Cookie Chef

James helped me prep and then try out this idea for my GSA student group.

 

James loved the cookies, of course, and my students had fun piping frosting and rolling the Oreos in sprinkles!

 

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Cooking lesson #4: Brownies

 

 

 

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Busy day & Cooking lessons 2 & 3

#gnomebomb

 

James and I went out to the yard to do some work. Look at my hibiscus tree! It loved June! I can't believe I've actually kept these alive for 3+ years!

 

And then we spied this cute chipmunk. James wanted to capture it for a pet. No.

 

New gardening gloves! Orange, even!

 

Cooking lesson #2: Chocolate Cake. Another request!

 

You gotta lick the beater.

 

 

 

 

He was so proud! He really did help with every single step. Sometimes he says he's helping but he wanders away in down time. This time I made sure he was there for everything. So he owned that cake!

Setting up three plates so we can try his cooking.

 

It was super moist. I think we didn't let it cool properly and maybe it was undercooked. He still loved it! And wanted a piece at every meal.

 

 

Cooking lesson #3: Chicken sandwiches.

Not to be confused with his beloved crispy chicken (strips).

He didn't show much interest in this lesson- until it was time to eat!

 

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Cooking Lesson #1: Toast

James always compliments my cooking. He says that he'd like my recipes for college and when he has his own house. I convinced him, quite easily, that we should have cooking lessons so that he can practice cooking before then.

His first lesson request was for toast. To make it interesting I suggested we cook toast in two different ways and then have a taste test.

We cooked toast in the toaster (easy!) and then "grilled".

 

Spreading butter is not easy!

 

The verdict: grilled toast is best!

 

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Cooking lessons

James has agreed that it is time to learn how to cook. He knows he is lucky to have parents who appreciate food and cooking. James loves my pancake balls (a Tuesday night tradition), crispy oven-baked chicken, "soft" Toll House cookies, Dad's French Toast, and of course cupcakes.

 

On a "stay at home" day we decided to make something together. We also decided that I should pass along my recipes so James can teach his kids how to cook his favorite foods. Yes, this will be a project that I work on. I look forward to that work.

 

So we began with Soft Cookies.

James helped with every step.

 

Cracking eggs...

 

 

 

Scooping flour.

 

I stopped taking pictures at this point to enjoy the moments. The cookies were delicious, of course! Made with love!

 

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My Helper

Tuesday pancake balls are a tradition now. If Dad (Jim) is at his pool night, James and I enjoy pancake balls for dinner. Some nights he wants in on the action. I measure, he whisks. We're a great team!

 

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Full Day

I've already blogged about the first day of summer. Here is our second day. I won't be blogging about each day the whole summer. I did promise to be better about updating this blog during the summer. It's a natural thing that I'd blog more, since I'm home :)

 

I found this art project idea online. Melted crayon dot art. Close supervision is of course suggested!

 

James made apple trees and fireworks.

 

We baked chocolate chip cookies.

 

 

 

We went to the playground.

 

When does your heart stop beating so fast watching your child climb way up high??

 

James helped me water our flowers and plants.

 

We looked at pond water under the microscope. We were amazed to see little things moving around on the slide!

 

It was raining slightly but we still went outside and had a paper star fighter race. He was so funny. In this moment I caught him singing "I believe I can fly..."

And then there was a brief pouting period while I cooked dinner. He pouted, actually he said it wasn't pouting, because I wouldn't let him play on the iPad or Wii. He said he would rather do nothing then! Never mind the thousands of dollars worth of Legos and toys...

 

The pouting didn't last long and I was able to get him back on track. Happy Tuesday to us!

 

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Sweetie Pie

I was feeling sad because I had just watched a horrifying video online. My James noticed that I was sad and said, "Mom, I'm going to make you cupcakes to cheer you up."

He settled on taking cupcakes out of the freezer and cooking them that way :) His Star Wars apron came out too.

 

Thank you, my Sweetie Pie!

 

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Chef James

Lasagna was such a big hit last weekend that we are making more! And James wanted to help. I am sad that he's abandoned his dream of becoming a (cookie) chef but he was a great help in the kitchen. Dad ain't bad either (:

 

 

Christmas Day at M-O-M's 2011

We left for Grandma and Grandpa's house after breakfast. We wanted to get there early to open presents first and then cook up a storm. The women of the familia were going to be cooking up a storm!

I brought cookies!

I appreciated that someone other than me (or Jim) had a talk with James about patience and generosity.  Other people will open presents and not all of the presents would be for James!  Thanks ChaCha!

Jim tries out the pool table in the new basement.

Whoa!  Are all those presents for James?!  No :)

Yule log on a big ass TV.

One of the first presents James opens is from Tia Kiki and Tio Berto in Japan.  They sent the Harry Potter Wii game!!!!!!!!!!  James was so excited!  So excited that as soon as we got home on Monday that was the FIRST thing he wanted to do- play the game!  He was pretty patient, waiting for the chance to get to the Wii so how could I say no?  It was fun :)

Grandma gets Tequila!  It was to go along with the bar blender that she asked for.  Margaritas for everyone!

Uncle Rich accessorizes.

Uncle Rich gives Jim an Ipad!  Uh... a fake one.

Wow!  A Lego Star Wars watch!  We opened this when we got to our house too.  James loves it.  He really loves the Darth Vader figure- he didn't have that one yet :)

I prepped James about receiving clothing.  He was polite and didn't throw them to the side.  Of course they don't generate the same level of excitement but he did well for a five year old!

Grandpa Larry gets a wooden Vikings head.  We bought this for him at the Renaissance festival in September.

A Harry Potter castle!!!  WOW!

Tia Kiki sent Larry a Japanese gong.  James loved it!  We decided the gong signals the start of happy hour :)

Wow!  A tooth fairy pillow from ChaCha!  And she made it.  Extra special!

James was all over Uncle Rich.  Those are his grubby little hands behind him as Rich tried to pose with his new Vikings head gear.

ChaCha, is that a real dog?  Yes.  It's my pup.

I tried on my new Wonder Woman apron for tamale making!  It's awesome!  Thanks Ana!

Three cucumber margaritas for the chicas.  It's a must when you're about to spend a goodly amount of time in the kitchen!

Corn husks are prepped.

Ana starts with the masa.

We had four fillings.  Rosie ties off the tamales after they've been filled.

In her spare time (ha!) M-O-M roasts peppers and chiles for salsa and guacamole.

Filled and ready to be steamed!  We ended up with about 6 dozen.

My Mom borrowed this tamale steamer from a friend.  It was so tall that Ana had to use a step stool to reach in!

Apps.  Salsas, guacamole, and crab tostadas.

So pretty!

While we were cooking the boys played pool and downstairs.  Well, Jim had to spend a good amount of time putting together this castle.

Ahhhhh.  Dinner!

I cut into the tamales so you can see the fillings- these are pork with red chile and chicken with tomatillo/cilantro sauce.  Yums.

After dinner James asked if we could have a campfire and roast marshmallows.  He is refused nothing around that house and actually the weather was great for it.  Too bad the only marshmallow in the house fell into the fire!  Haha.

At bedtime James escaped Grandma and ran around the house sans pants!  He moved so quickly and was so amused!

What a great day!