But brave Mount Kembla mum Jenny Black does not scare easily, so much so she established a business dedicated to turning little monsters into Maggie Beers.

The aptly named Cooking Monsters cooking courses were designed by the mother-of-three to get kids into the kitchen - an experience, she says, that can be beneficial for everyone.

‘‘When we involve children from a young age, they can gain that confidence in the kitchen,’’ Black says.

‘‘They discover the joy of preparing their own food and also start to appreciate the effort that goes into each meal that is prepared for them.

‘‘There are so many things that can be learned when cooking, like fine motor skills as you chop and peel the veggies, maths skills as you measure quantities, reading  and following recipes, being part of a family and contributing to the daily tasks.’’

Black’s children Poppy, 5, Soli, 4 and Maggie, 1, are regular fixtures at the kitchen bench, helping mum mix pizza dough or prepare the veggies.

And with the festive holiday season just around the corner, Black says it is the perfect time for more families to do the same.

‘‘Cooking is a great activity to do with the kids in the holidays ... it’s an opportunity to accomplish something and to be creative as you do it,’’ she says.

‘‘Especially at Christmas time, cooking something yummy for others is a nice way to teach children about what we value about this time of year.

‘‘Home-baked treats can be a fantastic gift for special people in a child’s life, like their teacher or swimming teacher.’’

For a quick cooking session, Black recommends whipping up a batch of muffins for morning tea, using a packet mix.

The more adventurous can search recipe books with the kids, write a list, go shopping, prepare the dish and present it in a special way. Black says preparation is the key to avoiding disaster.

‘‘Make sure you have everything you need before the kids get started - especially if you have younger kids - so you’re not going to have to rush out to do something else halfway through,’’ she says.

‘‘Also, prepare yourself mentally that there will be more mess and it will take longer than if you just did it yourself.

‘‘But, remember, it’s a long-term investment - when they leave home, they will be able to fend for themselves.’’

Rum balls

INGREDIENTS

■   cup crushed plain biscuits

■  cup condensed milk

■   cup coconut

■ 1 tbsp cocoa

■ 1 tsp rum essence

■ extra coconut or sprinkles for rolling

METHOD

1. Place  ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix well with a fork. Add more condensed milk if needed.

2. Roll mixture into balls and place on a plate.

3. Place sprinkles or coconut in a shallow bowl and roll balls in this. Place back on plate.  Store in fridge.

Christmas biscuits

INGREDIENTS

■ 250g butter

■ 1 cup sugar

■ 2 eggs

■  cup golden syrup

■ small pinch bicarbonate of soda

■ 4 cups plain flour

Icing:

■  cup icing sugar

■ 1 tbsp butter

■ Sprinkles to decorate 

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.

2. In a mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat butter, sugar and eggs. Beat until the colour becomes pale but don’t over-beat. Add golden syrup and mix together.

3. Sift in bicarb and flour and mix to a firm dough.

4. On a clean bench top or large chopping board, sprinkle some plain flour.

5. Take dough from bowl and knead gently on lightly floured surface.

6. Using a rolling pin, roll dough out evenly.

7. Cut out shapes using Christmas cookie cutters and place on lined baking tray. Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes and then allow to cool.

8. Decorate with icing and sprinkles.