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CRAFTS
Kids
in the Kitchen: Chocolate Smash Cookies
 (Family
Features) - What's more fun than kids in the kitchen? With the
growing number of cooking classes, culinary camps and cookbooks
targeted to those younger than 16, the next generation of chefs is
clearly interested in what's cooking.
Now that school is
back in session, parents can use the kitchen as a valuable classroom
for teaching the basics of measuring and mixing. Cooking with kids
also gives parents an opportunity to talk about the nutritional
benefits of ingredients like whole grain oats. Adding quick or
old-fashioned oats to a recipe can boost the nutritional value of
homemade goodies since they're both 100 percent whole grains.
Kids' Cooking
Tools - Getting Started
Get the kids ready
to cook with their very own kitchen utensils - a measuring spoon set,
spatula, measuring cups, wooden spoon and apron - just like mom and
dad use. Having the right tools will encourage kids to spend more
time in the kitchen and make hands-on learning a tasty experience for
the whole family.
Great-Tasting
Culinary Crafts
Use this recipe
for Chocolate-Honey "Smash" Snacks to introduce kids to the
joy of cooking and allow them to reap the delicious rewards of being
mom's sous chef. An adult can prepare the gooey chocolate-honey
mixture at the stove while kids have fun breaking up handfuls of
pretzel sticks and mixing them with oats, raisins and peanuts. After
combining all the ingredients, it's time to "smash." Have
the kids spread, smash and smoosh the chocolaty-oat mixture to the
edges of a cookie sheet and place it in the fridge. When the
mixture's firm, kids can break it into crunchy bite-size pieces -
it's a snap.
Kids will love
making - and eating - these tasty oat-packed treats. For more
kid-friendly recipes, visit www.quakeroatmeal.com and get cooking.
Chocolate-Honey
"Smash" Snacks
2-1/2 cups thin
pretzel sticks, broken into 1-inch pieces
1 package (10 oz.)
peanut butter-flavored chips
2-1/4 cups Quaker
oats (quick or old fashioned), uncooked
1 package (12 oz.)
semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup raisins
3/4 cup honey
1 cup dry roasted
peanuts (optional)
1. In large bowl,
combine pretzels, oats, raisins and, if desired, peanuts; mix well.
In large saucepan, combine chips and honey; heat over low heat,
stirring constantly, until chips are melted.
2. Immediately
pour over oat mixture, stirring until all dry ingredients are evenly
coated. Spread and "smash" onto foil-lined cookie sheet,
working the mixture to the edges of the sheet (mixture will be 3/8-
to 1/2-inch thick, depending upon size of cookie sheet). Place in
refrigerator until firm. Break into pieces. Store tightly covered at
room temperature.
Makes about 4 dozen
Cook's Tip:
Substitute 1 package (11 oz.) butterscotch-flavored chips for peanut
butter-flavored chips.
SOURCE: Quaker Oats
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