Got My Martha Stewart On…
I know. Your Worlds Are Offically Rocked.
It happens occasionally.
Okay, it's a rare bird sighting to see me cooking or baking in the kitchen. It kinda shocked me too.
Here's the story behind such a crazy turn of events: You see last year, I totally forgot Valentine's Day. I don't like the holiday, rarely acknowledge it. I used to as a teacher but only for Art Projects. I loved to do art projects when I was a teacher because it let me indulge my creative side. It was my sanity. This year marks the tenth anniversary of my quitting teaching for good. Anyway, when Luke arrived at the office after going to nursery school in the morning, he was bogged down but Valentine after Valentine. I only discovered the class list that had been sent home when I rifled through his bag to see all of the Valentine loot he brought back. GUILT TRIP. It has lasted an entire year.
Luke has just started going to school for most of the day so I managed to get the class list early last week. I was on it. To make up for it, I'm going to make the class some cookies. I considered doing something more elaborate but I didn't want to set the bar too high for myself... can't have the teachers thinking that a) I bought them or b)that I'm a culinary goddess. Too much pressure, cookies it is.
I decided I would document the event.. who knows if it will ever happen again!
Mise en Place. This was the first time I got all my ducks in a row before I began. Totally made a difference. I should also add that the soundtrack for this little baking included, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Beatles & The Human League. I highly recommend.
The Virgo in me approves of this picture.
Love this.
The mixture in the bottom left is milk, eggs & pure vanilla - we get ours from Mexico, a lovely little market that we frequent all the time in Zihautanejo - the smell is heavenly.
Cranberries. This is my being a mom. I really really really want chocolate chips to be in this mixture. I adore Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. Not a fan of Oatmeal & raisins together.
Now to chill for 2hrs.
The secret to my success. I put the mise en place on a sheet tray and as I finished up with something I put it back on the tray. Mess containment. My husband was impressed. I usually finish baking and the kitchen looks like a Tornado blew through and hubs has to check the carnage for my body (truth be told, I'm collapsed on the sofa overwhelmed by my own mess). Not this time. I AM SUPERWOMAN!!!!! (the cookies aren't half bad either but STILL wish there was chocolate chips in them).
Luke helped. He, like his mother, is not a fan of getting his hands dirty. I had to do the rolling, he placed the balls on the trays. Have you ever tried to explain rows & columns to a 2 year old? Not bad eh?
Not bad, not bad at all.
And you thought my Mise En Place & my tidy organizational skills were me channeling Martha. Hold on to your red & white polkadotted hearts....
What's that in the back? Oh ya.. ALL of Luke's Valentine's Day cards finished & ready to go. TWO DAYS BEFORE VALENTINE'S DAY. I AM SUPER WOMAN!!!!
All wrapped up & ready to go. Also, I made enough cookies to have some at home. I figure that if I get food poisoning between now & Tuesday, I won't deliver the cookies & make the kids sick. More on my Valentine's Day artwork & kids' DIY aka Momma Does a Lot of (make that Most of) It....
