Frigidaire Kids (good-for-you) Cooking Academy in Hollywood & Meatloaf Cupcakes

Hi everyone I'm so glad to be back home from my blogging venture. Earlier in the week the kids and I were flown out to Hollywood to attend the Frigidaire Kids' (good-for-you) Cooking Academy.

On January 18th Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner launched the Kids' Cooking Academy, an online cooking academy where you can get recipes and how-to videos to inspire families to get into the kitchen and cook together. I was so excited to be one of seven bloggers selected for this wonderful opportunity.

I think my kids were even more excited than I was. While in Hollywood the kids got to spend the afternoon cooking in the kitchen with Celebrity Mom Jennifer Garner and Chef Mary Sue Milliken.

All of the children prepared some pretty yummy and healthy kid friendly recipes. I was so impressed and proud of Mackenzie because she tried and loved so many of the recipes.

Did you know that one in five kids in the United States is growing up in poverty? Through Save the Children's Change Program, they are ensuring children living in poverty in rural America have access to nutritious snacks, like fresh fruits and whole grains.

With continued support from Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner their helping give children the foundation they need for a lifetime of good health. Jennifer stated that it is so important to teach kids how to feed their bodies.

You can’t learn, you can’t pay attention in school, and you can’t be active if your brain isn’t well-fed and if your body isn’t healthy. I couldn't agree with her more.

With Frigidaire's new online cooking academy parents and children will have the resources to learn how to prepare healthy and nutritious snacks and meals at home.The more you let your children help out in meal preparation, the more willing they are to try new foods.

Cooking together is also a great way to spend time together and the perfect opportunity to learn so many different things. I invite you to take a peek through my photos of the Frigidaire Kids (good for you) Cooking Academy Launch.

We arrived at Smashbox Studios at about 11:30 am. The kids were so excited when they walked in the door. They immediately wanted me to take their picture in front of all the magazine covers posted all over the wall. Mackenzie was so excited to see a cover of Miley Cyrus.

We headed to the set around noonish and got started. Each of the kids received their very own work stations, chef coats, aprons and chef hats. All of them looked so cute.


The first recipe the kids prepared was a Mexican Chopped Salad. Jennifer went around the room and spoke to each of the children about the recipes they were making.

She really is so gracious and down to earth. She told me how she likes to include her daughter Violet in the kitchen when she cooks.

She moved on to Carson and complimented him on his stirring skills. Of course Carson said nothing and just looked at her. I explained to her how shy he was and she completely understood. (Carson what were you thinking that's Jennifer Garner) LOL

Mackenize was so proud of her salad that she ate half of it before it was time to clean up and move onto the next recipe. She said mom you really need to make this salad.


The highlight of Mackenzie's afternoon was when Jennifer came over and helper her pipe on the Mashed Potato Frosting on her Meatloaf Cupcakes.


One of the gentlemen at the event was nice enough to take a photo of all of us. Thank you to whomever you were.

Carson and Kenzie are showing off their Charred Vegetable Salsa they made. This was really yummy it consisted of roasted roma tomatoes, roasted tomatillos, roasted jalapenos, red onions, garlic, cilantro, lime and salt & pepper.

Finally a little bit of a smile!

All of the recipes the children prepared were Charred Vegetable Salsa, Mexican Chopped Salad, Meatloaf Cupcakes and for dessert a Pear Ginger Crumble. After the event was over we were treated to a nice lunch from recipes prepared by Mary Sue Milliken.

Thank you Mary Sue for showing us how to prepare some yummy and healthy recipes. I can't wait to try all of them plus a few recipes from your cookbook.


Parents can join the Kids' Cooking Academy and, when you do (between 1/18/11 and 4/25/11) Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children with a minimum of $35,000 and a maximum of $40,000 to help make sure that more children have access to healthy foods.

Everyone who participates will be entered for a chance to win the daily prize, a kids' apron set and the grand prize: a new Frigidaire Double Oven Range! You can enter at Maketimeforchange or Make Time for Change Face book Page . Click here for the official rules.


Mackenzie favorite dish that she made at the cooking event was the meatloaf cupcakes. She was so excited that it was her first request to help me with when we arrived home. I found myself without peppers, so I improvised and mixed shredded cheddar cheese into the potatoes before frosting the meatloaf cupcakes. Mackenzie loved the red bell pepper ones she had in Hollywood.

Pretty and Yummy!!!

Turkey Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Frosting

3 - tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 - med - large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
1 1/2 - teaspoons salt
1/2 - teaspoon pepper
1 - stalk celery thinley siced or chopped
1 - carrot grated
2 -teaspoons fresh thyme or or 1 teaspoon dried
2 - cloves garlic, minced
2 - teaspoons worcestershire sauce
1/2 - teaspoon tabasco sauce
2 -tablespoons ketchup
1 - teaspoon dijon mustard
1 - egg
1/2 - cup breadcrumbs
2 - lbs ground turkey

Preheat ove to 350 degrees. Using a small skillet over medium heat saute' onion until it is translucent. Add garlic, carrot, celery and thyme and saute' 2 to 3 more minutes until veggies are limp. Transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temp.

Once cooled add worcestershire, tabasco, ketchup, mustard, egg, and bread crumbs. Stir to combine. Add turkey and mix well using hands. Place the meat mixture in a muffin tin lined with cupcake papers and bake for 18-20 minutes.

Prepare your favorite mashed potatoe recipes. Using a pastry bag fitted with a larger star or plain tip pipe on the mashed potatoes. Just like you would for cupcakes. Serve immedietly. To color you mashed potatoes use 1 tablespoon beet juice, red bell pepper juice or spinach juice.

Beet or Red Pepper Juice: run beet through juicer or grate finely on a boxed grater. Press through a mesh seive resting over a bowl to catch juices.

Spinach Juice: run 2 cups spinach through a juice or chip spinach finely. Press spinach through a a mesh sieve over a bowl to catch juices.

Printer Friendly Recipe

Disclosure: My participation in Frigidaire’s Kids’ (good-for-you) Cooking Academy Event was sponsored by Frigidaire. They provided me with travel arrangements to and from Los Angeles to participate. However, the opinions stated above are entirely my own and have not been waivered in anyway. I would like to thank Frigidaire and Foodbuzz for including me in this awesome opportunity.