Wonderful Day with the Hutterite Children Making Christmas Cookies

I know I have written a few times about visiting the Hutterite
Colony. I am a substitute teacher and have offered to the students that
rather than do art, when I come we can have a cooking class. I am a home
economics teacher and love to cook with the children.



This
was cooking with children like I have never experienced. These kids do
not grow up with family kitchens. The Colony has a commercial kitchen
that is totally kid unfriendly. Cooking small batch is a treat.



I
had a couple of consecutive days and decided we could make some
Christmas cookies. Day 1 we made sugar cookie and gingerbread cookie
dough.

I pre-measured most of the ingredients so they only had to mix them
together. I only had one hand mixer. Now, normally when I am with a
group of children I am so nervous with my appliances. These kids are
amazing. The boys right away noticed the mixer had a fan to cool the
motor. They knew if they tilted it while in motion the dough would be
flung far and wide. I only showed them once how to install the beaters.
Only once did I show them the on/off button.



I had 3
rolling pins and each differently shaped. Before I even explained how to
use each they shouted out the unique nuances of each. They knew how to
use a pin without moving pieces. They knew that a French style pin that
is fatter in the centre would have to be tilted to make an even dough.



We rolled and cut cookies. I took them home and baked them.

Unfortunately I didn't have a card in my camera and therefore have no
pictures. It was also a day that my lunch from their kitchen had the
most beautiful pork chop. Why? Why? Why? I really wanted a picture of
that pork chop. It was delicious.



Now I am returning with their baked cookies and some prepared icing so they can decorate and package their cookie gifts.