Cooking with Kids

Cooking with kids can be fun. It offers a pleasant experience for both you as an adult and them as children. Here are some tips to make the experience both safe and enjoyable.

Children should be encouraged to:

• Do hand washing before handling of food.
• Get all equipment prepared before beginning to cook.
• Read the ingredient list and directions before beginning to cook.
• Ask for help or advice before they get started.

Things to teach the kids while they are cooking:

• Use hot pads when handling hot cookie sheets and pans.
• Use knives safely by using a cutting board and cutting away from themselves.
• Wipe up floor spills to prevent falls.
• Turn handles of saucepans toward the center of the stove.

When finish baking, they should be reminded to clean up. This includes:

• Doing all dishes and wiping off counter tops and tables.
• Turning off the oven.
• Returning ingredients and equipment to their original places.

Grated Chocolate Tip

When making cakes that involves grated chocolate, avoid crumbling them into brittle pieces by putting 1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate into microwave oven on DEFROST for 20 t o40 seconds before grating. Enjoy your sweet guilty pleasure.

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Gray Discoloration in Chocolate

The gray discoloration in chocolate is called "bloom". Cocoa Butter Bloom happens when chocolate is stored at temperatures above 78F melting it and causing the cocoa butter to rise to the surface. Sugar Bloom occurs when condensation causes sugar to dissolve and rise to the surface.

If chocolate bloom, don't worry. Bloom does not affect the chocolate flavor and quality and usually regain its original color when used in a recipe.

To prevent bloom, store chocolate tightly covered in a cool dry place.

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