Les Petit Chefs

Like most kids, I took my mother's cooking for granted. While she worked in the kitchen, we were out riding bikes and exploring creeks. When the street lights popped on, it was our cue to return home, where we were engulfed by scents that made us ravenous. Oh how good we used to have it.

I wish I had taken the opportunity to work alongside my mother in the the kitchen. It wasn't until I went away to college that the loss hit me. I missed Middle Eastern dishes that you couldn't buy anywhere. I'd call her up at night, and like an angel, she'd stay on the phone with me for hours, walking me through the steps. These are the kinds of recipes that are not written down, but passed down. We don't know measurements, but we could feel them. 

Now that I'm a mother, I like to get my son involved in the kitchen. My goal is to teach him some basics. Since he's only six, a lot of what we're doing is fun, and sensory. He tosses fruit in the blender, and gets to hit the loud, scary button himself. When we make homemade popcorn, he drops in the coconut oil and kernels, and watches through the glass lid as they pop. To get him to appreciate salad, I let him sample lettuces to see the difference in flavor. His favorite is peppery arugula. He's learning about balance, knows that salt and sugar enhance flavor, and that garlic makes everything better.

One of the things I love about Ladles and Linens is that they encourage young ones to get involved in the kitchen as well. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we're spending more time with our children, home-schooling and trying our best to create structure. We are absolutely using the kitchen for education. It's where science meets art.

For all the parents out there looking for ways to enrich your child's experience during this time, take advantage of Ladles and Linens' home delivery, curbside service and online shopping. They have children's aprons, unbreakable melamine plateware, baking essentials and more. 

So go ahead, make banana pancakes in funny shapes and let them layer up a cheesy casserole with whatever's in the fridge. The opportunity to build a narrative around food and health is ripe for the picking. And they won't even notice, because everything is so delicious.