This morning the kids and I made a list of friends and neighbors we wanted to make treats for and a list of treats we wanted to make. Of course they wanted to make about 42 different kinds of goodies and take them to 86 different families, so I had to moderate the lists a little. I don’t have THAT much butter on hand!
We first decided to make some simple sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles. (notice I used the word simple…what about cooking with four boys is simple?)
So, we’re mixing and measuring and spilling and “taking turns” and Justus, who loves to cook and helps me any chance he gets, says to his brothers, “I’m the professional here. I’ll show you what to do.” (it was said in love of course) Asa, who’s older, didn’t take it in love and thought it was really a mean thing to say. Malachi (who’s still TWO…for two more days) in the meantime was crawling on the countertops through the spilled flour and sugar getting it all over his clothes and licking the sugar off his hands. Elias sat patiently for a while until he realized that he hadn’t had a turn stirring or pouring for a while. (”What am I, chopped liver?” is his favorite thing to say when he feels an injustice has been done to him.) Then we started smashing the cookies down with a glass and sprinkling red and green sugar on and Justus got to go first and that wasn’t fair because he wasn’t being nice about calling himself a professional so he shouldn’t get to go first. And then when it was Malachi’s turn, he took a whole fist full of red sprinkles instead of just a sprinkling, but wanted to keep it in his fist and not let me help him so he kept his fist full of red sugar for a while before I could pry it open and help him sprinkle his cookies. (deep breath)
SO, we did finally get the simple cookies in the oven and they turned out fine and they are yummy (we all got to do quality control).
I’m sure that when we load up the van and the boys knock on the door of Mr. Bob and Ms. Barb and we see how delighted they are to see my boys with their treats, the kitchen scene won’t really matter. Nothing is really very simple with kids, but what do we expect? I’d rather have a crazy Christmas cooking experience with my kids so that they learn to serve and give, than to send them away and do it simply on my own. Although I do have to say that after one pan was put into the oven, they got to go play and I finished up the rest on my own. I figured that they had experienced enough service and giving for one recipe. And besides, I hadn’t had a turn yet. (what am I, chopped liver?)
Four chefs (including one professional and one chopped liver) take 1
Take 6
Take 23
Okay, we’re off to make Cranberry Orange Bread…prayers please! 