Emily wanted to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars, but they can't go to school because they have a nut-free policy. I put her off, but she decided, since they were no bake, she could make them on Monday while I was at work, since she had (another!) day off school. I can't help but wonder if I could get a day off for spiritual development....
While I was making supper Sunday night I found myself hungry for an old favourite. I looked up the recipe and decided Emily could manage it, so instead of asking her what she wanted to make, I simply took ground bison out of the freezer and told her this was the menu.
Monday afternoon I got a call at the office. "Mom, what is a "oz"? I went on Google and asked how much was 12 oz of chocolate, but Google's being dumb."
I had to laugh. She was looking at my handwritten recipe, that calls for 12 ounces of chocolate chips, which I have abbreviated "oz". I explained that oz was short for ounce, and she needed about a cup and a half of chips.
Later that afternoon, once I was home, she started preparing the casserole for supper, assuring me she could do it by herself. It wasn't long before she asked me if I'd chop the onions for her, until I reminded her she said she was doing it alone. The chewing gum trick still doesn't work.
The recipe she was using is another handwritten one, copied years ago out of a newspaper. I kept my transcription brief, details were not necessary I didn't believe. At least not until Emily asked if she was supposed to cut the celery up. I laughed and told her that no, she could just stick a whole stalk into the casserole. Then I explained about leaving out words when I copy recipes because to me some things just go without saying. She chopped the celery.
We had a similar conversation after she collected her ingredients. I had written "Brown onion, celery and beef..." and she asked what she should brown it in. I asked her what she thought - a mixing bowl? the kitchen sink? the microwave? A skillet she decided. From there it was smooth sailing, until she cut her finger on a soup can lid. I bandaged her up and sent her back to the stove. She did manage to make dinner all by herself, although I did help pour the meat and sauce into a casserole dish.
As she was cooking Emily noticed another recipe on the facing page, and commented that it looked good too. She's right, it is good, and will be on this week's menu.
Chinese Noodle Casserole
1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped celery
1 can tomato soup 1 lb ground beef
2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 can mushroom soup
4 ounces chow mein noodles
Brown onion, celery and beef in a large skillet. Stir in soups and soy sauce along with 3/4 of the noodles. Stir to combine and pour into a medium sized (1 1/2 quart) casserole dish. Sprinkle with the remaining noodles. Bake, uncovered 45 minutes at 350F
* I like lots of noodles so I add several generous handfuls rather than measuring.
Reese's Bars
2 1/2 cups Graham wafer crumbs 1 cup melted margarine
12 ounces chocolate chips 2 3/4 cups icing sugar
1 cup peanut butter
Melt the chocolate and set aside. Combine the remaining ingredients and press into an ungreased 9x13" pan. Pour the chocolate over. Refrigerate, cut into squares before completely cool, after about 15 minutes in the fridge. Decorate each square with a peanut if desired.
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