In the Kitchen with Grandma
My friend Lydia Harris recently published her book, In the Kitchen With Grandma: Stirring Up Tasty Memories Together (Harvest House Publishers). I interviewed her and wanted to share her comments and a tasty recipe with you.
What prompted you to write this book?
I’ve had fun cooking with my grandkids since they were old enough to lick a spoon, so I wanted other grandparents to share in the fun. Also, I enjoy writing and testing recipes with my grandkids, and during the past ten years, more than 100 have been published in Focus on the Family’s children’s magazines. Most of all, I wanted to encourage grandparents to share their faith and life lessons while they cooked together with their grandkids.
Do you have a favorite easy recipe to share with my readers?
With 100 recipes in my cookbook, it’s hard to pick a favorite. But one of the most unique recipes with only two ingredients is ice cream bread. You can use any flavor ice cream you wish. I’ve enjoyed strawberry and chocolate chip mint ice cream bread. (See photos.)
Ice Cream Bread
Here’s the scoop: Combining ice cream and flour gives you cake and ice cream in one bite!
Difficulty: 2 spoons
Prep time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 25 to 30 minutes
Gather with Grandma
1 cup ice cream, softened
¾ cup self-rising flour (see tip to make your own)
1 T. sugar (optional)
Make with Grandma
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a small loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Measure the ice cream into a medium-sized bowl and stir until smooth.
- Add flour and sugar if desired. Stir until blended.
- Spoon the batter into the loaf pan.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes on a cooling rack. Loosen the sides with a knife and remove the bread from the baking pan.
- When cool, slice the bread and serve it by itself or with a scoop of the same flavor ice cream. Wrap and refrigerate leftovers.
Tip: To make self-rising flour, whisk together 3/4 cup flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt. Store the flour mixture in a covered container.
How has cooking/baking with your grandkids brought you close together?
Cooking and eating together has brought joy and closeness. I’ve learned a lot about my grandkids and their taste preferences, interests, and how to pray for them. We have enjoyed cousins’ gatherings will all five of them here for sleepovers or to celebrate their spiritual birthdays, and we’ve enjoyed one-on-one times. I learned the importance of seizing the moments from their birth, because there comes a time when they no longer beg for sleepovers. My two oldest grandkids (both boys) are already 18 and 20.
Any suggestions for grandmas that are not as talented in the kitchen as you are?
My cookbook has recipes ranked by one, two, and three spoons of difficulty. So grandparents and grandkids can easily choose ones that fit age and skill level.
Select recipes your grandkids like or that sound good to them. I sometimes make a list of several and ask them which one they would like to make. If you have more than one grandchild over at a time, you can work together on a recipe. Or invite one child over at a time to cook together for a special one-on-one time.
When I give my grandkids a choice of going out to eat or cooking with Grandma, my teenage granddaughter often chooses cooking with me. My grandkids each have their own favorite recipes.
Mainly, cooking together is about relationships, not recipes. It’s about our presence, not perfection. It’s more about the process than the product.
Any closing comments you’d like to share?
When it seems natural and appropriate, I encourage grandparents to share their faith and godly values as they cook and eat together. In the Kitchen with Grandma: Stirring Up Tasty Memories Together includes “A Spoonful of Sharing” discussion prompts for many of the recipes to help grandmas do so. Happy cooking!
Your contact info or website address for readers who wish to write to you?
They can contact me on Facebook or e-mail me at LydiaHarrisBooks@Gmail.com.
They can order books online at amazon.com, Christianbook.com, barnesandnoble.com, and HarvestHousePublishing.com.
Readers, I have one book to give away. If you’re interested, mention that in a comment to this blog and I’ll pick a winner on October 7.
Love this. It feels “old school” and nostalgic…reminding me of being in the kitchen with my gramma.
Thanks, Heidi. I agree. I love the cozy old-fashioned feeling Lydia’s book and comments bring to mind.
What a special book! I think grandmas and grandchildren will enjoy the food as well as special memories created as they cook and converse. This book would be great for any adult who has children in their family or neighborhood!
Hi Joan. Thanks for sharing your perspective. I agree. This is a very cute and practical book for grandmas and the young ones in their lives.
I wish my grandkids didn’t live so far away. but, if you send me a copy of your book, I’d love to try a recipe when one visits me.
Hi Janet. I’ll put your name in the bowl for the drawing before next Monday. If you don’t win, you might want to purchase a copy.
What a great interview! I’m blessed to say that Lydia is my friend. We lived in the same neighborhood for many years. Everything out of her kitchen is not only delicious, but also beautifully presented. Besides that, she’s an amazing grandma, an inspirational writer, and a joy to all who know her.
Thanks, Nancy. This is beautiful.
Really great! I will share this one with my granddaughters! My twin Granddaughters, Sarah and Holly and I used to bake Christmas cookies together and it was a real fun time! Holly was more creative than Sarah but Sarah loved my bananna pudding so she learned how to make it and everyone loves HER bananna pudding! I am the youngest of my parents children and one of my grandmothers died before I was born, but I do remember going to my other grandmothers house and even tho we did not ever ‘cook’ together, the first thing I would do when we got to their house was look under the tablecloth that covered what they had for breakfast and see if there was any left over ham and biscuits. There usually was! She made the best biscuits and cooked the best ham, so I do have a great memory of one of my grandmothers cooking even tho I did not cook with her. Thanks, Karen, this one is beautiful!! Margaret
Thanks, Ann. It’s been a joy to spend time with you and your family when you’re in town. I remember the time your young girls (now adults) helped me test a cookie recipe for a Focus on the Family children’s magazine. They were so creative and had fun. One of them said they could make cookies all day! Some of my grandkids were there creating cookies as well. Great cousin connections over cookies. Memories made in the kitchen with kids are some of the best. I hope this cookbook creates lots of happy times for others.
Thanks, Margaret, for your sweet memory of one of your grandmothers and her cooking.
Thanks, Ann. It’s been a joy to spend time with you and your family when you’re in town. I remember the time your young girls (now adults) helped me test a cookie recipe for a Focus on the Family children’s magazine. They were so creative and had fun. One of them said they could make cookies all day! Some of my grandkids were there creating cookies as well. Great cousin connections over cookies. Memories made in the kitchen with kids are some of the best. I hope this cookbook creates lots of happy times for others.
Hi Lydia. Something went wrong when I was replying to a couple of blog posts, Ann’s among them. I tried to save it but it looks like I deleted it by mistake. So I emailed her to please post again. Every once in awhile I get an error message related to my blog. I loved what you shared with Ann and hope she will post again.
Lydia’s book looks great- may order it for cooking times with my granddaughter who has autism as she likes to help with easy recipes! I noted that Lydia has written many articles- I found 1 on line which I really enjoyed- do you know who I would get access to the other articles? I found the article I read so helpful and practical about marriage. Thanks, Angela
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Angela. You can reach Lydia at the following email address and she can let you know where to find her articles. lydiaharris@centurylink.net.