Cookies Anyone?

What do you do on a snowy day when the kids are home from school, besides stay in your pajamas all day? You bake cookies, lots and lots of cookies.

With Emily getting older and telling me so all the time, I want her to start participating regularly in domestic tasks around our home which will ultimately train her for her future home and family. When I told her we were going to bake cookies, but that I was only going to supervise and she was to do the  majority of the work, she was very excited. Now, I'm going to be completely honest and confess that all of the cookies were made with mixes from my good friend Betty Crocker. 

Matt, of course, did not want to be left out from the action and contributed in his own way. He did help pour in one of the ingredients needed for the first batch of cookies but found his "job" when we removed the mixer from its stand. Matt did clean up!

First cookies up, molasses. My personal favorites!

Next, peanut butter cookies with mini m&m's. Another yummy favorite!

Our final cookie was key lime with key lime frosting. We were trying to bring the taste of summer to this very cold, snowy, winter day.

One of the reasons I planned to bake cookies today is that I wanted to give some as a "thank you" to our neighbor. Last night, he came over around 10 p.m. and plowed our sidewalks and driveway.

This task became a good teaching lesson for Emily and Matt. You see I want them to learn that when someone does something for you, especially something unexpected and so very helpful that you can just say "thank you" but doing something as small as baking cookies makes the "thank you" even more special. 

Emily was very proud of the work she had done baking today and is already wondering when her next baking day will be. What made me even happier was that she was excited that the cookies were going to be given to our neighbor to say "thank you". Lesson learned.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Oh the Things He Eats!

Saying Matt has an unusual palate is an understatement!

He doesn't like mashed potatoes, likes his pasta without sauce and can spot an onion no matter how small I've minced it in any meal. (I've now started using onion powder to get the flavor without the crunch.) Things you would consider food staples he has issues with.

Then there is the other side of him. He loves sushi, steak, Buffalo chicken wings, ribs, pickles and black olives to name a few. 

So, the sandwich he requested the other morning for his lunch really didn't surprise me. On a hamburger roll, he had two slices of cheese, dill pickle slices, black olive slices and mustard. Yes, that was it!! Quite the combo ...... oh and he ate every last bite of it. 

Every day is an adventure in eating with this boy!!

Emily's Night to Cook

Reading the Directions

Emily decided that Friday nights will be her night to cook dinner.

We pulled out one of our favorite family recipes - Mini Meatloaves. Emily first read through the directions, pulled all the items and utensils she would need and then started "cooking".  Of course, all was going well until it was time to mix the meat with the "binding" ingredients by hand - that is the old school way.  She did give out a "eww" at first but she's a trooper and kept at it.  

Emily got the meatloaves in the oven (they take about an hour to cook) and started making her "favorite" baked beans.  Basically, they are a doctored pork and bean but she loves them.  Now, she can make them all by herself.  We all were very satisfied with our dinner. Emily even made sure by asking at dinner if we were enjoying "her" meatloaves.

I'm glad I started this required cooking night with the kids.  It is nice that they are learning a basic life skill and we get to spend some time together. Of course, this time together will be especially nice when the busyness of school starts.

Great job Emily!

Topping the Meatloaves

Ready for the oven

Dinner is served

My Two Little Chefs

This week we started getting the kids into the kitchen and learning how to cook.  They have been good about wanting to help make desserts and goodies but the time has come for them to learn the basics of cooking.

Each child has been given a day (Matt Monday and Emily Friday) to cook a meal of their choice.  I will be there to help them with the skills they don't know or cannot handle but the goal is that in time they will be able to read a recipe/set of instructions and prepare a meal on their own.  

On Sunday night, I had Emily prepare a basic brownie mix.  I had her read the recipe, showed her the items she needed and gave her a few directions but was as "hands off" as I could be. The brownies turned out yummy.

Tonight was Matt's night to cook. He chose to make his favorite - tortellini. He also made Crescent round rolls.  I did have to help him quite a bit just for safety sake but he was proud of his meal as he was plating it.

At dinner time, he told us his next meal is going to be spaghetti without meatballs and salad.  Friday night Emily is making mini meatloaves and her favorite baked beans.  

I am very happy that both kids are excited to get in the kitchen.