I know a little girl who truly enjoys her time in the kitchen. Not at the table eating, mind you, but at the counter preparing! She loves to slice, stir and sift, and she and her grandmother have signature dishes. Cooking classes are attended with all of the unrestrained enthusiasm only a seven-year-old can muster, and recently, she asked Santa to leave bakeware under the tree. I take enormous pleasure in supplying her with grown-up tools-of-the-trade that have little girl appeal: a pink hand-held blender for Christmas, polka-dot monogrammed cupcake bands for her birthday, and a cupcake “corer” so she can infuse her confections with chocolate, icing, cookie dough and brownie batter (just because).

One online site I frequently use as a go-to for this petite Paula is Sur La Table. I’ve discovered they sell many an appliance, utensil and gadget in appealing colors with easy-grip handles. Case in point: I love the icing spatulas, multi-purpose scrapers and assorted mixing bowls and measuring cups. I also really dig this pretty mortar and pestle set.  It may not be purple or pink, but I firmly believe (and this little Giada gem will back me up) there is much kid pleasure to be derived from grinding herbs into oblivion!

Mini Martha, if you’re reading this (and I know you’re smart enough even at age seven to do just that!), while I do not dig icing inside my cupcakes (though on the outside is just fine!), I do love, love, love zucchini in my pasta. Mi cocina es su cocina. Please approach it with reckless abandon!