Baking is a strange alchemy of butter, sugar, flour and heat. It's a popular rainy day school holiday activity, but does making biscuits and cupcakes really teach children how to cook?
A simple, yet perfect, answer as to why we should bake. But too few people make the time.They work, they've forgotten how, they don't know what to make or where to start, and, well, then there's the mess.
Bring it on - we all need to have more fun and we should definitely be a bit more messy. Children have a lot to teach us and Pheroza has hit this nail on the head with this one.
More than just biscuits to eat
"Cooking goes to the heart of our understanding of food. A simple cake or biscuit uses everyday ingredients: flour from wheat fields, butter from a cow, eggs from a chicken.
When a child tries a key skill like rubbing in - mixing flour and butter by hand - all manner of emotions come out. It's soft, squidgy, silky, yucky! Sadly mud pies have had their day, hence the consternation when some touch the ingredients - they've been taught it's dirty.
A recipe's alchemy is obvious as soon as the first ingredients are in the bowl. Creaming butter and sugar makes a pale golden mixture. Adding self-raising flour instantly produces air bubbles.
Following recipes helps with reading and maths, weights and measures - useful skills in and out of the kitchen.
Baking also helps children develop motor neurone skills, listening and concentration.
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