Stir, Bake And Mix Up Memorable Moments In The Kitchen

Summary: No matter the cooking task at hand--whether it's rolling dough or mixing ingredients--getting children more involved in the kitchen is a great way to begin new traditions and spend good, quality time as a family.

No matter the cooking task at hand-whether it's rolling dough or mixing ingredients-getting children more involved in the kitchen is a great way to begin new traditions and spend good, quality time as a family. From baking cookies to stirring up pudding, introducing children to the joys of cooking begins with exciting, simple recipes. "As a mother of triplets, simplicity is key," said Christine Garboski, Manager at the Nestlé Culinary Center. "Fun, easy recipes teach cooking basics and inspire creativity." In addition to using trouble-free recipes, here are a few more tips for getting children more involved in the kitchen. • Unveil the inner chef. Teach the basic cooking fundamentals by allowing kids to measure ingredients, season recipes or brush marinade on pork chops or chicken before grilling, baking or sautéing. • Sticky, drippy and just plain icky. Avoid unnecessary messes and spills by rinsing and stacking used dishes in the sink as you cook, and storing ingredients away after using. • No boo-boos. Ensure safety by using blunt scissors, plastic knives or serrated dinner knives when slicing meats, fruits and vegetables. • Keep it simple. Remember that kids have short attention spans and lose interest quickly. Prepare easy recipes such as the one that follows for Alphabet Cookies. Kids will love using the cookie cutters, as well as frosting and decorating each letter with tube icing and colorful candy sprinkles. Look for more kid-friendly recipes and cooking tips on VeryBestKids.com. Alphabet Cookies (Makes about 2 dozen cookies) All-purpose flour 1 package (18 ounces) Nestlé