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So true.

Maddox loves helping me in the kitchen. Whenever I go in to cook he says “help”, and “up” (because he wants up on the counter). I’ve been NOT buying a learning tower or similar kid platform product. People say its totally amazing and I should get one, but I just can’t get over the idea of a big ladder type furniture thing living in my kitchen 24/7. Enough of the house has already been taken over by kid products, not my kitchen too!

I usually just plop him on the counter and we get to cookin’. For apple pie makin’, we brought in his little blue table.  It worked out pretty well and he stayed a bit cleaner.

In this photo he is taking the stickers off the apples.  It bothers me that some apples have stickers – even these organic ones.  Yuck to stickers on fruit.

Honestly Maddox made a great deal of the pie himself (with much guidance).  He is getting better at measuring (scooping), not spilling wet ingredients, not eating too much of the ingredients as they go in the bowl, stirring, and opening packages. To prepare the apples we have a handy gadget that peels, cores, and slices all by cranking a handle – so Maddox is able to help with this step too.

Maddox helping to shell the Fava beans…

He was actually really good at getting the bean out of the pod.  I was impressed. I’m doubting he’ll be able to do the next step of getting the bean out of the sheath, but I guess there is still time for that.

I’m looking forward to cooking them up for dinner. Yum.

Soule Mama is making Violet Jam!  Yummy!  Her blog post about it was too enticing not to share with you all.  Go check it out.  I only wish I had access to all those violets!  The flower jam possibilities are making my head spin.

I totally want this RIGHT NOW!

It is white bread, butter, and sprinkles.  It makes me feel like a kid again just imagining those flavors in my mouth. I used to eat something very similar to this when I was growing up. My neighbors were Dutch and they used to make us kids white bread, butter (probably margarine back in those days), and chocolate sprinkles (the long ones that look like rice). This recipe with real butter and quality sprinkles and quality artisan bread could be a winner!  I bet my one and a half year old would agree!

The recipe and photos are from Sarah over at iatebrisbane.com.  Thanks so much for the inspiration and memories!

[Photo by Robyn Lee]

A fun way to enjoy Peeps this Easter season!
Check out the tutorial at Serious Eats.

Recently I threw a May Day themed baby shower. Which basically means flowers and tons of them. Because the shower was in February and because I’m crafty, I decided to make a variety of paper flowers. The pom pom “flowers” were hung from the ceiling at both ends of the house. I think I made about 20 in a range of sizes.

The shower was for my dear friend Minna who is expecting her first little nugget on May 1st (thus the theme).

Here are a couple shots of the food and drink spread.

The cupcakes in the previous post are shown here with frosting and decor. All in all I think we made 250 mini cupcakes. Needless to say we had a ton left over. Once I get into production mode, I just keep going!

Adorable mini paper cups from Bake It Pretty.

A little while back I started to incorporate purees back into the dinner routine so Maddox could get some practice with the spoon and bowl.  By the end of the meal there is goop above his eyes, on his nose, in his hair and smeared all over his tray. Here is a little video of him finishing up dinner tonight.

Maddox’s 1st birthday is coming up and I’m pulling together some ideas for kid food. The party will be small and mostly adults, but there will be a few kids. I’m not sure if anyone still feeds their kids hotdogs these days, but these sure look fun!

I wonder if the pasta inside the dog actually cooks or if its a hard little toothpick of pasta.