"Cooking to Learn is a fusion of my passion for educating children and my belief that food plays an important role in an individual's health and the overall health of our community." -amy dempster, founder


Cooking to Learn is dedicated to inspiring children and their families to learn by providing them with fun, nutritional, and practical activities that instill in them a healthy understanding of cooking
and the role food plays in their world. While engaging in
the preparation of recipes, young chefs learn important age-appropriate skills - reading, math, science, culture, nutrition, life skills, and more!

Cooking to Learn is dedicated to using fresh ingredients and supporting local community gardens.

Cooking to Learn is the culmination of a dream for lifelong friends and food enthusiasts, Amy Dempster and Susan Graham. Dempster and Graham founded Smart Cookies, Inc. in the summer of 2003. Together they mixed, kneaded and let their company rise to success.

After making the difficult decision to close Smart Cookies, Amy added her own seasonings to cook up a unique recipe for success. Cooking to Learn continues Smart Cookies' mission of educating children to learn through cooking instruction. It also aims to educate families about food and eating issues, to teach children about leading healthy lives, and to support local community gardens.

The next chapter of the story is writing itself. I appreciate all the support, compliments, and acceptance I have received along the way.

"Would you not like to be sitting on
top of the world with your legs hanging free."
-dmb

SCHOOL & STUFF: B.A. from Pepperdine University, MBA from the F.W. Olin School at Babson College; More than 7 years in educational marketing; More than 2 glorious years teaching cooking to kids

LIFE CHANGING EVENT: Year studying in Florence and working in an authentic villa kitchen

BEST FOOD TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: Thailand

FAVORITE FOODS: Garlic and evoo; Grilled summer veggies; Tomatos fresh from the garden (with basil leaves); Mom's chicken parm; Chocolate chip cookies; Kimball's raspberry chocolate chip ice cream; Fluffernutters; Yogurt with Homemade Granola;
Fresh herb ravioli with creamy basil sauce; Santarpio's garlic and sausage pizza; Vanilla lattes

THINGS I LOVE: My crazy wonderful family; Hiking to the top of a mountain and enjoying a PB&J sandwich with the best view in town; Snowboarding on fresh powder; Girl's day, night or whenever we're together; Driving long unknown winding roads with the sun filtering through the trees; Visiting new places and experiencing its people and food; Dave Matthews Band concerts;
The "a-ha" look on children's faces; My pups Molly & Winston; Farmer's markets (the one in Florence is the best!); When my nephew Jack says, "Aunie Mamy, you're a great chef!"; Red Sox games; Sunsets over the Pacific Ocean; Having a guardian angel;
My best friend Brian