My smallest kitchen assistant...

annie1992

13 years ago

I was just minding my own business today, puttering in the kitchen. I'd finished canning a batch of tomatoes and was starting on kale when someone came in the kitchen and surprised me! After hugs and kisses, Madison decided it would be fun to help prepare the kale for canning.

See, Grandma, you just rip it up into bite sized pieces, like this:

Then you take all the leaves and you swish them around in the water really well:

As an added bonus, your kitchen floor is really wet now, you'd better mop that up. Oh, and you and Mommy are both wet. Hmmm. So am I. Wasn't that fun?

OK, Grandma's turn to do the part with the hot water while I tear up.....um.....look at the Sunday paper. You'd better put my shirt in the dryer for a while too.

Hey, Mom, let's see what there is in Grandma's basement to take home. Peaches and applesauce? Yum. Salsa for you and Daddy, some homemade tomato sauce? That sounds good. Here, let me help you with that jar of tomato basil sauce, I like that on spaghetti:

OK, it's time for me to take a nap, I worked hard with Grandma.

Time for a nap for Grandma too! I'm tired, my kitchen floor is mopped. Madison and I finished up 12 pints of kale and baked a pan of brownies. You can't start them in the kitchen too early, you know!

Annie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (33)

centralcacyclist
13 years ago
Best tutorial ever! What a cutie pie!

:)
beachlily z9a
13 years ago
Oh, Annie, I've never had kids. Boy did I miss something! Love the picture and give that little helper a big hug!

You, Annie, are a great, wonderful grandmother!
Related Discussions
They said my counter is their smallest job in 3 years!
Q
Comments (23)
Thanks everyone! :-) Mindstorm: the faucet is by Chicago Faucets. It is a pretty good reproduction of a leaky one that I have in my basement. I'm really loving the paper backsplash! Thanks to Decodilly who gave me the idea for it. Now, it isn't washable, but it is easily fixable: just stick on a new index card. From a distance, it actually looks kinda nice! I'm almost ready to order the real tiles. I just have to decide if I want an in-wall sponge holder (b/c that determines which company I order from. One makes it, and one doesn't. Details, details, details!) Francy
...See More
Small galley kitchen needs design assistance to maximize utility
Q
Comments (19)
Herbflavor- I will try the 3 sketches. I've heard of the Liebherr, might be a bit out of range, $3000 for a freestanding 24", also sounds like service maybe expensive too. I do like the counter depth and compactness it would provide though. Katsmah- great idea, although the fridge door swinging how it does makes easy access to beer when I'm in the next room over (living/dining room). Moving the fridge towards the right may address this though. roarah- Another great idea! Except my sink/cooktop wall is an exterior wall, I may not be able to do this depending on what's behind there, but I can do it on the opposite wall. Also- a standard studded wall is 3.5" deep, how did you fit a toaster here? fori- Aisle is 49" wide from edge of existing countertop to countertop. I may be able to get a few (3) more inches by taking out studs on the fridge wall. It's a non-bearing wall, I planned to do this with the 'fridge anyhow so it doesn't stick out as far as it does now. I'll see if I can fit 30" depth cabinets but I dont think there's going to be enough space, not to mention the added expense. Yes, cabinets all the way up to the ceiling is in the plans, and yes I can, there's nothing behind there but air. On the existing fridge wall, the soffit stops at the pantry. I made a graph paper sketch, I'll have to find it and scan it.
...See More
Best layout for smallest useable kitchen?
Q
Comments (268)
BenjesBride - I think we have different perspectives on the furniture in the apartment. One of the relatives who will live there is 6ft 2in tall. So, trying to have a slim loveseat and a slim side chair in the LR is not going to cut it. I would also think that people like to put their feet up sometimes when watching TV in the LR and if you had to put up a relative for the night, you’d need a couch big enough to accommodate that. I guess it gets down to function vs form for me. I do have it in my mind to try to find a different solution to the current couch, but not sure if that will happen or not. I hope I can. Actually, the stairway is 4ft wide including the exterior and interior wall, so it the opening is probably three feet 2 inches wide. You’re probably right, that having enough storage and having an open concept don’t go together. No, we can’t change the dimensions of the nook due to the roof lines between the two buildings. No, I’m not shopping for furniture before the addition is actually built, just considering what is out there. Thanks for the tip about IKEA. Our IKEA is almost an hour away so I don’t go too often, but I should take a trip out there soon. You’re right they have set ups that are pretty interesting. and Apartment Therapy - I’ve been there, but I could spend more time there. Good ideas.
...See More
Help me design my Colorado condo! I need major assistance!
Q
Comments (17)
When you say you are doing a light, natural floor - are you talking about a wood-look light colored floor to cover the whole space? I think that is a good idea, and warm colors are trending again. Pale, washed oak (sometimes cerused) and aged pine are really pretty and there are good options in LVT in these looks. The fireplace - is it wood or gas? Any chance it is super dark due to soot accumulation? I don't know how to clean it, but I bet it is worth a try. Now ... if it is an obviously faux stone that looks like what a 3rd grader made with old clay ... then revamping it is a good idea. I think using the SAME material as the kitchen counters might be too contemporary looking. What about a handmade tile that echoes the backsplash in the kitchen?
...See More
doucanoe
13 years ago
Awwwwww....she is so sweet and obviously a great help in the kitchen as well!

Linda
vicki_lv_nv
13 years ago
She is adorable. And obviously a huge help in the kitchen. :)
dedtired
13 years ago
She is such a little treasure. I'm so glad you posted these pictures.
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
See, Eileen, now you know all you need to know about canning kale. (grin) Maybe we should make a youtube video...

Beachlily, grandkids are so much more fun than kids. All the fun and none of the responsibility, it's all good. A sink full of water and kale leaves in Grandma's kitchen is a good time, waiting to happen. In Mom's kitchen, well, it would be a mess you wouldn't be allowed to make, LOL. We always get and give LOTS of hugs and kisses too, makes cooking so much better.

Linda, how about yours, I haven't seen pictures of her in the kitchen yet and I'll bet she's nearly as much help as Madison is. Maybe more. :-)

Vicki, I can't tell you how much help she is. Ahem.

Dedtired, she IS a treasure, as are all of them. I figure I'll give them all a chance to love to spend time with me in the kitchen, and let them see cooking as fun and not just another chore. Plus, maybe she'll like kale!

Annie
KatieC
13 years ago
Wahhhhhh....I waaaaaaant one.......
centralcacyclist
13 years ago
Katie: Meee tooo! But not yet!

Eileen
lindac
13 years ago
She's all that and a bucket of chicken....with fries!!! Such a Dolly Baby!! I think I could just "squeeze the stuffin' out of her"....
cooksnsews
13 years ago
My dad always said that if he had known how much fun grandkids would be, he'd have had them first!
coconut_nj
13 years ago
Great pics Annie. Just love how much she's into it. Literally and figuratively. LOL. You know how to start em right girlfriend!
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
Those of you that want one, I'd be glad to lend you Bud, LOL. he loves to help in the kitchen, but he'll eat you out of house and home!

Cooksnsews, I agree with your Dad.

LindaC, that baby gets squeezed regularly, and she squeezes back. For about 5 seconds, then she's gotta go. She's crawling faster than I can catch her, pulling herself up to all the furniture and using Cooper as a walker. She's already taken a few steps on her own, she'll be running in no time. She'll be a year old on December 6. Sigh. They grow too fast.....

Annie
nancylouise5me
13 years ago
Great little helper Annie! Just want to squeeze those cheeks. She looks so happy to be helping Gramm in the kitchen. You are blessed! NancyLouise
mitchdesj
13 years ago
so adorable !
eandhl
13 years ago
Grandchildren are so much fun you really should have them first! She is adorable!
Tracey_OH
13 years ago
Annie, that baby is precious!! Thanks for the smile.

Tracey
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
nancy, that baby is the happiest thing I've ever seen, nearly all the time.

Tracey, you are so welcome, she always makes me smile too. Although she looks like her Dad, she has the personality of her mother. I always told people that no matter how tough life got I couldn't stay down, because Ashley always managed to make me smile. I also wanted to beat her sometimes, LOL, but she was entertaining!

Thanks, mitch and eandhl, we love her. She's the chubbiest baby we've ever had in the family, I think, but she'll be walking soon and I'm betting that baby fat is going to go quickly. She'll always have the cheeks, though, it's a family trait.

Annie
mustangs81
13 years ago
Love, love, love that kind of kitchen help. Ain't nothing better than our grands!! I'm off to pick them up from school and we be makin' brownies.
cloudy_christine
13 years ago
She's so big already! And so adorable. Ashley is a radiant mother. I think maybe Madison is going to look just like Ashley (and you).
I have to remember that sink full of kale. It looks like the ideal toy.
lakemayor
13 years ago
Annie she is so cute. I'm sure she had so much fun with her hands in the water. Kids just love that don't they?

Karen
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
cc, a sink full of kale is the perfect toy, and she ate quite a lot of it. I keep trying to convince myself that she'll keep liking it when she gets old, I love the stuff. The other grandkids, well, not so much. Ashley likes it too, so maybe Maddie will keep on eating it. Maybe...

Karen, I think Ashley and I had as much fun as she did!

Annie
Islay_Corbel
13 years ago
She's really lovely! Well, both of them!
sprtphntc7a
13 years ago
AWW, too cute.
thanks for sharing, your post made me smile :)
centralcacyclist
13 years ago
I never had a bunch of kale in the house. Alice seems to love it. Go figure. I know it's healthy stuff.
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
I really like it, so do both Ashley and Amanda. Madison ate quite a lot of it while she was "helping", so maybe she'll keep liking it. Or like most other children, by the time she's two she'll be turning up her nose at it like Bud and The Princess do.

Annie
bunnyman
13 years ago
: )
lyra
sally2_gw
13 years ago
Thanks, Annie, for the smile today. Not to sound redundant, but she is so adorable!

Sally
bcskye
13 years ago
So precious!!! Thank you for sharing with all of us and giving us smiles today.
mustangs81
13 years ago
oooops, it wasn't a cooking CF grandbaby! I had looked at this picture again this morning then went the store and saw a Maddie look alike sitting in a grocery cart and I couldn't keep my hands off. The mother returned to the cart screaming at me as if I was a kidnapper; I was just cooing with her but I forgot my manners and times. So I left the store without KALE.
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
Aw, Cathy, you can get kale any time, but babies need to be cooed at and talked to. (sigh) It's horrible that times are such that parents need to be panicked when someone talks to their child.

Annie
jessicavanderhoff
13 years ago
I guess it's a crazy world out there, and I don't actually have kids, but I think if I saw a mother or grandmother aged lady cooing at my baby, I wouldn't freak out. Maybe she is a very anxious person and felt guilty having left her for a minute to go get the peas.
arabellamiller
13 years ago
Oh goodness! Cathy, you are welcome to coo at my babies anytime. Of course my youngest baby is now 7, so she might look at you a little funny, but you go right ahead!

Annie, she is adorable. And quite the helper. Great pictures.

AM
dgkritch
13 years ago
Oooohhh...what a sweetie, and Ashley too!

Can I borrow Madison, I think my floor needs mopping!

I am waiting not so patiently for my DD to provide me with a little one to train.
Annie, I may be coming to visit when she does....
She'll be living in Elkhart, Indiana by then! How far is that from you?

Deanna

My smallest kitchen assistant...

Comments (33)

centralcacyclist

beachlily z9a

Related Discussions

doucanoe

vicki_lv_nv

dedtired

annie1992
Original Author

KatieC

centralcacyclist

lindac

cooksnsews

coconut_nj

annie1992
Original Author

nancylouise5me

mitchdesj

eandhl

Tracey_OH

annie1992
Original Author

mustangs81

cloudy_christine

lakemayor

annie1992
Original Author

Islay_Corbel

sprtphntc7a

centralcacyclist

annie1992
Original Author

bunnyman

sally2_gw

bcskye

mustangs81

annie1992
Original Author

jessicavanderhoff

arabellamiller

dgkritch

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

My smallest kitchen assistant...

Comments (33)

Related Discussions

annie1992Original Author

annie1992Original Author

annie1992Original Author

annie1992Original Author

annie1992Original Author

annie1992Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

annie1992
Original Author

annie1992
Original Author

annie1992
Original Author

annie1992
Original Author

annie1992
Original Author

annie1992
Original Author