My oldest has been in the kitchen since, oh, I don’t know, birth.
He was the kind of baby that was happy all time, provided that you held him, ALL the time.
So, pretty much every meal I made in those early days was prepared with one hand. When he got a little bigger, he’d sit in his little chair as I scurried around the kitchen, tossing things into the pot, quickly as I could, while doing my best to entertain him. I sang “Mama’s little baby loves chicken and pasta…” and passed him spoons to bang and then hurl overboard.
Just as soon as he could manage it though, he was on a stool at the counter, “helping.” He liked to dump ingredients in for me, and stir. He loved to cut out the biscuits or cookies. Anything at all that those little hands could do, they wanted to do, “all by myself!”
And now, he really can do it all by himself.
My boy made cookies today, start to finish, on his own.
If you look really closely, you can see the reflection of a proud mama in the mixing bowl.
I was banished from the kitchen – sweetly, but ever so firmly, told to sit at the bar and leave him to his culinary magic.
It was hard, REAL hard, not to step in, but I didn’t and he did it, all by himself.
His cookies were beyond delicious. He was so proud, as he passed his goods to his brothers who gave him full mouthed, mid-chew praises, “Mmmmm! Lukie, you’re a really great cooker!”
Indeed he is.
In the morning, we’ll be packing his cookies in a basket with a couple of jars of apple butter and heading off to Granny’s house for a few day’s visit.
While we’re out, my little chef highly recommends that you make up a batch (or four) of “his” cookies.
In truth though, it was our truly thoughtful friends who passed along this highly addictive recipe and also a ginormous bottle of Saigon Cinnamon. Do you know about this stuff? If not, trust me, and the other house chef, when we say that you must run right out and find some.
It’s nearly as divine as my earnest little baker. 
{ 32 comments }
Love the expression on his face. So earnest!
Yum! I can almost smell them from here. Have a great trip!
Now that is a super proud moment. It even made me feel proud of him!
I love that your kids do everything more or less naked. : )
Haha,I just commented on the peek of you taking the pic over on flickr.Great minds and all that..
Both of my boys love to help too where as my madam will happily sit back and wait for you to bring her the goods,did I say MADAM??? :0)
Great shots and post as per usual.Have a fab day.
Cutest thing ever. My girls love to cook too! What a sweet boy!
He’ll be a lady killer with those cooking skills!!
The cookies look delicious.
It is great when the kids are so comfortable in the kitchen.
Soon he will be cooking dinner with no recipe! He will open up herb containers and smell them to see if they would be good in what he is making! That is a great thing to watch.
Scrambles eggs are a great way to start that journey. They can be different each time. There are lots of things they can try adding.
Thank you for making my morning. My hubs left for CA, in in-laws left to go home, I still have a house full of houseguests, and my toddler is 2. ‘nuf said. I needed something to look forward to. At the top of the recipe, it says that she makes them every year when the tree goes up. Well, this year, I’m expecting our second baby right around the time we’d put up a tree, but these sound a lot less painful than bringing him into the world.
Just thanks. It’s a hormonal morning.
My Dad let me start “cooking” by myself when I was about 8 or 9. I remember VIVIDLY the first few things I made – they were THAT bad. Practice makes perfect, though! My parents weren’t anywhere nearby when I cooking, so they couldn’t correct any MAJOR gaffes…like adding 11/4 cups water to a cake mix…instead of 1 1/4.
Its it nice to have someone make you cookies! They look delicious. That is a great skill to have. I might have to try them for our weekend with family.
I think the best part about this post is that he’s a shirtless baker. . . for some reason, that just cracked me up (in a really good way!).
I will have to try the recipe!
I loved this post. Simple, homy, lovely.
Zoe is three and she has already learned to do many things in the kitchen, exactly the same progress line you described here. She is now on the stool phase. I love it. They are so enthusiastic!
Looks wonderful! I love having a little helper in the kitchen. It does tend to take a little longer, but so worth it. My daughter, who just turned two, has her bench she climbs up on and wants to help with everything… many times “all my myself” too. Such great photos!
This is sweet. My oldest helped my one-arm chef skills as well… and now she’s nearly 10 and baking for us as often as I’ll give up the kitchen.
I admire the strength it must have taken you to stand by without stepping in. Congratulations to you Mamma – you are well on your way to growing yourself a good man!
How well you described this! I was also a one-armed cook and dodged many a flying spoon. Now we are at the step stool phase. I am going to start making these cookies now in preparation for the day I can sit at the bar (camera in hand) and be served by my little big man.
Thanks for a smile.
Okay, I was blog surfing tonight and don’t even know how I got here but I just spent an insane amount of time reading old posts and new posts and the “about me” section.
And now I can’t think of anything other than a smarmy: “Wow, I’m pretty sure we’d be friends if we knew each other.”
I’m sure the fact that he is shirtless adds something special to the magic in the kitchen, as well.
the photo of him taking the cookies off the baking sheet is fantastic.
have fun at granny’s.
xo.
Ooh! He did such a great job. Don’t you love having kids in the kitchen.
are those the yummy cookies you made me? He can come over to my house any time and bake me cookies!
made with love I’m sure!
No kids in this house, but my cat demands a stool so he can watch. If you don’t get one for him, he’ll try to climb your leg to watch.
The cookies look delicious (alot like my most favorite snickerdoodles), and I too am digging the shirtless baker!
this is great, congratulations! i love the first pic – awesome.
I loved your post so much I had to try the recipe right away! It was our wedding anniversary and my husband loves anything that resembles cinnamon toast! Would it be alright with you if I shared this recipe on my blog for my family and friends? Of course I would totally mention your awesome blog!
Thanks for sharing!
Stef, your lovely package arrived yesterday and this morning Jack and I are making cinnamon cookies. Thank you so much! I loved everything. (And I am itching to sew with that fabric. Like right now.)
I got a sob caught in my throat as I read this. Thanks so much for sharing. You have given me something really special to look forward to. Motherhood is a worthy role, but the rewards are often slow getting here. Work we do this week my not show fruit for a year or more. You’ve made the wait a little easier. Thank you.
Anna
Oh what a proud mum moment – wow!
i’ve never heard of saigon cinnamon , sounds yummy! i might have to find me some. it’s so sweet that he loves to cook/bake and wants you out. must mean you taught him well!
Just commenting to let you know that I read this post LATE on Friday night, stood up from the computer leaving the mouse dangling, and marched straight to the kitchen to make these cookies…Holy Yum, Batman!!! It was worth getting all sugared up well past my bedtime…these are truly scrumptious. Thanks, Blue Yonder boy (and mama) for the inspiration!
oops I posted that comment on the wrong post.
Please tell le petit sous-chef that his cookies are a-Maz-ing! My little guy (8 mos old) was just gobbling them up!
I really love that you let him try it on his own. I got teary just imagining his pride when his brothers gave him compliments!
We’re totally making these TOMORROW. Thanks again for the recipe AND the cinnamon!
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