Last Thing I Baked

[katemn]

I love to bake, because I love to eat what I make.  I've gotten into the habit of including Andrew in almost everything I make and he's very good at holding and pouring measuring cups.

 Last weekend my niece was visiting, she's also 2 like my son and a great eater.  They finished up the last loaf of bread so I had them make another.  They practiced taking turns pouring the various ingredients into the bread pan (of the machine).   It was sooo cute.  I think they had fun and I really enjoyed having them help.  My husband took pictures.  He likes to take pictures of hands and he got some good ones of my hands helping the little ones' hands.  When the machine gets going I always hold them up so they can see the dough going around. 

And the other recent memorable experience was making muffins with Andrew, partly because it was a tactic to get him to quit crying, and partly because they turned out so delicious!  They made muffins at his daycare and when I went to get him he wanted one to take home but there were none left.  He cried and screamed all the way home.  He wanted some when we got home, but of course there were none. 

So I quick got out the bowl and pan and turned the oven on and started getting flour and things out.  I talked while I did it and pretty soon he calmed down enough to help me, by putting flour and baking soda and milk in the bowl.  (I even got him to wash his hands willingly.) We used the banana muffin recipe out of New Joy of Cooking which has a little bit of whole wheat flour in it.  When we were mixing it all up, I had an idea to put some mini-chocolate chips in.  So we did and then we read books while the muffins baked, and when they were done we ate them.  Oh they were sooo good!  Especially right out of the oven, and then we had some convenient, delicious food to eat for breakfast in the car on the way to school the next few mornings.

 I don't know how I can make banana muffins again without putting the mini chips in them.  More importantly, I don't know how I could ever bake without including Andrew, and Chloe when she gets old enough.  I remember my mom and me baking quite a bit when I was a kid.  I especially remember her making lots of pies, and we would cover the extra crust pieces with cinnamon sugar and bake them and eat them like cookies.  I also remember making bread with her, she made all hers by scratch and I don't ever remember eating a store-bought loaf.  I remember putting bread dough into a tiny bread pan. 

So maybe it's instinctive to want to bake with my children, and make sure they never have to eat store-bought bread.  I didn't consciously think about passing on a family tradition but I'm glad I am.

[kiripapaapic]

May. 4, 2008 at 10:07 AM I love this story. . . thank you so much for including Lexie-Lou in that experience.  The last thing I baked was banana bread - awhile ago, thanks to your recipie!

[SweetLuci]

May. 4, 2008 at 12:43 PM The last thing I baked was biscuits for breakfast this morning.  Cornbread for dinner last night. Ilove baking quick breads, but yeast breads also. This is a great baking story. My mom baked breads, and rolls.  I never appreciated it till I was grown and had a family of my own. I taught my two boys to bake, and now it's a joy to bake with my grandaughter. There's just something comforting about baking together; baking and making memories. My mom is now 91 and still gets her hand in to show just how to knead the dough! I'd love to see some of those pictures of hands. 

[MommaK2007]

May. 4, 2008 at 3:06 PM

Wonderful!!! The last thing I baked was biscuits this morning, but they weren't my best.  I tried substiuting a key ingredient. I'll know better next time!

[kaf0209]

May. 10, 2008 at 10:17 PM Baking is such a wholesome way to spend time with little kids. My son and I bake cookies, cakes, quick breads and muffins together all the time and saturday mornings are almost always pancake mornings. He loves to help me go through the fridge and the cupboards to find new combinations of fruits and spices to add to them! It's so wonderful that you include your son in your baking, he will have those memories to cherish forever.