Yvette Garfield looked at kids and said she thought they can do more than just eat, they can cook — and learn. That's how her Handstand Kids international cookbook series sparked almost a decade ago. It teaches kids foreign words and cultures through cooking, as well as associated gear like placemats. This year, Garfield, a law school grad, who initially was working in international children's rights, looked at kids' patterns of enjoying sweets-filled holidays and surmised it would be interactive for them to gain pride from making treats themselves.

Her Handstand Kids Cooking Company Chocolate Shoppe products are hands on, as are classes and parties she plans for her proteges. The holiday sets from the Chocolate Shoppe include recipe cards and molds for making nutrition-conscious portions of small-sized chocolates in the shape of candy canes, gingerbread men, Santa Claus, stockings, presents, snowmen and Christmas trees.

"DIY — do it yourself — is so popular with adults," Garfield said. "But for kids, it's not only fun and delicious, but a competence builder."

Emmy Award-winning actress Sarah Michelle Gellar was saddened by the fact that when her two children tried to accomplish DIY culinary projects, the ingredients included in traditional baking mixes often were not up to the standards of those in her and her actor-husband Freddie Prinze, Jr.'s home. She and two friends started Foodstirs, a baking kit company that includes holiday gift sets.

The holiday sets can be given to kids for future fun projects or made by kids to give as gifts. Don't be surprised if the skills learned mean recipients think the treats are from pros: Often included are stencils for creating leaves and other eye-catching details atop cakes.

The following candy can be made in Handstand Kids Cooking Company Chocolate Shoppe molds (which are made of BPA-, Phthalates-, lead- and PVC-free silicone) or those of your choice. Both recipes below should include adult supervision.

PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE

1 cup dark, milk or white chocolate

1/4 cup finely diced chocolate-covered peppermint patties candies

Yields about 12 small chocolates.

Place molds in refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes before using.

In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave the chocolate and the finely diced chocolate-covered peppermint patties in 10-second intervals, until melted. (Watch carefully, as it may melt quickly.)

Gently stir melted chocolate mixture.

Carefully pour into a piping bag and pipe into molds or carefully pour into molds without a piping bag.

Place mold into refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes, or until set. Carefully pop out of molds.

-Adapted from Handstand Kids Cooking Company.

APPLE SPICE COOKIES

1/2 stick cold unsalted butter

1 egg white

1/4 cup applesauce

1 package Foodstirs Sugar Cookie Mix or a dry sugar cookie mix of your choice

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/4 ground teaspoon ginger)

Yields about 12 cookies.

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, beat butter with hand mixer until creamy. Add egg white and applesauce and continue blending. Add dry sugar cookie mix, flour and pumpkin pie spice and mix with clean hands or mixer until combined.

Cover dough in bowl with plastic wrap, and freeze for 20 minutes, or until dough is firm.

Remove dough from freezer. Use a spoon to drop 1 1/2-inch balls of dough on parchment-lined cookie sheet and press lightly with fingers to flatten.

Carefully place in oven and bake for 14 to 18 minutes, or until edges are brown.

-Foodstirs.com

AFTER-WORK GOURMET COOKBOOK SHELF

For a poultry option, Sheila Ellison and Judith Gray, authors of "365 Foods Kids Love to Eat: Fun, Nutritious and Kid-Tested," recommend considering sometimes substituting ground lean turkey for ground pork in won ton recipes. Then, instead of fried rice, serve with white or brown rice mixed with stir-fried vegetables.

Photo courtesy of www.HandstandKids.com

Not only gear, like this ensemble from Handstand Kids Cooking Company, can define kid chefs. Cooking skills mean children will not only eat during the holiday season, but can learn to bake wholesome treats and make homemade candy as well.

Lisa Messinger is a first-place winner in food writing from the Association of Food Journalists and the author of seven food books, including "Mrs. Cubbison's Best Stuffing Cookbook" and "The Sourdough Bread Bowl Cookbook." To find out more about Lisa Messinger and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.