Cookies for Kids' CancerCupcake Kids! is all about celebrating the joy and fun in cooking, but we also love to use our skills to help others. Cookies for Kids' Cancer is a non-profit organization that raises money for pediatric cancer research with their amazing bake-a-thons. When founder Gretchen Holt's son, Liam, was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer, she put her baking skills and her community to work with a bake sale that ultimately raised $400,000 for cancer research. Since then, Cookies for Kids' Cancer has become a full-fledged non-profit that has garnered the support of major organizations like Glad, Philosophy, and GoodSearch.com.

On Friday, November 6 from 7am-midnight, Cookies for Kids' Cancer will be extending the success of their first major bake-a-thon by baking up a storm at the Institute of Culinary Education. We'll be helping them meet their goal of baking 30,000 cookies in one day by joining in the fun from 8am-10am. Come and support this great charity with us! For more information, email Emily at emilynfowler@gmail.com or visit www.cookiesforkidscancer.org.

Spice Rack FactsEven the most ordinary of dishes can turn extraordinary with the addition of a few herbs or spices. Add a sprinkle of nutmeg to just about anything and you've got yourself a gourmet meal! So how can you get the most from the spices and herbs you've got stored in the pantry? To keep herbs and spices fresh, store them in airtight containers in a cool, dark place. Dried herbs and ground spices will keep for up to 6 months, and whole spices will last for up to 2 years. To release more flavor from dried herbs, crumble them between your fingers before adding them to a dish; toast spices in a dry skillet until fragrant (15-30 seconds) to bring out more flavor.

Trivia: Terrified of garlic breath? Chew on some parsley after eating garlic to neutralize odors and freshen your breath!

Current CK Fave: Parmesan-Herb Popcorn
For a yummy, quick, and easy after-school snack, whip up some Parmesan-Herb Popcorn. Start by following the instructions on a plain bag of microwavable popcorn. Once the popcorn is popped, add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, a teaspoon of rosemary, a teaspoon of thyme and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Give it all a good shake right in the bag, then serve! Yum!

CK Crew Spotlight - WhitneyWhitney's the best! She loves all things Cupcake Kids: kids, food and fun. When not teaching budding chefs to cook, Whitney can be found testing recipes for her food blog, Nosh & Tell, while donning one of her many colorful aprons. While Whitney does tout that Betty Crockers Rainbow Chip frosting is the best of the best, she can whip up some great cookies, bars, cakes and even her own buttercream frosting from scratch. In addition to living in the kitchen, Whit enjoys spending time with friends or heading to the West Side Highway for a run. Originally from Nashville, Whitney is currently at NYU studying PR & Marketing for politics and of course, food!

Pinkalicious GiveawayDo you love singing, dancing and eating cupcakes? We do, so we've partnered with Bleeker Street Theater to give away 4 tickets to see Pinkalicious the Musical. This fun-filled play is about a little girl that eats so many pink cupcakes she turns pink herself. What will Pinkalicious do to return to normal?

Join our email updates to be eligible to win. The winner will be notified via email the first week of November. Joining will also make you eligible for future giveaways!

Giveaway Details:
When: Saturday, November 14 at 1pm
Where: The Bleeker St. Theatre (45 Bleeker St.)
What: 4 free tickets to Pinkalicious the Musical

Chefs of the Month - Eliza & ToryEliza and Tory were our very first Cupcake Kids, and they've become one amazing cooking team! Whether they're mixing, baking, or stirring up trouble this sisterly duo can really call the shots in the kitchen. 5-year-old Eliza loves to show her little sister, Tory, all her favorite cooking tricks, and both girls love learning new techniques in the kitchen. What next for these budding chefs? After Eliza joined us for a special Gingerbread Cookie & House decorating TV segment on FOX 5, we predict a food network show in Tory and Eliza's future. In between their culinary adventures, Eliza and Tory love singing, dancing, swimming and playing with little sister Kate.

Name: Eliza & Tory
Age: 5 & 3 years
Neighborhood: West Village, NYC
Favorite Food: Rice, Lentils, Corn, Broccoli, Pasta
Favorite Kitchen Utensil: Whisk & Piping Bag