Stirred Up Soup: Cooking with cars

Ever since Jonah was born I have been dying to cook with him. I always imagined standing around a big kitchen island with bowls set out, ingredients all nicely lined up and cute little aprons on (OK maybe not the cute little aprons). I would calmly explain what we were making, show him a picture, and continue to measure things as he dumped a stirred. It kinda went like a 1950's commercial for cooking spray or something.

Anyways, we had our first long awaited baking lesson. There were many many differences between my imagined scene and reality. First, there was no kitchen island, or actually barely any counter space to speak of; nothing was lined up or organized because again there was no room. We didn't have time to put on an apron, as we come by time like this infrequently with the twins around and we don't waste it on something like tying an apron.

The most notable difference, however, was the involvement of cars and trucks (as many as would fit on the counter and in bowls). The magnetism little boys have to matchbox cars has always been interesting to me and I have commented on it again and again to my husband; but I never thought about cooking and cars. It really should have been a no-brainer considering where matchbox cars pop up in our life, but I was surprised. As soon as we started dumping flour in a bowl Jonah's eyes lit up and he said "my cars!" Like, duh, who would not think about including cars in this wonderful activity!

I did not argue or try to change what he was doing, mainly because I wanted to figure out, how do cars have anything to do with this? Well, of course, flour can be mixed with either brown sugar or cinnamon to make "diiiirrrrt! and sandy sand" according to Jonah. I think all in all it actually helped the process along and man he really loves baking now. Especially after I let him lick the beaters :) Here's some pics.