Valentine’s Day at the Cook’s Warehouse

Atalanta Georgia Cooking School Class ScheduleThe Cook’s Warehouse is located in Atlanta and offers up some great cooking classes for kids as well as adults. For the Valentine Day holiday they have a lot of great special events going on that we think our Georgia based readers would love!

Cooking Class Calendar

2/4/12, Valentine Treats for Kids Hands On (Ages 3 to 5), http://bit.ly/tT6GGp

2/5/12, Valentine’s Day Cake Pops Hands On, http://bit.ly/wpqzsA
2/5/12, Back Home Baking for Valentine’s Day Hands On, http://bit.ly/zoNCAj

2/6/12, Virginia Willis with Atlanta’s Table Presents: French Kiss, http://bit.ly/yjcKhI

2/7/12, 50 Ways to Feed Your Lover Hands On, http://bit.ly/xIjO1N
2/7/12, Red Hot Chilis, http://bit.ly/yPpyuX

2/8/12, Superfoods for Life: My Little Valentine, http://bit.ly/zlf4zi

2/9/12, Couples Cooking for Valentine’s Day Hands On, http://bit.ly/zML8I0

2/10/12, Wine Makes the Meal: A Valentine’s Celebration, http://bit.ly/wzxeX4

2/11/12, The Taste Club: Red for Valentines, http://bit.ly/wByTeB
2/11/12, Love Potion 214 Hands On, http://bit.ly/zdnVsZ
2/11/12, Dazzling Date Night Hands on, http://bit.ly/wfEzWF
2/11/12, Valentine’s Dinner Date Hands On, http://bit.ly/ylnqsO
2/11/12, Les Petits Macarons: French Confections Hands On, http://bit.ly/ABI6tO

2/12/12, A Valentine’s Brunch Hands On, http://bit.ly/AjGL0n
2/12/12, A Sweetheart’s Brunch Hands On, http://bit.ly/xRHMkd
2/12/12, Romantic Brunch For Two Hands On, http://bit.ly/xr8Rlm
2/12/12, Romantic Tuscan Valentine Brunch Hands On, http://bit.ly/zTchbv

2/14/12, Valentine’s Date Night Hands On, http://bit.ly/xuVPeL
2/14/12, A Romantic Valentine’s Meal for Two Hands On, http://bit.ly/yGZHrC
2/14/12, A Dinner Affair to Remember Hands On, http://bit.ly/zCUJl8
2/14/12, Dinner for Sweethearts Hands On, http://bit.ly/z8XbuR

 

Can A Gourmet Marshmallow Replace A Cupcake?

Gourmet Marshmallows

Image courtesy of 240sweet.com

Apparently chef Maria D’Urso believes so! She recently told the New York Times that “marshmallows are the new cupcakes”. Chef D’Urso, who owns a bakery in Chelsea, creates marshmallow varieties such as cinnamon, strawberry basil and chocolate rosemary – clearly kicking this childhood favorite up to adult hood pleasures.

Gourmet Marshmallows are expected to take the world by storm in 2012!

Imagine batches of handmade marshmallows in flavors like cherry limeaid, pineapple and mango, red bean and sesame or even chicken and beef? Yes, these are really all available! At 240Sweet in Columbus, Indiana you can find these unique treats and many more.

So what do you think? Will marshmallows replace cupcakes?

 

 

Almost Healthy Snowman Cupckaes!

Healthy Snowman Cupcakes

Photo by SkinnyTaste.com

These adorable cupcakes, from SkinnyTaste.com are low fat, easy to make and as you can imagine – the kids love them! A fun afternoon activity to get ready for the holidays.

The face is made up of jellybeans, mini chocolate chips, mini-marshmallows and a few colored sprinkles. Standard Duncan Hines cake mix was used for the cupcake – but contain a healthy twist.

The mix was mixed with 6oz.fat free Chobani yogurt, egg whites and water for the low fat option. Take away the oil and butter and you have a healthier option.

The icing was made from powdered sugar with a little melted butter and water.

Ingredients:

  • 18.25oz. cake mix
  • 6 ounce fat free Chobani yogurt
  • 1 1/3 cup water
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp. melted unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp clear vanilla extract
  • 2-3 tbsp. boiling waiter
  • M&M’s
  • Jellybeans
  • Sprinkles
  • Mini marshmallows

For the full recipe and instructions visit SkinnyTaste.com

 

 

 

Easy Bake Oven Bake Off – Is the New Model A Must Have?

Easy Bake OvenWell, it looks like the Easy Bake oven is trying to make a come back , and after 48 years it has received its most dramatic redesign yet – although many were unsure skeptical that it would be any better. This was its 11th redesign and the new look featured a curvy Jetson like look with a heating element much like a real oven.

Here are some good and not so good points to the new oven.

PROS:

  • It looks great
  • Better build. The newer model weighs approximately 3 pounds 5 ounces – its predecessor weighed only 2 pounds 9 ounces.
  • Exterior stays much cooler than the older models
  • Cooks much more evenly
  • Wider array of mixes and recipes are now available
  • Cooling rack is internally contained helping little ones to keep from burning their hands on hot pans
  • Heating chamber is about 50% larger

CONS:

  • More expensive than past models
  • Takes a few minutes longer to preheat
  • Although new cooling rack may be safer – it is a little hard to reach and pull items out of the oven.

To prove that it has what it takes to make kids happy, a test was done with four “toyologists” ages 3-7 to give a test bake. The kids were given an older version of the Easy Bake Oven to be compared against the newer one. The results were in favor of the new modern version with the kids saying their cooked foods just tasted better.

So if you have a kid who loves to cook – this new model may be just the thing to kick of their budding career!

Kindergartners Talking Turkey

photo credit: Andrew

What a fabulous idea! Kindergarten teacher, Jill Cerny has an annual ritual of asking her class to share their thoughts on how to cook a Thanksgiving turkey. Each child creates an illustration and then dictates their ideas to the teacher who types it up and then adds their image.

Here are a few of the adorable things that kids have suggested!

  • Nathan: I will wait at the side of the road until I see a turkey in the trees. I will take my bow and arrow and shoot the turkey. My dad will skin the turkey and my mom and dad will drive to my grandma’s for Thanksgiving. My grandma will roast the turkey in the oven at 350 degrees. It will cook for five minutes. While the turkey is cooking, we will make a stew. We also make some drinks, like Kool-Aid. The turkey is put on a big table and some people sit at the small table, and we eat the big feast.
  • Ella: My dad gets the turkey from the farmer’s market. He starts to cook it in the kitchen. He puts it in a pot on the stove with a lid. It cooks for 45 minutes on warm, not hot. My dad takes it out of the pot and he puts it on plates for us to eat it, but my sister doesn’t like to eat it.
  • Tommy: My dad will go out to the woods and get a turkey. He will get a bow and arrow and he will shoot the turkey. He will take it home and cook it up. He will cut off the feathers and then put it in the oven. It will cook at 100 degrees for 20 minutes because it takes 20 minutes to cook chicken. My dad will take it out of the oven and place it on the table, and then we start eating it.

To view the full collection of stories and drawings submitted by Ms. Cerny’s class, visit the Darien Patch. It will be sure to give you a chuckle!

Edible Fruit Turkey

I LOVE this idea! The Fruit Gobbler is a great centerpiece or appetizer for the Thanksgiving Day festivities – it is although healthy! Your kids will want to enjoy this treat – cheese, fruit and all!

The turkey is easy to make and will keep the kids busy while you get ready for the big turkey day celebration.

Get all the ingredients ready, give the kids a picture and let them dig in and have fun creating! (Image Courtesy Family Fun Magazine)

Thanksgiving Appetizer Kids Can Make

Ingredients:

  • Bosc Pear (head)
  • Melon (body)
  • Cheese (beak & tail feathers)
  • Red pepper (snood,feet,side feathers)
  • Raisins (eyes)
  • Grapes (tail feathers)
  • Bamboo skewers
  • Toothpicks

Instructions:

1. Cut off a shallow slice of the rind of the melon to create a flat base for more stability. Using a bamboo skewer attach a Bosc pear to the front of the melon to create the turkey head. (Trim skewer if needed)

2) Cut cheese into a triangle for the beak and add a small piece of red pepper for the snood. Use toothpicks to attach these as well as the raisins for the eyes.

3) Cut red pepper as shown to create feet and place them as shown.

4) Cut cheese into cubes and use cheese and grapes alternately on skewers as shown and then place into the melon to create tail feathers.

5) Slice peppers to create side feathers and use toothpicks to attach to the sides of the melon.

Be creative! You can use other things on the tail feathers like pineapple, ham cubes, turkey cubes or whatever your family enjoys.

Have you made one of these with your kids? We would love to hear how they liked it!

Recipe courtesy of Family Fun.

Mini Triple Treat Cupcakes

Image Courtesy of Noble Pig

I saw these adorable cupcakes on Noble Pig and thought they would be a perfect addition to any Halloween party!

Made with miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups and topped with candy corn – or a candy of your choosing these cupcakes will give a big surprise when that first bite is taken!

The recipe is from Everyday Food.

 

 

Mini Triple Treat Cupcakes Recipe

1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg, plus 1 large egg yolk
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
48 miniature chocolate peanut butter cups, such as Reese’s
48 pieces of candy corn, for decorating

Preheat oven to 350o F, with racks in upper and lower thirds.  Line two 24-cup mini muffin pans with paper liners.  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together peanut butter, butter and brown sugar on high until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Beat in egg and egg yolk, scraping down bowl as needed.  With mixer on low, beat in flour mixture, buttermilk and vanilla until combined.

With the large end of a melon baller or a spoon, place 2 teaspoons batter into each muffin cup, then press a peanut-butter candy into each center until batter aligns with top edge of candy.  Bake until puffed and set, about 10 minutes, rotating pans halfway through.

Immediately place a piece of candy corn on top of each cupcake; let cool completely in pans on wire racks.  (Store in single layers, in airtight containers, up to 3 days.)

To view the full article, visit Noble Pig.

Cooking With Kids Series (10-12/2011) – University of Arkansas

Cooking With Kids Series – UACCH is proud to partner with the Hempstead County Extension Office to bring you a new and exciting series of classes! These classes provide an opportunity for budding chefs to have fun in the kitchen, along with a parent or grandparent! Students will learn fundamental kitchen skills, focusing on measuring, mixing, following recipes, kitchen safety, and healthy food choices. Each month will have a unique theme, where each child/adult team will make 2-3 exciting food items to enjoy! Sign up for each class individually, or enroll in all three classes!  Limit of 12 children per class. You MUST pre-pay for this class! NO WAIVERS-all fees go toward food costs. Call Nancy at 870-722-8102 for more information.

Cooking with Kids-October: Spooky Snacks!

Thursday, October 27                         5:30-6:30pm for ages 5-8                    $15/child

Thursday, October 27                         7:00-8:00pm for ages 9-13                  $15/child

Technical and Industrial Building, Conference Room

Cooking with Kids-November: Fall Festival of Food!

Tuesday, November 15                       5:30-6:30pm for ages 5-8                    $15/child

Tuesday, November 15                       7:00-8:00pm for ages 9-13                  $15/child

Technical and Industrial Building, Conference Room

Cooking with Kids-December: Christmas Extravaganza!

Thursday, December 8                        5:30-6:30pm for ages 5-8                    $15/child

Thursday, December 8                        7:00-8:00pm for ages 9-13                  $15/child

Technical and Industrial Building, Conference Room

This meeting is open to all youth between the ages of 5 and 13 without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, or any other legally protected status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (large print, audiotapes, etc.) should notify UACCH as soon as possible prior to the activity.

Continuing Education – Community Service Registration Form

For more information on community classes at UACCH, please call 870-722-8102.

(Information taken from the uacch.edu website)

Color My Bath – Makes Bath/Pool Time Fun

Unfortunately, this is one of those things that you really need to see in person to appreciate! This one of our fave finds at the Toy Fair this year and I am pretty sure it will be on of yours too if you give it a try! Not really cooking related I know, but love it enough I thought it was worth sharing!

Can you guess what it does? You got it! It colors the water in your bath – or if you are an Outdoor Play Toy friend – your pool water can make amazing colors too! Have a child who hates bath time – we bet this will change their mind!

The color tablets can be combined to make multiple colors, are made in America, are completely safe and non-staining and best yet – eco-friendly! The fizzies will make them giggle and the color will make them laugh…..after all shouldn’t bath and pool time be fun?!?!

Check them out at Color My Bath.

Deal Of The Day – Halloween Cupcake Toppers

Just in time for the upcoming Halloween Celebrations we bring Cake Sugar Designs Inc.!

Bring some fun to their Halloween party with these adorable custom cupcake toppers in great spooky yet fun designs. From cute black cats to scary skeletons, these frosting appliques will have them thinking you paid an expensive bakery to make them!

And right now at Mampedia, there is a great deal for HALF OFF! Buy $24 worth of Sweet and Spooky Designs for you Halloween Cupcakes for only $12! Deal is only good  through 9.26.11 so act fast!

Visit Mamapedia for more details on this great deal.