EP07 Cooking with Kids: Our Farm-to-Classroom Program with Ann Jones Levine

In this episode of the Amber Waves Farmcast, we visit the kids’ outdoor kitchen to explore how harvesting, hands‑on prep, and simple tools turn picky eaters into curious cooks. Director of Education Ann Jones Levine shares kid‑friendly knife skills, spiralizer magic, and crowd‑pleasing recipes like pesto pizza, pink beet gnocchi, farm tacos, and more. It’s sensory, social, and seriously fun.Chapters00:00 Welcome and episode setup00:32 Harvest-to-kitchen: the outdoor kids’ kitchen experience02:10 Tools that empower: kid knives, choppers, and safety basics04:05 Spiralizer “noodles”: sesame cucumber doodles and veggie color play06:20 From field to fork: linking senses, memory, and trying new foods08:05 Cooking together: curiosity, peer influence, and the “arts-and-crafts you can eat” effect10:10 Fan favorites: pesto pizza with zucchini‑boosted red sauce12:05 Pink beet gnocchi + fresh pesto in the cauldron14:10 Farm tacos and the tortilla press15:40 Pita in the pizza oven + Greek salad and kid‑made dressing18:05 ABC Juice: Apple‑Beet‑Carrot with lime and ginger20:00 Takeaways: get kids outside, give them real jobs, keep it simpleKey ideas- Sensory learning works: harvest, wash, chop, and taste in one flow.- Give kids real tools and clear steps to build trust and skills.- Keep recipes simple, visual, and fast; let kids season and plate.- Cooking together builds pride, conversation, and adventurous eating.Recipes mentioned- Spiralized sesame cucumber “noodles” with herbs and tomatoes- Pesto pizza with zucchini‑enriched red sauce- Pink beet gnocchi with basil pesto- Farm tacos with tortilla press fun- Pita + Greek salad with kid‑mixed dressing- ABC Juice: apple, beet, carrot, lime, gingerAbout our guestAnn Jones‑Lavigne, Director of Education at Amber Waves, leads farm‑based cooking classes that connect kids to food through play, process, and shared meals.Resources- Amber Waves Farm: https://www.amberwavesfarm.orgEnjoyed the episode?- Like, subscribe, and share with a friend who cooks with kids- Comment: Which recipe should we make on the next episode?Hashtags#CookingWithKids #FarmToTable #OutdoorKitchen #FoodEducation #AmberWaves #FamilyCooking #PickyEaterTips #KidCooking #GardenToTable