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How Kids in the Kitchen is Successful

by Gary Olsen, Creator and Producer of Kids in the Kitchen

How do we measure success of a particular cable television program?  Well, we are a school district participating in a cable access show, and it's difficult to measure success quantifiably without spending additional funds to subscribe to some sort of survey. However,  school administrators and the show's producers have been measuring success of Kids in the Kitchen in different ways. In other words, we would have considered the project a success even if very few people tuned in. But that wasn't the case. Tens of thousands tuned in, and now we apparently have a hit on our hands.

Soon after the show premiered in January 2006, we started fielding requests from businesses in our community to become sponsors on the show, and that came as a surprise, but it was our first indication that our show was actually being seen.  We also know from estimated cable subscriber numbers that a majority of households in the Dubuque and Tri-State Area receive the show via Mediacom's Channel 19.

Channel 19 actually reaches more households than any other media form including a daily newspaper (which only reaches less than 30% of households).  Channel 19 is the exclusive cable channel of Dubuque Community Schools, and it's very popular with Mediacom customers because it runs videos 24 hours a day of school activities, original series shows and specials. Consequently, we discovered name recognition for the show was extremely high in our community. Our website was hit by more than 10,000 visitors a day.

For example, at the beginning of the season for Kids in the Kitchen , we started filming at 8 AM at our participating Hy-Vee store.  At that time of the mornings, there aren't many people shopping.  We put out 15 folding chairs for audience members who might show up, and suffice it to say, the first couple of weeks were quiet. 

Within one month, we had to double the number of folding chairs, and by the end of the season, busloads of students were coming in from area schools to become part of our audience. Needless to say, we ran out of folding chairs.

On taping day, young mothers and fathers would arrive early with their children sitting in shopping carts, and they would line up to watch the show.  It became a weekly ritual.

Meanwhile, we not only were broadcasting our show on Mediacom Cable, but we were distributing it on the Internet.  It was our website that got the attention of Organic Valley, the seventh largest agricultural cooperative in the country, specializing in certified organic foods. They invited the producers and members of the cast to their headquarters to film an episode of a gardening show we also produce that is a spin-off of Kids in the Kitchen .  In any event, Organic Valley offered to provide all of the food and ingredients for the coming season of Kids in the Kitchen.  All of this generosity was due to their impression of our Website and the programs we have available on it.

This month (November) we are casting kids to participate in the coming season which starts production the first week of January.  We now have 30 students from three middle schools who will be participating. We had to have auditions.

The popularity of the show among young people is really exciting.  The District's administrators and the show's producers and underwriters would have been satisfied with just the participation of kids in the show and hoping they had a good time learning about food and cooking... like underwriting a summer camp.  But actually, popularity of the show among a wide audience is an incredible reward that not only adds brings credibility to the program but it provides recognition value among participating sponsors who've attached themselves to the show's mission.

Since the show is broadcast state-wide on Mediacom's subscriber network station, now, we have a growing legion of fans in Des Moines, the Quad Cities and everywhere the show is seen in Iowa. That motivated Des Moines, Iowa based Hy-Vee to invest in a $100,000 state-of-the-art teaching kitchen in their new store expansion in Asbury, Iowa.  The decision to build the kitchen  was motivated by the success of Kids in the Kitchen.   We start our second season the first Wednesday in January 2007.

Episode 1 Cornmeal Waffles from Scratch!
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.  This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.  This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.  Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred. Maria working the waffle iron for this interesting and nutritious breakfast item. Photos on this page are linked to larger more printable versions. Just click on them.	Middle School Cast includes Marissa, Bryan, Maria and Kenny. Chef Jim is the tallest. We are preparing a breakfast item in this episode in our series stressing nutritious breakfast menus from whole and organic ingredients. This recipe is Cornmeal Waffles, and it involves organically grown and milled cornmeal. They are delicious!
Episode 2 Traditional Spanish Torilla (Omlette)
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.  This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.  This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.  Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred. The Traditional Spanish Egg and Potato Tortilla as it's being served. It was delicious!	This is the episode in which one of our cast members injured himself on the cheese grater. The second in our series on great breakfast items, the kids prepare a Spanish Egg and Potato Tortilla (or omlette), that is out of this world. And there is a surprise in store for one of the kids in the show, and thank goodness for bandaides.
Episode 3 Joe's Special (The Captain Merry Scramble)
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.  This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.  This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.  Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred. This show is so much more than just a cooking show. You learn about the "chemistry" of cooking, and the history of recipes and their ingredients. Jim Terry goes into a depth in culinary arts that has never been done before on television until now.	This recipe originated in San Francisco as Joe's Special. It's a savory dish that incorporates eggs, spinach, tomato and onion, and ground beef can be an optional ingredient. We feature the high school students in this episode, and one is a vegetarian, so Jim's preparation of this dish simulateously took care of Kristen (pictdured below) by merely adding an extra frypan to the range.
Episode 4 Molten Chocolate Cake
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.  This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.  This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.  Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred. Photos on this page are linked to printable enlargements.	We make a "Molten Chocolate Cake." That's a cake with a soft chocolate center that is served hot. In the words of Jim Terry, "It's a show stopper." We topped it off with home-made whipped cream. Okay, we whisked the cream a little too long, and Kenny made "vanilla butter," but it tasted wonderful atop the cake. This episode has a lot of laughs as well as great tips on proper and safe knife handling, and a special gift was presented Kenny following the episode with the cheese grater.
Episode 5 Argentine Tacos with a Spectacular Hand Made Salsa
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.  This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.  This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.  Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred. Photos on this page are linked to printable enlargements.	Kalli Martin (left) and Kristen Bukowski join our chef, Jim Terry, as we make his famous Argentine Tacos with a hand-made green salsa that is out of this world.
Episode 6 Fritata with Fresh Asparagus
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.  This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.  This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.  Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred. Kids in the Kitchen? How about Kids in the Audience? This was one of our largest audiences we've ever had at Hy-Vee. A kindergarten class from Dyersville, IA, was on a field trip and visited the set. Our castmember, Maria, lead the crowd in a shout out to their moms and dads that was just hilarious. Click on the photo to download the enlargement	The Middle School Cast enjoys another great breakfast or brunch item, and Maria, above, learns the proper way to toss the contents of a saute pan from chef Jim Terry. This is a fritata with fresh asparagus, and it's simple, simple, simple.
Episode 7Jim Terry's own Griddle Cakes
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.  This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.  This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.  Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred. Photos are linked to enlargements suitable for printing.	We combined the cast with a new member from Washington Middle School, Ali Lynch. Ali has had a little experience in the kitchen, and she brings her knowledge and enthusiasm to Kids in the Kitchen. Welcome Ali! Chef Jim Terry takes the kids on a culinary adventure in pancake making. But this is not an ordinary pancake, but one that is made with scratch and not from a mix. In fact, Jim ground his own organically grown flour for this one. It didn't turn out exactly the way he had planned, but adjustments will be made in the recipe. This is a great episode on kitchen techniques.
Episode 8 Flat Bread Made from Scratch with Fantastic Toppings
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.  This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.  This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.  Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred. Photos are linked to enlargements suitable for printing.	This was cool. Actually it was hot and cool all at the same time. This item Jim calls, "the vehicle," and it is a flatbread that we made from scratch, deep fried in peanut oil and then decorated to suit. It was amazing! Above is the hot version after baking in a 450 degree oven just long enough to melt the cheese nicely. But the kids preferred eating the delicious bread they had made al fresco (more or less thrown together and without further cooking) with a variety of organic ingredients including veggies, cheese, and spices. There were at least two varieties of cheese involved. But it was all perfectly nutritious.
Episode 9 Hickory Smoked Turkey Enchillada Bake for 40 people!
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.  This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.  This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.  Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred.	Jim Terry discusses the fine art of buying good canned tomatoes in this episode of "Shopping with the Chef." This portion of the show has become very popular. We now have people from our audience following us around the store as we are filming. And we are very conscious of our time, so we literally run at a gallop from department to department. It's a riot! The audience for this show, as you will notice, is huge... 40 students from George Washington Middle School arrived, and Jim and the kids scaled up the recipe to feed all 40 a dish he calls "Hicory Smoked Turkey Enchillada Bake." It featured authentic hickory smoked chicken we smoked right in our kitchen. It's really neat. But we put in too many chile peppers and holy cow! It was spicy! During our preparation, it looked like it was going together like a lasgna, except instead of flat noodles, one uses layers of corn torillas among the sauce and cheeses. It was spicy and delicious.
Episode 10 Turkey Tetrizini for 40 people!
Video File Options Windows Media File requires free Window MediaPlayer Software and a fast connection to the Internet RealPlayer File requires free RealPlayer software and a fast connection to the Internet These files require browsers equipped with one or the other free media player software. Windows MediaPlayer is available for both PCs and Macintosh computers (it's standard issue on PCs with Windows software). RealPlayer is another option you may wish to consider, and it's available for PCs, Macs, and computers running Linux. You can download and install it free from Real.com's website. Want to download a non-streaming movie for your own collection or to burn a CD? Click here!	Jim Terry pulls out all the stops as we finish the season with one of the largest audiences ever (from Washington Middle School), and a personal recipe that is fairly easy to prepare but has that special flare that only Jim can bring to a recipe. Everything in this dish is prepared by hand... No Food Processors! Knives are flying, water boiling, oil sizzling, and depite all this, there were no injuries!

• Recipe 1 Captain Merry Scramble
• Recipe 2 Jim Terry's Griddle Cakes
• Recipe 3 Spanish Potato Tortilla
• Recipe 4 Jim's Molten Guanaja Chocolate Cake
• Recipe 5 Turkey Tetrizini
• Recipe 6 Jim's Cornmeal Waffles
• Recipe 7 Smoked Turkey Enchillada Bake
• Recipe 8 Flatbread and The Vehicle
• Recipe 9 Fritata and Fresh Asparagus
• Recipe 10 Captain Merry's Scramble

Cast Photos! Click on them to download larger more printable versions.

Our Middle School Class from Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School: Kenny, Maria, Marissa and Bryan. Megan Dalsing, Hy-Vee's registered dietitian, and our chef, Jim Terry, of The Captain Merry Inn, are in the featured, too. Click on this photo to download a larger more printable version.

This is our high school cast members from left to right, Kalli, Kristen, Kevin, Andrew and Natalie.