Montessori-Inspired

I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not always relaxing or convenient to bake with my boys. But when time allows, it is enjoyable and a teaching moment in every sense of the word. When it all comes down to it, I want my boys to know how to make wonderful food for themselves and their families some day. I want them to know the process of making a pie crust from scratch- how to keep the ingredients as cold as possible, to use a pastry cutter, to teach them to see exactly how the pea-sized pieces of cold butter fit into the picture, that to make a flaky delicious crust, they must not overwork the dough.

I want them to understand the subtleties of simple but whole food preparation. 

And so yes, I teach them. It is messy, it is not efficient or quick. But when I step back and allow myself to see, I see a two-year-old learning the basics of baking- of measuring and precision and using his hands to create. I see skills being acquired and a sense of pride in helping make dinner for our family (in this case, chicken pot pie). If you are interested in getting your kids to help in the kitchen, I recommend starting with a simple but clear job, such as just rolling dough. Give it a try sometime- you might be surprised by how much your child already knows just from watching you!