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Sasquatch Books

When my children were little I let them pull the pots and pans out of the cupboard and use them as toys. Anyone who happened upon this scene labeled me as a kid spoiler or just plain nutty. I thought it was great fun, if somewhat noisy.

Once they were a little older they had their own canisters with real flour and sugar, their own child-size rolling pins and yes, their own aprons (even though they are boys). Cooking with kids is something parents should be brave enough to give a try. Sure it’s messy but look what they learn: Not just food preparation, but math, portions and how to wash dishes. Observe their pride and sense of accomplishment when they make the scrambled eggs or fill the pie crust.

When my oldest was in high school he surprised me by signing up for “foods class,” what in previous generations was known as “home ec.” I was delighted at all that Ethan learned. Throughout that semester, he had to plan, shop for and prepare a family meal once a week. It was a great experience for him and one I hope his younger brother will take advantage of eventually.

Young people need to know the basics of cooking before they leave home. Even if they eat in a college cafeteria for a few years, the day will come when they need to know how to prepare something more challenging and nutritious than Ramen soup.

So if you start when they are young and have an interest in what goes on in the kitchen it will be easier. There are lots of entertaining, easy cookbooks to guide you through the process. One of the cutest is Alice Bugni’s “Moose Racks, Bear Tracks, and Other Alaska Kidsnacks.”

Cleverly illustrated by Shannon Cartwright, this Alaska-themed book is a perfect way to jump into cooking with children. It’s so adorable you could sit down first and read the book with a child before selecting what recipes to make. Each page has colorful drawings of Alaska animals and scenery and a poetic comment, such as, “Bustling bears leave footprint trails near salmon streams and blueberry hills” or “Flowing down the mountainside, ancient rivers of ice collide.”

The recipes are simple and most are semi-healthy; they tend toward the sweet side. One thing that bugged me was the use of prepared mixes. I try not to use those, and if you concur, you can get around that by making your own. Instead of the baking mix Bugni includes, you can find an easy recipe for it online instead.

Involve the children in planning, shopping and cooking once in a while. They are more likely to experiment with “new” foods if they have a hand in the preparation. Bugni discovered this as a mother and a teacher. “The kids had to like what they were making or they quickly lost interest,” she wrote in the book’s introduction.

She focuses on snack foods and ties each and every recipe to an Alaska animal, from bears to puffins. Her book is already a classic and makes a nice gift for anyone with young children, or for teachers or even grandparents.

Eagle’s Nest

3 cups stick pretzels

1 cup dry-roasted peanuts

1 cup raisins

1 cup mini-marshmallows

2 cups chocolate chips

2 tsp. oil

Combine pretzels, nuts, raisins and marshmallows in a large bowl; set aside. In a small saucepan, heat chocolate chips and oil over low heat, stirring constantly until chips melt. Pour chocolate over pretzel mixture, stirring until all pieces are evenly coated. Spoon into muffin tins and refrigerate 20 minutes to harden. Makes about 2 dozen.

Highliner Pies

1 box (2 lbs.) pilot bread crackers

1 jar (14-oz.) pizza sauce

1 bag (12 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese

1 pkg. (3.5 oz.) sliced pepperoni

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Spread 1 tablespoon pizza sauce onto each cracker. Sprinkle with cheese. Place 3 pepperoni slices on top, place on cookie sheet, and bake for 3 to 4 minutes. Makes 18.

Recipes from “Moose Racks, Bear Tracks, and Other Alaska Kidsnacks” (c) 1996 by Alice Bugni. Reprinted with permission of Sasquatch Books, Seattle, Wash., www.sasquatchbooks.com.

Nancy Tarnai is a freelance writer who has called Interior Alaska home for the last 10 years. Send suggestions for this column to ntarnai@alaska.net