Kids In The Kitchen: thoughts on kids & cooking on Nest by Tamara

For September let's look at kids in the home,

with a special feature showing

kids in the kitchen

Our two kids (Miles and Gabby) generously offered to cook for us as a gift for our 18th year wedding anniversary.  I am happy to showcase these two industrious kids cooking and serving a nine course dinner to us.  Please see the menu they planned and cooked and printed up as a surprise-

♥

Randal & Tamara ♥

♥ 18^th wedding anniversary dinner ♥

♥ Menu♥

❀ Asparagus ribbons in lemon sherry vinaigrette ❀

❀ Pork scallion dumplings with ginger soy dipping sauce ❀

❀ Grilled lime shrimp over avocado mousse ❀

♥♡♥♡♥

❀ Homemade pasta in a basil tomato sauce with meatballs ❀

❀ Filet mignon with parsley butter over potato puree ❀

Seared scallop with candied bacon and basil pesto `

♥♡♥♡♥

❀ Cheesecake cookie cups topped with strawberries `

` Chocolate pomegranate tart `

` Cinnamon rice pudding in coconut `

Gabby planned, shopped and prepared the menu herself, 

including making homemade pasta.

She made hand made pork filled chinese dumplings - rolled them thinly, cut them and stuffed them earlier that day

Her younger brother Miles agreed to act as waiter and sommelier for the occasion 
(note the pen in the pocket, nice detail).

more surprises were in store
both the kids scoped out my wedding head band and Randal's tuxedo necktie and decorated the table with these details, lit votive candles and placed a single white flower, similar to the one from the bouquet I had carried eighteen years earlier on my wedding day on Martha's Vineyard.

they designed the menu,

printed it up and placed in on our dinner plates. 
We were told to  bring our favorite wine and

with the assistance of dad, they uncorked it.

We knew they were making us dinner, and I had witnessed the preparation for days ahead of time, however, when we were sent upstairs for two hours before dinner and told not to peek, I knew we were in for a big surprise. Since our dining room and kitchen are one adjoining room the kids had the idea (unbeknownst to me) to create a wall of sorts to allow us a private cozy dinner. They stacked stools high and draped them with fabric, bestowing the constructed wall with photographs of our wedding, flower petals, lanterns and candles, as a shrine. Ha!  They moved the large farm house style dining table and brought in a smaller table from another room to create a romantic mood. We were completely taken by surprise at the room's transformation and it was an amazing experience, one we will remember for a long time.

THE FOOD

With the assistance of her younger brother Miles, 
Gabby created a beautiful dinner.  
Take a bow, young chef Gabby Stephenson!

Happy Nesting
XO Tamara

personal note:

While they may never cook such an elaborate meal again, this experience has been good for all of us.  Although we spent the latter part of the evening cleaning dishes, we still relish in this experience.  Whenever we travel, we encourage our kids to try new foods and embrace new experiences.  We also like them to spend time in the kitchen with us as we prepare our holiday meals in order for them to appreciate the process, and hope this will instill a life-long passion for food, healthy living and spending time with family.  

Gabby and friends at 

Loaves & Fishes cooking school

in Bridgehampton, NY summer 2009