So it appears I am not the only one going through a creative phase at our place. Small Boy is here for the first week of the holidays and to ward off the ever-present and predatory 'boredom', which waits to spring at you from behind every doorway and item of furniture, I suggested he cook something. He, like his father, is not intimidated by the kitchen and fancies himself as something of a Jamie Oliver. He particularly likes cutting things up. When faced with the prospect of choosing something to cook however, he was phased.
"I don't know what to choose!"
"Try looking through a cook book."
(I have approximately 2 000 000. A workman once remarked that I must be a good cook as I had so many cook books. I felt it indicated the contrary. If I was such a good cook I would not need so many cookbooks!)
"I don't know which one to look through...," a definite whine was creeping in now," which part do I look in..."
I don't know why I was so amazed that he couldn't look through the book and choose something without assistance. This is exactly the problem I have. It's why I hate cooking. I HATE deciding what to make!! I especially hate it at 6pm on a weeknight when I have returned from a day of decision making around gormless teenagers. However, we are on holidays and so I was able to calmly point him towards a 'desserts, cakes and biscuits' book with plenty of options to choose from. He decided upon this.
Strawberry Shortcake a la Small Boy. Not damn bad I say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got out all the ingredients and he weighed and measured everything out. I had to explain a few terms, like sifting, kneading and beating but he did most of the hard work himself. He put this together while I was making dinner so I was already in the kitchen and able to demonstrate when he needed it, and leave him to it when he was fine.
Even more excitingly, he set the table and helped serve up without complaint. It was just like The Waltons!! Mind you, this was in marked contrast to the night before when he completely jacked up and refused to help the others set, clear or wash dishes without his father bellowing at him. Still, I recall even John-Boy was recalcitrant at times....or maybe that was Mary-Ellen.
Anyway, if he keeps producing things like this we are going to have to increase our trips to the gym!
11 comments:
Yum! Small boy can cook that for me anytime!
That decision - what to cook - is definitely the hard one. Hopefully our shelf full of cookbooks will be here before too long so we can stop eating the same three dishes. Over and over. And over.
Looks very tasty -- and rich.
Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com/
Looking for photo ideas? Please visit 12 Photo Ideas To Try This Summer
Chris apparently is bored by my minimal cooking abilities. If only he liked baked beans on toast, then we would have four dishes to rotate:)
When I was little I always hated hearing from my mom, "What do you want for dinner?" Hated it. Now I know why she asked all the time. I hate thinking of what to cook, too. It's a vicious cycle. Ultimate gift for me, personal chef for a week. Two weeks.
That looks heavenly - wonderful job he did! I find if they participate in the cooking they actually eat. That is my problem in the kitchen. I love to cook different, tasty things and my kids would prefer to eat mac & cheese or a peanut butter sandwich. :(
I do believe it was Mary Ellen who was always pushing the limits of the family. : )
Elisa
Put that boy on a plane and fly him to Vista Land POST HASTE.
My boys are still in the mud soup phase of childhood cooking.
That is the most adorable thing I've ever seen. Jamie Oliver - great comparison!
How lovely! Both the boy and the cake. Tell him if he ever wants to visit Philadelphia he can stay with us so long as he makes those!
Way to go, SB!!! Looks delicious!
Post a Comment