Vanilla Cupcakes with Cherry Frosting

Well, the cupcakes didn't turn out to be very tasty, but we had fun making them. I found the recipe online, and won't be using it again! The cupcakes turned out dry and bland, so I won't be writing out the recipe, but I'll post some of the pictures we took while making them.

First, I explained to Kaia how important it is to read through the whole recipe before you start. She found that part pretty boring, but got through it. Then we began!

It was a pretty straightforward cake recipe. Kaia loves to do the sifting, and the measuring. She learned about making sure the measuring cup was properly filled, and reading measurements (she doesn't understand that part yet, but is getting better at reading it as, for example, "one-half" instead of "one...something...two..."

After they cooled, we frosted them! Usually I make my own frosting, but I have a weakness for cherry flavored frosting, and that's what we had, so that's what we used!
(at some point I want to try making it)

Kaia did a wonderful job frosting and then rolling them in colored sugars. To do that, you pour some of the sugar into a bowl (about a quarter of an inch deep at minimum) then turn the cupcake upside down and gently roll it in the sugar.

I was disappointed in the taste, but it was fun spending the time with Kaia.
The search for a yummy vanilla cupcake recipe continues...

Eating strawberries with suger & sour cream.

It was fun Eating with mom & dad when we were Eating strawberries. all this was from Kaia. of course it was really really really really really good. do you think it is yummy. write back soon OK pleas. by maybe mom will talk.

Strawberry Goodness

We will be making the cupcakes later, but Kaia and I have been wanting to try one of the simplest ideas in her new cookbook. It couldn't be easier. Ready? Only three ingredients are needed:

strawberries (fresh, of course!!)

sour cream

brown sugar

You can use two bowls, one for each the sour cream and brown sugar, but since we only had 3 strawberries, even this was way too much....

Kaia tried the first one. She dipped her strawberry in the sour cream, then the brown sugar. She'll be posting in a bit with her opinion.

I tried it next. My strawberry was delicious! I wish we had more, but we'll have to wait until more ripen...or get some at the store, but those aren't as tasty.

Mike tried one too. He liked it, but made fun of the fact that we were dipping healthy strawberries into sugar. He's welcome to give his share to me!

Here is Kaia's still-life. The strawberry on the sour cream is Mike's, he hadn't come to try it yet.

cupcakes

Me and mom are going to make some CUPCAK's tomorrw! cool huh. I Like it do you.

Beginning Something New

Hello, thanks for stopping by! My daughter Kaia and I are excited to get started on our new adventure. For her last birthday, her 7th, I gave her a cookbook, thinking she is just at the right age to begin to learn to cook. Though she's helped me for years, pouring ingredients and stirring and such, I haven't gone into much detail with her about how we're actually creating the yummy things we eat. Long ago I decided that my kids would learn to cook, as well as other necessities for survival, well enough so they'd never have to be dependent on anyone else. My son, at 10 months, is a little young :-), but Kaia is ready to start!

We'll be making a variety of things, from dinners to deserts to snacks to fun experiments. Kaia's an adventurous eater, though like most kids, she can be picky at times. I hope to help her expand her knowledge of food, and I'm sure I'll learn something too!

Both Kaia and I love to take pictures, so we'll show you how we make each thing, as well as writing out all the steps. We're going to make Saturday dinner together, so we'll be updating at least once a week, and most likely more. I'll be writing the main recipe, but Kaia will be putting in her two cents too!

We'll be taking our recipes from several sources. Online, my own creations (or variations of recipes long lost), and cookbooks. I'll cite sources when they are available of course. A couple of the cookbooks I hope to make several recipes from are: Kaia's new cookbook from her birthday, The Spatulatta Cookbook by Isabella and Olivia Gerasole, and Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair, which is a cookbook my mom recently gave to me.

When you know how to cook, it's easier to eat healthier. Making food from scratch is much less expensive than buying prepared meals, and tastes better too! Making cooking, and learning to cook, fun helps build a life-long love of cooking and eating well!