Cookbook Helps Kids In Kitchen

You arrive home from work and dinner has been prepared by a darling troop of junior chefs. Before you shout “What have you done with my kids!” consider that the culinary munchkins could very well be your children.

With the publication of “The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Children’s Cookbook” (Morrow Junior Books, $17.95), parents now have a handy text to teach youngsters how to prepare all kinds of foods. The recipes are easy to follow and include thorough instructions.

The book makes sure the inexperienced cook knows what to do every step of the way. For example, every time a hot pot is picked up, the cook is instructed to use a potholder to grab the handle. For adults this may make the directions repetitive, but the constant reminders will help children learn the importance of safe kitchen practices.

There are color photos of all the completed dishes, and several recipes include pictures of specific steps involved. Each recipe is marked with the degree of difficulty as well as the times required for preparation and cooking. A bright red triangle next to a recipe procedure signals that an adult should be present to supervise. And a glossary in the back of the book has cooking terms - with illustrations - and a guide to common utensils.