tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post2051880243904366943..comments2024-03-15T01:47:09.194-04:00Comments on ben and birdy: The Big PicnicBenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-37917720273950140402013-09-26T09:01:17.129-04:002013-09-26T09:01:17.129-04:00I am still working on my patience with the small-i...I am still working on my patience with the small-ish child that shares my kitchen with me. I need to let go more. My expectations are too high. I missed the Big Picnic too, bummer. Love Chop Chop!Rachel_Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08002321272570376186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-24283978572920736722013-09-25T22:28:34.550-04:002013-09-25T22:28:34.550-04:00Love the banana! And the reminder that good cookin...Love the banana! And the reminder that good cooking evolves from bad mistakesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-59814977241492886632013-09-25T21:01:41.667-04:002013-09-25T21:01:41.667-04:00Read this yesterday. Gathered ingredients. Let 3 a...Read this yesterday. Gathered ingredients. Let 3 and 6 year old make cookies on their own (except for the hot oven part...I did that). (Huge) delicious cookies enjoyed and proudly shared with friends. I'll keep reading. Please keep reminding me that the floury counter and mystery "sticky" floor are not forever but the skills are! You are just lovely. beccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-72455466813511571252013-09-24T21:57:44.652-04:002013-09-24T21:57:44.652-04:00I was thinking the very same thing! Who is that ta...I was thinking the very same thing! Who is that tall, tall girl in the picture with Ben? A visiting Auntie? No, its grown-up Ava. Alas, this must mean my own little ones are also growing up...sunshine state momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507204179917949580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-9145247498332890152013-09-21T09:01:54.051-04:002013-09-21T09:01:54.051-04:00So funny... but true, true wooovvve.... gives time...So funny... but true, true wooovvve.... gives time for measuring flour and putting a (one) banana slice on a Kabob... thanksPapa Green Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08791079916601796354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-6487340870530605632013-09-20T19:55:26.727-04:002013-09-20T19:55:26.727-04:00Ava has gotten so grown up!Ava has gotten so grown up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-31623989552719272752013-09-19T22:55:42.293-04:002013-09-19T22:55:42.293-04:00Oh My. I needed this in a big way. Because my ch...Oh My. I needed this in a big way. Because my children are at this place, the place of cooking somewhat independently but also somewhat dubiously at times. If I eat another bad soup because they put random spices in it, and random vegetables, and random randomness, and then served it as a meal, well... I might just require that they only cook soup from recipes from now on (ahem). <br /><br />But also, we bought The Science of Good Cooking and it is hands down, THE BEST cookbook investment ever (despite being also the most expensive cookbook I've ever purchased). Why? Because they give you a recipe but also tell you why you do it that way. The recipes are organized by scientific concept, like "a gentle heat prevents overcooking" and "two leaveners are often better than one." Then there is a scientific explanation and several recipes to try it out! Our scrambled eggs are amazing, my 8 year old makes phenomenal deviled eggs, and I just got a cheesecake from her this week. A Homemade Cheesecake! (It took her FIVE HOURS.) On the other hand, my 10 year old has been making the same basic cookie recipe every week for two months, but each time she experiments and makes it differently. What will happen if I melt the butter, or decrease the flour, or add cinnamon, etc?<br /><br />Cooking with kids does pay off. And it's ok to let them experiment, but I've found that it helps to give them some guidance first. I guess you have to eat the soup before you get the cheesecake, eh?SeeTryFlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04782835355960085067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-30750281659309042002013-09-19T18:38:28.571-04:002013-09-19T18:38:28.571-04:00You are so right about the whole "it gets bet...You are so right about the whole "it gets better" thing. My son was THE SLOWEST at measuring, pouring, everything for so many years. He loved to cook, and we did it a lot, but it took a tremendous amount of patience on my part (and I was not always as patient as I should have been). But last night we made Chocolate Zucchini Bread (which we've done many times over the years), and we were working on different parts at the same time! So when I was done with my (roughly) half, we were done! It actually cut the making time in half, half I tell you! I never thought we'd get here, but now we are. (He's 9.) Here's to him cooking dinner soon! <br /><br />-Lorencraftsisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05583285347680507970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-54641560029183694362013-09-19T14:49:19.323-04:002013-09-19T14:49:19.323-04:00Inspired by your family, I recently asked my 11-ye...Inspired by your family, I recently asked my 11-year-old if she'd like to cook dinner once a week. Her answer was a resounding "yes!" and she's cooking her third meal tonight. She has had so much fun, has learned a ton, and she's so proud of herself when she serves up her creations. I just ordered her a subscription to Chop Chop -- it looks like it will provide her with some great ideas.<br /><br />Thank you, Catherine, for sharing your family and your recipes with everyone. I've learned so much from you in the last ten(!) years!<br />Amynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-85387295873616290022013-09-19T13:55:58.922-04:002013-09-19T13:55:58.922-04:00My almost 5-year-old's lunchbox request for to...My almost 5-year-old's lunchbox request for today was a sandwich with pickles, string cheese, and mustard. I made it and I'll be interested to see if it was eaten or if it comes home untouched. I thought about trying to talk her out of it, but they are three of her favorite things and I'm curious to see if they are still her favorite when combined. Shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03588867242686575791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-50939022278967763372013-09-19T12:45:59.979-04:002013-09-19T12:45:59.979-04:00I'm totally kabob-ing dinner this weekend!I'm totally kabob-ing dinner this weekend!Rachel @ 6512http://6512andgrowing.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-79387232119168210022013-09-19T12:26:13.851-04:002013-09-19T12:26:13.851-04:00As the girls in my Girl Scout troop (aged 13 - 14)...As the girls in my Girl Scout troop (aged 13 - 14) are more pressed for time with other commitments, we have changed our meeting time to Friday night 6 pm and I've decided that we will use that time to make ourselves dinner. I'm a bit nervous to "teach" a cooking class but the girls really want to learn. First thing though is watching a safety video :)Jeannenoreply@blogger.com