Cooking Up Some Fun With The Keiki

MidWeek food columnist and radio host of Table Talk Jo McGarry visits the kitchen this week with her two boys Max and Finn Curran to share three simple and easy recipes kids can help out with in the kitchen.

PANCAKES

For Pancake Mix:

* 4 cups all-purpose flour
* 3 tablespoons baking powder
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar

Mix above ingredients together and store in a jar. (Diamond Bakery Cookie jar happens to be perfect size.)

For Pancake Batter:

* 1 egg
* 1 cup milk
* 1 tablespoon melted butter

For each cup of pancake mix, add above ingredients. Do not overmix.

For Pancake Filling:

* blueberries
* banana
* any fresh fruit

Heat a flat griddle or pan over medium-high heat.

Spoon drops of 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of batter onto the hot griddle. Add 1 cup of preferred fruit and, when bubbles appear on the surface of the little pancakes, flip them over to make them golden brown on both sides.

CUCUMBER AND CREAM CHEESE CHECKERBOARD SANDWICHES

(Adapted from a Kraft Foods recipe)

* 1 slice whole wheat bread
* 1 tablespoon Philadelphia Cream Cheese Spread
* 3 slices Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Shaved Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
* 3 slices cucumber (peeled)
* 1 slice white bread

Spread wheat bread with cream cheese spread; top with turkey, cucumber and white bread.

Cut sandwich into three horizontal strips, cut off crusts, if preferred, then cut into three vertical strips to make nine squares. Turn four or five of the squares upside down.

Arrange squares on plate, alternating colors as needed to resemble a checkerboard.

Serve with carrot sticks, ranch/yogurt dip, fruit salad.

PIZZA

Prepare premade pizza dough according to instructions. Top with homemade pizza sauce or store-bought, as preferred. Add favorite pizza toppings: turkey, pepperoni and cheese.

Bake at 450 degrees for eight to 10 minutes.

Serve with fruit kebab sticks and Greek yogurt dip drizzled with Hawaiian honey.

Watch “Sam Choy’s Kitchen” Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. on KHNL.