Cooking 101

Today, in an unanticipated RAK (random act of kindness) Emily offered to make Easy Mac for her little brother. If there's one thing I've learned about sibling relationships, it's that mom definitely should not intrude in RAK's; it is too easy to disrupt the fragile dynamic at play during these rare occurances.

I felt like an adventurer on safari, and being careful not to spook, I watched from a distance. I saw Emily with the tools: bowl ("no, honey, that's not big enough"), measuring cup, microwave. She had it under control. I wouldn't have been a proper mom if I hadn't offered, "Don't touch the bowl when it's done--it will be super hot!"

I continued to make the grown-up lunch while the two of them moved to the microwave, and the light shown on their little faces as they watched the turntable go round. "Yummmm, it smells like popcorn!" Maybe that should have been my first hint, but I really wasn't paying attention: I had a good three and a half minutes until that microwave beeped and the potential for an argument began again. Then Em said, "Ewww, it's turning brown!" Uh oh. I flung the door open to find that Em had missed one key ingredient: the water.

"Did you read the package?"

"Yes. I got excited and forgot the water."

"Of course. Mac and cheese does that to me, too. Toss that in the garbage and try again."

And so, the second try was successful. Matt enjoyed his mac and cheese all the more because it was made by his older sister. And I have the memory...that and the smell that just will not leave my kitchen.