Ten years ago, kids in the kitchen was not a trend like it is now, but there were plenty of kids who enjoyed cooking and wanted to learn more.  There weren't hundreds of books, television shows or videos catering to all of those little chefs out there, but there was Honest Pretzels by Mollie Katzen.

James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame inductee and author of the legendary Moosewood Cookbook, Mollie Katzen was one of the first to write cookbooks for kids that were fun to read, fun to look at, and even better to cook from. Ten years later, Honest Pretzels is still one of the best I've seen for kids that like to cook.  Aimed at kids ages 8 and up with 65 recipes Honest Pretzels features favorites like Lasagna and Macaroni & Cheese as well as healthy snack ideas and frozen fruit pops (an item that has made a huge comeback for adults as well as kids in recent years). There is even a recipe for the book's title "Honest Pretzels". 

Honest Pretzels is a book I could easily cook my way through with or without the assistance of my daughter, it's just that good.  One of my favorite recipes in this book is the pita spirals (see recipe below), they were so fun to make and so tasty that they have become one of my new go to meals for lunch. And if you enjoy what Ms. Katzen has done with Honest Pretzels be sure to check out her two others books for little chefs, Pretend Soup and Salad People.

Pita Spirals

From Honest Pretzels by Mollie Katzen, Tricycle Press

When is a sandwich not like a sandwich at all? How about when it's rolled up into a spiral and cut into pieces to show off the beautiful food design on the inside? This recipe is not difficult; it's just a little bit messy. Keep plenty of paper towels nearby.

Note: You can use flour tortillas instead of pita bread. (You won't have to snip them in half.)

• 1 pita bread (or 2 flour tortillas)
• 1/2 cup cream cheese, at room temperature
• 4 chives, 1 sprig of dill, and/or 3 basil leaves (optional)
• 1 medium-sized ripe tomato, sliced into thin rounds
• 6 large, crisp spinach leaves, washed and dried

Yield: This recipe makes 2 or 3 servings.

Time: It takes about 20 minutes, start to finish.

You will also need:

• -Scissors
• -Cutting board
• -Small bowl for the cream cheese
• -Dinner knife for spreading the cream cheese
• -Steak knife for cutting the tomato and the sandwich
• -Paper towels to wipe messy hands
• -Plates
  

Should you ask an adult for help?

That's up to you, but make sure there is an adult in the house who knows you are doing this and can help you set up. (And, of course, if there is any task you feel uncomfortable doing, ask for help.)

1. Snip around the edges of a pita bread with scissors to separate it into 2 halves. Put the circles down on the cutting board with the inside part facing up.

2. Put the soft cream cheese in a small bowl. Use scissors to snip tiny pieces of chives, dill, and/or basil over the bowl, if you'd like to add them.

3. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese onto each pita circle.

4. Put 3 tomato slices in a row down the middle. They can be on top of each other a little.

5. Spread some cream cheese onto 2 or 3 spinach leaves. This might be a little messy. Take your time.

6. Lay the "frosted" spinach leaves on top of the tomatoes, with the cream cheese facing up.

7. Roll up the circle, pressing the edges tightly closed. You will end up with a log shape.

8. Roll up the circle, pressing the edges tightly closed. You will end up with a log shape.

TIME TO EAT!

About Honest Pretzels

In 1999 Mollie Katzen's second cookbook for children, Honest Pretzels, became an instant favorite among young cooks and their parents. Now, ten years later, Tricycle is delighted to present this collection of 65 healthful recipes to a whole new generation of kids in an affordable paperback edition. Like the original, each recipe is accompanied by illustrated step-by-step instructions that enable cooks as young as eight years old to master--with some (but not a lot of) adult help--dishes like Pita Spirals, Spaghetti Pie, Giant Pancake Puffs, and more.

Available at Amazon.com

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