Homemade Memories...

I love tradition, and I try to build as many traditions into my life as possible. Tradition = memories. Memories = a legacy. A tradition that I love is each year getting the nieces and nephews a new book for Christmas. Usually this tradition fades as they become teenagers...although if a good book comes my way that I think the would actually read, then it's given. Back to the tradition...each year as I begin to brainstorm and ask for "wish lists", I usually ask what kind of book that child wants that year. Last year (2007) Ayana told me she wanted a scary book...so I figured "Where the Wild Things Are" would be scary enough for a (then) 2 1/2 year old!! I try to make sure the classics are given "The Little Engine That Could" (my personal favorite), "The Very Hungary Caterpillar", "Corduroy", etc....if they haven't already been received in previous years. Well this year I approached Sophia about her book...I asked what kind of book she'd like to have and she said she wanted a cookbook. Oh for the blog followers who know me well - can only imagine the excitement that filled my whole being and the happy dance that I was doing - since I am a cookbook lover and collector. "A COOKBOOK!!! (High pitched voice and a cheesy smile) Oh Sophia...a cookbook it is!", I replied. For several days I researched children's cookbooks. It couldn't be just any ordinary cookbook - there was a criteria. It had to have real dishes - not something like...Princess Pie. I wanted it to include an explanation of cooking terms, utensils, the food groups, etc. I wanted it to be a source for her to use not just now when she is 6 (with very limited cooking privileges), but to use for years down the road. So I searched and I settled on the "Betty Crocker's Kids Cook". It has a nice variety of everyday foods and it's broken down into meal categories. It has fun pictures, and met the criteria I had set. I couldn't wait for her to open her gift.

Part of this tradition, is that I try to write a note in the new book - even if just "Merry Christmas (year inserted), Love Aunt Meggie". I try to make a personal application to the book - but how personal can you get with "The Very Hungary Caterpillar". But this year, I wrote Sophia a note, about how happy I was that she wanted to learn to cook...I knew her love of cooking would one day carry on my legacy of cooking. I also promised that one a day that she didn't have to go school and I didn't have to work - she could select some recipes from her new book and we would make dinner for the family.

This evening was the date that was selected several weeks back - Sophia's school had Parent/Teacher Conferences and my office was closed for President's Day. Since it was our special project, I allowed Sophia complete control of the menu. Her selection: Spaghetti, Chocolate Cake with pink icing and sprinkles - Sophia loves sprinkles on anything!! Fairly simple menu - kid pleasing and economically friendly (aka cheap!). I added a salad and garlic bread to the menu, and invited the entire Thornton/Knisley Family over to Mom & Dad's - dinner to be served around 6:15-6:30. The family began to arrive around 5:30 or so, everyone was able to make it except for Uncle Steve - he had to work a double today. But have no fear...leftovers were sent his way! In an effort to make sure that order was kept, I decided that dinner would be served by the course. Sophia sat the table, prior to almost every one's arrival. While the garlic bread was baking we mixed up the cake (she dumped everything in the bowl, cracked the eggs and mixed with a rubber spatula - I just measured and made sure it all looked evenly mixed before placing in the cake pan). We then began the water boiling/noodle cooking process...she even helped break the uncooked noodles in half. Dad had made his homemade sauce, so it was just a matter of re-heating!!! After licking the spoon and bowl of the cake batter, she sat two baskets for Texas Toast garlic bread out for everyone to enjoy during the salad portion of dinner. Sophia lovingly filled each salad bowl and then served them on her little tray. After delivering the salads she took drink orders, while I was finishing the noodles and putting the cake in the oven. As drinks were being delivered - again on her little serving tray, I filled each plate from the kitchen and told her who was to receive that particular plate of spaghetti. The entire time she was just beaming with joy - and was so happy to be serving her family. At last it was our turn to sit down, and join the family for dinner - with the cake cooling on the counter. After dinner, without any adult instruction or encouragement - she went around to the table asking if everyone was finished and she cleared their plates. Carrying them back into the kitchen on that same little serving tray. I was amazed!!! By this point the cake had cooled, so we iced, decorated and served dessert.

It was such a wonderful evening with the majority of the family gathered around the dinner table. Praising Sophia for such a tasty dinner!!! What a wonderful way to end a 3 day weekend. Homemade memories, good food and family time!! After everyone left Mom & Dad's - I asked Sophia if she had fun. She excitedly shook her head yes, and asked what we were going to do next time. I was still re-couping from this evening - but we discussed some options, and it's a toss up between tacos or lasagna.

Photo's of the evening: I meant to get pictures of her serving salads and spaghetti, but I couldn't get it all done and take photos...maybe next time!!

While shopping this past weekend Emily found an adorable apron/hat set that would fit this evening's agenda. I of course, thought it would just top off the evening, and it came home with me. Sophia LOVED the apron, but wasn't too excited about the hat. We all loved the hat. But she only kept it on long enough for everyone to see and for this picture...of which we had to beg her to let us take. She finally gave in to our begging, but wouldn't smile!!

Sophia and I had planned to make the cake from scratch, but circumstances of the day didn't allow that to happen, so Betty Crocker's Chocolate Fudge cake came to the rescue. I almost always make my baked goods completely from scratch - so using a boxed mix and pre-made frosting isn't something I like to do. However, Sophia wanted chocolate cake and I had to make that happen - even if it meant a boxed mix. However, you can see that end product turned out very pretty - and rather yummy.