baking with jonah
I’ve made a new friend on Facebook (Hi Michelle!) who is writing a cookbook for families, and pretty much every time she asks for volunteers to test her recipes, I say yes.
But not true to the intention of the book, I had yet to employ Jonah as sous chef, until today.
It took some convincing this morning to get him on board with the idea of cooking with me. Did I mention that he’s 2 years old?
The recipe was for a peaches and cream cobbler. Due to our outrageous overabundance of greengage plums, I decided to go with them as a substitute.
I washed and cut the plums into pieces, and then set Jonah up with a chair to stand on, the bowl of pieces, and the pan. He thoughtfully, carefully, moved the pieces from bowl to destination. I took pictures.
Next we mixed up the filling stuff together: brown sugar, corn starch, etc. Which he scooped into the pan, and then proceeded to massage into the plums for quiet, focused, contemplative, ages. When I called to Scott to come see (and take pictures) Jonah said, “Daddy, I’m working.”
Next came the sweet creamy layer, and then the batter layer on top. Kind of like an upside-down cake. Jonah performed excellent measuring, pouring, and stirring duties.
And then he demanded, “Want to taste it on my tongue.”
Now, I know we’re not supposed to eat raw dough made with eggs. But is it better at least if the eggs are from our own chickens? I grew up licking bowls of all kinds of batter. I couldn’t deny my son this simple pleasure.
After the cobbler went into the oven, he continued to stand there and lick the bowl clean, one fingerful at a time…
…the entire time the cobbler was in the oven (and I was doing the rest of the dishes).
And here’s the result:
July 13th, 2010 at 9:15 am
I don’t really like cooking, but I do love it when my kids help. These pictures are gorgeous–they should go in the cookbook!
mayberry’s last blog post..40 in 40
July 13th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Hurray! So happy that Jonah got to help with this recipe and thrilled that you guys enjoyed it! Thanks for the great playdate at the zoo yesterday too
xo
m
Michelle (What’s Cooking)’s last blog post..What’s Cooking with YOUR Kids: 11 Year Old Emery’s Cravings + Musings
July 13th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
I love the sticker on his shirt.
July 14th, 2010 at 8:12 am
I think about the only time I didn’t lick batter was when I was pregnant (unless it was egg-free). Otherwise, I lick away!
I enjoy involving my kids in cooking and baking. It can be tricky (like when my little girl who just turned 2 brings the stool right over to where I have the cutting board and I worry about accidently slicing her fingers). But I like sharing the experience with them. They seem to get some satisfaction out of helping (or being nearby when actual helping isn’t possible), too.
Also, mouth is drooling… cobbler… mmmm…
July 14th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
The pietures are delicious. The experience is delicious and I’ll bet the cobbler was delicious too.
July 15th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
yummy looking!!
you have your own chickens?! *jealous eyeball rays*
July 15th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Hey Minnie, come on over! I’ll give you an egg.
July 15th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
What a grown up boy! I love his new haircut. So good that you were all sharing in the activity with big smiles. :}
July 17th, 2010 at 5:36 am
So how was the cobbler?? It looks delicious. With ice cream.
We always lick the batter, too. Laszlo loves raw pie dough and bread dough as well (blech!).
Elina’s last blog post..Wheat and Water
July 19th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
It was pretty delicious. I accidentally cut the sugar in half for the filling so it was a little tart but the cake part and the cream cheese part rocked.
July 19th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
I love the last picture of Jonah before the freshly baked cobbler. He is a BOY! The toddler years are waning…A BIG BOY…and so handsome! It’s fun seeing the three of you enjoying family time!