This is one of the most valuable things you can teach your kids.

And I wish I had started earlier.

Today I taught my daughter how to make scrambled eggs.

I let her do everything. I let her crack the eggs, beat them, add salt, melt the butter in the pan and then cook them. She did really, really well.

Caterina is five and much younger than I was when I learned to cook. My mum was way too busy to teach me, but in my opinion, cooking is an affordable way to entertain my kids and has also led to some of the best fun we’ve had.

My little boy Giovanni is about to turn seven. He’s a fussy eater most of the time but an easy way to get him to try something new is to get him to help me cook it. That’s how I got him to try banana muffins for the first time, and pancakes, and lasagne.

Philip is 10. He has food allergies so he has to learn how to cook. It’s an added bonus that he loves to, but he’s more into desserts. If I’m cooking cupcakes, brownies or cookies he is there, licking the beaters and bowls. He’s less interested in my secret pasta sauce recipe and the casserole I was forced to invent the day I forgot to buy the packet one.

I wish I’d started teaching them how to cook sooner, but it was always such a pain. Cooking was something I did quickly to get meals on the table at a particular time. They’d even ask if they could help and I’d always say ‘no’ because I was in a rush.

 Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Pampas Pastry. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words. 

If only I knew how much they’d love it. If only I realised cooking with my kids was much more fun than bowling or eating lunch in a cafe - and much cheaper. I know now, and we’re just getting started.

My daughter has asked to learn how to make icing. Giovanni wants to try making ice cream. Me too, son. I’ve never done that. And Philip is interested in making pizza, our own version of meat lovers. Not the healthiest choice, but definitely healthier making it ourselves at home.

You can choose simple things to start with. One of the first things my son learned how to cook was sausage rolls. We used to make them by rolling up chicken sausages in puff pastry, cutting them up and baking them. They taste a million times better than the frozen ready-made ones you can buy and they were healthier and most importantly, safe for my allergic son to eat.

I remember coming home from school and my mum lifting baked shortcut pastry out of the oven. She’d defrost it and then cut it into strips, twisting it loosely. Once cooled she topped it with fresh fruit, normally strawberries, and freshly whipped cream and icing sugar.

If I arrived home in time I was allowed to help whip the cream and I’d get the first piece. These days I use mango, cherries and even stone fruit for something different.

Once a month we do a cupcake station. We bake cupcakes and then set up a variety of toppings for the kids to decorate them with. We normally wait until a day when the kids have friends or cousins over.

They get to choose from two different cupcakes – normally vanilla and chocolate. Then there are three different colours of icing made from scratch, sprinkles, mini-marshmallows, chocolate flakes and Smarties. We take photos of their creations. And yes, some of them are an absolute mess, but the kids don’t care. And neither do I as I sweep up sprinkles and lollies that have dropped onto the floor.

Teaching your children how to cook is one of the most valuable things you can teach them. It’s also fun and won’t cost you a cent. There aren’t many activities we can say that about.

Don’t forget about the part where you sit down afterwards and eat it all, while planning exactly what you’ll cook together next and who’ll get to do what.

I figure I have a handful of years left during which my children still want to spend time with me and still consider it fun, and I plan to milk it for all it is worth. You never know. One of them might just start cooking better than I do and cooking for me, without me having to lift a finger. Then I’ll really be living the dream.

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Whether you’re still finding your feet in the kitchen or you’re a self-confessed master chef, Pampas’ range of pre-rolled pastry sheets and shells are your blank canvas to create. Be it the humble family pie or pastry wrapped asparagus sticks for entertaining, Pampas provides you an easy way to create something new or simply make something that little bit better; so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying delicious meals with those you love.