The Baker's Prerogative

There's something about autumn that I love. It may be the memories of family Thanksgivings as a kid, the crisp scent of falling leaves, the anticipation of a new school year, or growing up surrounded by the vibrant reds of the Sugar Maples in Northern Ontario. Whatever it is, it thrills me. And with my annual craving for anything pumpkin, I hunted down a pumpkin molasses oatmeal cookie recipe.

As I pulled the hot cookie sheets out of the oven tonight, I thought about all the baking I did growing up. Once, around the age of 9, when baking chocolate chip cookies with Allison & Elissa, Elissa taught us how to sneakily slide our forefinger down the spoon to "accidentally" get cookie dough on our finger so that we'd just have to lick it off. We mastered that trick pretty quickly!

Now that I've grown up, I focus more on checking tasks off of my to-do list than savouring the moment. But as a mum I need to take the time to create memorable experiences with my kids, allowing them to be goofy and teaching them that it's the baker's prerogative to taste-test every batch! It may not be healthy or sanitary, but it's fun. And laughing together is more important than getting things done quickly, keeping a clean kitchen, or even having any dough left to bake!