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Kids in the kitchen? Make sure they're safe The good news is, no one was hurt and the kitchen didn't catch fire, although black smoke did scorch the freshly-painted ceiling and walls. The bad news is, I didn't realize how little my children knew about cooking safety. So the telephone call I got at work on a recent after-school afternoon was a complete shock: "Mom?" said my 15-year-old, her voice quavering. "I started a fire." It seems my daughter decided to make popcorn, but we were out of the microwave stuff. So she poured some olive oil in a pan, cranked the knob to "High" and walked away. Minutes later, the pan was spouting flames. Worse, she tried to douse the blaze with water, which just made it spread. Only when she remembered to clamp a lid on the pot did the fire die down. That's when I got the call. And my first thought after "Are you OK?" was "Didn't I teach you better than that?" Apparently, I did not. So now, in the first month of school, we're instituting a kitchen safety review at my house, a crash course in how not to torch the place or maim its occupants while Mom is at work. It's a good idea, according to people who teach teens to cook for a living. Leslie Ashcraft, who runs the foods program at South Medford High School, won't let a student pick up a knife or turn on a burner until he or she is properly trained. "We spend a great deal of time on safety," she says. `It is a worry. They really need to be instructed, here and at home." Most parents are good about teaching small children to stay away from hot pans and sharp objects, but they become less zealous when the kids get bigger. Once kids are cooking independently, however, they need a few guidelines and reminders. Basic safety philosophy should come first, says Ashcraft. Kids need to know that cooking is serious business. "So, you don't cook on high heat, you don't use a knife in a joking manner," she says. "In my class, that can affect your grade." We parents would be wise to adopt Ashcraft's "safety first" attitude. Starting a fire is a strong incentive to observe safety rules, but let's hope not everyone needs that kind of reminder. Following then, are basic rules for kids in the kitchen. I'm going to make my children read them; heck, maybe I'll make them memorize them. In any case, I'm going to clip them out and post them on the fridge: Use knives wisely. Always use a sharp knife and a cutting board. Keep fingers and hands away from the blade; pare foods away from your body. Knives are not for play. Dress for safety in the kitchen. Don't wear loose clothes -- nightgowns, bathrobes -- while cooking. Tie back that long ponytail. Watch what you're doing. If you must leave the kitchen for any reason, turn off the heat and take a reminder that something's cooking. It's OK to miss a rerun of "Friends." Keep pot handles turned inward. That prevents them from being bumped by children, pets and passersby. Keep appliance cords on countertops, too. Review basic first aid. Know what to do for cuts, burns, scrapes and splashes. Watch the heat. There are few foods that must be cooked over high heat. Heat oil, especially, slowly. Heating oil too fast is an easy way to start a fire. Never pour water on grease fires. That will only cause the fire to spread. In case of a small fire, slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames. For larger fires, throw baking soda on the blaze. Never open the door on a microwave fire. Opening the door will feed oxygen to the flames. Instead, leave the door closed, turn off Once kids review safety tips, reward them by letting them bake a favorite snack: Brownies. You'll find a tasty recipe inside. Final Exam Brownies 4 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate 1 cup butter (no substitutes) 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups miniature marshmallows 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided In a microwave or a double boiler, melt unsweetened chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, eggs, vanilla and chocolate mixture. Add flour; mix well. Fold in marshmallows, nuts and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Spread into a greased 13-by-9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until top is set. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Yields 2 r1/2 dozen brownies. From "Best of Country Cookies," Taste of Home books. Send cooking questions to JoNel Aleccia, The Mail Tribune, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501. Call 776-4465, or send e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA