As summer is winding down and kids are headed back to school, are you planning to do anything that you do “every year?”  Maybe it is going to the state fair or spending the day school clothes shopping, or heading up to the cabin or out on the lake one last time?  Creating rituals that you do every year can be a great way to develop memories and also times to look forward to. I’ve been meaning to blog about what we do each July Fourth.  Usually we entertain and grill, but we also play a game every year.  The game is called Know your America, and I originally heard of it when I received it as a gift when I was probably ten years old.  The ga...

Tags: activities, cooking, July 4th, summer, dessert, Mr. Sun Cupcakes, games

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There was a great post in the forums by Logan5, who is responsible for a kids’ cooking class at her child’s school.  I encourage you to read the forum thread—the lengths that Logan5 went to to ensure that each child had a mini-apple pie to take home shows the amazing dedication of parents! I have been giving kids’ cooking classes for the past ten years, so I have had lots of hits and misses when it comes to recipes and lots of challenging environments to teach in—including classrooms with no power or water, and a couple times outside! One of my most challenging ...

Tags: cooking, kids, tapenade, forums, salsa, hummus

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Stocking the fridge when guests come can be stressful.  Everyone comes equipped with their own unique tastes and dietary needs.  That’s why it’s important to choose items that have some universal appeal.  This week members of my family, including a few wee ones, from all corners of the U.S. have kindly come to visit and check out my new house.   Finding foods that please the babies, grandma, aunties, and uncles, can be a challenge.  Because time is a premium, it’s also very important to use recipes that are simple and require only a few steps.  Why spend time in the kitchen when you could be visiting with your family?  Slow...

Tags: vacation, cooking, family, guests

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I am teaching a cooking class for kids in grades 4-6 this week through our local community education department.  The theme that comm ed requested was Cooking Around the World.  It has been fun to plan the class and now teach it (as we are on day 2).  So far, we made pasta from scratch (a virtual visit to Italy) and also talked about how universal noodles actually are since almost every culture has noodles.  Today we "visited" the Middle East and made falafel and pita sandwiches with a cucumber-yogurt sauce.  I was delighted by how the kids just gobbled the sandwiches up.  At first, they thought it was weird looking, but then they were brave enough to...

Tags: Cooking with kids, cooking, around the world, classes

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BettyCrocker.com member KittyTrixie left an interesting post in the Cooking and Baking with Kids forum this week.  The member asked for ideas to help an impatient 16 year old learn to cook and feed himself well, especially in the summer months when he is home more often.I am so impressed with all the great replies.  They really show how passionate and knowledgeable other BettyCrocker.com members are.  Among the suggestions were: • explore cookbooks• use the microwave •...

Tags: cooking, teens, fiesta enchiladas, instructional videos, recipes for beginners, teaching

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I'm sure people wonder what really goes on in the Betty Crocker Kitchens.  Well, it varies from day to day.  Today the Yoplait marketing team prepared recipes developed in the Betty Crocker Kitchens using Yoplait large-size yogurt.  (32 ounces of yogurt). It was great learning all the foods that can be made with plain, vanilla, peach and strawberry yogurt--everything from appetizers, (Ginger Caramel and Yogurt Dip with Apples) to main dishes (Crescent Samosas), to side dishes, (Cajun Sweet Potato Fries with Yogurt Dipping Sauce), breads (Cranberry-Orange Scones) and desserts. (think Chocolate Souffle' Cakes).  Even better was tasting and sharing all ...

Tags: bakng, cooking, yogurt

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Getting dinner on the table and gathering the family to enjoy it together is no simple task for any busy family.  Work, traffic, sports, play rehearsal, Cub Scouts, and all the stresses of daily life make cooking seem more challenging than ordering pizza and devouring it while flipping on the television while other family members retreat to homework, video games, exercising or the multitude of activities that keep busy families on the move. If your family is anything like mine, it takes everyone’s efforts to pitch in and get things done around the house.  Dinner is no exception. Kids can share in kitchen duty, and probably would do so happily.  Cooking together...

Tags: cooking, dinner, family fun, meal, New Year

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Are you like me, and you dread selecting holiday gifts for other people?  I enjoy buying and wrapping and giving gifts, but I find that I sometimes second guess myself and, in the process, drive my husband crazy.  He is the type of shopper who sees something, thinks that it might be a good gift and buys it on the spot.  I, on the other hand, feel a need to shop around to find an improved version or better price.  When it comes to buying gifts, I can’t help but be a little biased.  Being a cookbook author, I love all things related to food and I assume everyone else does too!  That’s why I love to buy food related things for every occasion....

Tags: holiday, cooking, children, cookie mixes, gifts, presents

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