Just a quick query. If you were making cakes with 3 and 4yr olds would you get them to use a wooden spoon to do all the mixing or would you let them use an electric hand mixer?
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Just a quick query. If you were making cakes with 3 and 4yr olds would you get them to use a wooden spoon to do all the mixing or would you let them use an electric hand mixer?
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i would use wooden spoons ... but only because i always do it by hand! only use my hand mixer to whisk egg white!
Good old fashion wooden spoon for me :)
I've let them do both. Even the 2 year olds have had a go with electric hand mixer (with help). They really enjoy it! :thumbsup:
I do both. I let them use the electric whisk to get used to the noise as well as use the wooden spoon. They love it. Obviously the younger ones need some assistance but its all good fun. X
I cheat slightly - I let the mindees attempt to do all the creaming butter and sugar with wooden spoon but take the bowl into the kitchen after each stage to "rescue" the mixture with the electric mixer, then they crack in the eggs and attempt to mix but it ends up curdled so has to be "rescued" again, same after adding flour. We do all cooking at dining room table and I have a stair gate through to kitchen so I can see children at all times - we don't do cooking in the kitchen as I don't want them to have to stand on chairs to reach work surface and the dogs are in the kitchen, so children don't ever go in. I did once let them do all the mixing but it clearly wasn't enough as the cakes ended up as flat as biscuits!
I've always used my electric mixer - its actually easier, however one mindee didn't like the noise, so it was a gradual thing with him (he started on the couch covering his ears, and over a period of a couple of months he was finally happy to do the mixer himself).
Its only now that they are aged 4 upwards that we use a wooden spoon or whisk and mix by hand.
I do both but tend to use the electric mixer to 'finish off'. I have a great sponge recipe using oil rather than butter or marge. This is so much easier and only needs a spoon
Have my own question though - I have a 16m mindee - in what ways can I include them in cake making?
They can mix pour with your helps can let them just touch the substances of the flour and butter etc :)
I mostly use a wooden spoon as I find it quicker than getting my kitchen aid out. If we are short for time I sometimes make the cakes the evening before like I did last night, I made two lots and the children have decorated them today (I have no children on Fri)
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Yes, this happened to a mindee many years ago when she was cooking with her mum - hair was ripped from scalp, she had to wear a wide material alice band to cover the bald patches until it grew back. Reminded me of when I was doing about history of woollen mills (industrial revolution and all that) at school and they used to say about people being dragged into machines by their hair!:panic:
mine use wooden spoon and I finish off with hand mixer if needed or they help hold it if they can. Sometimes needs 'rescuing'
Often if pressed for time I make cakes/biscuits the night before to be iced/decorated by mindees.
I get quite frustrated baking with children - being a bit of a baker myself I hate the mess! I am a tidy baker :) Love my KitchenAid :D would rather baking mess than sand though!!
wooden spoon if you are covering PD and mixer is you're doing UW Technology and ICT!!! lol