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This post, about the importance of face-to-face time in the kitchen, is sponsored by Bon Appetit and Epicurious.
This girl…
For the past 10 years she’s been my biggest helper in the kitchen. I couldn’t wait to get her in, cooking with me. As soon as she could sit up, I’d drag her high chair in and she’d sit watching me cook, banging measuring cups on her tray. She soon went from watching, to doing, and now… at the age of 10, can take on many recipes with little supervision.
The kitchen is where she learned to count… “How many eggs is mama putting in? 1, 2, 3!”. She started reading and would soon read off recipes to me as I would make them. As she grew, her safe place to talk to me became the kitchen… while measuring ingredients or whisking eggs, she’d talk about what was making her happy or problems she might have been having with friends. She’d share her dreams, funny stories, and I’d sneak in little life lessons along the way. Even though she can cook pretty much on her own now, I selfishly like to insert myself into the kitchen right beside her. I don’t want to miss those face-to-face moments with her. They are precious to me, and I know to her as well.
One of our favorite things to make together is homemade bread…and this Bread Machine Challah recipe tops the list. It’s the same type of recipe I would spend hours making with my mom, by hand, on Sunday mornings after church. I’m sure our conversations were much the same and I’ll treasure both the present kitchen conversations and the past kitchen conversations forever. In addition, I so look forward to what future kitchen conversations are in store for us. I can’t wait.
Want to know how to build a successful restaurant? Check out BonAppetit.com’s “Out of the Kitchen,” a glimpse into the inner workings of two successful restaurants. Meet the back of the house inner circle and see how face-to-face relationships keep customers coming back for more.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bon Appetit. The opinions and text are all mine.
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Homemade Bread Machine Challah Recipe
Our absolute favorite Challah bread recipe made especially easy using the bread machine.
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
Servings 1 loaf
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons margarine cut up
- 3 cups bread flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Instructions
Add the water, the egg, the margarine, flour, sugar, salt & yeast to bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
Set the machine to the dough cycle
Once the dough cycle is complete, remove the dough from the machine and place in a lightly sprayed loaf pan.
Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Place in a 350 degree oven and bake for 30 minutes or until brown on top and hollow sounding when tapped.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Your beautiful girl looks JUST like you! So precious… love love love time in the kitchen with my kiddos too. Beautiful post and photos and story!
This was so lovely. Gorgeous photos and such precious memories. It’s great that you’re documenting these moments too!
I love this, and I love that you share that time in the kitchen together. I hope, one day, if I have a daughter, that we’ll be able to do the same.
Though, I’m probably going to have to learn how to bake before that. 😉
Love this post, Kristen! Making memories in the kitchen with our kids is so important. The bread – gorgeous!
merry lu says Thank you sharing this, Kristen, she is getting so grown up! It brings back a lot of special memories of kitchen time with my mom and grandma.
This is so sweet Kristen! I’m doing the same things (counting, banging pots and pans, etc.) with my little Liam in hopes that he too will share my passion for being in the kitchen. I love this so much!
- Naomi says
Great post. I found myself teary! My little girl cooks in the kitchen with me as well and she is growing by leaps and bounds with her knowledge in the kitchen and it is easy automatic mama/daughter time for us. Uninterrupted by screens and other distractions.
- Amy @Very Culinary says
My kids live in the kitchen with me. Wouldn’t want it any other way. Love this. She looks so much like you <3
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