August 25 - Cooking with Kyle and Teagan II

One of my goals for the day was to use as many kitchen technologies as possible during the day. I had purchased this apple corer/slicer years ago so I opened the box and we used it for the first time and Kyle had great fun with it. Kyle was so busy using it - I really think that Teagan should have had more time with it to master it. But, Kyle believed that he could do it better and that Teagan was a bit too young!




Teagan did enjoy pealing carrots for the salad! Notice the concentration!




Teagan was finally allowed by Kyle to use the pizza cutter on the puff pastry as we made chocolate croissants.




After I took the children home, they posed with all that they had made - meatballs in sauce (we did not have time to make the sauce so we used a jar of sauce I had on the shelf,) mini chocolate croissants, 2 apple pies (Kyle said one had to have frosting, Teagan said we had to do one without frosting as Rhia does not like frosting - how thoughtful!) salad and garlic bread (which I ended up making as the children were really too tired to do it.) We had a WONDERFUL if exhausting day!

August 25 - Cooking with Kyle and Teagan I

On August 25, Kyle and Teagan came to cook. One of the products of our cooking day was meatballs. Teagan did not want to break open the egg so of course Kyle did that chore, with no convincing.




Measuring became an important activity that day.










What surprised me the most was how much both enjoyed making meatballs! They LOVED it! They were sad when we ran out of meat for the meatballs! Mom, take notice!

Aug. 23 - Cooking with Rhia & Iain III

Both Rhia and Iain REALLY ENJOYED peeling hard boiled eggs for the ham salad. I never thought a hard cooked egg could get a child so excited!!




Rhia, the one with the most discerning pallette, loved the cheese straws! Iain was not so sure!




And - then there was my kitchen when they left! I must teach them how to clean up after themselves! Shame on me!

Aug. 23 - Cooking with Rhia & Iain II

Using the grinder to make ham salad proved to be a WONDERFUL adventure! The purpose of this cooking lesson was to use as many forms of technology as possible. I said that to Iain and he proceeded to call all forms of technology a weapon! "Now are we going to use another weapon, Aunt Helen?" Leave it to a 7 year old!




Then we prepared cheese straws from puff pastry. It was a WONDERFUL recipe from Ina Garten on the Food Network! I will definitely make them again!







And then Rhia and Iain posed with all that they had made - Enchilada Casserole, Strawberries in Rasberry Sauce to be served over an angel food cake, tossed salad, ham salad and cheese straws.

Aug. 23 - Cooking with Rhia & Iain I

Rhia and Iain and I spent a whole day cooking our hearts out! First, we prepared hard boiled eggs.




Then we prepared an angel food cake.




Then we cut onions for the enchilada casserole.







Opening cans proved to be more of an adventure than I would have thought! They were both so interested in learning how to open a can! What is wrong with this cooking lesson? ;-)

July 29 - Rhia and Teagan Bake III

Rhia sprinkled topping on the blueberry muffins.




Rhia helped Teagan and made the frosting for Teagan's cup cakes.




The girls seemed pleased with the results of their baking.




And after the girls left, this is what my kitchen looked like!

July 29 - Rhia and Teagan Bake II

Rhia wanted to make blueberry muffins.

July 29 - Rhia and Teagan Bake I

Teagan wanted to make chocolate cup cakes. She began by preparing the pans.

July 28 - Kyle & Iain Make Cakes III

Both Kyle and Iain are fascinated with the mixer and enjoy using it.

July 28 - Kyle & Iain Make Cakes II

Kyle decided that he wanted to make a yellow cake with chocolate frosting.










All went well and I took Kyle, Iain and their cakes to their home. They left shortly thereafter for karate and while they were gone, Fiona the dog found Kyle's cake and decided that it looked VERY GOOD indeed. Kyle returned to find tell tale paw prints in his cake which can be seen in this photo! So, Kyle enjoyed a bit of Iain's cake and the family had to clean up after the dog who ate chocolate! Poor Kyle! I do not feel sorry for Fiona! She deserved to be sick!!!

July 28 - Kyle & Iain Make Cakes I

We only had a couple of hours and Kyle and Iain wanted to make cakes. Iain wanted to make a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.







Iain was so fascinated with m y kitchen timer that he wanted to be photographed with it!