Category Archives: Cooking with Kids

Cooking with kids; kids in the kitchen

Jul 8Family Food Challenge – Aiming for Progress

Progress, not perfection. It's what we should strive for - and it will save us a headache in the meantime. The What's Cooking with Kids Facebook community and I have been doing a Family Food Challenge for the past few weeks in an effort to improve our eating habits, one little assignment at a time. So far, the challenges have included: Trying a new grain – I used millet in this muffin recipe Planting something edible – our garden is a work in progress, but it looks like our beans...

Jul 6Win an Ice Cream Maker: Summertime Fun with Kids...

I'll make this post short and sweet - and get right to the point. The folks from West Bend generously offered to let me give away one of their ice cream makers to you! Of course, that made me very happy, especially since it will likely save you gobs of money. Plus, you will be able to use the ingredients that work best for your family. A win-win! But first, I thought I'd share some awesome ice cream recipes, in case you already have an ice cream maker and are inspired make some tasty goodness... Kitchen...

Jul 1What's Cooking with YOUR Kids: Squirt and Munchk...

What’s Cooking with YOUR Kids: Squirt and Munchkin get Cooking

Many thanks to Katy for this installment of What's Cooking with YOUR Kids - a series where we share your stories about kids in the kitchen. If you've ever read my blog, it should come as no surprise to you that I enjoy cooking with my kids. I've always loved cooking, but cooking with your children is a completely different experience. I started letting the Munchkin help out in the kitchen because he wanted to, not because I was pushing him to get in the kitchen. He saw me cook often, and...

Jun 29Making Homemade Kitty Treats with Kids

Every year, I look forward to the classes that I teach with the children who participate in the Marin Humane Society summer camp program. You might be wondering what on earth a cooking teacher might be doing at an animal shelter. Stop that! We are NOT cooking the animals. But we are cooking FOR them! Because so many of you have asked (via Facebook and Twitter) for the recipes over the years, I thought I'd share. See, I'm nice like that :-) Have you ever baked for your...

Jun 27Bouncing for Joy: Homemade Ice Cream with Kids

Summer - the simple joy of my daughter making ice cream with her friend, all on their own. In a creative way, of course. Want to try? My mom got us one of these nifty balls last year...Here is what we put inside to make our treat. Do you have any easy summertime treats in your repertoire?

Jun 24What's Cooking with YOUR Kids: ADHD and Blueberr...

What’s Cooking with YOUR Kids: ADHD and Blueberries

An afternoon with my son… warm, sweet, and tangy by Penny Williams Luke, my special needs son, and I had Saturday afternoon to ourselves -- just Mommy and Buddy. Daddy was working in his shop. Emma was on a spontaneous trip to the movies with a friend. I could sit on the computer all day and night between my blog, my real estate business, reading everyone else's great blogs on ADHD and parenting and family, researching ADHD, writing on my manuscript (I'd like to think it will become a book...

Jun 15Garden to Table Workshop: IACP Kids in the Kitch...

Garden to Table Workshop: IACP Kids in the Kitchen

For the second year in a row, I attended the International Association of Culinary Professionals annual conference. Much like last year's experience in Portland, this year's event in Austin opened its arms wide and greeted me with a smile. I came to town early for my first ever bookstore appearance (yay!). The staff at Book People were wonderful and we were easily able to draw families to our area of the store by offering a hands on cooking activity for children. An added bonus for me, of...

Jun 6Chef Gino Teaches Us How to Make Fresh Pasta

Now that I have recovered from DooFAPalooza, I've had some time to put together this video from the amazing Chef Gino. He teaches children to cook in Los Angeles and spent the entire day at the festival teaching children how to make pasta from scratch. He was a hit with the kids and their families - and if you watch this video, you'll see why. Can you believe making fresh pasta is as easy as... Mixing 1 cup of flour with 1 egg. And as Gino says, if you are feeding a crowd - 55 cups of...

Jun 3How to Teach an Engaging Cooking Class

Most people would agree that cooking classes are an excellent way for people experience new foods and expand their skill set in the kitchen. They appeal to folks of all ages, from toddlers to seniors, especially when they are done right. Here are some tips for teaching cooking classes that will engage and excite your students. Use a Theme Kids love themed parties - and my company often works with families to customize a theme that is perfect for their birthday child. Some of our...

May 30Does Your Child Need a Feeding Therapist (Part 2...

I asked our awesome What's Cooking Facebook community if anyone had questions for my friend Dawn, a feeding therapist. Of course, many of us struggle with family mealtimes, and we got some excellent questions. Let's get to it... Is it detrimental to a child's eating health/habits to "force" new foods on them? This is an area that is so dear to my heart. I see way too many families force-feeding their children. Unfortunately, a lot of therapists teach parents to force-feed, trick them by...