Baking Blueberry Galette with the Boys

Today we decided to cook/bake together.  It's important to me that the boys learn that things aren't just "there"...in the store.  I wanted them to know that it takes hard work for things to be made.  Someone grew these fruits.  Someone made this.  Food can be so easy to get and so readily available (first world problems) that sometimes I think we all forget just how much effort goes into it.  Since we couldn't keep our Venus fly traps alive for more than a few days, we decided that it was hard work to grow blueberries.  Kuddos to blueberries farmers everywhere.  So we decided to get the blueberries, flour,sugar and lemons and a few other things out and make blueberry Galette.  We started with fresh blueberries, mixed in a few things and popped it in a (store bought) pie crust and, Voila.   Bubbling.  Goodness. It brings me joy to give my kids something homemade.  And what they make, they are excited to eat.  I plan to let them help me make green beans next.  Hope that goes ok.  Not holding my breath tho.
I will include the whole recipe at the end.  So a big thank you to one of my best friends Joanna and her sister Marissa for enhancing and rocking my world with blueberry Galette.

It doesn't seem hard hitting, but the little things I do with my boys seems to excite them more than anything I buy them or any exciting place I take them.  Maybe "I" am enough?

I need to document all this effort I am putting forth for my kids.  You know how people only remember the bad memories (we have a bunch).  Well I have blogged proof that I did stuff with my kids. So kids, don't forget me when you are all famous. Oh...um...I'm back.   Sorry back to blueberry Galette.

Before long they will be off to graduating High School, off to College and getting married. Deep Sigh! (Depressed eating blueberry Galette)  I love my kids and I love being schooled at the University of Boys!!! Ciao for now.

                                                My little guys taste testing the "blue babies"

                                                            Squeezing lemons

                                                   Apparently we need hats to bake

                                              Team work! If only things always looked peaceful.

                                       Big Brother will take it from here.  Mom wanted to keep the
                                           little sanity she has and went with store bought pie crust.

                                                              He's a pro

                                                             Butter Butter!

                                   All the bubbly goodness.  Top that with some whip cream..Whoop Whoop!

                                1  Pie Crust (we used Trader Joe's)
                                          
                                           2 cups Blueberries
                                          
                                           1/4 cup sugar in the raw or coconut sugar
                                          
                                           2 Tb Cornstarch 
                                          
                                          1 Lemon
                                          
                                           1 tsp Vanilla Extract
                                           
                                           1/4 tsp salt
                                          
                                           1 Egg

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Mix blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice, vanilla, and salt in a bowl.

Thaw out your Pie Crust and put all the delicious mixture into the center.  

Pinch in the dough to form a ring and  to keep the mixture in.  

Brush egg wash (egg and water mixture) on the pie crust.  

Bake for 20 minutes until golden and bubbly.  From what I keep reading it's okay for some of the juices to come out.  Let it cool and serve with whipped cream or Ice cream.  YUM.  THE END

Cowboys Vs. Indians

One little, two little, three little Indians. Four little (sadly the song has to stop there). Today there are no worries; No worries of handing in homework, or making lunches or getting to school on time. Today there is just us; just us and this tee pee we acquired that is. I have been trying to cultivate imagination and free play with my boys and that is exactly what we did here. It was time to release some of the pressure that we were under and just PLAY like the good ole days. Two ** Indian brothers making a fire to roast their kill of the day. When suddenly out of no where: Cowboys. A fight erupts. Who will win? Will the two (or....errr 1.5) cowboys win or the Indians. **By the way, Indians (totally ironic) chuckle chuckle. They are half east Indian and half white btw. This is pure entertainment. Their conversations. Their actions. 

Their arguments! All hysterical. I was first thinking, is this too violent (guns, bows and arrows) ? Its this too much for children? Is someone going to get poked in the eye. Then I realized that we can't 

shelter out kids from violence. We have to teach them to be courageous. 

Boys were born for this stuff. I am learning that I have to teach my boys to have an imagination in this "iworld", where their minds are inundated with technology. This was fun.  Here are a few pictures.  What adventure is next? 

Don't be fooled by this poses pictures.  They run around like crazy after.  They promised to hold tight for a minute though.  And I am learning to not be such a perfectionist.  

   We know that this cowboy is only 3 months but he knows what he wants and right now he wants to run around with the boys.  Sadly, his chunky legs just don't move that fast...yet :)

  This 7 year old elder boys will probably become a police officer.  He is always close by making sure his        baby brothers are okay.

This five year old is sweet and friendly.  He loves imaginary play as you can tell from his makeshift bow and arrow.

 What can we say about our two year old? He has the cutest baby voice.  Its cuter because he speaks full paragraphs.

                                                      

                                                             Brothers sticking together.  

                                 

                                                 They are always fighting anyway.