For this recipe I must put my hand up for being incredibly tardy. I received the Silver Spoon for Children book last year from Phaidon before Christmas and it has taken me a long time to get to the stage of cooking from it. Of course the main obstacle was that I had no kids of my own and harassing pint sized strangers is often frowned upon. Months passed and I forgot about the book and it was only when Teena returned it to me that I remembered that I had meant to cook something from it.
Being a Silver Spoon cookbook it has a decidedly Italian flavour to it and the recipes are simple as befitting a kid’s recipe book (wouldn’t you just love to see a Pierre Herme kid’s cooking book?). The recipe that I honed in on was the polenta gnocchi. I had a big bag of it left over from some lemon polenta cakes I made over Christmas and I am one of those people that just cannot abide expired items in their fridge or pantry.
Liss’s kids were the perfect kids to make the polenta gnocchi with and they made an enthusiastic bunch of chefs. Each girl has her own cutter (and the ultimate choice of cutter, as you can imagine, was very important). There was a star, square and a diamond. They made fast work of this and whilst this isn’t exactly the hand rolled pasta dough gnocchi, they seemed to enjoy making it and more importantly eating it.
For adults I’d recommend serving this with a rich tomato based sauce or a nice blue cheese sauce. We did some browned butter and sage leaves (of which the girls didn’t want any part of). The end result is similar to polenta chips and it was easy to eat and we could imagine a great accompaniment to a lovely roast or a stew for adults.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your favourite cookbook and why?
Olivia marvelling at her heart cutter!
Polenta Gnocchi
Adapted from The Silver Spoon for Children
- 350g polenta (coarse or fine)
- 40g parmesan cheese
- a little oil for brushing the tray
- 2 teaspoons salt
Brush the tray with oil
1. You will need a baking tray that is about 20cms x 30cms big. Brush a little oil over your baking tray.
Read the recipe
2. Check the instructions on your packet of polenta. Most polenta flours are similar, but it is always worth checking. You will need to measure out the water as directed on the packet, pour it into a big saucepan and bring it to the boil.
3. Very carefully, pour the polenta flour into the water stirring with a large whisk constantly to ensure that it doesn’t go lumpy.
Stirring the polenta
4. Lower the heat and cook gently and keep stirring all the time until the polenta is thick and smooth. This will take about 3 minutes or the length of time suggested on the packet.
Spreading out the polenta on a tray
5. Carefully spoon the poleta mixture onto the baking tray. You might like to use a ladle to do this. Spread out the polenta to make an even rectangle and leave to cool and set (you can put this in the fridge once it starts to cool off).
Little chef’s treat: licking the spatula
When firm, press out shapes
Make sure to wet the cutters in between stamping
6. When the polenta is cold, stamp out the shapes using a cutter-dip the cutter into cold water to stop the polenta from sticking to it. Start cutting the shapoe along one edge of the polenta. You can also try reshaping the polenta once you have cut out some shapes.
Grating parmesan
Sprinkle parmesan
Bake in oven
7. Turn the oven on to 180c/350F. Brush a little oil ovre a wide baking sheet. Carefully grate cheese over the polenta shapes and bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown.
Ta-da! Heart girl Olivia’s gnocchi
Star girl Laura’s gnocchi
Diamond girl Eliose’s gnocchi-all gone!
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59 Comments | Add your own
A great recipe to make with kids! Lots of fun and so healthy!
Cheers,
Rosa
Now I NEED a Pierre Herme kids cookbook!!!!!!!
It’s so hard to pick a favorite I really have so many. Some I love for photos, others for unfailing recipes others are just truly inspiring. But loving cakes as I do I think The Whimsical Bakehouse by Kaye Hansen and Liv Hansen is my most used and favorite book.
What sweet little helpers, no wonder everything turned out so lovely.
My favourite cook book is the Ottolenghi cookbook (the 1s one)–there are so many wonderful recipes in there, and the pictures are fabulous. I’m all about pictures when it comes to cook books.
*kisses* HH
Oh, how beautiful are those girls, just like their mumma. ♥
And no wonder Liss is a always in the kitchen. What a beautiful kitchen to work in.
Thanks for sharing. What a chirpy start to the day. x
Look at those cuties! They are too sweet for words!!!! Yum on the polenta gnocchi, too!
I’ve never cooked polenta before – this seems a good recipe to start with, because if it’s for kids, it can’t be that hard, right?
The frills had so much fun
And they were yummy too!
What adorable kids — I love the pig tails in their hair! (I would always ask my mom for pig tails as a kid.
) Great recipe, and I can absolutely see why the choice of cutter is a serious decision — I would have to go for the star. 
Lovely post Lorraine. I love the pink and white spotted plate in the last picture.
How CUTE! I would serve it with pan fried mushrooms and a blue cheese sauce with truckloads of parsley for grown ups. I love the little girl in leopard print. She has great style! My favourite cookbook is Stephanie Alexander’s Cooks Companion. It’s the best!
POlenta gnocchi?? what a great idea!
Stephanie Alexnader’s Cooks Companion is my go to cookbook! I love that it includes lots of information about the ingredients (as well as the great recipes)
They would be prefect with a winter warmer stew.
Gorgeous photos – and they look like they are having fun!
Yum! I think my kids would go for that. I was in Kinokuniya book store yesterday and was absolutely lost in all of their cookbook section. There are so many great cookbooks out there. I had never flicked through the silver spoon before, but it certainly looks like it should be on my shelf. Even after looking at them all, I still think the Bourke Street Bakery one wins hands down. If it wasn’t quite so large, I think I would sleep with it under my pillow.
I wish there was a way to download the recipe without all of the photos…
This is a good reminder of the existence of the Silver Spoon for Children – I’ve been meaning to get a copy.
I think my favourite cookbook for total reliability of very tasty home-cooking style recipes with flair has to be the Belinda Jeffries ‘Tried and True Recipes’.
Hard question so 2 answers. For recipes Donna Hay’s modern classics books – all the basics in one spot! For design and photos anything Tessa Kiros does – especially Apples for Jam!
oh what cute helpers!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh my gosh so adorable!!!!!!!! who cares about the recipe or what you’re writing when those girls are so sweet in the kitchen. Looks like a yummy kids recipe and must look out for that book
my favourite cookbook – gosh I think my leith’s vegetarian bible is right up there as you name a vegetable and there is an unusual and yummy recipe in there! perfect when I have something in the fridge and need some inspiration!!!
Corrie:)
She is SOOO cute! Pretty simple recipe too…I like it! =)
I love the idea of using different shapes to cut out the gnocchi for the kids. Such a great idea!
So cute. I remeber when I was kid & borrowed lots of cookbooks.
I’m teaching my 5 year old nephew to cook & he loves it.
I have so many cookbooks & can’t decide which one I like best,there all great, like choosing your favorite child,can’t be done for me.
I have a wonderful cookbook given to me when I was seven, it’s called “Cooking is fun” and has such cute pictures in it!
I made gnocchi the other night and it turned out fab, amazing at truely how simple it is to make too. I bought a proper potato moulie and wow it makes all of the difference too, so light!
Ohhh favourite cookbook huh well since I am a hoarder of cookbooks and cooking magazines, I could not pick just one as it would be totally unfair to all of the others!
Looks like you had a great day with the girls, I have a 2 year old who is an aspiring chef. He loves helping out whether it is mixing cake dough, whisking eggs or eating the vegies as we prepare them he just has to be in the thick of it LOL.
Thanks for the blog Lorraine love and read it every day, it is the highlight of my mornings!
I Love Anne Hodgeman’s book “one bite won’t kill you” It contains child friendly recipes that also appeal to adults. Chick chip and flat tyre chicken as well as Oh My God bread rock!!! Honestly nothing I ever made from that book was not a huge hit!!
I work with children. This would be a fabulous cooking activity.
It’s a but daggy, but I love Lady Flo Bjelke Petersen’s cookbook Mum and Dad gave me many years ago. I was disgusted at not fancy, just loads of good, honest food; usually cheap ingredients, and never-fail recipes. I always turn to it when I want to whip up something quick and easy – yorkshire puddings, chocolate cake and tuna mornay are among our family favourites.
Cooking kids are so cute!
I meant to say I was disgusted at first, because of course I used to prefer more Nigella/Jamie Oliver-like offerings … but find this is always a good one to have on standby.
awww..they are soo adorable^^
What beautiful girls!
The gnocchi looks nice too!
Thanks for this great idea! Keep em coming please! I’m sure I could substitute soy cheese in this for my little boy who has egg, dairy and wheat allergy- fantastic idea. I find it very hard at times to remain creative. Thanks for the ideas Lorraine.
oh cooking with kids is so much fun – those photos just make me smile – Sylvia has started to take an interest in what I am cooking – I only hope it will translate to her wanting to eat some one distant day in the future – must try polenta for her as I am always on the lookout for something simple she might like
how lovely to cook with kids IF you have someone else to clean up after..:)
looks like they enjoyed themselves and what a fun project. Coincidentally I made a gnocchi too but it was a mochi gnocchi..it was addictive actually …i wished I looked like that little sweetie with the two pony tails while I made it.
Oooh, I’m on a polenta kick at the moment, and even better this recipe will be perfect for my new student-budget lifestyle! Woot! I might try it with blue cheese instead of parmesan… or do you think that would fail, texture-wise?
Awwww – how wonderful to have such adorable helpers in the kitchen with you. What a great pick. xoxo Mum
this is a brilliant book for kids.
my eight year old likes it because it does not talk down to them and they know the food is great
best present under the tree
looks like everyone is having fun here!
My most favourite cook book is the Moro Cook book – I think is is the first one. (white cover as apposed to Casa Moro… which is also brilliant!)
Polenta gnocchi?? Interesting. and I love the shapes!
my favourite cook book is the internet (and your blog of COURSE)
I got rid of all my books just recently because I can always find them online and then bookmark in delicious.
aw, the cuteness. i didn’t know they made aprons that tiny.
This is the first time I’ve ever heard about polenta gnocchi. Interesting idea.
Have a bag of polenta sitting around not doing anything. This sounds like a nice recipe to use it on.
They look like they are all having the best time. What wonderful shapes and such a great dish to make with kids
Wonderful pics, what a great simple recipe!
love the recipe idea! Yum! Also love the helpers. Yay to the sous chefs
They are adorable Liss. Must try this with my own little man.
those girls are absolute dollbabies!!! what a fun idea for little ones. i def need to try the “adult” version with tomato sauce…..
The girls are adorable! Especially Olivia with her plate of hearts =)
I can’t pick a favourite cookbook, I don’t think I even have a favourite cookbook, I just love them all! =D
Ode to bacon is up!
Love her pink leopard dress btw…
I’ve never cooked with kids before. My boyfriend’s nieces are coming for a visit from Greece in August so I’ll definitely put this recipe on the list. Looks so much fun and the kids looks sooo cute!
Magda
What precious lil’ darlins! I could use this recipe with my niece as she loves to cook and looks their age.
These gnocchis are sweet made from these sweet smile.
OOOh a gluten free recipe. Me and polenta have issues, I tried making polenta chips and they just tasted….different and not in a good way, I think it’s my cooking method so I’ll try your and see how it goes
I will eat it. Big gnocchi fan.
Fun fun fun! And boy do they look happy! Love Polenta Gnocchi and make it simply with melted parmesan on top though when we lived in Italy I often ordered it smothered either in gorgonzola or wild mushroom sauce. Yum! Fave cookbook? Oy have too many but maybe my vegetarian epicures?
I have that purple star and red heart. I think they came with play dough. I’ve made sandwiches, cookies, etc. Now I can try polenta.
I have 3 favs: Thomas Keller,Ad Hoc at Home; Alice Waters, The Simple Art of Food and Marcella Hazan, Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. Two have NO pictures, so that says a lot about them.
MMMMMMMM,..those polenta heart shaped gnocchi look truly wonderful!!
It looks that you & the kids had tons of fun in the kitchen!
hw cute r they all in the kitchen :O)
YUM!
and gf too..
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