Sandy's Home Notes


Animal Crackers and Cocoa to Drink

 

"Animal crackers, and cocoa to drink
That is the finest of suppers, I think
When I'm grown up and can have what I please,
I think I shall always insist upon these."

Christopher Morley (Founder of Saturday Review, 1924-1941)


Dear Creative Cooks,

I hope this letter finds you with a moment between cooking <smile> to sip
something warm or iced according to your need and to relax. With so much to
do in a regular day it can seem impossible to nurture ourselves with
something still and quiet but it can be done.

"Whether it be a weary husband, a wound-up little one, a weeping friend, or
yourself after a wild day, a warm or cool beverage at the right moment can
quench the thirst and refresh the spirit." Terry Willits

*When we cook for ourselves or an adult or two as most of us have done at
one point or another... kitchen activity and table time can be kept orderly.
Guess what? A different kind of order must be sought in cases where
young ones are involved:)

Children of all ages have a way of changing time set routines and stirring
up the spices of creativity! Meal times, snacking, endless drinks of water,
and learning new tastes can make a woman's work in the kitchen ongoing
throughout the day.

"The cook in the home has the opportunity to be doing something very real in
the area of making good human relationships."
Edith Schaeffer

Our older children (10 and up) along with my husband and I reached a point
where three meals a day with an occasional snack kind of just settled into
being the normal way of things. 19 months after our new baby came to bless
our lives has changed how we eat our meals, when we snack, and how much time
is spent prepping food and cleaning it up:)


When this little "biscuit" as daddy and siblings lovingly call our toddler
was a little over a year old, a routine doctor's appointment revealed that
he was a little low on iron. To this point, he had only had formula, water,
fruits, and vegetables and no refined sugar. Heeding some of Granna's
advice, we started adding meat to his diet, grains, and vitally important:
animal crackers:) She brought a glossy plastic bear packed with these
animal shaped wonders kept inside with a bright red top! We buy refill
bags as needed!

Anyway,
The latest discovery we had has been realizing that a child 1/4th our size
won't have the same eating habits and patterns that we will! Yes, I know
this is common sense and we should have paid closer attention to our baby's
signals (getting very fussy at different points of the day, drinking too
many milk cups, and so on) but daily life can be so busy we don't catch
these things.

I was feeding our darling Braxton a morning meal as soon as he got up of
cereal and milk, a muffin, or an egg and some buttered toast. Lunch was 1/2
a sandwich and some water or a tiny bowl of whatever we ate, and dinner was
anything we were eating.

The problem has been that a tot needs several tiny meals instead of three
main ones and they aren't always hungry when we sit down to a meal. Simple
science, again, I know. . .


Anyway, even though I want to keep regular meal times as they are for the
smooth flow they lend our lives, I must recognize when this little tot is
hungry and thirsty and offer little nips and sips throughout the day.
It is important to me that all of our children get enough protein and other
nourishment each day and I will often examine our over all diet to make sure
we aren't leaving any of the good stuff out. Now that Braxton has many sharp
little teeth, he is able to eat practically anything we eat with a few
exceptions.


Looking at our food choices over the past few weeks reveals to me that we
have been in a hurry much more than we should have and our meals have
suffered as a result.


Time to get out the cookbooks, draw up the shopping lists, and be more
creative with the menu plans!

To start, I pulled out a book I'm using for the second time around now: "The
Healthy Baby Meal Planner" by Annabel Karmel. I just adore this cookbook and
have used it for so much from infant starting foods to meals the entire
family enjoyed.

It is so lovely for anyone who prepares food to have some ideas on hand for
serving little ones ... your own children/grandchildren or those that might
visit your home. Terry Willits, author of "Creating A SenseSational Home"
shares her hospitality with nieces, nephews, and neighbors!

"A few months ago, I invited several neighborhood children to our home for a
tea party at the coffee table. We used demitasse cups and poured apple juice
from the tea pot. I served warm slice-and-bake sugar cookies and taught them
how to gently wipe their mouths with their napkins. It was such fun to see
them enjoying as children, something we, as adults, should enjoy more
often."


Some toddler tips included are:
* Letting the child help prepare meals. This is so true! I've learned more
and more through the years how important it is to let a child help stir,
sort, cut, pour, and roll in the kitchen. It takes longer and forces my
patience to be exercised many times but it is well worth it in the long run.

* Calling the food by funny names. The author writes: "...call food by funny
names like Bugs Bunny carrots or Mickey Mouse soup." Our older sons still
laugh at some of the names I called their food when they were little. I
named broccoli "trees" and zucchini was shredded into "Martian grass" ... :)

* Never put too much food on a plate. I can personally vouch for this one!
Blake's grandfather has passed away now but his endearing advice to me lives
on...   We were visiting his home and feasting on a lavish meal Blake's grandmother
had prepared and placed on the table. We made plates for the kids and they
nit picked them but wouldn't eat. Grandfather looked over at me and said:
"Take all that food off their plates! Get them a little plate and put little
amounts on it... maybe a spoon full or so of a few things... and they'll
eat. They get intimidated by portions that might as well be for an adult!" I
must tell you that I didn't think it would change anything but out of
respect, I followed the "orders" ... :) Would you believe that both boys ate
every single bite and wanted more?! Needless to say, our own three little
ones since that time and any who grace our home get served from tiny plates,
bowls, and cups... about a spoon full or so of a few things;)


"The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time"
Psalm 145:15


Love,
Sandy


©2004 Sandy Willoughby



From the Healthy Baby Meal Planner:

Thumbprint Jelly Cookies

So called because you stick your thumb in the middle of the dough to make a
hollow for the jelly. The deeper you stick your thumb, the more jelly you
get. Use your child's favorite jelly or make different flavored jelly
cookies.

Makes 25 small cookies.
1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup superfine sugar pinch of salt
1 egg yolk strawberry jelly or a selection of
1/2 t. almond extract different jellies
Beat the butter with the sugar, then blend in the egg yolk and almond
extract. Gradually add the flour and salt and mix to a dough. Take
walnut-sized pieces of dough, flatten slightly, and press your thumb in the
center to leave an indention. Place on a cookie sheet lined with nonstick
baking paper. Fill the indentations with half a teaspoon of jelly and bake
in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 10 minutes.