“Do you mind barbecuing the hamburgers?” I asked Graham when he got home from work yesterday.

“Not at all, I’m just going to grab a shower first.”

It turns out, he really needn’t have bothered.

Do you really think that spray bottle was necessary, sweetie?

When I was growing up, my mom would start doing her Christmas baking well ahead of time. I don’t just mean a couple of weeks ahead of Christmas, either. I’m talking months. She would make two lists: one list detailed the people in her life she wanted to give Christmas baking to, and the other list detailed exactly which and how many of each kind of cookie she intended to make. When the math was all done, there were literally hundreds of dozens of cookies and squares to churn out in time for delivering to friends, family and colleagues in the week leading up to Christmas. I still marvel at her ability to make this annual ritual a priority in her busy life as a wife, mom of two kids and full-time employee.

One year she decided that she would make Rice Krispies Treats® as part of the baking extravaganza. My brother and I were happy to become part of the Christmas cookie assembly line, and what was even nicer was that on this particular evening, my dad was involved, too. We made batch after batch after batch of Rice Krispies Treats®, and in those days, before the microwave recipe was available, the butter and marshmallows had to be melted in a big pot on the stove, and the stiff mixture stirred by my dad’s strong arms. He even broke a few wooden spoons that day, but it didn’t matter; we were having fun. The home baking cookie factory was in full swing, with our mom and dad happily dancing around the small kitchen in our 1950s bungalow, a little boom box playing some of their favourite music all the while. You see, what makes this memory especially precious to me is that it is one of few I have from that time in my childhood where both of my parents were present, and both of them happy and loving each other. We were busy kids, and they were busy parents, and the times the four of us were together during that last year or so before their divorce are especially important to me.

Looking back on those memories makes me think ahead into the future little family that Graham and I are hoping to have. Will we make memories like these together with our children? I sure hope so.

The Motherhood is working in collaboration with Rice Krispies® in asking moms to share some special moments that revolve around the kitchen or meal time. (I should note that I don’t work for either Rice Krispies® or The Motherhood, but wanted to show my support of this initiative and the mommyblogging community by sharing my own special childhood kitchen memories, too.)

Since I’m hoping to become a mom someday soon, I’m very interested in hearing about how you and your kids spend time together in the kitchen.

What do you do in the kitchen or around meals with your kids you’d like to share?

Feel free to answer this question or the “fast five” questions below in a blog post of your own, or in the comments section here. I will randomly select two readers who respond in the comments section as prize winners!

1. What is the most insane creation to come out of your kitchen when you and/or the kids were trying something new?
2. Do you have any favourite traditions that the kids look forward to doing in the kitchen with you?
3. What was the first meal you taught your kids to fix?
4. Have you experienced any kitchen disasters with your kids?
5. Do you have a nightly ritual with your family when it comes to meal time? If so, will you share it?

Links to photos of you and your kids in the kitchen are welcome, too.

I look forward to your responses!

You’re going to either love me or hate me for this post.

Graham got me a label maker for Christmas this year.  Yes, it was on my Christmas wish list.  I write a lot of messy looking labels in the home office and well, I’m an office supplies nerd so I was really happy to receive it on Christmas morning.

On one of my days off last week I started to clean out my pantry, which had been reduced over the last year to a jumbly pile of zip-lock baggies filled with various herbs and spices, some from the garden, some from the Bulk Barn.  I could no longer tell what the heck was in there and I’m pretty sure there were still some jars and containers of ingredients that Graham owned when I first met him, FOUR years ago.  Lordie.

As I was pitching baggies into the garbage, it dawned on me.  “I can use my label maker!”

A couple of hours later, I was even a little disgusted with myself.  And this.

I can actually see what’s in there and find what I need for cooking.  I love it.  And I realize it may make me slightly insane.  I’m okay with that.

Lots of bloggers I know are participating in some cool bloggy projects this year, like Whoorl and Schmutzie, who are doing Grace in Small Things, or Casey at Moosh in Indy who’s doing Project 365.  I would have liked to do Project 365, a daily photograph challenge, but I left my camera at my friend’s house on New Year’s Eve and missed out on the first five days or so of the year.  Instead, I’m going to do Org Junkie’s Monthly Organizing Round-up.  January’s challenge will be to organize the filing cabinet, for example.  Our house is in pretty decent shape but there are definitely some organizational projects I’d like to tackle this year, and I’m hoping that having a group of bloggers to support me will be inspirational.

Also, my menu plan for the week of January 5 is up at For the Love of Leftovers.

It was a modest yet lovely affair, this first Blogger Holiday Cookie Party.  Most of the ladies behaved themselves, except for Mimi, who drank directly from the box of wine over her head while dancing on the couch in my living room, the silly little valve held open above her gaping mouth.

My contribution to the party is a family favourite, known as “Fiddle Diddles.”  My mom has made them for years and they’re always the first treats to be gobbled up.

Assertagirl’s Mom’s Fiddle Diddles

Wet Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 cup milk, 2 cups sugar

Dry Ingredients:  3 cups rolled oats, 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1/3 cup cocoa

Combine the wet ingredients in a pot and bring to a rolling boil.  While the wet mixture is heating up, combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  When ready, pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture and mix thoroughly.  Spoon individual little blobs quickly onto a large cookie sheet and refrigerate until hardened.

YUM.

The other recipes, as contributed by fellow blogging lovelies:

Melissa at Keeping Track of the Insanity made Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Squares and Cookie Jigsaw Puzzle

Cindy at The Grass Can be Greener made Lucy’s Cinnamon Sticks

Dawn at Cookbook Fanatic made Butterscotch Krispies

Mimi at Mimi on the Breach made Russian Teacakes

Angella at Dutch Blitz gave us her recipe for Whipped Shortbread and also made Choclate Bark

If you would still like to join our party, leave a comment here and I’ll add your recipe to the list.

Updated to add Melanie of Mommy Doodles‘ Frosted Brownie Cookies

Happy Holiday Baking, everyone!

Schnozz wrote a great post about trying to eat better, and according to her philosophy, we’re not doing too badly. I try hard to stick to whole grains instead of white bread, serve lots of vegetables and avoid fried food. We eat beans of some kind at least once a week, if not more. Lots of fiber equals a happy colon. Who doesn’t love that?

A couple of this week’s dinners are brought to you by President’s Choice.

Monday: PC Calzones and Caesar Salad.

Tuesday: Whole Wheat Spaghetti and Meatballs

Wednesday: Super-simple Beef Stew (in the crock pot)

Thursday: Chicken Taco Salad (I’m trying to recreate this item from the menu of a restaurant I used to work at, but with Multi-grain Tostitos instead of a deep fried tortilla bowl.)

Friday: PC Shrimp Madras with Jasmine Rice and Naan.