Kids Cooking and Cookbook Blog Site

I just finished a two hour jam-packed class on Online Internet Success Basics – one of a series of 8 learning modules about creating blogs. Our instructor Dr. Jeannette Cates, Ph.D. has the unique ability to pull together tons of information and make it meaningful for her class. She’s open to questions and gives very clear directions to help us along – qualities I really like in a teacher.

I don’t remember any class I’ve taken that has covered so much material in this span of time and has done it so thoroughly. It is a very intense class but most interesting.

Learning new material is a life-long process. And one is never too old to learn!

It’s almost summer time and thoughts of vacation fill the air. Are you going on vacation this summer? Is this the year of the Disney trip? If it is, I hope you have a copy of the ultimate Disney World Savings Guide, as this book will save you hundreds of dollars on your vacation.

Written by a former Disney cast member, she saw lots of families needlessly throwing their money away because they didn’t know any better. She says you can have a Disney World vacation every bit as enjoyable and rewarding as the family who spends 2, 3, or even 4 times as much money.

Every tip, suggestion, and strategy she tells you in her book has been experienced by her as a cast member and now as a Mom with three children. The book is updated regularly and you will always have the very latest Disney savings strategies right at your fingertips.

A lot of parents pay a fortune to have their children’s birthday parties hosted somewhere and hire entertainment. That’s why I was glad to see Kid Party Ideas for activities and projects for entertaining kids’ parties at home.

This is a games and craft resource for all age groups…toddlers to teens. It covers a broad range of both party themes and children’s crafts. There are craft ideas of any children’s party – Christmas, Halloween, Easter, birthdays, summer fun, and any party you want.

Clever party themes are easy to come up with but then, what are you going to do to keep the party entertaining and fun? You want your party to be memorable. This book helps kids and families plan together how to entertain their friends using easy to find, and inexpensive supplies.

The chef had the day-off but still couldn’t stay away from the kitchen! What a great day it was – we were invited for a cookout and it was most delicious. This was the menu:

Grilled chicken breast wrapped in bacon

Quartered small red potatoes flavored with herbs and spices

Steamed asparagus with mozzarella cheese

Spinach salad with orange wedges

Onion bread

Strawberry shortcake

Iced tea and water

I provided the spinach salad. I’ll post the recipe tomorrow. Right now I have a big dinner I’m preparing for but I’ll get back to you shortly.

Mother will probably like any gift you give her. She might even shower you with good words and, perish the thought — kisses!

Since we’re in the “cooking” mode around here, what kind of new kitchen tool or utensil would Mom need or want? Does she have a spatula (these seem to wear out quickly)? A wooden spoon? Pancake turner? Ladle? Tong?

Other kitchen tool suggestions are:

measuring spoons, kitchen scissors, vegetable parer (for paring potatoes and other vegetables), pastry brush, wire strainer, spoon with slots or holes (for scooping foods out of a liquid), and cookie cutters, among others.

If you decide on any of these and, after you buy one or more of them, you can tie a ribbon around the handle and wrap in tissue paper. Then place in one of the colorful gift bags you perhaps have saved from other gifts.  These are generally too nice to just throw away!

There you have a very neat, and practical gift ready to give to that special someone who is celebrating her special day. Deliver with a hug!

One of my favorite books in the field of kid’s cookbooks is Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids – Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun by Amy Houts.

It’s spring time and guess what kinds of fruit are readily available now? Can you find really fresh peaches in the stores now? No, not yet. Have you seen any “right off the tree” apples in the stores? No, those have been in controlled cold storage since last fall.

There is one bright red, juicy fruit that I think Mothers will enjoy. Yes! It’s strawberries! What can you do with strawberries? Well, there are lots of ways to prepare them, from shortcakes to pies to salads, and more. Though, let’s just wash them really well, keep the green stems on and put a few in a pretty glass dish. By “washing really well” I mean to place them in a pan and swish them around a little. Then gently lift them out, let them drip on a paper towel a little before placing in the dish.

Sometimes we just need to savor the freshness of a food. That’s what we’ll do with the strawberries this morning. As we bite into them we’ll know they have been kissed by the sun and that is a good thing.

Presentation of food is very important. How a food looks and is presented helps us form opinions about its taste and flavor. Let’s see how to make a tray for Mom look appetizing and interesting. What kind of a tray do you have? Can you coordinate it with the dishes? Do you have a pretty napkin you can add. Maybe even a flower, along with a card you have made?

Let’s see…you have the rolls made, the strawberries in their pretty dish, and now a beverage. Does Mother drink coffee, tea, or milk? Is it ready? Don’t forget a little plate and fork as the rolls are a little messy. Looks like you’re all set.

Tomorrow I have a suggestion for a little gift. See you then.

Hi Gang,

Our first job today is to plan something special for Mother’s Day. Mom’s appreciate TLC (tender loving care) and it’s up to you to decide how to do this. Never fear, Chef Crombie is here to help you with some suggestions.

Let’s start with some thoughts about breakfast – wouldn’t your Mother be surprised if you served her breakfast in bed?!

To begin the morning surprise, here is a recipe for quick and easy rolls — and they are so good! If your Mother is in bed yet, you still need an adult present before you begin to make the recipe.

Lots of Little Cinnamon Rolls

1 (8-ounce) can refrigerated crescent rolls
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon orange juice

Lightly grease an 8-inch round cake pan.

Open can of crescent rolls and separate into 4 sections on bread board or cookie sheet. Press together the tear-off marks to seal the holes.

Mix sugar and cinnamon in small bowl or cup. Sprinkle this sugar mixture evenly over all 4 rectangles.

Roll up each section, starting at a long side. Press the edges together to seal in the sugar mixture. You now have 4 logs with edges folded in to prevent sugar spill-out.

Cut each log into 5 slices. Place in greased pan with the circles and cinnamon-sugar face up.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Stir together powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth. Drizzle over warm baked rolls. Makes 20 rolls.

There you have Part 1 of our breakfast extravaganza for Mom on Mother’s Day. Tomorrow we’ll add more to the menu.

Hi! I’m Chef Crombie, the little chef in Amy Houts’ book, Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids – Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun. I’m here to help you learn more about working with food and how you can pack “wow” into your meals and snacks. Join me on this fun journey!