HearthCooking With KidsCreative Salads
 

CPK Spaghetti and Meatball Pizza Recipe

CPK Cheese Pizza Recipe
(To enjoy plain or to serve as a base for exploring new flavors)
   
   
   
   
 
   
 
 
  Cooking with kids is a great way to spend time with children, create memories and to teach them some basic life lessons. Not to mention, it’s a lot of fun!

At California Pizza Kitchen, we’ve been inviting kids into our kitchen for years. Our CPKids Restaurant Tours give elementary classes, Cub Scout and Brownie troops and day camps a chance to roll up their sleeves to create their own California cuisine. Over the years, we’ve learned some things about making the experience both enjoyable and safe for kids and adults.

We also have discovered that by letting kids help prepare their meals, they are more willing to expand their culinary horizons. They’re more likely to try foods they wouldn’t normally eat. We have found that incorporating certain vegetables and other ingredients into favorites like pizza or salad is the perfect way to get kids to let their guard down and try new things – and maybe their parents, too! After all, if we weren’t willing to try new things, we never would’ve brought you your favorites like our Thai Chicken or Jamaican Jerk pizzas.

   
 
 
 
  • Keep it fun. Try to use fairly simple recipes with plenty of hands-on opportunities that are safe for kids. Mixing ingredients by hand, kneading dough, snapping green beans or other vegetables, spreading toppings on pizza or forming dough are all fun ways kids can help.
     
  • Use large bowls. Using larger bowls helps minimize spills. Place them on a towel or rubber placemat to keep them from slipping on smooth surfaces.
     
  • Clean as you go. We all know there’s going to be a mess anytime kids step foot in the kitchen. But by cleaning as you go (especially spills!) you can minimize the time you’ll spend tidying up after your meal. Be patient. Don’t fret the small stuff. Remember how much fun making a mess was when you were a kid!
     
  • Give kids their own workstations. Giving kids their own separate workstation reminds them that they’re playing an important role in the process and keeps them away from dangerous kitchen utensils. It’s also an opportunity to teach kids proper food handling and sanitation by making them responsible for keeping their work area clean.
     
  • Keep kids involved from start to finish. Involving kids throughout the entire process – from recipe selection and grocery shopping to preparation and cleanup – helps teach kids about different types of food, food costs, food safety and the amount of work required to make a great meal. It also helps teach them to follow instructions, instills the values of teamwork and cooperation and gives them a sense of accomplishment after a job well done.
     
  • Encourage creativity. Encourage kids to share their ideas and add their favorite ingredients, but don’t go overboard. Use your best judgment and stick to the recipe where it matters, but don’t be afraid to let kids use their imagination.
     
  • Let kids present the meal. Whenever possible, let kids present the meal to the adult diners. Letting them tell the adults at the table what’s in the meal and how it was prepared gives kids a sense of pride and reinforces the lessons learned while making the food.