In the mid-nineties, when I was just eight, my first encounter with formal culinary instruction took place. I joined a group of bored kids at the public library, attending a "Microwave Cooking for Kids" session. The instructor's warning about microwaving aluminum foil stuck with me, but the recipes weren't very appealing. Growing up with an anxious mother who preferred me to just watch rather than cook, my culinary experiences were limited to simple assembly-like recipes.
Fast Forward 30 Years: A New Culinary Chapter for My Daughter
Today, I find myself picking up sushi rice, nori, and a salmon fillet for my six-year-old, who is eager to prepare onigiri following instructions from a kids' cookbook. This recent wave of kids' cookbooks is a refreshing change from the infantilizing tone of the past. They don't assume children have simple palates or limited abilities. Recipes are tested by kids and written in simple language, making even complex dishes like Dutch baby pancakes and stir-fries accessible to nine-year-olds.Mark Bittman's "Kids Cook Everything"
Mark Bittman's "Kids Cook Everything" is a prime example. With over 300 pages, it contains only a fraction of the usual recipes due to its focus on cartoons, variations, trivia, and illustrated instructions. For example, the detailed 59-word description of cracking an egg shows the attention to detail. My daughter recently made Bittman's tuna sandwiches with little help from me. She learned to trust her senses and even added sweet relish and lemon juice based on suggestions. When we ate, she was beaming with pride.Priya Krishna's "Priya's Kitchen Adventures"
Priya Krishna's "Priya's Kitchen Adventures" is another standout. It's filled with recipes from different countries, challenging the assumption that kid food is bland. For instance, there are recipes for ful medames from Egypt and Moroccan zaalouk. When Krishna wanted to include a profiteroles recipe, her publisher was initially hesitant, but her 14-year-old cousin Radhika tested it and confirmed it was too difficult. Instead, a store-bought sweet roll version was used. Radhika initially didn't like the dahi bhalla but loved it the next day after the flavors had mingled. She's made many recipes from the book regularly, expanding her palate and her family's."Rebel Girls Cook"
"Rebel Girls Cook" this fall ventures beyond the usual kids' cookbook fare. Compiled by renowned chefs, it includes 100 recipes from different cuisines. My daughter bookmarked the yogurt parfait and pork and napa cabbage dumplings. She showed an interest in more complex kitchen projects and quickly mastered tasks like sealing dumplings. The parents also noticed that these elaborate recipes engaged both hands, reducing screen time.Even if making dumplings or chicken souvlaki seems impossible now, these books offer basic skills like roasting veggies and simple quesadillas. As Bittman says, it's not about making kids chefs but teaching them to make dinner like us. These kids' cookbooks are truly empowering culinary adventures.New
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