Gregg Wallace launches cookbook for kids

Gregg Wallace, co-judge of BBC hit show ‘MasterChef’, puts top chefs to the test in a new children’s cookbook.

Billed as a recipe book with a difference, ‘Cooks & Kids 3’ was published by Graffeg Kids on October 28. Edited by Gregg Wallace and Andrew Isaac, it is the third in a series.

The brainchild of the National Fostering Agency Group (NFA), the Cooks & Kids initiative challenges children and young people aged 6-18 to create their favourite recipes for a chance to cook them with a top chef and have their recipe featured in the Cooks & Kids cookbook.

Cooks & Kids is a project run by the National Fostering Agency Group which aims to encourage young people to get interested in food and learn how cook. All chefs and celebrities involved give their time for free.

This summer, children and young people from NFA teamed up with Tom Kerridge, Michel Roux Jr., Cyrus Todiwala, Chris Lee, Aldo Zilli, MasterChef winners Simon Wood and Ping Coombes, and previous Celebrity MasterChef contestants Wayne Sleep and Sophie Thompson.

Gregg Wallace said: “The talent of these children is outstanding.  I tasted nearly 100 amazing creations and loved them all. There were some real stars but I will let you cook some of the dishes and work those out for yourself.’

‘Cooks & Kids 3’ features a range of nutritious and creative recipes including Teriyaki Chicken, Cheesy Burger Bird Nests, Handmade Tagliatelle, Paella, Strawberry Cheesecake and Ginger and Lime Cake.

Children can now recreate these dishes at home, with over 50 easy-to-follow recipes, full instructions and colour photographs to help them on their way.

All royalties from the sale of ‘Cooks & Kids 3’ will be donated to Place2Be, a children’s charity which provides emotional and therapeutic services in 257 primary and secondary schools nationwide, in order to enhance the well-being and prospects of children and their families. The Duchess of Cambridge is royal patron of Place2Be.

NFA group chief executive Iain Anderson said: “We are extremely proud of our Cooks & Kids series. We have some amazing foster carer families who support children through some very challenging times, and to have foster children and birth children take part in this project and have the opportunity to cook with some great chefs has been fantastic.”

Andrew Isaac of NFA Group commented: “Cooks & Kids 3 is “bigger and better than ever before, thanks in no small part to Gregg Wallace’s sheer determination to make a real difference and encourage everyone to join in the fun, whilst helping NFA create an awareness of the great work foster carers do.”

Dame Benita Refson of Place2Be added: “Children are the heart of everything we and the NFA do. We both support children who are facing tough, challenging times. The funds raised through Cooks & Kids 3 will help us to reach even more vulnerable children and their families.”

www.cooksandkids.com