What's Cooking With Kids

Jan 26I think I might love him…and his muffins!

I recently discovered a cooking show that is new to me, and I am so happy that I did. Jamie at Home is a fantastic show, featuring Jamie Oliver, a very well known chef in England who has been instrumental at improving the school lunch program there. He is a rustic chef, who cooks with whole foods, natural ingredients (many right from the garden) and cooking tools that the average chef likely has on hand. This year, as you know if you are a regular reader here, I have been indulging in loads of...

Jan 25Cookery Classes to be compulsory in England…

A friend sent me an article this week from the BBC. It's headline reads: Cookery Classes to be Compulsory; Cookery lessons are to be compulsory in England's secondary schools for children aged 11 to 14. The article goes on to say that the move is part of the strategy to tackle obesity, as experts believe that 1 million children will be obese in a decade. While it isn't perfect, I am in LOVE with this idea. Part of the appeal is that their government is taking an interest in the health of their...

Jan 18Cook! 20 Minutes to Gourmet at Home

As a subscriber to Daily Candy, I receive e-mails every day announcing local discoveries, sales and items they think I can't live without. I skim most of these and toss them in the virtual recycle bin. But recently, one caught my eye. Cook! SF is a business in San Francisco that shares our passion about getting families to eat delicious, healthy and seasonal food. While our service gives our customers menu plans (with recipes, grocery lists and tips to call the kids into the kitchen), her service...

Jan 13Exciting New Discovery - Online food events and ...

I was excited tonight when I discovered a website called Is My Blog Burning?. It is a blog that tracks food events from across the world. Each month, blogs sponsor food-challenges and later compile all of the results and feedback that they receive. It is inspiring and exciting - sort of like a reality show in my own kitchen! One post caught my attention, particularly since it relates to a delicious soup that I prepared for our family last night. My Legume Love Affair encourages us to prepare...

Jan 8Can They Do It? Yes They Can!

Since I teach cooking classes for children, people ask me all the time about what their kids can really do in the kitchen. They find it hard to believe that their toddler can actually help, without causing chaos. When I do workshops for mother’s groups or schools on Family Mealtimes or Cooking with Kids, I often include the chart below in my hand-outs. It highlights some of the age-appropriate cooking skills that children can do. Of course, you know your child best, and need to use your discretion...

Jan 2Alli Advertising – Show me the money

I was saddened to see a two page advertisement for the weight loss drug Alli towards the front of Everyday Food, a magazine I enjoy. The ad opens with the heading "Let's talk about healthy eating" and continues to talk about how people need to enjoy the foods that they are eating or else the changes they are making in their weight loss plan won't last. The last time I checked, dieting meant eating healthier and exercising more. As Marion Nestle, a well respected nutritionist and the author of...

Dec 24A New Year's Resolution Worth Keeping

Admit it - you have, at one time or another, made a New Year's Resolution that you didn't keep. We are all guilty. In order to solve this problem, we make one of these promises to ourselves: I won't ever make a New Year's Resolution again! Next year will be different! Most of our resolutions revolve around the concept of self-improvement. We want to lose weight, eat better, spend more quality time with our kids and spend less money. These are worthy endeavors, so why are they so...

Dec 14Q is for "Quick"

Our friends at The Great Big Vegetable Challenge have graduated to the letter "Q." Because of the shortage of "Q" veggies, she is compiling a list of Quick recipes that can be prepared in 10 minutes or less. We have decided to contribute this recipe...Couscous cooks in only 5 minutes, which makes it ideal for this challenge. While it cooks, you have time to prepare the rest of the ingredients. Just a brief disclaimer or two...Ideally we recommend eating in season. Cucumbers and bell peppers...

Dec 11An Inconvient Parent

I should start this post by saying that it doesn't relate to cooking or eating. But it does relate to kids and recycling. And for those of you who are familiar with What's Cooking, you know that I recently received my Green Business Certification and that I sell lots of Waste-Free Lunch items for kids. Now, I'll go on... I am a recycling nut, so it was no surprise that I was thrilled when I was asked to be part of a new recycling committee at our elementary school. Parents around campus can...

Dec 7Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without

The Book Passage, a local independently owned book store, puts on an amazing series called Cooks with Books. They are usually held at the outstanding Left Bank Restaurant in Larkspur, California. The meal is prepared under the supervision of the author/chef, who discusses his or her cooking ideas with the guests during the meal. This week, my mom took me to see Mollie Katzen who shared stories and recipes from her new book, The Vegetable Dishes I can't Live Without. The New York Times has described...