I don’t believe what my mother used to say “never play with your food”.  I think part of getting kids excited about food is to let them experience it with all of their senses.

I love to cook and bake with both of my kids.  Since they were old enough to stand up on a chair at the counter they’ve been helping pour in ingredients, stir and of course lick the bowl!

A fun craft/snack we make sometimes is paintable cookies.  They are a simple sugar cookie that the kids get to paint with food coloring before they’re baked.  Throw in some fun shaped cookie cutters and you’ve got yourself a great time.

Here are some pictures from a cookie painting session we did with friends…

Paintable Cookies Recipe

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
3 tbsp orange juice
2 tbsp grated orange rind
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

* Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy.  Add the beaten egg followed by the orange juice and orange rind.
* In a smaller bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
* Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and beat well.
* Chill the dough and then roll out to about 1/8″ thickness and cut shapes.
* Paint with a mixture of water and food coloring.
* Bake painted cookies at 375F for about 8 minutes or until they are set and slightly brown around the edges.

Enjoy!