Violet has been wanting to do some activities with Seamus now that he's really getting to be such a big boy :) This is part of the Buddy System I wrote about the other day! So her idea was to teach him step-by-step how to Make Bread by Hand. Isn't that just the ultimate for a big sister to do???
Well, it just so happens that I have some lovely Montessori style Cards for Making Bread, thanks to Lori at Montessori for Everyone, these are also FREE!
So off they go, following the simple directions on the cards: Gathering ingredients above and beginning to measure.
Looking to sissy for approval on tasting the dough???
Seamus going for it, kneading and...
...punching, notice the little dough stealer, he's a sneaky one that's for sure :)
In the pans for the second rising...
The beautiful risen loaves all ready for the oven...
During the rising times they read Harvest Home by Jane Yolen together. I'm pretty sure they read a myriad of other ones too, as they were on the couch together for quite a long time :)
And Ta-DA...fresh-baked, right out of the oven, too bad there's no smell-a-blog, it was heavenly!!!
They were so proud of their work and boy was it tasty!!! Oh and there's that little sneaker again :) He could hardly stand having to watch, thankfully he napped part of the time...
Do you bake your own bread? This is one activity that is always a favorite for ALL of our family members! I'm so pleased and proud of them myself for accomplishing a task beautifully done, and without my help!! Well...maybe just a little :)
"And then we sing and dance and praise,
Bringing the harvest home.
To God the Sower prayers we raise,
Bringing the Harvest home.
The golden crop is gathered in,
To store up summer in a bin.
Full thanks to all our friends and kin
For bringing the harvest home." (last page, Harvest Home)
And "Full thanks to all of you", my special friends and kin!! Thanks for visiting us today!
Update: Click here for the wonderfully easy Bread recipe!!
Looks like fun. Your kids always look so HAPPY!
Posted by: Marianne | Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 07:01 PM
Looks very yummy!!!
I think I'll have my older daughter teach my younger daughter to make bread tomorrow. Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Heather - Doodle Acres | Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 08:04 PM
Nicely done! What beautiful loaves! It's too bad we don't have smelly-vision. I love the scent of fresh-baked bread!
Posted by: Nissa | Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 09:22 PM
Meredith, Looks like the Food Network! I love that book by the way. I read it to Luke a few years ago and I still remember how much I loved those illustrations. -Carmen
Posted by: Carmen | Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 10:22 PM
There is nothing in the world more wholesome and beautiful than the sight of your children making bread together. Their goodness shines through in their faces!
Posted by: Alice Gunther | Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 11:23 PM
That looks so delicious! And they look so happy making it together.
We used to make chollah (traditional Jewish bread) every Friday. I'm afraid I cheated and mixed the dough in a bread machine, but the girls loved having part of the dough to shape however they chose. I got out of the habit when pregnant and never got back into it :(.
Posted by: Kathryn | Friday, October 26, 2007 at 12:58 AM
Great pics - make me hungry! We tend to use our bread machine now, - a Mother's Day gift for this year!
Posted by: Leonie | Friday, October 26, 2007 at 01:22 AM
Mmmmmm. Bread looks so good!
Posted by: Maria | Friday, October 26, 2007 at 02:03 AM
I absolutely LOVE it when the kids get in the kitchen and start baking together!!! Your loaves look delightful - and isn't there something so warm and right about taking warm bread out of the oven? It is good and pleasing I think for us to make this "daily bread." Wonderful post!!
Posted by: Jennifer | Friday, October 26, 2007 at 05:48 AM
That little sneaker is hilarious!
My oldest dd LOVES to make bread!
Did you post the recipe and I just missed it? (entirely possible)....
Posted by: Maria | Friday, October 26, 2007 at 08:10 AM
How wonderful! The bread looks delicious, I do wish I could smell it,(and nibble a little too.)
Posted by: joann10 | Friday, October 26, 2007 at 03:14 PM
L saw this post last week and on her own printed out the recipe and made bread while my parents were here. They were quite impressed. Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: MaryM | Thursday, November 08, 2007 at 04:55 PM