This past weekend, I had the opportunity to keep the two Oklahoma Grandkids ALL BY MYSELF.
Moral of this story sentence: It takes a lot of energy to keep up with a six-year-old and a two-year-old !
Little Miss P wanted to 'experiment' with baking and Baby Dub Ya wanted to 'halp.'
We decided it would be much easier to 'experiment' when baby brother took his nap.
Always ready for that 'teachable moment,' this post has been created around the scientific method, in a round-about-way. Any scientist would probably find many flaws in it, but at least a few of the vocabulary words were thrown around just for fun.
The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions.
Scientists use the scientific method to search for cause and effect relationships in nature. In other words, they design an experiment so that changes to one item cause something else to vary in a predictable way.
The scientific method helps to:
focus a project question,
construct a hypothesis,
design, execute, and evaluate an experiment:
1. Ask a question
2. Do background research
3. Construct hypothesis
4. Test with experiment
5. Analyze results -Draw Conclusion
6. Hypothesis is true - false - partially true
7. Report results
After Little Miss P asked if we could experiment with baking, we decided to narrow it down to cupcakes. She wanted to add different kinds of ingredients to see if the cupcakes would taste good.
She made a list of all the different ingredients we had in the pantry and then decided on a combination of twelve. Then she lined them all up on the counter top.
We followed the directions on the cake mix box and greased the bottom of the Pampered Chef cupcake pan with buttery-Crisco.
This reminds me of the time when her mommy was about the same age and wanted to bake brownies. She also buttered the bottom of the pan . . . literally, she buttered THE BOTTOM of the pan.
The next step was to 'dust' the pan with flour.
This reminds me of the time I tried to make gravy and used powdered sugar. It was nice to see that the canisters have now been labeled.
There are other stories about my gravy, but we'll save that for another post.
It takes a lot of concentration to spoon the flour into each little compartment,
but . . .
we were able to 'dust' the pan without breaking it.
Now that the pan has been prepared, it was time to make the batter.
We carefully measured and poured one cup plus two tablespoons of water into the mix.
Then we stirred and stirred with a whisk.
The next step was to break the eggs.
As evidenced by the look on her face, this was not something she wanted to do.
So, she insisted that I do it for her.
It took quite a bit of coaxing to convince her that all scientists/bakers crack their own eggs.
Finally, she whacked it on the side of the counter and dropped it into a separate bowl.
It's much easier to dig out egg shells from a separate bowl than when they end up in the batter.
Yup ! This recipe calls for TWO eggs !
Not sure I can spell all the words she squealed as she broke the shell, but a few of them were:
EE-YEWWWW!
UUUUGGGHHH!
Grrrrooooossss !
Yuk!
EEEKKKK !
and on and on !
She did manage to break both eggs but refused to dig out the egg shells that ended up in the bowl.
The next step was to beat the eggs . . .until they screamed.
This reminds me of when her mother, not many years ago, made homemade ice cream and did NOT beat the eggs until they screamed.
Ever eaten homemade banilla ice cream with WHOLE frozen eggs ?
And then, they were poured into the batter.
We couldn't find the mixer, so we stirred and stirred and stirred until . . .
. . . the batter looked like this.
Are we having fun yet ?
After we put half the batter in the cupcake pan, it was time for the experimental ingredients.
Since there was plenty of Valentine's Day candy . . .
. . . two of the ingredients would be candy kisses and turtles.
Quality control was conducted on the turtle.
Once we discovered that some of the orange Jelly Bellies were mango, we discarded them.
Little Miss P is allergic to mango !
The scientist/baker determined that our cupcake experiment required Nerds.
Have I asked if we're having fun yet ?
Another ingredient was buttercream icing.
It was a bit reluctant to come off the spoon.
Maybe we might need to just lick it off the spoon !
All our special ingredients have been added.
We even made a chart of what those ingredients were.
What do you think your favorite might be ?
And yes, those ingredients on the bottom row are Girl Scout Cookies.
Should you need a box, just let us know in the comment section.
They are only $4.00 a box.
Her goal is to sell 400 boxes.
She has sold 390.
Somebody out there must need a couple of boxes !!!!!
We added more batter to cover up the special ingredients in the middles.
Our cupcakes were ready for the oven.
We baked them at 350 degrees for about twenty-five minutes.
And they looked like this.
Then, we wondered if they would come out of the pan.
They did !
That buttery-Crisco and flour trick really does work.
Which reminds me of this quote from "The Help" . . .
"Crisco ain't just for frying. You ever get a sticky something stuck in your hair, like gum?...That's right, Crisco. Spread this on a baby's bottom, you won't even know what diaper rash is...shoot, I seen ladies rub it under they eyes and on they husband's scaly feet...Clean the goo from a price tag, take the squeak out a door hinge. Lights get cut off, stick a wick in it and burn it like a candle....And after all that, it'll still fry your chicken.” --Kathryn Stockett
This one was still warm, right out of the oven.
Now, for the taste-testing.
First Dad !
Then, Mom !
Baby Dub Ya refused to try a 'tuptake' at the time, but he was all smiles anyway.
Just for the record, there is a reason that he calls a tennis racket, "A Whack."
And, then, of course, Little Miss P.
1. Ask a question: Will adding different kinds of ingredients make a yellow cupcake taste better ?
2. Do background research: Our only research was to look in the pantry to see what was there that we could add to our yellow cupcake batter.
3. Construct hypothesis: Yellow cupcakes with the ingredients shown above will taste better.
4. Test with experiment: Eat them with a glass of cold milk.
5. Analyze results -Draw Conclusion
The cupcakes with the Girl Scout Cookes were a bit dry. Next time, we will add a little bit of oil t0 those, but they tasted great.
The cupcakes with the buttercream frosting were a bit runny but they tasted great.
The cupcake with the Rolo was Little Miss P's favorite.
The cupcake with the turtle was Gammy's favorite.
6. Hypothesis is true - false - partially true: Our hypothesis is partially true.
7. Report results: Little Miss P had a wonderful time. Gammy probably gained a pound or two.
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On a serious note, here are two links that my cousin, Lucy, sent to me.
You might be interested in reading them.
They might change your shopping habits.
If enough people change their shopping habits, it could change the World !
Looks like you had a great time as always. Sorry I didn't call back, I was under the weather and the blankets until today. Maybe next time.
Love and miss you
Karra
Posted by: Running with the Pack | February 23, 2012 at 01:13 PM
As the Cookie Chair mom for my daughter's Girl Scout Troop - I commend her on selling almost 400 boxes of cookies. My daughter's goal was 350 and so far she's a little over 200. She has a ways to go.
Posted by: Karmyn R | February 23, 2012 at 02:49 PM
What a fun way to spend the day! I'll be she didn't even realize she was in "school". BTW - once a teacher...always a teacher!
Posted by: Kim | February 23, 2012 at 08:13 PM
She's 6???? What a smart little lady!!!!
I am VERY impressed with her...
And you for being patient.
xo
Posted by: The Laundress | February 24, 2012 at 05:27 AM