Cooking up a storm

My little boys (but don’t call them that to their face or they will say “we is big boys”) LOVE to cook!!! I have been doing more and more cooking with them over the last month. Through a bit of trial and error I am beginning to know the best way to get two enthusiastic toddlers to help without making a mess, getting hurt or destroying the food. We are getting better!

I have made the following dishes with the help of the boys lately…..

• Tomato soup
• Meatloaf
• Salmon and pasta
• White bread and rasin bread by hand
• Wholemeal bread in the machine
• Pancakes
• French Toast
• Blueberry muffins
• Pineapple carrot and zucchini muffins
• Lemon Cookies
• Lemon Delicious (at Nana’s house, see pics below)

I’m sure there has been more, but that’s all I can think of at the moment. They are happy to help with any meal, any time. They also enjoy making sweet food and licking the bowl.

We recently made a trip to the local farmers market. A lady was selling kids aprons, so we had to buy some. Too cute!

Ben chose a Thomas the Tank Engine apron

Ethan chose Bob the Builder

Ready to make some cupcakes

Below are a few pictures we took while we were making cinnamon raisin bread. Please excuse us all for being in our PJ’s. It was made first thing in the morning!

Ben helps to knead the dough

Kneading the dough

Inspecting the raisins

Washing up after the 2nd kneading. At least we are dressed now!! :)

Washing up is a new experience for the boys. They enjoy the “water play” make a big mess all down my cupboards and themselves. It’s not so productive for Mummy, but we let them have a go sometimes.

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Last Monday we went to Nana’s house for Lunch. Aunty Shell, Uncle Michael, Aunty Linda and Linda’s Mum were there too. If was great to catch up with everyone. It has been FAR to long since we’ve seen them….. about 5 weeks since the boys birthday ….. and many more months since we’d seen Aunty Linda. Poor Anuty Linda is VERY busy with her final year of university this year.

As I said above, the boys helped Nana make a lemon delicious for dessert. Poor Nana was a bit overwhelmed with two “helpful” BIG boys in her kitchen, but the dessert worked great, very lemony and very delicious!

There was lots of “helpful” …… Beating…..

…..licking….. …..pouring….. …..stiring…. (note the tongue!) …..whisking….. …..more beating…. …..painting…. (butter to line the dish) ….pouring with Aunty Shell…. ….. and of course some tasting when we were done….

Thanks to Nana, Aunty Shell and Uncle Michael for your assistance in letting Ben and Ethan cook dessert. They LOVED it!!!