In "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," our hero laments that he is unable to prepare a Thanksgiving feast for the Peanuts gang.
"All I can make is cold cereal, andmaybe toast," Charlie Brown says.
Today's kids don't have to suffer the same cruel fate.If you've seen "MasterChef Junior," you know there are kids out there who broil salmon and crank out fresh pasta. Thenew season of Gordon Ramsay's cooking show for kidsbegins at 8 p.m. Nov. 6 on FOX.
Then there's American Girl, whose"Girl of the Year" for 2015 was Grace, an aspiringbaker who travels to Paris to hone her craft. American Girl has partnered with Williams-Sonoma to create a line of American Girl cookware and related classes.
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Responding to heightened interest among kids who cook, IMUSA, a cookware company that specializes in products for Latin and Asian cooking, is marketingsome of its products as kid-friendly, including athree-piece bambo sushi-rolling set anda tortilla press. The company'sbamboo mortar and pestle has a silicone grip to help children more easily crush garlic and herbs.
"I think many adults underestimate what kids can accomplish in the kitchen," said Williams-Sonoma's culinary director, Amanda Haas, in an interview by e-mail. "However, others realize that even toddlers can learn to do a lot in the kitchen.They soak it up like sponges!"
Granted, it's not always as easy as cookbooks and TV shows might imply. Haas recommends that parents "start small."
"Even at age twoor three, just include them in the process a little," she advised. "I used to keep my sons’ highchair in the kitchen while I cooked so they could see me.Then when they were twoor three, they could simply wash greens or berries, tear lettuce for a salad, or combine dry ingredients for baking. I think the hardest part of getting your kids in the kitchen is themess that comes with it! It is messy and time consuming, so be patient. I always say that you should let kids in the kitchen when everyone is full. When people are hungry and kids are really slow at beginner tasks, it’s hard for anyone to be excited about it."
If you can't bear the thought of sticky counters, crumbs on the floor and kid-induced chaos in the kitchen, take heart.
Opportunities abound for little ones to experiment with cooking, safely beyond reach ofyour immaculategranite counters and gleamingappliances.
Williams-Sonoma offers free classes in its "Junior Chef" series.In November, Williams-Sonoma offers "Holiday Cookie Decorating" and "Thanksgiving Helper: Tasty Side Dishes." The December program will be "Gingerbread Decorating."
Check individual stores for dates and registration. Williams-Sonoma has locations inThe Grove, 579 Broad St., Shrewsbury; Brook 35 Plaza in Sea Girt, and in The Mall at Short Hills.
Children can make personal pizzas at acooking class with Future Foodies, which has partnered with Ferguson Showroom to benefit Spoons Across America, a Manhattan-based non-profit organization that aims to instill healthy eating habits in children. The $20 fee per student benefits Spoons Across America, and Ferguson matches each donation.
During the class, kids learn about flavors andingredients, make pizza sauce bysquishing tomatoes by hand, and layer their chosen pizza ingredients onto pre-made naan, an Indian flatbread. Grown-ups handle the actual baking, but kids do the eating.
Participating kids take home their chef hats and aprons, a goody bag of kitchen gear, and any pizza they didn't finish in class!
The next Future Foodies program is scheduled for 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 21 at Ferguson Showroom, 20 Cooper Road, Middletown. Class is limited to 15 children, aimed at ages six to 12.To register, e-mail Rebecca.Pryde@ferguson.com.
Taste & Technique, 597 River Road, Fair Haven, offers themed classes for $45 per child, or $120 for three classes.
Upcoming programs include:
"Turkey Day Do-Over," 4 to 6 p.m.Nov.13, ages 10 and up.Turkey Pot Pie,Mom's Potato Puffs,Sweet Potato Wontons,Extra Veggie Frittata,Iced PumpkinSugar Cookies
"Sweet Turkey Day," 3 to 5 p.m.Nov.21, ages seven and up.Frosted PumpkinCupcakes,Tom Turkey Cupcakes,Candy Corn Cookies,Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Loaf.
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"Holiday Appetizers," 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 11, ages 10 and up.Sweet & Spicy Kielbasa,Sweet & Sour co*cktail Meatballs,Korean Beef with Honey Mustard,Chili Lime Chicken Skewers,MiniCherry Cheesecakes.
"Gifts From The Kitchen," 3 to 5 p.m.Dec.12, ages seven andup.Banana Cranberry Bread in holiday loaf pan,Sand Art Cookie Mix in a jar,Triple Chocolate Brownies.
"Make & Take Cookies," 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 18, ages seven and up.Best-Ever Basic Cookie Dough,Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies,Triple Chocolate Cookies,Cranberry Pecan Cookies
"Gingerbread House Workshop," 2 to 4 p.m.Dec.19, ages seven and up. Assembing and decorating a Wilton Gingerbread House to take home.
For more info, call732-741-2665 or go to tasteandtechnique.com
At Young Chefs Academy in the Morganville section of Marlboro, students are taught in three age ranges: Kindercooks, ages 3 to 5; JuniorChefs, ages 7 to 12; and SeniorChefs, for ages 13 to 18.
Themes of the weekly classes change every month. The curriculum integrates math, science, and history, as well as hands-on cooking and skills such as proper food handling, kitchen safety, table setting and manners.
You can try an individual class for $35. Young Chefs Academy is at712 Ginesi Drive, Morganville. Call 732-536-7777 or go to youngchefsacademy.com
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