Evening star., 1937-01-29
Cooking Can
Be Fun for
Youngsters
Give Them Chance to
Try Out Recipes
Occasionally.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

BY ANuELO IN NAs
COOKING as hobby for children
Is almost neglected. Yet it is
one Of the most interesting and
valuable that children can have.
A good cook is an artist well
coined everywhere for the gifts
he bears in his hands. The way
10 the heart Of the world is through
It's stomach by way Of the cook.
Cooking is great fun. Once a week
or so. give the boys and girls chance
to show what they can do. The
younger they begin the better. Little
children who have to stand on box
to reach the table can mix and sift
and bake with the best. Just give
them chance.
Begin with simple things, of course.
Teach them to leave the kitchen in
as good order as they found it, all
dishes washed and in their place, all
trace of the work removed. That Is
one Of the fundamental rules OF the
game. Nothing left for somebody else
to clean up.
Each child will develop his spe-
eiality. Boys like to briol steaks and
make French fried potatoes. One boy
I know makes the best spaghetti with
tomato sauce that can be found in
town. He is as proud of that accom-
plshment as he is of his music, which
Is first class. Girls have more variety
in their menue because they get more
practice. They run to candy and
cookies and icebox cakes, but they
manage the more substantial dishes
when they are given chance. Too
many people shoe the boys OF OF the
kitchen.
Nowadays new houses have play
rooms in the cellar. Here there is
often an electric stove, full kitchen
service. No finer place can children
have. They can cook, serve, entertain
their friends in this room away from
the family, and get more valuable,
healthy amusement out OF 1t than
they could get in a dozen formal
parties.
Cooking Is an accomplishment.
Good cooks WELD great social power.
They make home the pleasantest place
in the world for those who live in it.
They build and maintain the health
and happiness of the family. They
put Joy into living. Boys will turn
homeward at the thought of hot
doughnuts waiting for them. Tired
men will walk with quicker step to-
ward the savory, tempting dinner
that they know is being prepared for
them. Civilized men cannot live
without cooks"
There is poetry in cooking. The
color and texture, the smells and tastes
Of the kitchen do rise above the mere
physical. Man does not live by bread
alone. He lives by the color Of it, the
perfume Of 1t, the beauty of form and
texture that are inherent in 1t. One
does not eat an apple just to fill his
stomach. If the apple had no color,
no perfume, no beauty of form, he
might eat it to stave off hunger, but
he would not feel the thrill of ap-
probation that runs down his spine,
I'D the roof OF his mouth. down to the
tip Of his tongue that makes him smile
from ear to ear at the very thought
Of an apple. So it is with three meals
Q day, If q good cook prepares them.
Give the children q chance. And
II you have a good cook in the house.
hold praise him. for he Is truly won
derful.
Mr.. Patri has prepared leafiet en-
titled, "Pilfering," In which he tells
parents how to teach their children to
overcome this characteristic. Send
for it. Address your request to Mr..
Angelo Patri, Child Psychology De-
partment Of this paper. Inclose self
addresses. stamped (3-cent) envelope.
(Copyright, 1879