If not for Katie, we would be eating PB&J for dinner every night…late. I have a menu plan. And I have the food in the pantry or fridge or freezer.
But things always seem to crop up when it’s time to actually start prepping the evening meal: hungry baby, cranky baby, soaking wet baby…husband in a time zone 7 hours ahead who wants to skype before bed…just things.
Today was meatloaf, and I was on step one when my husband emailed saying he was available to talk. Katie offered to take over and I have a recipe, so it would be easy enough for her to follow along. Some recipes are in my head and not very specific (search fridge for available ingredients, add some spices, cook until done), but this one is written out.
I went to the office to call him and told her to ask me if she wasn’t sure of anything.
Like Worcestershire sauce. She didn’t know what that was.
And I had some penciled in correction regarding the eggs that the recipe required.
And then she wanted to know what “cat soup” was.
“Cat soup” is spelled c-a-t-s-u-p. That was pretty funny.
Then she wanted to know how to mix it. I think this was the first time she ever touched raw ground beef with her bare hands. She survived.
Dinner was yummy.
Reit This Way 
My daughter Olivia has taken over pizza night. She even makes the crust!
Right now we are in what I like to call “survival mode”.
I meant to add “way to go Katie!”
Wouldn't it be lovely if that became a regular thing? And she could teach her sister!
WTG Katie!
When Little Brother was into “helping” me mix meatballs, I invested in a box of disposable food-safe gloves and made him wear them. In that case it was less about touching the raw meat than it was having him touch the raw meat…you get what I mean, I'm sure.
This too shall pass, and in the meantime Katie is going to become quite the little chef.
Oh, gosh, I LOVE big kids who can jump in when things need to get done. Usually, I like cooking dinner, but sometimes, there's just no time, or I don't feel well, or somebody else doesn't feel well, and I just love that they can and they do. Three cheers for Katie's meatloaf!
Awesome! My older kids were life savers when our newest babe was a newborn.
Nice! Glad you are utilizing your helpers!
Good job, Katie!