Featured Product: Cooking with Kids- Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook Kit
9:18 AM Posted by Centsible Mommy
If your little ones are like mine, than no sooner than you turn on the stove, they’re not far behind asking to help in the kitchen. My boys (the little aspiring chefs) love helping in the kitchen and learning to cook, so I was thrilled when given the opportunity to review the Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook Kit.
Not only does the Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook feature delicious Italian recipes formatted in a way children can understand, but it also introduces them to the foods and language of a different culture. The Italian Cookbook is just one in the series of international cookbooks offered by Handstand Kids Cookbook Company and author, Yvette Garfield; there is also a Mexican Cookbook which comes in a tortilla bag with a child-sized oven mitt; and the Chinese Cookbook is packaged in a take-out box with a set of chopsticks.
The Italian Cookbook Kit comes appropriately packaged in a pizza box. It also comes with a cute children’s sized (adjustable) chef’s hat. The recipes inside are not only delicious, but all the ingredients and utensils used are translated into Italian and are used in the recipes so that children can learn the language as they cook. The pages are colorfully illustrated and the graphics are very cute.
The recipes are rated by difficulty with one garlic clove being the easiest and so on. Since my children are young, ages 5 and 2, the rating system shows exactly how much help they will need. The delicious recipes featured are those that kids will love, and some of the traditional childrens' favorites can be made with an Italian twist with the "Italianize my" section. For example when you “Italianize” sandwiches they become panini, popcorn becomes Italian popcorn, and many more. There are breads, soups, salads, main entrees and of course delicious desserts. There are some both nutritious and delicious choices as well.
Who are the Handstand Kids?
The Handstand Kids motto is "Traveling the world, one recipe at a time.”
“The five Handstand Kids are featured throughout the series: kid chefs can follow along as Felix, Izzy, Ari, Gabby and Marvin learn about the recipes, culture and language of a new country. The Handstand Kids offer helpful hints about cooking for special diets and finding ways to use cooking skills to Stir It Up and support the community.”
Click here to find ways your children can Stir It Up and help their community with their cooking skills.
“The Handstand Kids are a diverse bunch with varied interests so kids can easily relate to the characters. Felix is a vegetarian, Izzy is a picky eater and loves to cook for his diabetic sister, Ari uses her cooking skills to volunteer at kid's charities, Gabby is bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English, and Marvin is an aspiring chef.”
Visit the Online Recipe Box to browse free recipes similar to those found in the Handstand Kids Cookbook Series.
Buy it: Visit Handstand Kids shop to buy the Italian Cookbook Kit or any of their other kits. These kits are so much fun; and are a great way to introduce kids to international cuisine and cultures. You can also purchase children's aprons and other accessories to enhance your little chef’s cooking experience
How we used the cookbook & our thoughts on the Handstand Kids Products:
My 5 year old wanted to cook lunch for his Daddy & Papa for Father’s Day, so we choose Mamma Mia Minestrone Soup, Foot-Long Garlic Bread, and Bella Biscotti Cookies for our menu for Daddy's & Papa's Italian luncheon at our "Ristorante." And because the recipes were easy to prepare, my son only needed minimal help. My 2 year old also pitched in making our Italian cuisine. Both my boys had a blast cooking for their Daddy and the food turned out delicious! I love this product because it opened up the dialogue about the differences in people, different cultures, and embracing other cultures. Overall, this is a great children's cookbook series. And any activity that my children and I get to spend doing together gets an thumbs up from me!
The opinions and ideas are expressed are my own honest opinions based on the product I reviewed. I was sent a Italian Cookbook Kit for review purposes only. I received no monetary compensation for this post.
Featured Site: The Adventures of Zylie the Bear
10:30 AM Posted by Centsible Mommy
There’s something about teddy bears that have made both children and adults so fond of them for so long. When they’ve been given a charming personality, stylish clothing, and jointed arms and legs to make them moveable like Zylie and Shen from The Adventures of Zylie the Bear, the fondness and fascination for these two teddies can only grow.
Meet, Zylie the Bear, a traveling trendsetter set out to travel the world to make new friends and learn about the cultures everywhere she goes. Zylie, dressed in her adorable skinny jeans, flounce top and cream-colored swing jacket and carrying her stylish orange bag with passport, diary, and map in hand, begins her adventure in New York with her brother, Theo, and then suddenly finds herself in China where she meets the equally fashionable, Shen.
Shen, a panda decked out in his leather jacket, green Tee and jeans, and carrying a backpack with drumsticks and all-important passport, is also ready to set out to meet new friends and learn new cultures. Together, Zylie, and her new friend, Shen, along with Theo in tow, explore China.
The books, The Adventures Zylie the Bear, New York and The Adventures of Zylie the Bear, China, are just the start in the series with more adventures to come. The rest of Zylie's adventures will be decided by you- their customers and readers, so they don't know yet where she will be going next. These storybooks are based on Zylie's travels with each adventure focusing on a different country, helping children to learn about each country's culture and history, language, and more.
Some items from Zylie's Shop:
Zylie the Bear Kit
Begin your adventures with Zylie! Her kit comes with an 18" plush Zylie bear, in her signature skinny jeans, flounce top and beautifully-detailed cream-colored swing jacket. She’s carrying a cool orange bag that comes complete with her diary, map and all-important passport. Get to know Zylie™, her brother Theo and their wacky adventures by reading her first book: The Adventures of Zylie the Bear, New York™!
- Includes the first book in The Adventures series
- Use the passport number on the back to log into Zylie's website
- Additional outfits for Zylie and her friends are available separately
- Books can also be purchased separately
Meet Shen, Zylie's panda friend from China! His kit comes with an 18" plush Shen panda, in his green t-shirt, cool leather jacket and blue jeans. He also has his backpack, filled with his passport and, most importantly, his drumsticks. Find out how Zylie™ and Theo meet Shen and follow their travels in China with the second book in Zylie's adventure series, The Adventures of Zylie the Bear, China™.
- Includes the second book in The Adventures series
- Use the passport number on the back to log into Zylie's website
- Additional outfits for Shen are available separately
- Books can also be purchased separately
My thoughts on Zylie the Bear and Shen
You have seen Zylie and Shen for yourselves and know how adorable they are, so who cares what I think, right? But I will still say, not only are Zylie and Shen adorable and fun to play with, but they serve as a great tool in helping children learn about cultures different from their own, making them a great teaching tool. By the way, the kids I gave Zylie and Shen to have yet to put them down! They love them.
I was sent a Zylie the Bear and Shen the Panda Kit to review. The opinions expressed are my own. I received no compensation for this post.
