Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids: Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun (Paperback)

by Amy Houts (Author) "Safety is the biggest concern when cooking with children..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, Autumn-Rich Tomato Sauce, Patrick's Day (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"...a welcome and recommended addition to family and community library collections!" -- The Bookwatch, September, 2001

"...title says it all: cooking with kids can be fun." ... a multitude of learning opportunities in the kitchen." -- Fearless Books, October, 2001

"Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids is a welcome and recommended addition to family and community library collections!" -- The Bookwatch, The Midwest Book Review, September, 2001

"Every section is filled with great activity ideas, recipes, party ideas, and information on the major holidays..." -- Parent & Preschooler Newsletter

"Recipes and ideas come from different cultures, and there are recipes specifically addressing food allergies." -- Booklist, September 15, 2001

"There are lots of simple, interesting, and good-sound recipes in this book-always helpful for kids in the kitchen." -- Ellyn Satter, MS, RD, CICSW, BCD, Author, Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family

"This creative and informative cookbook shows parents and educators the seasons can bring about a multitude of learning opportunities." -- Fearless Books, October, 2001

Each section is filled with great activity ideas, recipes, party ideas, and information on the major holidays…." -- Parent and preschool Newsletter, November/December, 2001

Product Description
Involving children in cooking activities at an early age helps get them interested in good food habits. Cooking with children is valuable time spent while accomplishing many worthwhile jobs. It is a hands-on activity that helps to teach, to create, and to help in their appreciation of the gift of food.

This book emphasizes many valuable life skills such as: following directions; practicing safety and proper food handling methods; establishing meaningful traditions that enrich family life; fostering cooperation and a willingness to share; practicing good table manners; preparing and tasting food from other cultures; and helping children enjoy preparing food while learning about the background of the food and the part food plays in various traditions and holidays.

Each season features food appropriate for that time of year. It begins with back to school ideas for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks using food from the garden's bounty, whether one's own, farmer's market, or store bought bounty, with ample Halloween pumpkin and apple recipes. Thanksgiving and holiday food ideas are plentiful. Multicultural celebration holiday recipes and activities are included, as well as food suggestions for New Year's open house. Food ideas for Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day, St. Patrick's Day, April Fools' Day, Easter, and Mothers' and Fathers' Day and 4th of July are some of the spring and summer holidays that are featured. Tucked away between its recipes are bits of history and culture, plus many suggestions for seasonal activities. Some of these include making placemats out of fall leaves, discussing holiday customs from different countries, planting a vegetable in a garden or clay pot, and arranging summer flowers for a centerpiece. There are many fun ideas for serving, decorating, and celebrating.

Recipes and food ideas give a variety of food experiences appropriate for various age groups. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, care-giver, teacher, or young cook, this book is meant to inspire you to enjoy cooking together.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Images Unlimited Publishing (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930643127
• ISBN-13: 978-0930643126
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,701,080 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "So Much More Than A Cookbook", January 6, 2003

By	Kay S. Walsh (Harrisonburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"So Much More Than A Cookbook", a statement on the back cover of "Cooking Around the Calendar With Kids", is an accurate description of this delightful source book. The introduction explains the reasons for our food choices including weather, holidays, location, harvest times, and family traditions. The author uses the simple means of cooking to incorporate a variety of important skills for children. These skills range from learning about healthy eating, kitchen safety, sports nutrition and the changing seasons to spending quality time with family members (including dad!). Children are taught to give of themselves (while also raising self esteem) by making simple holiday food gifts such as honey butter, spice mix, soup mix, or chocolate chip cookies in a jar. Each page is 'jam packed' with simple, healthy recipes and wonderful ideas. This book is a valuable resource for anyone in contact with young children whether a child care provider, parent, grandparent or next door neighbor.

P.S. Click on "See all editorial reviews... " above for more info. ;-)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Food and Fun with Children in the Kitchen, September 29, 2006

By	Richard R. Blake (Bridgman, Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Amy Houts has given us a guidebook for involving our children in cooking and preparing food. The book provides hands-on activities to help teach children be grateful for the marvelous gift of food.

The book provides a variety of mouth watering recipes, instructions, and valuable background information on the origin of holidays, customs, and family tradition. Material is arranged in order of the four seasons. Within each season the author also considers weather, holidays, location, harvest, and family traditions.

I especially appreciated the pointers and tips on a variety of subjects including: safety in the kitchen, table manners, back to school breakfast ideas, lunch box ideas, a cookie baking exchange party, simple holiday gifts from the kitchen, creating invitations and telephone etiquette when planning an event, guidelines for athletes, and many more.

The book is particularly timely in this day when there is a national concern for the rising problem of obesity among children. The suggestions in this book offer an alternative to fast food diets, and encourage nutritional awareness among family members. Another positive result of these activities is the quality time parent spends with their child in accomplishing meaningful tasks together.

"Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids" has received the `Book Achievement Merit Award' from the Midwest Independent Publishing Association and is highly acclaimed by experts in the field of child development, children's nutrition, and children's literature. This is an excellent book for parents, grandparents, and a good choice for gift giving on any special occasion.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2004 Writers Notes Book Award Winner, May 18, 2005

By	Writers Notes Magazine "Book Editor" (www.WritersNotes.com) - See all my reviews

Recent statistics say that the nuclear fam-ily rarely shares meals, but we all have to eat, don't we? Why not get the kids involved in the meal preparation? Houts covers the seasons with simple and fun recipes that turn every day into a holiday celebration, including nutrition, food presentation, and kitchen safety.