The other night the girls helped me make pizza for dinner (our letter this week is “P”).
I love having them in the kitchen with me.
Today they helped me bake for Thanksgiving.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares and Pecan Pie (I’m really milking the “P” thing).
I don’t think there is any better way to help them use all their senses in learning and have a feeling of competence. They love measuring and stirring and mixing. Cracking eggs is a special favorite too. We make sure to smell all of the ingredients and taste what we can as we go along (we had to make sure the chocolate chips we used today were “good”).
Look at these faces. I love this. Love.
Unfortunately I’m not really a “this-is-going-to-be-super-messy-but-it’s-great-for-them-to-learn-so-who-cares” kind of gal when it comes to my kitchen. Messes in my kitchen make me anxious. I typically try to clean up as much as I can while I’m cooking. I don’t like dishes in my sink (thank goodness for a husband who does the dinner dishes while I put kids to bed). I don’t like stuff spilled on my counters and floors.
I’m a little uptight about my kitchen.
But. I do think it’s important to let them help with cooking and baking. I know they love it, and I do enjoy being in the kitchen with them.
I just have to give myself a pep talk beforehand is all.
“Deep breath. It will be messy. They will spill things. It will clean up. It’s no big deal. Now get out there and have fun making a mess with your kids!”
And I do.
Yes, I clean things up as we go along. I keep wet wipes nearby to wipe hands immediately after they crush eggs all over them. Sometimes I get a little antsy. Sometimes I have to step back and take a deep breath. But I have fun. And so do they. Even Baby Sis comes into the kitchen to watch her big sisters.
We had a successful morning today.
Here are the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares. It’s a Martha Stewart recipe. Delish. And, I got the tip from her site to put the foil in the pan before spreading the batter in it. Brilliant! After the squares baked and cooled I just turned them out onto a cutting board to slice them. I didn’t even have to wash the baking dish!
I’m especially proud of this pecan pie. This is only the second time ever that I’ve made a pie from scratch (Except for the crust. I don’t do crust. They have perfectly good crust for sale at the store. Who wants to make crust?)
I can’t wait to eat some of this tomorrow.
I have really wonderful memories of making holiday treats with my mom every year (with Johnny Mathis Christmas music playing in the background, of course). I also have fun memories of baking cookies with my cousin and getting into a flour throwing battle or smearing batter on each other (we were much older than my kids of course).
Time in the kitchen is essential for littles. I want them to have many, many memories of fun in the kitchen with me and with their Dad.
Tonight we are leaving for the Farm again to spend the holiday with family.
Happy Thanksgiving!
