Check out Shannon's site,  Rocks In My Dryer, for lots of great tips!  And next week is a backwards themed WFMW, your chance to ask others what works for them!


I have vivid memories of my eldest at 2 years of age helping me stir brownie batter.  She stood on a chair next to me, grinning until her chair slipped.  She bumped her upper lip on the counter, tore her frenulum, and we had to make the trip to urgent care for stitches.  Sometimes, kitchen ventures don't turn out so well. 

However, some 12 years later, this same dd is the queen when it comes to brownies.  I pick up the mix, she kindly bakes.  When I try to make them myself, it's usually a flop.  Too dry, too undercooked, it always seems to flop.  She, on the other hand, has learned how the batter bakes, what pan works best, and has branched out into reading recipes and requesting ingredients for brownies made from scratch.  She also makes a dandy chocolate chip cookie, and has become quite the champ at using the breadmaker to make dough for pizza crust and rolls.  My second eldest, likewise, has been working at various confections, and does well with muffins, banana bread, and cakes and icing.  It's a blessing because I can call upon the two for help with meal preparation, and they're great at fixing a tasty snack while I'm doing other things.  I'll be working on getting the next 2 to gain some of these skills soon, and of course, there's that nervous glance when my now 2yo youngest dd gets up on a chair to help big sis, saying, "I a good helper."  I don't want anymore torn frenulums, you understand.  However, I look forward to enjoying the help in the kitchen for many years to come!