If You Give A Child A Hammer...

When is it smart to give a very small child a hammer?

When you're making Peppermint Bark,

of course.

Four very large candy canes were unwrapped,

placed in a gallon ziploc bag,

(one at a time)

placed on a cutting board,

and smashed silly with a hammer.

The kids loved this part.

It was really the only part they wanted to help with.

Little Norah went first because she was the youngest.

Big Brother Avery, patiently waiting his turn with the hammer.

Considering it was a tool,

and it made a loud noise,

this young man did an incredible job

of waiting his turn.

Last year we dipped pretzels in the vanilla CandiQuik,

this year we opted to make Peppermint Bark together.

We melted half a package of CandiQuik in the microwave

and stirred in the smithereens of two large candy canes.

Kelly-Across-the-Street

filling paper petit four papers with the mixture. 

You can spread it on parchment paper

 and break into pieces when cooled,

but I think the little papers are neater and easier to serve.

Of course, you could decide to decorate the top

with some kind of edible garnish,

or you could add a layer of chocolate to the bottom first.

Sometimes, busy Moms of young ones aren't looking

for the most elaborate way to create a confection,

but the quickest.

After playing while the moms made

two batches of fudge and two batches of bark,

the kids were ready for a snack.

Rebekah has learned it is all about the dishes.

Milk tastes better in imitation crystal pedestal coffee mugs.

Avery learned that  patience is rewarded.

 Mighty Mite Norah learned it's fun to smash things with a hammer.

She's probably contemplating a career in carpentry.

Since we began blogging about our neighborly adventures together,

I've received many comments from readers saying,

"I wish I had a Kelly-Across-the-Street!"

We are thankful for the friendship we share,

parenting isn't a journey to travel alone.

We've been very intentional about our friendship,

and early on started our traditions.

Even though we live close,

we know if we don't put things on the calendar,

they might not happen.

It's not too late for you...

look around...

that friend might not be across the street,

but

today

is always a good time

to put your new traditions
on your calendar.

Recipe for Dipped Pretzels

Buy a bag of the smaller twist pretzels and a package of white chocolate, like CandiQuik.

(While living in the midwest, I always used the generic kind, and it was fine,

but I can't find anything but the expensive kind in the PNW.)

Test the pretzels for flavor while your Mom is melting the white chocolate in the microwave.

Using a fork, dip the pretzels half-way or completely in the melted white chocolate. 

Lay them on parchment paper or waxed paper, then cover with sprinkles.

Lick your finger enough that the sprinkles stick to them.

The more sprinkles, the bettter.  If you have mountains of sprinkles, that is the best.

You can also set the freshly dipped pretzels on the paper,

then lick all the white chocolate back off.

Keep licking each pretzel until all the white stuff is gone,

and only a soggy pretzel remains.

 

 Leave lotsa sprinkles on your face so your Mommy and your friend, Mrs. Mindy, think you are

ADORABLE.

Since I was so busy taking pics of Norah and Avery, I totally forgot to take any pictures of my own dear daughter, Rebekah.  Read Kelly-Across-the-Street's blog on the holiday experience here.

As you can see from this blog, having kids in the kitchen is

messy

trying

time-consuming
educational

frustrating

messy

hilarious

nerve-wracking
fun

messy and

did I mention messy?

But, you won't reap if you won't sow.

I start my kids as soon as they are old enough to pour something into a bowl,

or at least get the majority of the substance from the measuring cup into the bowl.

Sometimes they stirred.

Sometimes they held the mixer with me.

Sometimes they put the cupcake liners in the pan.

But, my kids were in the kitchen from the earliest time possible.

And, from their earliest years I have been cleaning up  unbelievable messes.

But, you don't reap unless you sow.

This past week I cooked ONCE.

I enjoyed Indian butter chicken,

homemade pizza,

and taco soup.
Even our guest made an awesome steak dinner with spinach salad.

And, I am still cleaning pizza dough from the cupboards and cannisters,  drips of tomato sauce from the side of the stove, and trying to get the spills scraped off under the burners before they catch on fire.....again.

There's a few years of cleaning and instructing before you reap the benefits of the effort,
but it it totally and deliciously, worth it.