Usually the first thing out of Miss C’s (our 5 year old granddaughter) mouth when she walks in for a day with us is “Nana, what can we cook today?”
The memories of my Grandma (I only had one – my mother’s mother had passed many years before I was born) are very few. We lived 300 miles from her, so visits were few and far between and she passed away when I was 12. But the pictures I do have in my memory are of a stout woman with short, curly, salt and pepper hair wearing a red and white checked apron. She always had this apron on when we walked in the backdoor to the kitchen. I don’t have a memory of her not wearing this apron or not being in the kitchen.
Ok, I don’t wear an apron and I don’t have short, curly, salt and pepper hair, but I do want the grandkids to have memories of Nana cooking with them in the kitchen, and not worrying about making a mess.
The last time Miss C came for the day, I was ready for her! Eliza J submitted Peanut Butter Candy a couple months ago. This recipe was from her young son’s school activity (about 30 years ago)…and is written in his printing.
This is a simple kid friendly recipe with ingredients I always have on hand – perfect for Miss C!
We gathered all of the ingredients,
started measuring,
and sometimes tasting.
She is so meticulous with measuring. This process took about 20 minutes – 20 precious minutes making memories and chatting about world issues.
Next, we worked on mixing everything (except the graham cracker crumbs) together.
We used the mixer for this step, her “nuscles” aren’t quite strong enough for the wooden spoon yet with all that peanut butter. We’re still working on the concept of keeping the mixer straight up and down, though, Rice Krispies were flying everywhere! Nana doesn’t mind, neither does she really, it all cleans up!
While it was sitting in the fridge to cool a while, we took a stroll outside to look at the flowers she’d helped me plant earlier in the spring,
with Miss C in her shoes of choice for the day. She thinks she’s 15, not 5.
After about an hour of walking through the yard in heels and across the deck – yes, she walked sideways, foot over foot, so her heels wouldn’t get stuck in the deck cracks – we finally got back to making the Peanut Butter Candy. An hour of chilling does not hurt this recipe at all!
Roll the “dough” into balls, then into the graham cracker crumbs.
Being very precise, set them onto a plate, creating a “pattern” (she learned this in preschool this year). Make sure you count them as you go! And that meant starting from 1 after every new ball was rolled, we’re still working on short term memory!
This Nana is making sure many memories are made with her grandchildren in the kitchen as they’re growing up. What Miss C learns about cooking and baking will come from me — her Mom, Grandma, and Mimi don’t cook. That’s fine, I will be honored to be part of those memories.
From little Miss C to you!
The Chicken Site!
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Jennifer Robin says:
Ooh, this ones a keeper! I’m “Nana” too 🙂 and can’t wait to try it with my own dear kitchen helper. Wonder how they’d taste with some mini chocolate chips thrown into the mix? Yum!
On August 3, 2010 at 1:48 am
grandmatotwochicks says:
Cindy, What precious memories you are making with your Granddaughter, I have three Grandson’s so no heels for us, she is just beautiful.
On August 3, 2010 at 2:01 am
Vic (Victoria) says:
So cute. My five year old grandson loves to cook with me.
On August 3, 2010 at 2:12 am
Cathy Jones (catray44) says:
You are both very blessed! Thanks for a neat post!
On August 3, 2010 at 6:28 am
judydee says:
No fair making me cry with my first cup of coffee—this is just too sweet. I made Christmas cookies with the nieces every year, traveling 300 miles just for the experience. They were usually inedible, having too much icing and way too many decorations, but we sure made memories. Will try this recipe with my great-niece now and yes, travel 300 miles in order to do so!
On August 3, 2010 at 6:30 am
glenda says:
Cindy, she is adorable and bless you for sharing cooking with her.
I have 4 grandchildren but 2 aren’t too interested in cooking with me. Of course, they are getting a little older too. They love playing with dough of any kind and especially cutting out biscuits and cookies with cutters.
Our grandson love to help me, actually I let him do it, make scrambled eggs.
Mine are about 200 miles away so we don’t get to do it as often as I would like.
Lucky you and lucky grands.
On August 3, 2010 at 6:35 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
I love her! She is the cutest thing!
On August 3, 2010 at 6:36 am
GrannyTrace says:
OH MISS C you are darling!! What a breath of fresh air this morning!! Love it!!
Hugs Granny Trace
On August 3, 2010 at 7:43 am
NorthCountryGirl says:
Miss C, you are a very beautiful and talented young lady! I bet those candies were absolutely delicious. Cindy, you’re a doll!! I only had one Grammy, too when I was growing up. She was precious to me and we had so much fun. I’m glad you and Miss C had fun making memories that will last a lifetime.
On August 3, 2010 at 7:47 am
kellyb says:
Miss C has got cuteness down to an art form. Absolutely adorable. What a wonderful post. I had only one Grammy and I have so many memories of cooking with her. Making cookies at Christmas, pies in the summer, ice cream on the porch and butter bread with her wonderful jellies. I’m going to be a Grammy in about a month and I can’t wait to cook with this little one.
Loved the shoes, Miss C very elegant!
On August 3, 2010 at 8:08 am
Patrice says:
She’s really cute! Added advantage to the day- she aereated the lawn for you!
On August 3, 2010 at 9:09 am
CindyP says:
Thank you! She is the bestest..our only granddaughter of 4 grandkids, so it’s a little different with her. She’s our frilly tomboy — she probably went home and rode her quad in that dress (hopefully she changed shoes!) with her polkadot fingernails.
On August 3, 2010 at 10:01 am
Mrs.Turkey says:
Such a cute girl…..lots of fun cooking together. I have 6 granddaughters and 2 great-granddaughter….but everyone lives so far away that we don’t have times like that together. So enjoy every minute of it.
Mrs. Turkey
On August 3, 2010 at 10:37 am
ML Cauley says:
I called one of my two grandmothers “Nannie”, and I hope to be called that someday. I only have boys (all 4 of ’em!), so I hope to have a granddaughter in the FAR FUTURE too! You can bet if I ever have a granddaughter or more (grandsons are welcome too – tee hee), that I’ll make sure we have many cooking memories together! 8^D
On August 3, 2010 at 12:14 pm
LauraP says:
What a cutie! And such a fun day, thanks for sharing those moments with us.
On August 3, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Sheryl - Runningtrails says:
Your granddaughter is so cute! Its great that you are cooking with her!
On August 3, 2010 at 2:20 pm
rileysmom says:
I wonder who had more fun?
On August 3, 2010 at 3:05 pm
YvonneM says:
She is a living doll! LOVE that little dress! Blessed you are “Nana”!
On August 3, 2010 at 4:54 pm
stecile1 says:
How sweet, and she looks JUST LIKE YOU!!
On August 4, 2010 at 6:18 am
KentuckyFarmGirl says:
She is so cute! I remember spending so much time in the kitchen with my grandmother. Memories I will always cherish. My favorite thing to do was sit on top of her flour barrel at the end of the table and mix the homemade biscuits.
On August 4, 2010 at 9:16 am