Baking + Kids = Family Time

I am happy to join Gypsy Brocante for her Valentine's Bake Off  Challenge and Happier Than a Pig in Mud for My Favorite Kitchen Gadget Party. 

Jill of Gypsy Brocante asked what our inspiration was for baking?  I would have to say bloggers and family have been my inspiration.

I was inspired this weekend by Joni at Red Couch Recipes.  She posted a wonderful Maraschino Cherry Valentine Cake her mother made for her father.  I described it to my 5 yr. old and he wouldn't give up on it, he wanted me to go buy the cherries!  Click on the link for the cake and go over to Joni's and get the recipe.

And here is my second inspiration for baking, the kids.  We have a habit of discussing food and asking the kids what sounds good.  They give us lots of input.  One thing I have always enjoyed is letting them in the kitchen when they were young.  Baking is the perfect activity.

We have cleaned up the mess and moved on to our homework.  The kitchen is the perfect space for a little lesson.  Somehow I am out of wax paper so I am icing the cake with aluminum foil under it.

Joni was right this cake was wonderful!  Very rich but delicious.  Thanks for the recipe Joni, everybody gave it a thumbs up!

I was looking for recipes my Grandmother's had hand copied and to my surprise I found all of these recipes created by my oldest son.  He was in the kitchen a lot and loved to add his ideas to the weekly menu.  Here he has written out the recipe for a banana split, peanut butter and jelly, pie crust cookies, and rice crispy cookies. 

Some of my favorite kitchen gadgets are this antique rolling pin with hearts stamped on it and a pastry cutter that belonged to my Grandmother.

I also really love old pie tins with really wide edges so you can create a perfect edge to your pie crust.

Cherry pie for my Valentines.  This pie was really a cheater pumpkin eater recipe. The crust was Pillsbury and the pie filling canned.  But, I made Joni's cake totally from scratch.  I love an old fashion recipe where you have almost everything on hand.

Everyone have a fantastic Valentine's Day.  I hope you can share some time with someone you love today, maybe even in the kitchen baking.

I will also join Mary for Mosaic Monday at Little Red House.