Future Iron Chefs of America

Ok, so I watched the stupid Grammys and Kevin Johansen was nowhere.  He didn't win his category either.  I think it was one of those where they only announce certain categories' winners, not all the contenders.

Anyway, today was insane and kind of fun, as always.  There were way too many kids here, but I didn't really feel like dealing with them, so I figured I would let them put together the Halloween gingerbread house that Peyton had brought over.  "As long as Peyton can read the instructions", I thought "they should be ok.  And I'm within earshot if anything should go awry."

In their haste to get things going, the girls put way too much water in the frosting mix, not bothering to get the teaspoon that the recipe called for.  I told them that it was ok, I could probably try to fix it with some flour later. 

As with most children, neither of them trusted what I said and Peyton continued and re-read the instructions to see what else needed to be done.  Since they were mixing and seemed happy I tuned out.

"Toothpaste, we need toothpaste!!", one said, followed by a choir of "yes, toothpaste!!".  I tought they were just being silly/funny, that it was some crazy idea most likely Jackie had come up with.  I told them they didn't need it, laughed and said "you guys are goofy!".

After realizing that the time spent on the mixture of the frosting was longer than it should be, I jumped in.  I started slowly pouring flower into the mix and making it thicker, but I had to use so much flour to make it the right consistency that I decided to have a taste to see how bad it was.

It tasted minty fresh.

Seemingly, Peyton can read, and very well (her mother is a writer and a teaching nut) but was unable to make out what "consistency of" was or meant.  So she took "toothpaste" and assumed that's what the recipe called for.  Following orders, Jackie had snuck into one of the bathrooms and moments later had squeezed about half of the tube into both the black and orange mixes.

To end this tale, all of the pieces that were once to be a magnificent gingerbread house but wouldn't stick together are now in the trash.  I don't think the kids even noticed.  They had abandoned ship long ago and were probably somewhere hiding, sneaking, eating their Halloween loot.

Gabriela

Eight more shopping days 'til my birthday!!!

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:-P