Ode to my Mom

There is something that my Mom did for us growing up that I always loved. She always let us use the kitchen to make whatever we wanted, whenever. I can not think of a time that she ever told us we couldn't make something. Without fail, she always said yes. And without fail there was always one stipulation. "As long as you clean it up."

That has always stood out to me and I have always loved her for that. I truly think that that is part of the reason that I love to be in the kitchen. I spend over half of my day there whether it's cleaning, cooking, baking or whatever else. I never understand women when they say that they hate being in the kitchen. (I know of one reader in particular who has her eyebrows raised right now thinking that I'm nuts for loving it. She hates it. You know who you are, but just to be clear, if you don't know what PIC means, than it's not you.)

I think that part of the reason that I love it so much is that it's the heart of our home. The meeting place. The gathering spot. It's where we have fun conversations at the dinner table. It's pretty much where everything happens for our family. It's where we eat...what's not to love about eating?

I remember coming home from school everyday and my mom would have the kitchen clean (which is no small task when it's the size of hers! Let me just say that the kitchen table seats 14!) and there would be freshly baked cookies or brownies. Every single day. And if there wasn't, then something was wrong! It's just something she loved to do for her family. And it's something that she has passed on to her girls. You know I love to get in the kitchen with Addie and Kimber and make treats. We do it all the time. My sisters are the same way. Even 14 year old Annie. She can whip up a mean batch of cinnamon rolls! (Ann, let's make some next week!)

Another thing my Mom taught me about the kitchen is this little trick: If the kitchen is clean, the rest of the house feels clean. True, huh?

Anyway, I've had this on my mind a lot lately because I've promoted Addie. She is not just adding ingredients to the Kitchen-Aid for cake and cookies anymore, she is officially allowed to cook in the stove. With close supervision of course.

She pretty much did the stir-fry all on her own last night.

She gets so excited! "Like this?" "Is this good?" "Now what?" It's so fun to watch her. I've been teaching her about listening for the food to sizzle and how to know when it's done. So far she's done really good!

And of course this little gal doesn't like to be left out. She is just dying to pull her chair up to the stove. But for now we'll stick with the jobs that don't involve heat.