CHILDREN'S FAVOURITES; Food& Drink: LOOKING for ways of occupying the kids during the summer holidays? Here are some fun activities with food they will love.

Byline: ANN EVANS

KIDS aren't usually encouraged to play with their food, but there are exceptions.

Getting the kids in the kitchen being creative and having fun isn't just a great way of keeping them entertained over the summer holidays, it's hugely beneficial too.

Without even realising it, they're picking up extra skills, such as basic maths, reading and comprehension.

Following a recipe develops their ability to follow instructions and handling wooden spoons and hand whisks improves their dexterity.

Preparing foods with the youngsters helps them to explore the wide variety of foods available, it helps them to appreciate freshness and teaches them how to transform ingredients into tasty meals.

As well as all that, it's great fun.

IF you're doing some baking, why not have a theme such as dinosaurs for a baking project?

Help them create dinosaur shaped cookies then use red, orange and green icing to bring the fire breathing monsters to life. Or you could make cookies and decorate them as members of the family with coloured icing and sugar strands as hair.

Top UK baking brand, Dr Oetker, has come up with some delicious summer recipes and family fun that will help ensure your kids aren't bored.

Perfect for busy mums is their new No Bake Clusters which come in Rocky Road and Yogurt and Cranberry flavours complete with everything you need to make 12 delicious bitesize treats. These kits are simple and easy to make. If the weather is nice, get the kids outside making them and enjoying the fresh air at the same time.

On these pages are some other tasty treats the kids can help make...

TRY this alcohol free summer cocktail cooler...

TROPICANA ICED GRAPEFRUIT SURPRISE 1 passion fruit 1 tablespoon caster sugar 200mls Tropicana Pink Grapefruit - lemon 1 mint sprig METHOD: Chop the passion fruit in half and squeeze into a cocktail shaker. Add the sugar and mix it up with a spoon or fork to dissolve the sugar. Add the Tropicana Pink Grapefruit and the remaining ingredients.

Fill the cocktail shaker up with ice and seal with its lid. Now shake it really hard for about 10 seconds to break up all the mint.

Remove the lid and pour the remaining mixture through a sieve and into a tall glass filled to the top with ice.

SERVES 1

INGREDIENTS: ' medium pineapple 3 firm nectarines or peaches 225g strawberries, hulled 2 kiwi fruit, peeled 4 tbsp caster sugar SAUCE: 1 pkt Dr Oetker Plain Chocolate Chips 5 tbsp single cream 1 pkt Dr Oetker Mini Mini Marshmallows TO MAKE: Peel the pineapple, remove the core and cut into chunks.

Halve the nectarines or peaches, remove the stones and cut into thick wedges.

Cut the kiwi into quarters or sixths (depending on size).

Toss all the fruit together in a bowl with the sugar.

Turn into a shallow foil tray.

FOR THE SAUCE: Put the Dr Oetker Chocolate Chips into a small bowl with the single cream.

Place over a pan of simmering water and stir until completely melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Place the foil tray on the rack of a pre-heated barbecue for about 8-10 minutes until the outside begins to caramelize and the fruit is warmed through.

Stir the Dr Oetker Mini Mini Marshmallows into the chocolate sauce and serve in a bowl with the grilled fruit.

How many marshmallows can you fish with your fruit? Serves 4-6