Kids Cuisine

This weekend I was watching TV to make the huge pile of laundry that needed folding seem less tedious. It’s pretty rare that I spend time in front of the TV on the weekend, but this was a most needed exception. I turned on PBS to catch America’s Test Kitchen (great, by the way, especially if you take a slightly geeky attitude toward your cooking). After America’s Test Kitchen, I discovered a great show, Chefs Afield — Kids in the Kitchen.

You may have seen Chefs Afield. It’s been around for a few seasons. The show follows foods from the farm to the table, and guests include both farmers and chefs. There’s something new this season, though — now the guests are bringing their kids along!

The episode I watched was about strawberries. The show opened on a strawberry farm, where the farmer and his kids showed the chef and his kids how to find a ripe strawberry and pick it correctly. They also talked about packaging and shipping, explaining how long it takes for the berries to make it to the market after they are picked.

Then the show moved into the kitchen. They keep the recipes pretty simple; the chef and kids made strawberry jam, which they then incorporated into scones and used on ham biscuits. The kids (in this case, ages 4-12) do most of the work and then get to enjoy the fruits of their labor on camera.

Chefs Afield — Kids in the Kitchen is a great program that really helps kids appreciate where their food comes from. Episodes cover everything from meat to nuts to veggies, and they focus on organic farming as much as possible.

The show’s website is also a great resource. There’s a new recipe, often from a big-time chef, every week complete with tips for getting the kids involved. Check it out!

Chefs Afield airs on PBS on Saturdays or Sundays. Check the schedule at your local PBS station.

(Photo courtesy Chefs Afield)