It's not often that I find cooking under pressure this much fun.

Cooking Mama 4: Warning - this game is (highly) addictive.

So if your like me you have been too busy, cooking (real) food, raising children and running a (real) household to find the time to play many "computer games" lately - I leave that to the kids.

But when I got my hands on Cooking Mama 4 for the Nintendo 3DS I found it surprisingly entertaining.

The concept is simple - you basically cook recipes.

You recipes or dishes by completing various "mini-games". Mini games are based on different aspects of meal preparation - chopping, slicing, boiling etc or whatever the recipes call for. You are rated on how well you cooked the recipe based on your average performance in the meal preparation or "mini games".

Once you have successfully cooked some dishes you can start to combine them to make all new dishes.

It sounds pretty weird but this game is really entertaining and had that "just have to get to the next level (or finish this recipe, in this case)" effect on me.

But really I need to get back to the real cooking and stuff....so I let the kids try it out.They loved it (and I loved the few hours of peace and quiet while they were entranced...). The good thing about this game is it's G rated - it isn't violent or obscene. Harmless fun, and something I was happy for them to play.

This game it is entertaining for small kids and big kids like me!

Cooking Mama 4 for Nintendo 3DS will set you back $69.95 but will give the kids (and you) hours and hours of fun. Some of the new features in Cooking Mama 4 are:

- Master over 100 new recipes under Mama’s watchful eye plus the fun clean up and tidy away afterwards.

- Rewards for challenges completed include new recipes or mini-games

- Nintendo 3DS wireless function for up to 4 players

- Choose a new outfit or hair accessory for Mama! Customise your kitchen and your utensils.