Wonderful Day with the Hutterite Children Making Christmas Cookies

I know I have written a few times about visiting the Hutterite Colony. I am a substitute teacher and have offered to the students that rather than do art, when I come we can have a cooking class. I am a home economics teacher and love to cook with the children.

This was cooking with children like I have never experienced. These kids do not grow up with family kitchens. The Colony has a commercial kitchen that is totally kid unfriendly. Cooking small batch is a treat.

I had a couple of consecutive days and decided we could make some Christmas cookies. Day 1 we made sugar cookie and gingerbread cookie dough.

I pre-measured most of the ingredients so they only had to mix them together. I only had one hand mixer. Now, normally when I am with a group of children I am so nervous with my appliances. These kids are amazing. The boys right away noticed the mixer had a fan to cool the motor. They knew if they tilted it while in motion the dough would be flung far and wide. I only showed them once how to install the beaters. Only once did I show them the on/off button.

I had 3 rolling pins and each differently shaped. Before I even explained how to use each they shouted out the unique nuances of each. They knew how to use a pin without moving pieces. They knew that a French style pin that is fatter in the centre would have to be tilted to make an even dough.

We rolled and cut cookies. I took them home and baked them.

Unfortunately I didn't have a card in my camera and therefore have no pictures. It was also a day that my lunch from their kitchen had the most beautiful pork chop. Why? Why? Why? I really wanted a picture of that pork chop. It was delicious.

Now I am returning with their baked cookies and some prepared icing so they can decorate and package their cookie gifts.