My son Edison and I have been baking together ever since he could stand at the counter.  We used a Learning Tower in our small galley kitchen, and it was just what he needed to comfortably and safely help me in the kitchen.  One of our favorite recipes was the bread recipe I learned to make in my Montessori Training. He has it memorized now and often wakes up on Saturday mornings wanting to start the day by making bread.



Image from aidtolife.org



7 reasons to let your child bake bread:

1. He appreciates the hard work of kneading warm dough

2. He has developed the patience to wait through a second rise cycle

3. He has internalized the chemistry of the yeast, water, and sugar

4. He enjoys the taste of freshly baked bread

5. He fails sometimes and takes note of what might have happened, so that he can fix it for next time.

6. It is a process that takes at least three hours.

7. It makes the house smell great.

Check out this website for more ideas for you and your child in the kitchen!

Here is our recipe for bread (pizza dough, rolls, calzones, breadsticks…)

1 cup warm water

3/4 cup sugar

3 tsp active dry yeast

3 cups flour

1 Tbs olive oil

Mix water yeast and sugar.  Set aside for 15 minutes.  Add flour and olive oil.  Mix until all the flour is incorporated. Knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes.  Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel. Place in a warm location and let rise for 1 hour.

Knead the dough on a floured surface.  Place it back in oiled bowl, cover and let rise for another 30-45 minutes.  Knead the dough one last time, place it in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350* for 30 minutes.

Enjoy together!