Rachael Ray's Non-profit Organization Yum-o!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH TO MAKE WITH YOUR KIDS AS HELPERS?

It's tough to narrow it down to just one favorite! Our two favorites are Guacamole and Tuna-Vegetable Pasta.

HOW DO THEY HELP?

My son Jagger just turned two and he always wants to get in on the action in the kitchen. I do the chopping and he does the mixing – this is key, because then he feels a part of it. I've found that he has become less fussy about food since he has started to help prepare his meals.

CAN YOU GIVE THE Guacamole Recipe as well as the Tuna-Vegetable Pasta RECIPE?

Guacamole
We went to Mexico when I was pregnant with Jagger and I ended up having an aversion to many of the foods. So I ate a lot of guacamole! Now Jagger loves it! He eats it by the spoonful. This recipe is taken from a 10-year-old little boy in Mexico. He was working at his family's restaurant and came right to our table to make it.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 avocado
• A squeeze of fresh lime juice
• Salt and pepper
• A splash of Worcestershire sauce (this is your secret ingredient!)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mash up all the ingredients in a medium size bowl. This recipe is "to taste" – so you'll want to add the ingredients in small amounts and taste as you go. For example, adults seem to like more salt, and my family likes more Worcestershire sauce.
2. Once the ingredients have been initially mashed together, be sure that your young cook gets to help finish the mixing job until the ingredients are well blended!

Tuna-Vegetable Pasta
This next recipe is a quick, healthy meal that's especially good for toddlers and younger children. This recipe makes approximately four servings, depending on appetite. It's good cold the next day, too!

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 ounces Wacky Mac or tri colored rotini
• 1 can tuna in water (6 ounces), drained and flaked
  
• 1/2 cup carrots, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup broccoli, finely chopped
• 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• Juice from 1/2 lemon
• Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook the pasta, according to the package directions.
2. While the pasta is cooking, finely chop the vegetables (use a hand chopper if you have one). Drain and flake the tuna.
3. When the pasta is cooked, drain it in a colander.
4. In a small bowl, mix the EVOO, lemon juice and salt and pepper, to taste, to make a dressing.
5. In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, tuna, vegetables and dressing. Be sure to have your young cook help mix all the ingredients together!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH YOU REMEMBER EATING AS A CHILD?

Pasta and Meatballs

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY INVOLVING COOKING AND EATING TOGETHER WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS?

I remember having lots of family time and conversations spent at the dinner table.

WHAT TIPS OR ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NEW TO THE KITCHEN OR JUST GETTING THEIR KIDS INVOLVED IN THE KITCHEN?

Be prepared to have some extra clean-up! Pick a time that you can be patient and have fun!