Cooking with Kids!

Gooseberry Patch, publishers of Kids in The Kitchen Year 'Round Fun, explains why cooking with kids is so much fun!

		How Does Your Family Have Fun?
		Between work, homework, sports and activities, it is hard to have fun as a family, but when you find the time, it is so worth it!  How do you have fun as a family?  Whether you all hike in the woods, do a giant puzzle, or make french toast together on Sunday mornings, we want to hear how your family has fun! Name:  Email:

CommitmentNow:  Kids in the Kitchen Year 'Round Fun is a cookbook for kids.  Do a lot of kids like to cook?

Gooseberry Patch:  Sure! Even the youngest kids usually engage in "pretend" cooking, playing with Mom's pots and pans in the kitchen, making mud pies in the sandbox or having  tea parties with their dolls. Learning to cook means they actually get to play with their food.

CommitmentNow:  How does cooking benefit children?

Gooseberry Patch:  They can be creative, they learn math skills as they measure ingredients, they can try new foods and they are more likely to eat foods that they've helped prepare. Even if they're eating out, they'll have a better understanding of food, how it's prepared, what tastes good and what's good for them.

CommitmentNow:  Your book offers recipes based on the calendar:  “Party-Go-Rounds” for New Year's Day; “Rise & Shine Pizzas” for Groundhog Day; “Lucky Noodle Bowl” for Chinese New Year.  Are holidays a good time to get kids interested in cooking?

Gooseberry Patch:  Yes they are!  We tried to select calendar occasions that would add fun to learning to cook. Kids can help prepare and serve special meals to their family members.

CommitmentNow:  What should parents teach their children before allowing them to work in the kitchen?

Gooseberry Patch:  To ask for permission before starting a recipe! Basic cleanliness in the kitchen (wash your hands, wash foods as needed, clean up as you go). How to use measuring cups and spoons. How to work safely around hot surfaces. How to use a knife safely. (on these last 2, when to let an adult do the work instead.)

CommitmentNow:  The recipes in your book are pretty simple.  Should young chefs start with basic recipes?

Gooseberry Patch:  Yes, using basic recipes will allow kids to enjoy success in their first efforts to cook.

CommitmentNow:  What are your favorite kids’ recipes?

Gooseberry Patch:  Simple sugar cookies, homemade pizzas, quesadillas...there are so many easy recipes to get kids started in the kitchen. Start with what they like to eat...the rest is easy!

To purchase Kids in the Kitchen Year 'Round Fun, click here.  To learn more about Gooseberry Patch books, visit www.gooseberrypatch.com.