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One of my earliest memories is sitting on my grandmother’s kitchen table. I was around six years old and Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune played on the television in the background as my Bobbie and I rolled out the dough of a family recipe for Sugar Cookies.
She floured the tabletop and then split the dough into two equal parts. I worked the dough in my little hands, carefully following her lead. She formed the dough into a long log shape and then with the side of her hand, she made what looked like a moat or a gully down the center of the log. I did the same. We sprinkled Cinnamon/Sugar in mine and Bobbie spread Raspberry Preserves in hers. Pinching the logs closed, we sealed up the yummy, magic middle. Off to the oven the Cookie logs went and before I knew it, we were eating warm slices of the most delectable Sugar Cookies imaginable.
Memories like these are sealed into what is now commonly referred to as my core memories. I can feel, see, hear, smell and even taste my grandmother’s Cookies if I just close my eyes and picture her kitchen. These feelings are connected to such happy moments in my life.
And when I became a mother, I wanted to create similar moments and sense memories for my own children. Days off school for holidays as well as longer, Summer stretches provided great opportunities for baking fun with my kids.
Leaning on my education background, I looked at each baking activity as an opportunity for learning in addition to fun. We counted Chocolate Chips and mini Marshmallows, sorted sprinkles, and practiced one-to-one correspondence. We learned shapes with Cookie cutters. We poured liquids and solids into measuring cups. We mashed Bananas, and we mixed and combined ingredients. And of course, we got messy!
After all, rolling out Cookie Dough and Icing Cupcakes is sticky business! Baking with my children was a way for us to bond and make memories, to play, and to have a sense of accomplishment when the activity was finished. It was so satisfying to watch our creations rise in the oven while our hearts simultaneously rose as we awaited the reward for our hard work.
While I began the clean-up, the kids’ fun continued in their play kitchens, right alongside me. I washed dishes while they took my “restaurant order” on little notepads. Oftentimes, these orders were just drawings of food as they were still young and in a pre-writing stage. They also learned how to set a table, always at the ready for when the treats came out of the oven.
As a former teacher, at times, it felt like an extension of my Kindergarten classroom days. Sometimes, we even started our baking activity with a children’s book centered around food—one of my favorite ways to introduce activities/lessons to kids.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (by Eric Carle), If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (by Laura Nemeroff), Blueberries for Sal (by Robert McCloskey), Bunny Cakes (by Rosemary Wells) and Gingerbread Baby (by Jan Brett) are all adorable, food-centered stories that work to get kids excited for fun in the kitchen!
Naturally then, my latest children’s book, Bakery Babies, evolved as the perfect combination of two things I love: kids/teaching and cooking/baking. Not only is the book bursting with sweetness on every page, but the fun recipes included at the back of the book are a few of our family favorites we hope you’ll try with your kids and enjoy for years to come. And the best part of all…baking with your babies leaves a sweet aftertaste long after the cookie jar is empty.
Meet the Author: Meredith Newman
Meredith Newman is a children’s book author. She writes books with lovable, whimsical characters that incorporate beautiful, detailed illustrations to delight young and old audiences alike.
Meredith graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s degree in English, and she completed a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She taught early elementary school before starting her own family.
Meredith married her high school sweetheart, and they have two children and two dogs, Ralphie and Stuie. They are the inspiration behind many of her stories. Meredith lives in Villanova, Pennsylvania and she spends time in her favorite places: Jupiter, Florida and Stone Harbor, New Jersey.
Meredith Newman is the author of The Lost Umbrellas of Lexington and Bakery Babies.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
