So my son is done with school for the summer (he’s four, his school offers a part time summer program and I got VERY spoiled for a while there) and now I have to find ways to entertain him every day, lest he become a video-gaming, TV-watching, Funbrain.com-addicted couch potato. You know, like me.
Considering that I just got back from BlogHer on Sunday, I have nothing planned for this week and seeing as it’s hotter than the devil’s asscrack in Florida, I don’t plan to be outside much. Or at all. This leaves us with really stimulating activities like going to the mall. And going to the mall. And maybe the grocery store.
So today I got him all amped up because we were going to MAKE COOKIES! Right after I got eggs—and forgot the vanilla.
Really, I shouldn’t even be allowed near those oven things—nothing good EVER comes of it. I overcook, I underseason, I freestyle recipes…
But I’m the kind of mom who keeps her promises and so we went ahead and whipped up some oatmeal cookie dough. I measured, he dumped and stirred. The dough, however, didn’t look very doughy. Actually, it looked a little soupy (possibly because I substituted some random amount of oil for shortening) and this made me nervous so I threw in some extra flour. It couldn’t hurt, right?
Ha. Haha. Hahahaha. My first test batch, sans vanilla, with random oil and extra flour, was like a big-ass cookie cake. With no taste—unless you count the oats—and you KNOW how tasty oats are. In other words…they sucked. I sent the huz to the store for vanilla (actually some mighty fine imitation vanilla because I go FIRST KLASS all the way, baby) and ended up tinkering with the dough until I got a batch of cookies that were edible—especially if you’re one of those dogs that likes to eat dead stuff after rolling around in it.
But my son thinks they’re THE BOMB—they’re HIS cookies that HE made (he’s MORE than welcome to take all the credit) and if he’s happy for one brief moment in an otherwise terminally dull day, then I’m happy, too.
Next time, maybe I’ll regale you with tales of what I found in the fridge while frantically searching for the year-old baking soda.
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: alotofnothing
August 5, 2009 at 10:19 am
I applaud you for even TRYING to bake. My girls think baking involves opening the package and breaking off squares of cookies.
Twitter: thecaffeinatrix
August 5, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Well, yeah…I do prefer to let Nestle do the heavy lifting but one of my kids has a peanut allergy so we make a lot of stuff from scratch.
Twitter: LaurinEvans
August 5, 2009 at 10:21 am
And that’s all that matters – your boy was so happy!
I think you are brave to take kids to the mall. Mine just take off in opposite directions, because they respect my authority and all.
Twitter: thecaffeinatrix
August 5, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Well, I do have the advantage of still be able to use a stroller for my 4 yr old. Yours would probably object to that, huh? lol
and this is why I buy the pre-made cookies from Tollhouse or Pillsbury. Clearly they are the experts, they do this shit everyday. Plus I screw up grilled cheese on a regular basis.
Twitter: thecaffeinatrix
August 5, 2009 at 3:17 pm
The secret to grilled cheese is to bake it. No shit.
You are so my kinda mom… the only thing I make from scratch are pancakes, and whether they rise or not, the girlie loves them because she stirred it… oh, and because I let her pile sprinkles on top of the river of syrup…in fact, sometimes I let her have full spoonfuls of syrup sans pancake…I’m good that way.
So enjoyed seeing you at BlogHer, although I’m kicking myself that I didn’t introduce myself to you.
Twitter: thecaffeinatrix
August 5, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Sprinkles are the key to childhood happiness…of this I’m thoroughly convinced. And yes, you should have said HI! Meeting new people is one of the best parts of BlogHer.
Twitter: alimartell
August 5, 2009 at 10:39 am
I cannot bake with my children. I am good on my own, but with them? someone ends up crying (usually me) and covered in ingredients (usually me) and eating all the batter/dough (usually me).
:)
Twitter: AMomTwoBoys
August 5, 2009 at 10:52 am
Hahahahahahahahahahaaaaa. I’m not laughing AT you, I’m laughing WITH you. Because this is totally something I could have written.
I substituted olive oil for vegetable oil in a batch of (boxed) brownies a few weeks ago. The results were less than stellar.
Good luck with the rest of summer…the return of school will be here before you know it.
THUD.. olive oil for vegetable oil? woah.
Twitter: thecaffeinatrix
August 5, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Rachel is definitely laughing AT us, not WITH us. And I *may* have done something similar with olive oil once. Or twice.
Twitter: mariamelee
August 5, 2009 at 11:42 am
Every time I bake with S, I end up eating everything because he gets bored once we get to the actual oven phase.
Twitter: thecaffeinatrix
August 5, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Oh man…P LOVES to cook. It doesn’t matter what it is. And he’ll come back into the kitchen from time to time and peek in the window of the oven. He’s going to make some lucky girl a fine househusband someday.
I once made mickey mouse pancakes for my niece. I thought I’d be the cool Auntie and let her crack the eggs in the batter. While I was totally cool, we were also eating egg shells. She had fun though. All that counts.
Twitter: thecaffeinatrix
August 5, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Yeah, we’ve eaten a few shells, too. Funny that the kids never even notice.
ha ha ha ha Janet. You are too good. What a great mom you are and his memory of it and pride in himself, that’s all that matters.
Twitter: motherbumper
August 5, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I’m still scared and still cleaning up from our last attempt at making cookies but you have inspired me to try again. Now if only I could get off this couch.
Twitter: barefootfoodie
August 5, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Awww…he’s so proud! I bet the are THE BEST COOKIES EVAH!
Next time maybe cure the boredom blues by baking some of those cookies that come in a roll, the kind that you, oh I don’t know, don’t have to do yourself? That’s my kinda baking, and then you can do all the decorating (the fun part). Then again, my mom’s idea of baking was from mixes and boxes so I didn’t know the diff till I moved out and met my mom-in-law. But he’ll have that memory of mom and son baking for many years, which is what counts. You are brave! If you can’t tell, I’m so not a cook!
Twitter: thecaffeinatrix
August 6, 2009 at 1:53 am
Oh sure, if you want to do things the easy way!
Hee. I kid.
I think that’s a great idea because the second best thing to making your own cookies when you’re four is PUTTING SPRINKLES AND ICING ON STUFF!
This is my new strategy for ensuring that things get eaten. My son actually devoured roasted asparagus the other day. Devoured. And commented several times on how delicious it was.
Yes, you heard me right. Asparagus.
Why?
Cuz HE rolled them around in the olive oil, and sprinkled on the salt and pepper, and supervised my putting the pan in the broiler.
He made them. So of course, they were awesome.
Twitter: tenakim
August 6, 2009 at 11:48 pm
I bake- but only at Christmas time. I turn into Mrs Field’s herself. But, so help me god,, not a day past Dec 24! The mess, the calories, the kids INSISTING on helping – I can’t take it for too long!