Popsicles for breakfast?! Sign us up! Looking for some new recipes to help refresh mealtime at home? Or maybe you’d like to find some nutritious recipes that your kids will not only enjoy eating (a tricky business, we know), but will actually want to help make? One of our most tried and true beliefs when it comes to kids and food is that cooking is a multi-faceted learning opportunity. When children are involved in the cooking process, including the selection of ingredients, they’re more likely to try new, unfamiliar foods!

We love supporting programs and resources that reinforce this philosophy, and that’s why we’re thrilled to share an amazing cookbook with you: The Healthy Junior Chef Cookbook from Williams-Sonoma. Providing recipes that are simultaneously delicious and nutritious, this cookbook will inspire kids to get creative in the kitchen and enjoy the entire cooking process! Remember those ‘breakfast popsicles’ we mentioned before? Yogurt Parfait Breakfast Pops are just one of the many fun and delicious dishes you’ll find in this book. The photography alone will have the whole family drooling, parents included (just look at that cover!). The easy to follow instructions, colorful illustrations, and expert cooking tips will keep both kids AND adults engaged in the kitchen and inspired to eat well – now who doesn’t want that?  

Grab a copy of The Healthy Junior Chef Cookbook here!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I like to cook with this cookbook! It’s fun and yummy! I like the pictures!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

What a fun and easy way to get your kids involved in the kitchen (and still make something even mom and dad will enjoy)! I try to do this on my own on a regular basis, but sometimes it’s nice to have some concrete help and advice. We love each recipe we’ve tried so far, and my kids love planning out our meals for each week and picking out the ingredients we need. The recipes are easy enough to follow so my younger kids can participate, but interesting enough that my older ones are still engaged! Everything in this book is kid-friendly, but so delicious that parents will enjoy them as well. I’d recommend this book to any aspiring young chef, or even families like ours that just wanted our kids to get a little more excited about cooking. So far, my favorite recipe is the Chicken and Pineapple Kebabs, they’re perfect for summer BBQ’s! My kids’ favorite is the Homemade Fruit Roll Ups; they have a great time making those, and they’re so yummy too!

Flavorful Features:

There’s more than 70 recipes for everything from breakfast and snacks to main courses and desserts, all kid-friendly with easy to follow instructions. There’s also fun serving ideas included to keep the creative juices flowing! Recipes include: Zucchini Lasagna with Turkey Bolognese, Spaghetti with Cauliflower Pesto, Homemade Fruit Roll Ups, Broccoli Apple Lunchbox Slaw, and so much more. 

The Icing on the Cake:

Our favorite part about this cookbook is how each recipe is focused on the nutrition it provides, without sacrificing the fun and delicious flavors that kids love!

Mix it Up!

Get an extremely early start on holiday shopping with this book, perfect for any little chef who wants some more practice in the kitchen (not to mention some yummy meals and snacks the whole family can eat!).

More info here!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Whipping up a delicious meal can be daunting, we know. With limited time during busy weekday nights, trying to pack in the flavor and create a delicious meal can feel challenging! Thankfully, there’s Crush Cube, an all-natural, easy way to cook fresh meals with big flavor; Crush Cubes are pre-portioned cubes of seasonings and sauces that will help save you time while cooking! Their impressive variety of flavors make it easy to add a POP of flavor to your next culinary creation whenever you need it! Don’t have time to make your own pesto? Well, Crush Cube has you covered with their Pesto Sauce Cubes, ready to serve over pasta, bread, fish, and more!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

The cube turns my pasta GREEN!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

Crush Cube has become a lifesaver at dinnertime! I can easily add a lot of flavor to our meals, and they have so many different herbs and sauces, that we use them on a daily basis for almost everything! My kids love pesto, but sometimes I don’t always have the time to make it myself; Crush Cube Pesto Sauce saves the day!

Flavorful Features:

Crush Cube comes in a variety of flavors. Here are their herb flavors:

• Glorious Ginger
• Beautiful Basil
• Perfect Parsley
• Savory Shallots
• Cool Cilantro
• Gorgeous Garlic
• Divine Dill
• Exotic Epazote

Crush Cube also comes in a variety of butter flavors:

• Maple
• Honey Cinnamon
• Garlic Herb
• Pesto
• Red Pepper
• Lemon Pepper

Don’t forget to check out their Soup-er Cubes, Rice Seasoning, and sauces!

The Icing on the Cake:

All Crush Cube products are flash-frozen fresh so there’s no loss of nutrients, flavor, color, or texture!

Time to Eat?!

Crush Cubes are perfect for adding flavor to your favorite pasta or chicken dish, or why not try one of their sweet butters at breakfast?

Mix it Up!

Try the Maple or Honey Cinnamon butter the next time you make your favorite batch of pancakes! Or why not use some in your favorite cookie recipe?

http://crushcubes.com/preview.php

https://www.facebook.com/CrushCubes/

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Here at The Creative Kitchen, we are all about finding extra delectable foods that are healthful options for your everyday lives. Emmi Le Gruyere AOP cheese is made from fresh cow’s milk from local Swiss farmers, who feed their cows naturally sustainable diets. Le Gruyere AOP is aged for a minimum of 150 days, giving you a unique and complex-tasting cheese. We can’t wait to make vegetable and cheese-filled savory pancakes at our Whole Foods Market Summer Cooking Camp with Emmi cheese! In the meantime, check out this recipe for Gruyere AOP and Bacon Savory Pancakes.

The Creative Kitchen is happy to have Emmi as a sponsor of our Whole Foods Market Summer Cooking Camps!

Gruyere AOP and Bacon Savory Pancakes

Ingredients

For 8 pancakes:

• 8 oz. (250g) Gruyère AOP
• 1/2 cup (125g) buckwheat flour
• 1/2 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup (250ml) milk
• 250ml water
• salt
• 5 Tbsp (80g) butter
• 8 oz (250g) bacon, thinly sliced
• ½ bunch flat-leaf parsley

Preparation

Beat the flours, eggs, milk, water and a pinch of salt together to make a smooth batter. Leave this to rest for 30 minutes. Melt half the butter and leave to cool. Thinly slice the Gruyère AOP.

Combine the melted butter with the batter. Cut the slices of bacon in half and dry fry them. Remove from the heat and pat dry with a paper towel. Wipe the frying pan clean and melt some of the remaining butter. Add ⅛ of the batter and swirl it around the base of the pan.

Cook each pancake for 2-3 minutes on a medium heat until golden, and then flip. Put a few slices of bacon and Gruyère AOP on top and cover the frying pan for about 3 minutes to melt the cheese. Fold approximately an inch (3cm) of the edge of the pancake over the filling and keep them warm, if necessary, in a preheated oven at 125°F (50°C). Rinse, dry and chop the parsley and use this to garnish the pancakes.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Reading is a great way to get your little chefs’ imaginations going! The Creative Kitchen has been digging into a book that’s super delicious and will appeal to all of your young foodies: The World’s Greatest Chocolate Covered Pork Chops! Twelve-year-old Zoey Kate is the best cook in San Francisco and she wants to share her delectable recipes with everyone in town…by opening her own restaurant…on an actual working trolley cart! Zoey quickly learns, however, that the restaurant business is no piece of cake! With some help from her family and friends, Zoey’s restaurant turns into an instant hit, but along the way she makes some enemies that want her to fail. Zoey will have to use her quick wit to overcome sabotage that threatens the success of her restaurant. Will she succeed? Pick up a delicious copy to find out!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

Chef Zoey makes me want to be a chef and cook yummy recipes! 

From the Eyes of a Parent:

My kids loved this book! It’s all about food, which they love, and it’s exciting but taught them some great life lessons about perseverance and following your dreams. After reading, they wanted to go straight into the kitchen and get cooking just like Chef Zoey! We enjoyed trying out the recipes (in the back of the book) together as a family!

Flavorful Features:

This exciting tale of a young chef will keep you and your future foodies on your toes! With lots of humor, larger-than-life characters, and flavorful foods, this fun cooking story will appeal to young foodies everywhere!

The Icing on the Cake:

This book features three delectable recipes in the back of the book that you can cook together as a family!

Buy it on Amazon here.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

As parents, there are probably a lot of things you’d like to eliminate from your life: laundry, the dishes, that dog down the street that never stops barking. Unwanted home odors might be on this list, but thanks to David Oreck’s Pure Air candles, you can eliminate any unwanted smells from your house in no time! The Lavender Fields Odor Eliminating Candle will neutralize home odors and replace them with a fresh, relaxing scent. David Oreck’s Pure Air candles are made with an exclusive vegetable and soy wax formula that burns longer and cleaner, giving you long-lasting freshness throughout the day!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

It makes the whole room smell like lavender flowers!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

I can use all the help I can get when it comes to the way my house smells; with a dog, three athletic kids, and my love of cooking, our house is always an interesting combination of smells. I like burning this candle in the kitchen or nearby rooms after dinner to eliminate any food smells, and it works perfectly! The lavender scent is soothing and calming, and makes the surrounding area smell incredibly fresh!

Flavorful Features:

David Oreck’s Pure Air Odor Eliminating Candles come in a number of other scents. Check them out:

The Icing on the Cake:

Lavender has become a popular ingredient in the culinary world, and there’s no doubt why! Whether in cooking or in a candle, lavender is commonly known to boast qualities such as:

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Alleviates headaches
• Improves sleep
• Reduces blood pressure

https://shop.pureaircandles.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PureAirCandles?ref=hl

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Here at The Creative Kitchen, we are always looking for ways to be efficient in the kitchen while still maintaining a level of healthy deliciousness! Tater Gator, the world’s first vegetable gripper, is a product that makes meal prep easy and safe for all members of the family. It is made out of a tough BPA and latex free composite material that protects fingers and grips vegetables, so you can say goodbye to those sliced fingers and dropped veggies!

From the Mouth of a Kid: 

When I use this, Mommy and Daddy let me peel and cut food to make dinner with them! I like to help them make our dinner. 

From the Eyes of a Parent:

Tater Gator is a lifesaver for busy nights when I’m quickly trying to chop a dozen things at once for dinner. I used to slice my fingers quite often while meal prepping, but with this product that never happens anymore! Tater Gator protects my younger children’s fingers, which puts me at ease when I let them help with dinner.

The Icing on the Cake:

Tater Gator is a must-have for anyone who loves to cook. Here are some of its flavorful features:

• Slips on your thumb and index finger with ease.
• Protects your fingers from cuts and scrapes.
• Grips slippery vegetables for easy peeling.
• Easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
• One size fits all!
• Latex, BPA, and PVC free.

Time to Eat?!

Let Tater Gator help you with meal prep any time of the day! This product can also help professional chefs and kitchens save time and waste when speedily meal prepping for customers!

www.tatergator.com

https://www.facebook.com/TaterGator/

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Organic Valley’s award winning Cultured Unsalted Butter is extra tasty, since it’s made with organic sweet cream from pasture raised cows and live cultures. The butter contains a boost of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are optimal for brain function. Like all Organic Valley products, this butter is non-GMO, and made without using antibiotics, synthetic hormones or toxic pesticides. Whether spreading on top of pancakes, using in cookie recipes, or stirring a dollop into cooked veggies, Organic Valley Cultured Butter will make all of your dishes that much more flavorful.

The Creative Kitchen is proud to have Organic Valley as a Supporting Sponsor for our Holiday Kids Cooking Classes at Whole Foods Market NYC, decorating Chai Snickerdoodle cookies made with Organic Valley Cultured Unsalted Butter.

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I love helping mommy mix the butter into cookies!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

I love using Organic Valley products. The fact that there are no added antibiotics and that Organic Valley even knows the farmers makes me super comfortable including these products in my family’s diet. Their Cultured Unsalted Butter is a particular hit in my house. It’s so purely delicious that even a simple smear on toast is a family-favorite.

Flavorful Features:

Organic Valley Butter comes in several varieties:
– Salted Butter
– Pasture Butter, Cultured
– European Style Cultured Butter
– Clarified Butter, Ghee

In addition, Organic Valley has several products including milk, protein shakes, grassmilk yogurt, cheese, cream, half and half, soy, sour cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese, eggs and produce.

The Icing On the Cake:

Organic Valley Cultured Unsalted Butter is always organic, and never contains any antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides or GMO’s.

Mix it Up!

Add fresh herbs and salt to room temperature butter, roll into a log and set in your fridge for a compound butter that can be used on steak, chicken or even fish! Combine Organic Valley Cultured Butter with your favorite nut butter for a rich addition to your morning pancakes! Create Chai Snickerdoodle cookies, just like we did in our Holiday Kids Cooking Class and serve with a glass Organic Valley Egg Nog!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Mac and Cheese is a dish that kids and grownups love. This take on the classic mac and cheese from our friends at Cooking Light adds ground beef and fire roasted tomatoes to the mix for a heartier take on this comforting dish. What’s even better is you can grate or finely dice some vegetables into the mac and cheese for picky eaters!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium. Add beef, onion, Worcestershire, and mustard; cook, stirring often, until meat is done, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in tomatoes.

3. Whisk together milk and flour. Pour mixture into skillet; bring to a boil over high. Add cheeses; stir until cheeses melt. Remove from heat. Stir in pasta and meat mixture. Top with parsley, salt, and pepper.

Tips & Trick:

• Make sure to drain the tomatoes so the sauce doesn’t get too thin.
• If you don’t have dry mustard (used here for added depth), stir in a teaspoon of Dijon mustard.
• Serve with a side of green beans or broccoli tossed with browned butter, or with a salad the family enjoys (a crunchy romaine Caesar salad would be great).

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

As parents, you’re constantly trying to make sure your kids are getting the right nutrients to stay strong and healthy. An important part of that is making sure they eat their vegetables which can sometimes be difficult. This French Bread with Cauliflower Cheese Sauce from our friends at Cooking Light is a great way to incorporate vegetables into your little one’s diet. Use this mixture for your next grilled cheese sandwich and pair alongside fresh tomato soup for a family-friendly dinner. The sauce is versatile and can even be mixed into pasta for a healthier version of mac and cheese.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat broiler to high.

2. Place bread, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Broil 1 1/2 minutes or until bread is lightly toasted.

3. Place cauliflower in a steamer basket over simmering water; cover and steam 8 minutes or until very tender. Place stock in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 30 seconds or until warm. Place cauliflower and stock in a food processor; process until smooth. Add cheese; process until combined.

4. Spread cauliflower mixture over bread halves; broil 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Cut into 4 pieces; sprinkle with pepper.

Tips & Trick:

• The cheesy-veggie sauce is a great way to sneak in vegetables so try tossing it with fresh pasta for a healthier mac and cheese that doesn’t skimp on the creamy texture and cheesy flavor.
• If you love to dip garlic bread into broth-based soups or hearty stews, try adding finely minced garlic to the food processor to add an extra kick before spreading the sauce on the bread.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Autumn is here! As the weather gets cooler we look to heartier recipes to fill our stomachs. This Pumpkin-Apple Soup from our friends at Cooking Light is the perfect dish to enjoy on a cool Fall night. This tasty recipe can act as a base and be made into two separate soups.  For mature palates, Chipotle Spiced Pumpkin Soup provides a kick and Thai Coconut Pumpkin Soup will keep younger palates satisfied with its sweet taste of coconut.  These small variations give each soup a different flavor makeup.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; swirl to coat. Add onion; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes. Add pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 5 minutes, stirring often. Add stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 25 minutes or until pumpkin and apples are tender.

2. While soup cooks, combine pepitas, sugar, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook 7 minutes or until sugar melts and pepitas are toasted, stirring often. Transfer to a plate; cool completely, breaking up any clumps.

3. Place half of pumpkin mixture in a blender, remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape). Secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters); blend until smooth. Place soup in a bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining pumpkin mixture. Pour in apple cider, and reheat in pan if needed. Divide soup evenly among 8 bowls; sprinkle evenly with pepitas.

• Thai-Coconut Soup: Omit cinnamon; instead add 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger with the pumpkin and apples in step 1. Omit apple cider; instead add 3/4 cup light coconut milk and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Omit pepitas, sugar, and salt in step 2; instead sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons cilantro before serving. Serve with lime wedges.

• Chipotle-Spiced Pumpkin Soup: Increase cinnamon to 1/2 teaspoon. Add 1 finely chopped seeded chipotle chile canned in adobo sauce to apples and pumpkin in step 1. Omit apple cider; instead add 1/4 cup water. Omit pepitas, sugar, and salt in step 2; instead garnish with 1 ounce thinly sliced and slivered Spanish chorizo, cooked in a small skillet over medium-low heat until crisp.

Tips & Trick:

• Simple toppings like salty-sweet pepitas, chorizo, or freshly chopped herbs make each soup more flavorful.
• For a fun, no-fuss garnish, top any of the soups with 2 tablespoons popped popcorn.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.