Confidence in the Kitchen: Sharing Cooking Experiences with Your Preschool Child

As Alaska is in the national spotlight following Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention; I decided it was time to write about a book making a connection between the love of the outdoors in both Alaska and Colorado. Bugni’s intention in writing Moose Racks. . . was to have a collection of recipes that kids would like to cook. The recipes in her book give an opportunity to connect nature and cooking.  

Those which really can make the crossover from Alaska to Colorado are: Bear Tracks (peanut butter cookies with almond sliver claws), Beaver Dam (a casual assortment of s’moresy ingredients), Eagle’s Nests (chocolate-covered pretzels, nuts, and marshmallows), Moose Racks (chewy and sweet caramelized bacon strips) and Wilderness Trail Mix (teriyaki-flavored cereal squares). All but the Moose Racks would make for a good snack to take along on a hike!

As you can see, the recipes are for snacks or side items and take minimal cooking time. If your family includes older siblings, the kiddos could likely make the majority of the recipes without your assistance.

Bugni, an Alaska native, writes clearly and simply. She designed the recipes for cooking with her five-year-old. Each recipe laid out on a single page is beautifully illustrated by Shannon Cartwright who lives in Alaska 25 miles from the nearest road.

Bugni, Alice. Moose Racks, Bear Tracks, and Other Alaska Snacks. Cooking With Kids Has Never Been So Easy. Seattle: Sasquatch Books. 1999.

ISBN: 1-57061-214-5

Note: I had to use interlibrary loan to locate this book. However, in a brief search, copies are available at internet bookstores for under $5.00.

Overall rating schema here is on a scale of 1-10. 

(1 too “cutesy:” seems to insult intelligence of adult and child – 10 imaginative and forward-thinking towards building actual cooking skills).

Overall ratings:  Culinary Interest-Building: 6   Recipe Quality: 5