An idea for enlisting the help of children
HINTS FROM HELOISE
HELOISE
Dear Heloise: I'm writing in response to Louise R.'s ideas on children's help in prepping and hosting, as well as your own inquiries on the topic. I have a 3-year-old daughter whom I've allowed to work alongside me on age-appropriate "prep work" in the kitchen, from just about the time she could stand herself up to reach the countertops in her toddler tower.
Her great aunt gifted her a kid-friendly cutting board and a plastic (but still functional) knife set, and she can chop up just about every vegetable and fruit under the sun. She lends a hand in everything from daily meals to Christmas dinners and now absolutely loves to be included in the prepping, cooking, setting up and especially the decorating before any celebration.
If there's a birthday or a party at another family member's home, she asks if she can go over early to help. I believe that it's truly instilled in her the selfless joy that can come from celebrating others, as well as the gratifying feeling of seeing others enjoy something that you've worked hard to put together.
If you have the time (and a fair amount of patience), I agree with Louise R. and recommend getting the little ones involved in these kinds of activities. — Lauren L., in Steubenville, Ohio
Awful waffle mistake
Dear Heloise: My waffle was stuck to the grid plates because I forgot to spray them. I had to wait for it to cool so that I could pick it clean and wash it. (To make it more stressful, I had two young granddaughters who were waiting for their waffles.) The drying of the grids would have taken forever, but I used my handheld hair dryer, which did an excellent job. It was much better than what I could have done by trying to dry each pocket. — Jackie, in Colorado
Egg cartons
Dear Heloise: In a recent column in the Winston-Salem Journal, Pat in New Jersey mentioned "throwing out egg cartons." My wife and I have a small farm and keep about 40 free-range hens. They don't go in the henhouse other than to lay eggs and roost at night. Otherwise, they roam about the farm as they wish.
We donate our fresh eggs to a local food pantry. To date, we've given them several hundred dozen. Here's the thing: If you shop for egg cartons, you'll find that they can cost as much as $1.50 each. We try to purchase them in bulk, but even then, the costs add up. We do get some freebies and returns, but not nearly enough to keep up with the hens. So, there's always someone somewhere who can use an egg carton. — Chicken Man, in Advance, North Carolina
Chicken Man, I use egg cartons as seed starters in the spring. My neighbor uses the egg cartons that she has to separate beads she uses in jewelry making. There are so many uses for egg cartons. — Heloise
Email Heloise@Heloise.com.
