Pumpkin Shaped Pancakes and Other Adventures in Cooking with Children

My grandson in particular, and sometimes his younger sister, likes to help cook. Sometimes adults have a sense of trepidation about allowing kids in the kitchen. They will invariably make a mess when they measure, flip, or stir. But if you can get past that part, cooking with children is a fun and creative experience.

The main chef, who is 11, is a great fan of the cooking shows: Chopped, Cupcake Wars, and the Cake Boss (he even has an autographed photo).

When he was visiting a couple of weekends ago he decided to make pumpkin colored and shaped pancakes, but did not want them to actually have pumpkin in them, not one of his favorites.

I have included a few photos of the pancake adventure and some other photos of earlier meals he helped prepare. Note: the pink eggs were for his sister.

The birthday cake marks one of his earliest attempts at cake decorating with fondant. Leaving the drape was his idea.