Baking, babies, and family history

annie1992

13 years ago

It was cool here today, finally in the 60s. I love this time of year and this weather, it's perfect for baking and canning. I was lucky enough to have some help today.

We started with Grandma's Farmhouse White. I told Madison about her Great-Great-Grandmother and how she taught me to make the very same bread.

Maddie tested the results and approved, Great-Great-Grandma was one heck of a baker!

I had some chicken "stuff" that needed to be out of the freezer and made into stock, so I put two gallon bags of backs, neckers, wing tips and assorted "parts" into my big Nesco roaster with some carrots, celery, onion, bay leaf, fresh herbs from the garden, my homegrown garlic, and salt and pepper. It got roasted nicely and then water was added and the stock was simmered all day. It's in the fridge now, cooling. By tomorrow it will be chicken "jello", and I can skim the fat off the top before canning it.

Just to be ready, though, Maddie sorted the canning lids and rings for me:

We decided that since the oven was on and hot, we should bake cookies too. Madison sorted the sprinkles:

I hated to tell her that we were making oatmeal cookies with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries and that we didn't need all the sprinkles. We sprinkled some anyway, she took those home and left me the "plain" ones.

Grandma was right, cooking IS easier with help. Heck, it only took me twice as long, LOL, and it was worth every minute.

Annie

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Comments (10)

centralcacyclist
13 years ago
Best post since the last Madison post.

:)
lindac
13 years ago
Another cook learning the basics!..
And of course is adorable!!
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cbadcali
13 years ago
How sweet she is Annie. Love her two bottom teeth. Mary
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
Mary, she has two top ones that match the bottom ones, so she can at least bite that nice soft dinner roll.

Yes, LindaC, you know they have to learn the basics early!

Eileen, she's a lot of fun, but takes a lot of energy. I'm tired when she goes home....

Annie
User
13 years ago
My favourite kind of post. Please keep sharing Madison with us. She is sooooooo cute!!!
nancylouise5me
13 years ago
My kitchen helper is blonde, 6'2" and has a mustache. Cute but not nearly as cute as yours. Where do you find such adorable helpers Annie?! Keep the pics coming. I love them! NancyLouise
John Liu
13 years ago
She is so cute. I wish I had little babies again. She must love her grandma!
mtnester
13 years ago
Loved this post! I wish I had such an adorable helper, too.

And I'm so happy you didn't omit the commas in your subject line! (Sorry, wierd former-editor humor!)

Sue
dedtired
13 years ago
Isn't that what life is all about? Babies, bread and cookies. It doesn't get any better.

Johnliu -- be careful what you wish for.

Annie, you can make little pumpkins out of any unused canning rings, although I think Madison's idea of using them as toys is better. She's is adorable.

LOL @ Sue! So true. Like the book Eats, Shoots and Leaves. One little comma makes all the difference.

Here is a link that might be useful: little pumpkins
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
Pam, the pumpkins are cute, but I actually USE those rings for canning, that's why they were right there. Her mother always liked playing with them too, they make such a wonderful jangly kind of noise when you stir them around. It's the world's best baby toy, if you can stand the noise, LOL.

Ann T, I'm working hard to get her to like cooking. Ashley doesn't, really, in spite of spending her childhood in my kitchen. (sigh)

John, want to borrow a couple? This one is very "busy". Good natured and she never cries, but you have to watch her every second.

Sue, I thought of that when I typed the subject line, figuring I coule keep it food related, LOL.

Nancy, I think it would be a toss up between cute kitchen helpers. I'll bet the 6'2" one would be great at lifting full canners and cast iron pots, but he'd probably eat more too. (grin)

Isn't it wonderful that our children provide us with such helpful assistants?

Annie

Baking, babies, and family history

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centralcacyclist

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