Every time I open the cupboard to get out would be a bowl, it is instantaneous, Benjamin shows up. My little boy of 21 months does not make music with my pots, just cook it! He pulls a chair to the counter, takes his chef hat in the drawer and asked for a “u-st” (spoon). Once standing on his chair and replaced the hat, waiting, armed with his u-st.
While waiting patiently as he can, Benjamin I look out the ingredients for the recipe. Carefree, I lay an egg on the counter. Without a second’s hesitation, Benjamin captures and reproduces what he sees me do it with: knock knock on the counter to crack the shell. But he is OCD. Once. There was more egg to make it again!
Did I mention that it’s cooking that he learned to say “damage”?
It was nice to flour everywhere, slow down my work and require attention constantly, these are details. Pleasure always takes over. I always thought that cooking was also fun for children to play. With the book I found recently is even more true: Mandolin. I have it in my blood!, Whose vision is as beautiful as in a history book.
My 2 children have noticed the new book in the library. Occupying a double page all in pink, strawberry mousse is the recipe that caught the attention of my 3 year old daughter. Benjamin liked the drawing of the fish, even if it is still small to take advantage of information about omega-3 that are on the same page … I must say that the author and nutritionist Nathalie Régimbal knows combine work with pleasant! Recipes, rhymes, stories and activities, and all are good ways to attract children to food.
If you are not yet convinced of the happiness that can provide the kitchen with the children, the following anecdote may affect a chord …
There is a little over a year, I was telling a friend I let my daughter breaking eggs. She was surprised that I ventured to leave an egg in the hands of a 2 year old. More delicate than her brother, she beat the egg sometimes until 5 or 6 times on the counter to crack. I managed pretty well so this “risk”. Still, it gave the idea to my friend to let his son break an egg.
Her little boy had the habit of wooden spoons and cups of flour. But the fragile egg, whose handling was reserved for large, fascinated him. When her mother reached out toward him, he offered his hand in disbelief. Holding it firmly – but not too much – he was executed. Toc toc. Like a pro. Then, still stunned, he turned to his mother. Spontaneously and with all the intensity of the moment, he said:
- “Mom, I love you! ”
Does it make you want to cook with your kids?
