Each year, I dust off my beautiful almond colored Kitchen Aid stand mixer, hang my off-white, sadly under used apron (it exists exclusively for baking. It just doesn’t feel right to be wearing it when I am merely cooking) around my neck and pretend I am a baker. Usually, I make some basic Chocolate Chip cookies using a time-tested and modified name brand recipe passed on to me from my Mother. From time to time, I will sprinkle in a batch or two of sugar cookies in the shape of candy canes and snowmen.
This year, my 2 and a half year old daughter, who knows her way around the kitchen a bit from assisting with my from-scratch pancakes and oatmeal, helped out and started, what I can only hope, will become an annual Father-Daughter baking tradition.
As someone who takes a fair amount of pride in my daily attempts at preparing a family dinner and the occasional stab at the art of baking, I am positively giddy to stand back and watch my little girl measure flour, crack eggs, pour morsels and spoon batter – all with the utmost focus and a genuine interest in doing a great job. When your child is working hard and is able to see, in about 12 minutes, the results of their efforts you will witness their confidence soar!
She takes great pride in her work and enjoys fully the fruits of her labor – a still-warm cookie and a cup of ice-cold milk – all while laying beneath our illuminated Douglas Fir.
Cooking and Baking with your kids is just plain, good old fashioned fun. To get their hands dirty, make little messes and for them to take part in the amazing process that is cooking and/or baking is a fantastic and fun life lesson that will pay huge dividends as they grow up and will only serve to bring you and your child closer together. What more can you ask for in any single activity?
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