookies isn’t rocket science, but it is a process. Since you’re dirtying bowls anyway, try this motherload. It yields 75 cookies in total. Roll the excess dough into 1 1/2-inch thick logs and wrap in plastic for the freezer. Unexpected party, bake sale or cookie cravings: These have your back. Get the recipe: Big Batch Oatmeal Chocolate Raisin Cookies

Curb boredom by having your little sous chef shake it out with this simple butter recipe. Not only do you get a tasty result, it’s a fun science experiment. Get the recipe: Homemade Butter

There ain’t no party like a potsticker party. No one wants to fold wonton wrappers alone, so enlist the help of little hands to scoop out the shrimp and leek filling. Get the recipe: Leek and Shrimp Potstickers

You could spend a leisurely Saturday fetching artisinal doughnuts from your hood, or you could try your hand at making them. These classics are tossed in cinnamon and sugar. Get the recipe: Old-Fashioned Cake Donut Rings and Holes

Lasagna is so good precisely because it takes time and care. This one is all about showcasing tender, slow-cooked beef ragout. Get the recipe: Easy Braised Beef Lasagna

Latkes are delicious but let’s be honest: There’s a lot of elbow grease involved in making these little patties. Between grating the potato, wringing out the water and carefully frying them in batches, they’re the perfect weekend endeavour. Plus, leftovers make a great school lunch. Get the recipe: Lacey-Edged Latkes

You won’t believe how soft and squishy homemade marshmallows are—and that they’re actually super easy to make. Choose your favourite cookie cutters or slice into into cubes. The only sticky part of this operation? Not eating them all yourself. Get the recipe: Valentine Heart Marshmallows

From pizza to pull-apart bread, this basic dough will serve you well. Kids will love mixing it up and rolling it out. Get the recipe: Basic Dough

Worthy of the time and effort, cabbage rolls are a savoury meal that can do no wrong. These ones have a nutritious filling of lean ground turkey and bulgur. Get the recipe: Turkey-Bulgur Cabbage Rolls

Double this protein-packed recipe and tuck them into lunchboxes throughout the week. Your little sous chef can help with scooping duty. Get the recipe: Red Pepper Falafel Cakes

No ice cream maker? No problem! Turns out all that’s required to make incredible homemade ice cream is three ingredients and a freezer. Have fun mixing it up with different flavour combinations. Get the recipe from Chatelaine: 3-Ingredient Ice Cream

Filled with grated apple and topped with a sticky-sweet glaze, gather your little helpers and tighten your apron strings, this bread is fun to make as a team. Get the recipe: Apple-Cinnamon Monkey Bread

One day of work pays off in the form of several ready-made meals. But let’s be real, the slow cooker takes the brunt of it. With this bolognese you can make pasta, sloppy joes and cottage pie. Get the recipe: Slow-Cooked Big Batch Bolognese

Forget the box, making your own pudding is actually pretty easy. This one recipe acts as the base for two flavours (chocolate and vanilla). Set up a pudding-parfait bar and line up the toppings so your kids can make their own sweet creations. Get the recipe: Double-Duty Homemade Pudding

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