Deanna F. Cook - Kids Cook Dinner: 23 Healthy, Budget-Friendly Meals from the Best-Selling Cooking Class Series

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Edited by Deborah Balmuth and Lisa H. Hiley

Art direction and book design by Ash Austin

Cover photography by Carl Tremblay

Interior photography by Carl Tremblay,

Illustrations and graphics by Ash Austin Storey Publishing, LLC

Text 2022 by Deanna F. Cook

Ebook production by Kristy MacWilliams and Slavica A. Walzl

Ebook version 1.0

August 2, 2022

Portions of this book previously appeared in Cooking Class (Storey Publishing, 2015), Baking Class (Storey Publishing, 2017), and Cooking Class Global Feast! (Storey Publishing, 2019)

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Cook, Deanna F., 1965 author.

Title: Kids cook dinner : 23 healthy, budget-friendly meals from the best-selling Cooking Class series / Deanna F. Cook.

Description: North Adams, MA : Storey Publishing, [2022] | Audience: Ages 812 | Audience: Grades 46

Identifiers: LCCN 2021059994 (print) | LCCN 2021059995 (ebook) | ISBN 9781635864632 (paperback) | ISBN 9781635864649 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Cooking--Juvenile literature. | Quick and easy cooking--Juvenile literature. | LCGFT: Cookbooks.

Classification: LCC TX652.5 .C6354 2022 (print) | LCC TX652.5 (ebook) | DDC 641.5/123--dc23/eng/20211213

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021059994

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021059995

Recipes

Tonight youre in charge of making dinner! In this cookbook made just for you, youll discover some easy, tasty, and inexpensive recipes you can serve up any night of the week. You can make Popcorn Chicken, Cheesy Bean Quesadillas, Nutty Noodles, Fried Rice, and many other recipes with ingredients you may already have in your fridgeor affordable ingredients you can buy in the storeand your family will thank you!

Before you put on your apron, take a look at the introduction. Learn some cooking skills, like how to chop veggies or make a stir-fry. Review the kitchen safety guidelines. And check out the money-saving tips for grocery shopping, so your meals wont break the bank. Then pick one of these delicious dinner recipes and start cooking. Youll feel proud to say,

Dinners ready!

Lesson 1 Read Up on Kitchen Rules

When youre ready to start cooking, follow these basic kitchen rules. Be sure to ask for help, if you need it, in your cooking adventures.

1. Start by asking an adult for permission.

   At first, have a grown-up cook with you if you are working over a hot stove, baking in an oven, or using a sharp knife.

2. Wash your hands with warm water and soap before you handle food.
3. Roll up long sleeves and wear an apron.

   Tie back long hair to keep it away from the food. Stand on a stool if you cant reach the counter or stove.

4. Read the recipe from start to finish before you begin.

   Follow the recipe steps closely.

5. Put out all the ingredients youll need

   (see the recipes Heres What You Need list) to be sure you have everything. If you are missing something, make a list and havea grown-up take you to the grocery store before you start your cooking project.

6. Wash all fruits and vegetables

   before you start chopping and measuring. Use a separate cutting board for preparing meat, and always wash your hands and utensils with plenty of soap and hot water after handling meat.

7. Take out all the tools youll need

   for your recipe, from measuring cups to bowls.

8. Measure carefully

   (see the tips in ).

9. Preheat.

   Let the oven come to the correct temperature before you put in your pans or baking sheets. If you dont, your food will take longer to bake or will cook unevenly.

10. Use a timer.

    But if the dish doesnt seem quite done when the timer goes off, let it cook for another 5 minutes or so.

11. Stay in the kitchen!

    Never leave the room if you are cooking something on the stove or baking something in the oven.

12. Use pot holders for hot pans.

    Always be careful handling pots, pans, and baking sheets that have been on a hot burner or in the oven.

13. Trust your sense of smell.

    If you smell something burning, move your pan or pot off the hot stove and lower the heat (or turn it off altogether). If youre baking and smell food burning, turn off the oven and take out the food, even if the timer hasnt gone off yet.

14. Give your food a taste test.

    If youd like it to be more flavorful, add a little salt (which helps bring out flavor). Or add extra spice. Part of the fun and creativity in cooking is customizing flavors to match your personal tastes.

15. Remember to turn off the stove or oven

    after youre done cooking.

16. Leave the kitchen sparkling clean!

    Put away the ingredients, wipe down the countertops, and wash the dishes.

Lesson 2 Do Your Kitchen Prep Work

Many of the recipes in this book call for some prep work, such as grating carrots or crushing garlic, before you actually make the dish. Read the ingredients list to find out what you need to do. With all your prep work done in advance, you wont have to stop in the middle of cooking. Learn these prep skills and you'll be ready to make all the recipes.