They're the cooks!

By Cara Spilsbury
Staff Writer

April 14, 2008 01:55 pm

—

"You're the Cook! A guide to mixing it up in the kitchen" was written specifically for children ages 9 to 14 who are finding their independence and interested in learning new recipes.

Its author, Katie Wilton, has been featured on Fox television networks in Cleveland, Dallas and Boston, sharing her expertise in the kitchen. Her book of recipes and tips can be purchased all over New England and as far away as Bermuda, Los Angeles, Seattle and Denver.

And recently, Wilton brought her cookbook to life for "teens and 'tweens" at the Haverhill Public Library.

Her book is literally a lesson in the foods we eat: Wilton focuses on the way to create a dish, but also on where the food product is harvested or produced, how to store it, and its nutritional information.

She concentrates on four foods: eggs, cheese, pasta and berries, and there are five kid-friendly recipes for each food, like deviled eggs, English muffin pizzas, tuna melts and cream cheese filled strawberries.

On April 5, the young adults at the Haverhill Public Library got to try their hand at some of Wilton's most popular dishes. They scooped yokes out of hard-boiled eggs, sauteed wontons filled with cheese, and mixed together yogurt and fruit.

Perhaps the best part was stuffing their faces with the results once the preparation was over.

Wilton is hosting Cooking Class II today (April 17) and again on Saturday, April 19 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Cavallaro Children's Program Room. Registration is required.

In these classes, geared for ages 10 to 15, Wilton will teach children recipes from her second cookbook. Once again, participants will make one recipe, and then get to sample foods prepared by everyone in the class at the end.

Wilton's cookbook will be available for sale.

For details or to register, contact Leslie Todd, head of Youth Services at the library, at 978-373-1586, ext. 630, or Alissa Lauzon, in Young Adult Services, at ext. 607. You can also register online at www.haverhillpl.org by clicking on "Calendar" and then "Online Calendar." Find the appropriate day and click on the hand icon for the sign-up page.