| Cooking together has always been a | | | | gather our ingredients and utensils. And |
| favorite activity in our family. My | | | | then we begin.Fun and safetyI discuss |
| mother began to cook with me before I | | | | the fact that we will need to warm up |
| started school. One of my earliest | | | | the oven while we're making our food; |
| school memories was when I was a first | | | | explaining that the stove is "very hot" |
| grader: our class was invited to be | | | | and that he must never touch the oven; |
| guests of the eighth grade cooking class | | | | and that he only cooks with me, or his |
| and we were treated to hot cocoa and | | | | Mommy or Daddy. I usually tell him about |
| oatmeal cookies made by the "big kids." | | | | the times I would cook with Daddy when |
| At the end of the party, we were allowed | | | | he was a little boy. This usually gets |
| to help the eighth graders clean up, and | | | | Connor's interest. I measure out each of |
| I remember volunteering to wash a very | | | | the ingredients, and Connor gets the fun |
| large floured baking sheet. As the class | | | | and important mixing job.If I'm using an |
| was ending, I was still at the sink | | | | electric blender or mixer, Connor gets |
| laboring with the industrial-sized | | | | to turn the appliance on and off (again |
| baking sheet that was as big as I was. | | | | discussing safety issues and the |
| As a reward for my efforts, I was given | | | | importance of not using these appliances |
| a gold star on my forehead. Even now, | | | | by himself). If something has to be |
| many years later, I still remember that | | | | cooked on the stove-top, Connor stands |
| day as one of the proudest of my | | | | close by watching the activity and |
| life.And maybe it was that day that | | | | depending on what's cooking he get a |
| started me on a life in which my best | | | | chance to stir the pot (under very close |
| memories involve cooking for myself, my | | | | supervision).By this time, things in the |
| family, and my friends. The best of the | | | | kitchen are starting to smell really |
| best memories are the times I cooked | | | | good, and that gives us a chance to |
| with my own children who have now grown | | | | discuss what we smell and to build |
| up and have given me five grandkids | | | | excitement about the end result.Connor |
| (aged from 20 months to 18 years), with | | | | gets the honor of greasing the cake or |
| whom I can continue what I started with | | | | muffin pans, or he can roll out dough |
| my children over 40 years ago.Cooking | | | | (with some help). Depending on what |
| gives children a wonderful sense of | | | | we're cooking, he also gets the |
| accomplishment and they learn early that | | | | opportunity to help pour the batter into |
| hard work can pay big (sweet) rewards. | | | | the pans if we're making a cake, |
| Cooking allows you to talk to kids on | | | | cupcakes, or muffins. If we're making |
| many levels: they learn about their | | | | cookies, he can use the cookie cutters |
| family histories when you use recipes | | | | and later he can sprinkle the colored |
| handed down in the family (the names of | | | | sugar over them.Finally, we are ready to |
| their great grandparents, the foods that | | | | put the dish into the oven or onto the |
| derive from their family roots in | | | | stove, set the timer, and anticipate the |
| countries far away), they learn to | | | | outcome. While waiting, Connor always |
| follow directions, they learn to count | | | | helps with the clean up, and I admit |
| (depending on their ages, this can range | | | | this is his least favorite thing to do. |
| from simple to more involved | | | | But this is one of the lessons that are |
| calculations), they learn cooperation, | | | | learned we must always clean up our own |
| they learn the joy of work that can give | | | | messes. It's not all work. While we're |
| pleasure not only to themselves but to | | | | cleaning up, we get to look into the |
| others, they learn to try and to | | | | oven and watch the progress of the dish |
| experience different foods and cooking | | | | as it cooks. We discuss how the food |
| methods, they learn lessons of | | | | will get to smell better and better, how |
| self-sufficiency that will serve them | | | | it browns, and how the cake gets bigger |
| all their lives, they learn they must | | | | as it cooks.When the timer rings, with |
| clean up after themselves, they learn to | | | | Connor closely watching, I take the food |
| follow directions and how to plan ahead | | | | out of the oven and place it on the |
| (shopping and prep time).All the while | | | | cooling rack. If the dish calls for |
| they're learning all these things, | | | | icing, we use the cooling time to make |
| they're having fun and so are | | | | the icing, and Connor helps put the |
| you.Children learn to enjoy food from | | | | icing on the cakes or cookies (and into |
| the first moments of their lives, and | | | | his mouth).At last, the dish is done and |
| they can learn the joy of cooking even | | | | we get to eat it, sharing it of course |
| as toddlers. When you cook with | | | | with Mommy and Daddy, and anyone else |
| toddlers, it's important that you | | | | who wants some. Since eating is a social |
| concentrate only on the task at hand, | | | | activity, Connor basks in the glow of |
| and it's best to limit your cooking | | | | his accomplishment and enjoys the |
| class to just one short one at a time. | | | | compliments and the conversation. In our |
| I've found it best if the recipes are | | | | family, after eating everyone helps |
| simple, and have an enjoyable | | | | clean up, so once again Connor is in on |
| anticipated outcome.Getting startedThese | | | | the action.In general, anything that I |
| days, I've been cooking a lot with my | | | | choose to cook with Connor (or any other |
| three-year-old grandchild, Connor. I | | | | young child) has got to be simple and |
| like to begin talking with Connor about | | | | quick, recognizing that young children |
| what I want to cook with him. I describe | | | | have finite attention spans. The time I |
| how much he will like the dish, and when | | | | spend cooking with Connor (or any of the |
| I get his interest, I give the recipe a | | | | kids) leaves me happy, tired, full, and |
| fun name. I can keep his interest | | | | contented; it leaves them feeling the |
| through the whole process if I start by | | | | same way, too, and proud of themselves |
| writing the recipe down and discussing | | | | as well.The following are a few recipes |
| the ingredients and steps involved.Then | | | | that I have used successfully with |
| I plan a trip to the store for the | | | | Connor and with my younger |
| ingredients. Again I involve the child. | | | | grandchildren. I hope that you will try |
| We look for the ingredients together, | | | | them for yourselves and add your own |
| and we watch while the checker bags our | | | | while you make memories for yourself, |
| stuff, and after we pay her (Connor | | | | your children, and your grandchildren |
| learns that everything has a price), we | | | | (or any kid who happens to be in your |
| go home to cook.Washing hands is always | | | | life).The Recipes"BaNANA" |
| the way we begin. It's fun washing up | | | | BreadPreparation Time: 20 minutes Baking |
| with Connor, who generally resists | | | | Time: 60 minutes Makes 1 LoafYou will |
| washing up at other times -- as he | | | | need: a large fork and a wooden spoon, 2 |
| seriously throws himself into this | | | | bowls, oven gloves, loaf pan, cooking |
| activity when its for cooking. Next we | | | | rack. |