Kids Night

Since I started doing cooking classes at the community school Caleb has begged to come and I promised him I would teach him to cook. So I decided this summer the kids would make dinner one night a week, they get to plan the menu and cook the food the only rule is it must be a complete menu and it can't be cheeseburgers every week.


So this week was our first dinner that the kids made they chose Macaroni and Cheese with ham and broccoli. Even though the temp was about 95 that day and mac and cheese really did not sound good I agreed. I printed off the recipe and taught them how to read the recipe and follow the directions...lesson in reading at the same time.



They learned how to make a white sauce aka bechamel, and how to boil pasta. I know some people might laugh at me but I just think the earlier you start the easier and what talents and interests can develop. And besides don't they just look so cute in the chef hats? Caleb will tell you he only has a small one because he is a junior.





When asked what they learned Caleb said you have to stir the sauce a long time. Ella lost intrest about half way through but Caleb held out to the end.


Fannie Farmer's Classic Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups good quality shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup buttered breadcrumbs


Directions
1 Preheat oven to 400°F.
2 Cook and drain macaroni according to package directions; set aside.
3 In a large saucepan melt butter.
4 Add flour mixed with salt and pepper, using a whisk to stir until well blended.
5 Pour milk and cream in gradually; stirring constantly.
6 Bring to boiling point and boil 2 minutes (stirring constantly).
7 Reduce heat and cook (stirring constantly) 10 minutes.
8 Add shredded cheddar little by little and simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese melts.

9 Turn off flame.
10 Add macaroni to the saucepan and toss to coat with the cheese sauce.
11 Transfer macaroni to a buttered baking dish.
12 Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
13 Bake 20 minutes or until top is golden brown

I am going to make them their own "cook book" with the recipes of everything we make this summer and some of these cute pictures.

Turning brown

Summer is in full swing here at the Loudon's it's hot and our days are lived at the pool. We are all looking well browned, maybe a little to brown.

My friend Debbie was reading to her children about Noah and how after the flood they were the only people left on the earth and God told them to repopulate the earth. So her oldest asked the obvious question "so everybody comes from Noah?" Yes says Deb, "well what about black people where do they come from"...dreaded question. So Deb takes them to answers in Genesis which shows how all people have the same DNA even though skin tones vary and skin color is really an adaptation to environment in which these people settled. So our differences are a result of our bodies adjusting to the environment over time.

C ponders this for a moment and says..."Don't you think Mrs. Pam has gotten darker since we've known her?" Guess I better start using some more sunscreen!