Kids need to be a part of what goes on in the kitchen. When I am giving a talk to parents I remind them that while a chattering 4 year old in the kitchen might be distracting a chattering 15 year old is essential.

Why? Because teenagers tend to stop communication over the years. If they have been used to talking with you while you are cooking they will continue the tradition. I have had conversations with my teens while we stirred and rolled and mixed and fried. I have been listened to more, and have listened more because of this tradition of cooking together. They share their lives with me and I cherish that.

Always make the kitchen a welcoming place for your family. It will pay off in the years to come.

This recipe is one I developed for my foodie blog, Baking Delights. It is a great way to get small kids involved in the cooking process. It is fun, colorful, easy, and best of all delicious! Who doesn't like tortilla chips? And who doesn't like tie dye?

There ya go. Put both of them together and you have a recipe for fun.

• 12 white corn tortillas (the yellow ones won't show the colors well)

• Paste food colors-whatever colors you like

• Vegetable oil for fryer- Peanut oil is best

• Sea salt or table salt

• I suggest an electric deep fryer. They are easier to work with and keep the temperature of the oil more stable than a pot on the stove
• Absorbant paper towel
• Wax paper
• New paint brushes, rinsed
• Cups to hold dyes

1. Choose the colors you are going to use. For each color use a different cup or bowl.
2. Mix 1/4 tsp of paste food color with 1/8 cup of water. The intensity of the color can be adjusted by adding water to make it lighter or using less water to make it darker or more intense.
3. Choose at least four colors. We used red, blue, green, purple, and yellow.
4. Put a layer of waxed paper over your table. Lay the tortillas flat on the waxed paper.
5. Using a new paintbrush and the dye begin to stroke the dye onto the tortilla. Be sure to use a different paint brush for each dye color. Swirl the colors in any design you like.
6. Let tortillas dry for 1 hour.

1. Fill your deep fryer with oil.

2. Preheat according to manufacturer's instructions to 375F.
3. Stack the tortillas in short stacks and cut into eighths.
4. When the oil reaches 375 put some of the tortilla chips in the basket and carefully lower into the hot oil
5. Avoid corwding.

6. Fry one to three minutes or until crispy.

7. Allow the extra oil to run off for a minute or two by holding the basket over the fryer.

8. Tip the chips carefully out onto an absorbent towel. Be careful they are hot.

9. Let the oil heat back up to 375F.

10. Do this until all the chips are cooked.

11. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot.

Making these chips is a great project for kids' parties and sleepovers. Of course, you will want to keep the kids away from the hot oil but they can have a great time painting the tortillas!

You will be making memories along with making a great snack. This works great for 60's Hippie parties and anytime you want a very unusual appetizer. Whetheyour kids are preschool or teenagers they all enjoy this project!