A new smartphone app featuring recipes created by Kiwi Masterchef Brett McGregor has been launched by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to support children’s charity KidsCan.

The KidsCan Digital Cookbook has been designed to encourage children to get involved in food preparation at home and includes 20 delicious video recipes of savoury and sweet wholefood meals put together by renowned celebrity chef McGregor.

The digital cookbook encourages kids to get involved in cooking at home; most recipes require 20 minutes or less prep time, providing a user-friendly app for parents and children alike.

The app will hold special appeal for parents wanting to inspire older children in the household to help in the kitchen, by providing them with cooking skills through instructional videos.

KidsCan founder and CEO Julie Chapman says the charity is hugely excited about the app which was developed in partnership with a local healthcare company.

“We are so grateful to GSK, who have donated a significant amount of time and effort into developing the app – as well as fully funding the project on our behalf. The company has been a long-time supporter of KidsCan and this collaboration is a perfect way to raise more funds for the charity,” she says.

“As a partner, they continually strive to find additional ways to raise funds for KidsCan to help us reach all children living in hardship in New Zealand; helping to remove barriers preventing these kids from getting into the classroom to learn.”

The cookbook itself encourages kids to get involved in cooking at home. There are ten savoury and ten sweet whole food video recipes put together McGregor with most recipes requiring 20 minutes or less preparation time.

Anna Stove, general manager of GSK, says the company was delighted to be involved in the creation of the recipe app.

“The KidsCan app has also been a great enabler for our team to engage with the New Zealand community. Our staff have contributed to the production of the Digital Cookbook and it has become a talking point for staff with their family and friends about all the amazing work KidsCan does, and how they work tirelessly to help children living in hardship across the country.

“Our ultimate target is for the cookbook app to reach 16,000 downloads and we are really looking forward to seeing the results!

“The philosophy behind the app is to help inspire children to get involved in food preparation with other family members.

“We live an increasingly fast paced modern life but it is essential that these skills are not lost to our next generation. Preparing a meal is something parents and children can bond over and it can give children an immense sense of pride and self-confidence when they contribute to the family unit in this way,” she says.

The KidsCan Digital Cookbook recipes include:

Savoury:

• Lamb with tabbouleh
• Pasta with rocket, white beans and Brazil nuts
• Fish and coconut curry
• Lamb, beetroot, couscous, fresh herbs and walnuts
• Persian chicken with jewelled rice
• Chicken with crispy garlic
• Chicken, couscous, crisp salad and candied chickpeas
• Baked eggs
• Steak and Mexican salsa
• Miso glazed salmon

Sweet:

• Kumara waffles
• Thai fried bananas with salty caramel & coconut ice-cream
• Sticky date cake with shredded coconut topping
• Nectarine & apple Anzac crumble
• Lemon sponge cups
• Never fail pavlova
• Vanilla lemongrass panna cotta with a blueberry compote
• Financiers
• Coconut rice pudding with toffee topping
• Pineapple, chilli and ginger crumbs

The KidsCan Digital Cookbook (RRP $9.99) is available now on the Apple App Store and Android Play Store. All proceeds donated to children’s charity KidsCan to help more New Zealand kids in need.