Age: 5
Parents: Mary and Scott Aiken
Sibling: Maggie, 2
Community: Fox Chapel
School: Good Shepherd Nursery School in Fox Chapel
Hobbies: Color and play outside
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Toys: Barbie
Best birthday present (so far): A trip to Disney World given by her grandma.
Favorite food to cook: Cookies
Initial Pretzels
The Aikens are very involved in Isabel's education. Dad, an art teacher at Shadyside Academy, once showed the class how to make pottery. Mom is often the "mom-of-the-day" and bakes cookies for the class and comes in to help. Every Thursday, the class cooks, and this was one of Isabel's favorite recipes.
We tried it out with our young testers. It was a fun afternoon project that doubled as an afternoon snack. We served ours with mustard and Cheez Whiz for dipping.
1 package dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour
Stir yeast into warm water. Add honey and salt. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Stir in flour and mix. Knead for 5 to 7 minutes.
Place dough in a greased bowl and then cover with a towel. Allow to rise for 20 minutes. Roll out long pieces of dough and form letters. Place on greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 475 for 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with butter and jelly.
To submit a recipe to Cooking with Kids, please send the recipe, along with the name of the child, a head shot (preferably a school picture), and a telephone number where the child can be contacted to: Cooking with Kids, c/o Kelly Burgess, Post-Gazette Food, 34 Blvd of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. Questions? Call Kelly at 724-443-2362 or Suzanne Martinson, 412-263-1760.