by Chef Carol Murphy Clyne

 Carol Murphy Clyne is a visiting instructor at the Culinary Institute of America in the Food Enthusiasts program at the Hyde Park campus and the new Manhattan facility, the CIA at Astor Center.  Her passion is teaching young chefs the skills they need to integrate better food choices into their fast-paced lives.  She was the chef-owner of a 70-seat scratch kitchen, café and catering business in New Jersey for 20 years. 

People ask me where I was trained as a chef. The answer is Grandma's kitchen.  I remember rolling out the silky dough for a family dinner of "home-mades" with meatballs in tomato sauce.  Yes, home-mades. We never called it spaghetti or pasta; that's what you got out of a box. I remember feeding the dough into the hand-cranked pasta machine, with Grandma and Mom guiding my hands and beaming.  And that got me smiling too.

Grandma and Mom taught me that it's not just about food. It's about love and family and togetherness.  Cooking with both of them taught me important lessons: about nature's bounty, the love of family, and the bond between the two.  At their apron strings, showered in kisses, I learned about cooking and teaching, living and loving.  Now I use what I call their KISS principle in my own kitchen. KISS stands for Keep it simple, safe. It's an easy guide for working in the kitchen with your own kids and grandkids.

KISS 1 – Clear the schedule for time in the kitchen with your kids.  Don’t get distracted with phone calls, emails, plans for tomorrow.  Quality time with your kids is your priority.  Keep them close to you, making sure your hands and theirs work together in the ingredients.  Stay calm and patient; remember this is a fun time, not a chore.

 

KISS 2 – Select recipes that make you comfortable and that fit your cooking style.   This is a time to share your cooking personality, not a time to become frustrated.    

 

KISS 3 – Give the kids responsibility.  Let them touch, taste, do – let them experience the experience.  Let them take ownership.  Let them figure out how to do it, see the process, and carry it through from start to finish.  Yet, be their guide for this adventure. Show them how food is made and how rewarding handmade, homemade, self-made can be.  For young children use safety scissors, plastic knives or bench scrapers for cutting.     

 

KISS 4 – Remember, you’re not teaching Can Opening 101. Use food as close to the earth as possible. That means fresh, wholesome ingredients. Avoid canned or processed foods. Remind kids that food really comes from farms, not from supermarket shelves.  Open their eyes, mouths and minds. 

KISS 5 – Make this a bonding, upbeat experience. Make sure the kids are laughing and having fun. Get organized by having all of the food and equipment at hand. If they get a little messy but, don’t blow your cool. Cover them in kisses and encourage them every step of the way.  

When cooking with kids, select recipes that are colorful, fun, somewhat challenging and tasty for impressionable palates. 

Two of my favorite recipes follow this entry... print them out & use them often!

Check back soon for more recipes from Chef Carol.  To enroll in a parents and kids class at the CIA, visit our Continuing Education website for a list of classes or call 845-452-2230 or 800-888-7850.

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