About four months ago, I fulfilled one of my childhood dreams. I got an Easy Bake Oven...for my daughter. I was never allowed to have one as a kid. (Apparently, I would have burned myself on the lightbulb.) So, I couldn't wait until my daughter was old enough to play with one. I mean, really...I couldn't wait. The recommended age for the Easy Bake Oven is 8 and up. She's only six. But, it's not like she wasn't going to be supervised, right? I mean, really. Think I was going to lose out on playing with the thing?
Now, I don't know if I should categorize this posting as math-related or chemistry-related. You see, when you take a look at the ingredients in the little cake and cookie mixes, you're playing with an odd assortment of ingredients. I'm not a big fan of packaged food that lists things like propylene esters in it's makeup. I mean, what IS that anyway? Plus, buying extra mystery packets of food for the oven can cost enough that you would swear they had to be all natural organic!
So, like most purchases made out of obsession, my daughter and I played with the thing a couple of times and then it sat on a shelf. But, it didn't sit quietly...no. The box looked down on me, laughing that I spent good money on something that churned out eight mini cookies and one frosted cake about the size of the bottom of a tea cup.
Recently, I googled, "What do I do with an Easy Bake Oven," and to my surprise, women my age...who, perhaps like me, were finally getting a chance to play with this thing (oh, and yes, their kids) didn't have to give up on this toy. And, we don't need to eat propylene esters, either! There are actually women out there who have taken the time to measure out recipes for the Easy Bake oven that include ingredients such as flour, sugar, and butter! I was soooo excited, that I don't even want to know how they have that much time on their hands!
So, Mandy and I got busy this weekend. We made peanut butter cookies...which, were rather yum! And, we tried baked apple. Next, on our list is pizza. And, you know what I found out? At 38, the best part of this oven is watching my daughter measure out small amounts of ingredients without being overwhelmed, all by herself. I do believe she understands the difference between a TBS and a tsp, now. And it's so much easier for her little hands to measure out 1/4 cup of flour, rather than 2-1/2 cups!
So, Easy Bake Oven purchasers, celebrate! Find cute mouthfuls of fun and opportunities to teach weights and measures to younger kids at http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes.php?q[]=easy+bake+oven&ls=re and at http://www.budget101.com/kids.htm#Easy_Bake_Mixes.
By the way, those propylene esters? They are some sort of thickening agent derived from kelp. Hmmm...yeah. Yum.
