Teaching young children to cook

[stevemac]

Can anyone recommend a book suitble for teaching kids to cook?

My 6 year old daughter is really keen to help me in the kitchen.
I have done a few basic recipes with her but would like a book with pictures to encourage her more.
The few i have seen tend to be more sweet/junk food based but anyone know of any that have child friendly main meals as well?

[Rhona]

Try Annabel Karmel's website - and there's 40% off a "Princess's Cookbook" at the moment. I have her toddler and baby books - they're very good. Her stuff is focused on balance and nutrition, whilst being 'fun' enough for children. Just google her name and the website pops up.

[stevemac]

Thanks Rhona

I used some of her books when my daughter was a toddler.

[Hilary B]

I almost never use a cookbook, so my kids learned by cooking with me. My son was 8 when he first made 'Ghastly Green Biscuits' (they tasted great, he just added a bit too much food colour) based on my 'spoonfuls' biscuit recipe.
I think he was 11 when he baked Delia's Mincemeat Christmas Cake (might have been 12).
Apart from the 'helping Mum' start, he is entirely self-taught (well they did some in primary school).

If you want a book that you can use together, but which has inspiring pics, how about Good Housekeeping Illustrated?

[Hilary B]

Thinking about my previous, at least half of it misses the point. Sorry!
Would still recommend a 'normal' illustrated cookbook and work together, rather than a 'made for kids' one.

[di]

I've got a bit of a problem with buying cookbooks...I've filled three large shelves & they're overspilling into the living room.
I've got a few kiddies ones,but to be honest we don't really use them.I seem to remember the Usbourne one was pretty good & they also do a box of recipe cards...although a bit pricey I think places like Books for People often sell them cheaper!
Daisy is in the process of making her own recipe book,she's just seven & is as into drawing & writing as she is cooking.Most grown~ups recipes can be simplified for a kiddie to follow & they get to make up a whole new book full of just the recipes they like.

[stevemac]

I've got a bit of a problem with buying cookbooks...I've filled three large shelves & they're overspilling into the living room.
I've got a few kiddies ones,but to be honest we don't really use them.I seem to remember the Usbourne one was pretty good & they also do a box of recipe cards...although a bit pricey I think places like Books for People often sell them cheaper!
Daisy is in the process of making her own recipe book,she's just seven & is as into drawing & writing as she is cooking.Most grown~ups recipes can be simplified for a kiddie to follow & they get to make up a whole new book full of just the recipes they like.

I have a fair supply of books myself so may just let her thumb through them.
My daughter (sophie) Is just like daisy then and wrote her recipe (or recipay in her language) complete with instructions for her "Frooty frooty boats" (really a fruit cocktail) which included such ingredients as "shoogar" and "casoooo nuts" .....the joys of youth

I have quite a good grasp of cooking but think she will be more inspired if she can see what we are cooking in pictures.
I like the idea of recipe cards so will have a search for them.
Thanks all

[OverWyreGrower]

One of the food magazines, either olive or delicious, I think, sometimes has a kids cooking section in it....

Could you and Sophie make a cookbook between you? You could take pictures of her making the recipe and she could write it out, and put them in a scrapbook or a loose leaf binder thing. That way, once you've done it once, you've got something to refer to?

[zazen999]

I had a floury fingers book which I bought from the school book club [do they still have those?], and still use recipes from it. I must have bought it when I was about 9/10.

[bobleponge]

I like the River Cottage family cookbook (not sure of the exact name but check out Lord Huge and you'll find it).

There are loads of recipe's, starters, main courses and desserts, and its aimed directly at children, with adult assistance, but not patronising.
Loads of good pix too, so you can see that what you've made doesnt look like what its sposed to.... or was that just me?

[stevemac]

Ive just checked out some reviews for the river cottage family cookbook and it may be exactly what i am looking for!
Some good info/ideas on this thread.

[Rocketron]

Can anyone recommend a book suitble for teaching kids to cook?

My 6 year old daughter is really keen to help me in the kitchen.
I have done a few basic recipes with her but would like a book with pictures to encourage her more.
The few i have seen tend to be more sweet/junk food based but anyone know of any that have child friendly main meals as well?

Have you thought about making your own ?
Download recipes from t'internet and put into plastic pockets in a ring binder or laminate.

[ohbeary]

Bob, noted, respect dude, on the other hand, I am a professional chef, 38 years and counting!(down to retirement!, can I afford to!), anyhoo, both my lads can cook, and no books involved, I love to cook, it must have rubbed off on them!, eldest made choux buns at school, teacher was suprised!, "Tom!, do you know what you are attempting?", "oh! no bother Miss, piece of cake!, well not cake but you would know that!", poor girl didn't!!, ho hum, they were fine, I do not believe in "Kinder Kooking", the basic's are what they are, basic's, anything else is creativity, let them make mistakes, they will learn or eat Mc......'s for ever, unless they can find a "cooking" partner, (sad and wrong!!), my lads watched me cook at home and did stints as KP's in the hols, their choice!!, and as such learned how a kitchen works, cook, clean up, serve, clear and clean up!!,(eat crap later),mmmmmm "donna kebab!!".

Let them learn from you how to feed a family, they may take it up and learn to feed the world!!.

[ginger ninger]

If you shop at any of the big super markets (asda, tesco, morrisons), pick up a copy's of there free Mag's. There full of good cooking and baking ideas for kids, this months full of halloween/trick a treat food, I've no kids but I'm going to make some for the kids that pop and see me.

[SarzWix]

We've got the River Cottage Family Cookbook, I think it's great and the kids have no problem following it. My eldest son has a couple of the Sam Stern books, but I'm not so keen on them, and they are more teenage boy orientated. My daughter (9) is quite keen on the Nigella Lawson Domestic Goddess book, mainly because it has a lot of cakes in it I think