12-year-old kitchen whiz Liam Lewis's cooking tips for kids

At just 12 years old, Liam Lewis is an old hand in the kitchen. The Little Locavore blogger already has his own line of artisan beet ketchup and he's a judge in Better Together's Hands-on Cook-off Contest — a BC-wide competition that encourages families to cook together.

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Liam shared his cooking tips for kids (and their parents) with The Early Edition, as well as his favourite recipe of Okinomiyaki, a savoury Japanese Pancake.

1. Start early

Liam started cooking at 8, when his parents took away his TV privileges and he was looking for something else to do. But with a little patience from parents, he says kids can start much younger.

"There is no age that's too early," said Lewis. "I think they'll just develop that appreciation for food more, instead of later in life."

2. Respect knives, but don't fear them

Take the time to teach kids how to properly use knives. 

"If you teach them slowly and take time to integrate carefully, they will learn to use knives and it will be easy," said Lewis. 

He also suggests trying a children's knife set for younger kids.

3. Embrace fruits and veggies

Liam said going to local markets has helped him develop an appreciation for all sorts of fruits and veggies, especially now that he can see the culinary possibilities.

"I definitely like fruits and vegetables more than I used to," admitted Liam, who also spends time reading cookbooks for fresh ideas on how to cook with fruits and veggies.

4. Try everything!

Liam said adventures in cooking have opened up his palate to more flavours, and made him more interested in nutritious food.

"Once I started cooking more, I was more interested in what I was eating," said Liam, who regularly tries unfamiliar foods.

5. Don't be afraid to make mistakes

Get creative in the kitchen, experiment with ingredients and techniques, and don't worry about failing.

"Early days of cooking...I can assure you that it did not taste good!" admitted Liam, whose parents were willing tasters. But now, they regularly cook up tasty meals together.

6. Have fun!

Liam said he approaches cooking like a game, rather than a chore. He enjoys attending kids cooking camps, like the one at The Dirty Apron. 

Serves 4

• 2 eggs
• 2/3 c dashi or water
• 1 c all-purpose flour
• 1/2 c sliced green onions
• 2 c julienned white cabbage
• grapeseed oil

• 6 oz baby shrimp
• whole raw spot prawns
• scallops, cut in half
• asparagus tips
• thinly sliced cooked beef, pork or chicken
• 1/4 c okonomiyaki sauce, for garnish
• 1/4 c Japanese mayonnaise, for garnish
• 1/4 c dried seaweed (nori), finely sliced, for garnish
• 1/4 c fine bonito flakes (often sold as katsuobushi, or smoked tuna flakes), for garnish

Method

1. Place the eggs, dashi and flour in a medium bowl and whisk until a smooth batter forms. Season with salt and pepper.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the green onions and cabbage.
3. Lightly coat a sauté pan with grape seed oil and heat over medium-high heat. Pour 1/4 of the batter into a small bowl. Using a spatula, carefully fold 1/4 of the onion-cabbage mixture into the batter, until all the ingredients are mixed in and evenly coated. Scrape the mixed batter into the pan, allowing it to spread into a circle about 1/2 inch thick. (The pancake will be about 4 inches wide, but make smaller pancakes if you prefer.)
4. While the pancake is cooking, top with any or all of the suggested toppings. 
5. When the bottom edge is beginning to colour, slide a spatula under the pancake and flip it over. Then gently press down on the top of the pancake to even out its thickness. It should still be about 1/2 inch thick. Cook for about 1 minute more, or until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter, green onions, cabbage and toppings until you have 4 pancakes.
6. Serve the okonomiyaki on individual plates. Drizzle with okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise, and garnish with nori and bonito flakes.

Chef's Note: This is a great way to introduce cabbage to kids. However, you can also substitute other vegetables such as grated zucchini for the cabbage.

For more, listen to the audio labelled: "Little Locavore" Liam Lewis's Cooking Tips for Kids