For Mother’s Day, Kids in the Kitchen

For children who just can’t figure out what to get mom for Mother’s Day, the Camarillo Health Care District is offering a “Kids in the Kitchen: Happy Mother’s Day” workshop Saturday.

“Food is a fun medium for kids, little ones and big ones,” said Nanci Burkhart, a home-economics teacher with Hueneme High School for 20 years, who will instruct the class.

“It’s not all healthy stuff, but it’s fun,” said Burkhart, who has also taught cooking classes for children during the Christmas and Easter holidays.

For Mother’s Day, children will make flower cups filled with “dirt,” consisting of Oreo cookies, pudding and Cool Whip, topped off with marshmallow flowers.

“It’ll look like a little potted plant for mom,” Burkhart said, adding that she sends home a recipe book so children and parents can re-create the delicacies.

Burkhart stresses safety and kitchen cleanup because if the children are more willing to be responsible for their mess, parents might be more willing to let them help in the kitchen at home.

“It encourages kids to experiment in the kitchen and it’s real esteem-building when a child can see their finished product,” she said. “I think of it more as an art rather than a nutritional type of activity.”

Teaching younger children how to cook is much different from the high school students Burkhart works with on a daily basis. The high school students get involved in measuring and reading directions and the youngsters enjoy stirring and decorating.

“Getting their hands in something sweet and sticky makes it even better,” Burkhart said.

The class, which is designed for children ages 6 to 10, will be held at the Camarillo Health Care District, 3639 E. Las Posas Road, Suite 117, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Call 388-1952 to register.