Entertain your kids and turn them into little kitchen helpers, all in one!

Chef Nikki Shaw: Anyone who knows me knows that I'm constantly in search of great food, fun, and adventure! My kids share my same passion. Teaching children how to be independent in the kitchen is a very valuable life lesson. I want to make sure they know that if life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

Before you get started on your culinary adventure, wrap your mind around the fact that there will be a major mess when it's all over. We still have remnants of chocolate cake batter splattered on the ceiling from our last episode of "electric mixer gone wild." Start kids with easy cold dishes like salads: tuna, pasta, and mixed greens. This will teach them knife skills by chopping fresh vegetables, measuring, and stirring.

When they graduate to the stove, start them off by making hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, and scrambled eggs. Give them a small spatula to make maneuvering easy. Now only half of the scrambled eggs will end up flipped out of the pan and into the fire.

"NIK TIP": Keep a close eye on those sweet little fingers. Have antibiotic ointment and bandages nearby. Burns from a hot oven and cuts from a sharp knife are inevitable. It's all part of the process, so remember to stay calm and they will too.

In this bitter economy, I'll show you how to make life sweet right at home.

Celebrity Chef Nikki Shaw is the owner of Flavor Caterer in Oakland, Ca. and was a finalist on the Food Network's "Next Food Network Star." She is the host of the radio show "Today's Flavor" broadcast on San Francisco's KBLX and webcast on WBLS in New York. She is married to LA Lakers' Assistant Coach Brian Shaw and lives in both Northern & Southern California with their three children. www.chefnikkishaw.com