Baking with kids

March 2nd, 2010

Baking with kids

Posted by Melitsa in Cooking, Education, Homemade, play activities

Play Activities are about fun!

Today I’m combining the boys two true passions; food and play.

I have one who eats enormous meals and is very light on the snacks.

One who will feels snacks and milk are the better choice-always and OK if I have to eat a meal I will very slowly and whine all the way through.

One who is just happy to eat everything that is about if he can feed himself. He’s been known to climb to get what he wants and wrappers are no test when you can bite a hole in it and squeeze the little something out!

About once a week we bake a cake or cookies.

Everyone gets involved with the weighing ( Yes we use scales!) We use those lovely cup scoops to pour into the bowl. The older boys get to collaborate together. It’s funny how they learn to be a bit more understanding when they know the pay off!

The youngest gets to scoop and pour and the oldest gets to check the measure. Apart from that they swap out who does what.

What I love about cooking with the boys

They get so enthusiastic
They have so many fun ideas like can you add mint and raisins together in a cookie and if we make carrot cake can you have aubergine cake. ( Not tried any of those suggestions…..can’t see how they would work) But their willingness to try and experiment makes me smile. I know one day I won’t be able to distract them.
Most of the time they keep it together.
They do the cookie happy dance and peer into the oven to see if it is done yet.
They are learning about so many things without even realising it.
We have great conversations while we cook.

………….the clean up is amazing and huge but well worth it to me.

Cookies we’re eating this week

85g Crunchy Peanut Butter

175g Soft Butter

175g Soft Brown Sugar

300g Self Raising Flour

2 tbsps of milk

85g Roasted peanuts (2/3 roughly chopped or any combination of seeds/craisins

175g Plain chocolate, roughly chopped.

180C/360F/GM4

Line 2 large baking sheets with non stick paper. Beat the PB.B and S until light and fluffy. ( use an electric whisk or processor)
Add the dry ingredients, stir in the flour and milk then the chopped nuts and chocolate. Bring the mixture together to make a dough
There’ll be approximately 18.

Roughly shape into a ball by rolling the in palm of your hand. Space well apart to allow for spreading.
Flatten each cookie with a fork and sprinkle the remaining nuts.
Bake for about 12-15 minutes until cookies are pale and golden around the edges but still soft in the centre.
Cool for about 5 minutes before packing away.

Ours were crunchy this time instead of chewy. We made small ones and big ones for little hands and little snacks times……well that’s the theory

What cookie recipes do you enjoy cooking with your kids from scratch?

Melitsa Avila is a former teacher, mother of three boys and military wife who talks about living an intentional play lifestyle using practical and everyday play activities to do with the under 5s. She publishes related ebooks & newsletters. Melitsa is the host and producer of a weekly Early Childhood radio show: Raising Playful Tots bringing parents and carers together with Early childhood practitioners. Thanks for reading!

Melitsa

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 9:10 am and is filed under Cooking, Education, Homemade, play activities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

http://themadhouse-themadhouse.blogspot.com TheMadHouse

I love cooking and baking with the boys, it is so much fun. Plus I dont buy any cakes or treats, so we have to make them.

Shortbread is great for little hands as you can not overwork it and it is great for cutting out in shapes and doesnt need refridgerating before use.
.-= TheMadHouse´s last blog ..Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor or what I wish I known when choosing a career =-.
http://www.womenshomeactivities.com/childrens-learning-activities Christine

I just found your site and I think that you are doing a wonderful job here! This is a great place for families to visit.

I am a “Grammie” now (our kids are grown) but I am always looking for new activities to play with our grandkids. We love our cooking activity time when they come to visit.

You have given me some more ideas and I am thankful for coming across your site. You have also given me inspiration for my own blog with your creative projects. I too am a former teacher and my passion for helping others has not lessened any. I aspire to reach out and help others too. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Blessings,
Christine
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Childrens Learning Activities Free Resources for Parents =-.

http://www.play-activities.com Melitsa

Hi Christine. Cooking is one of our favourite things to do because of the pay off Just seen you’re on Twitter.

http://www.parentingzoo.com Parenting Zoo

Great post! Think of all the learning that’s going on while baking and playing! Amazing! It’s one of the best things you and your kids can do together.

Cookies look quite yummy by the way…
.-= Parenting Zoo´s last blog ..Tell Me Thursday – 2/18/2010 – Shortcut =-.
http://becausebabiesgrowup.com Amber

We definitely love to bake here, too! It’s been a good exercise in problem-solving for me to figure out how to get both girls involved, especially with Elli still so young. I’m always surrounded by chairs with a girl on each side. Definitely memories I hope they cherish later on.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Pictures From Our Dr Seuss Party =-.
http://www.womenshomeactivities.com/childrens-learning-activities Christine

Nice to meet you Melitsa.

We do love our time in the kitchen. There are so many fun activities to try and you are right we get to enjoy the “pay offs” too. The kids really like to lick the spoons and show off what they’ve created to their parents.

Pretty soon, weather permitting, we will start our gardening and home canning activities. It will be the girls first attempts and they are looking forward to it. I can hardly wait myself!

I truly am inspired by your site and learning a lot from you too. Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks. I’ve booked marked your site and will check back often for more great ideas.

Oh yes, btw thanks for the follow on twitter. Heading that way to reciprocate now. I am still learning about that one too, but our motto around here is, “Any Day of Learning is a Good Day!”

Have a blessed day,
Christine
.-= Christine´s last blog ..How to Create Serenity in Your Daily Routine =-.

http://www.play-activities.com Melitsa

Home canning sounds like fun Will you be blogging about how you do this with the kids?

http://www.womenshomeactivities.com/childrens-learning-activities Christine

Home canning is fun. Yes I will be blogging about our adventures with both canning and fruit/vegetable gardening. This will be the girls first time and our plan is to let them begin their own little mini-garden as well as help out in our big garden.

We will let them start with a few strawberry, cucumber and tomato plants that they will tend. Then when the time is right we will begin the harvest and start with the canning projects.

I’m so happy that Spring seems to finally be on the way so we can get started!

Thanks for getting back with me. I look forward to sharing ideas with you!

Blessings,
Christine
.-= Christine´s last blog ..How to Create Serenity in Your Daily Routine =-.

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