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Get Cooking With Toddlers

© Charlene Cunningham

Toddlers are the best imitators. They copy everything their parents and older siblings do (much to the adults' chagrin!). They want to be part of everything that goes on around them, and are often frustrated that their help is not necessarily wanted.

The kitchen is a great place to let your toddler help out and get involved. Two wonderfully easy recipes are featured this month that little hands can easily help with. These recipes are taken from a cookbook that I am writing with two of my sisters titled "The I Hate Cooking Cookbook." We have a kid's edition in the works, which will feature more recipes that are kid friendly.

Expect a bit of a mess with these recipes, but your children will really enjoy getting a chance to take part in cooking, especially because they're cooking desserts. Let your toddler add ingredients, stir and most importantly HELP CLEAN UP! Cooking is a great way to introduce the concept of cleaning up after yourself.

Try these the next time you have to take a treat to daycare or kindergarten or any other fun function for kids. Both of the desserts are finger foods and are easy to store, take places and are easy to eat anywhere. I hope you enjoy these! BON APPETITE!

GUMMI BEAR BARS

Prep Time: 15

Cool Time: 45 minutes

Makes about 24 bars

Ingredients: ¼ cup butter

4 cups miniature marshmallows

1 teaspoon vanilla

6 cups crispy rice cereal

1 cup gummi bear candies

Step One: Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows and cook for about 3 minutes until all marshmallows are melted.

Step Two: Stir in vanilla. Remove pan from heat.

Step Three: Stir in cereal and gummi bears. Press mixture into 13 by 9 inch pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.

Step Four: Cool for 30 minutes. Cut into bars.

****To make these "unbearably" cute, use bear-shaped cookie cutters instead of cutting them into bars.

****Be sure to spray your cookie cutters with nonstick cooking spray so they don't get stuck!

COOKIE PIZZAS

Prep Time: 10

Serves 6

Ingredients: 1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough

8 ounces of vanilla frosting

¼ cup candy-coated chocolates

¼ cup licorice bites

¼ cup chocolate and peanut-butter cups, chopped

¼ cup multi-colored sprinkles

Step One: Form 6 large round cookies from dough and bake according to package directions. Let cool completely.

Step Two: Frost each cookie with vanilla frosting. Layer candies on top of frosting.

Step Three: Top with sprinkles.

****To save time, head to the bakery to find the 6-inch cookies!

ENJOY!! KEEP YOUR EYES OUT FOR THE "I HATE COOKING COOKBOOK"! WE HOPE TO HAVE IT PUBLISHED SOON!!