The Cook and the Chef…
My kids love cooking.
Love getting up their elbows in the kitchen.
Love making messes.
And while I do encourage their enthusiasm for ‘making, baking, cooking all the while’ it has recently become clear that perhaps I haven’t been truly recognising their potential.
…
To explain, I need to backtrack a little…
Has anyone ever seen the ABC TV show ‘The Cook and The Chef’?
It’s close to my favourite television show.
(Mr Incredible is a fan too – though Top Gear still wins out when push comes to shove!).
For those who don’t have the delight of access to the show, it features the fabulous Maggie Beer (The Cook) and sharp-witted Hilton-based guru Simon Bryant (The Chef), a couple of culinary-blessed scalliwags. The pair combine in an Odd Couple kind of way to whip up theme-inspired mouth-watering dishes with delicious unrehearsed humour and an easy cameraderie.
Laughter and drool.
It’s a winning combo.
It’s almost enough to make me want to get arty and energetic in the kitchen.
(I soon calm down though … I detest cleaning up!)
…
Some of the energy from The Cook and The Chef has clearly rubbed off on my kids.
To illustrate I’ll share a little sequence taken in our backyard this week.
The kids had no idea I was taking their photo… I was being sneaky and shot at full zoom on my trusty 18-200mm. They were totally natural and the chatter was full bore.
As usual, please ignore uncombed hair, stained white fence in background – dirty sprinkler water does that – and abandoned bikes near unphotogenic deserted veggie garden.
I do.
I am imagining the conversation, a la ‘The Cook and The Chef’:
Violet: So Dash, I have never seen mud pies created quite like that before…
Dash: Maybe not Violet, but I reckon you are going to add this one to your next cookbook, it’s so good!
V: Ooooh, and what is that ingredient you’re adding there Dash?
D: That’s a handful of couch grass from behind the old vege patch Violet. It adds a certain cheeky element to the pie. You’ll see what I mean in a second…
V: I can hardly wait Dash. I have never had lawn clippings in my mud pies before.
D: You don’t know what you are missing, its a great combo… a bit ‘out there’ but makes the whole experience really memorable… but enough about me…what are you working on there Violet?
V: Well Dash, it’s a tried and true recipe from the CWA 1965 cookbook for dirt scones. There is nothing like the homespun charm of a dirt scone, you know.
D: I hope you have some whipped cream for that dish – makes me think of my grandma!
V (giggling) : Oh Dash, you are naughty!!!
…
Do you think my imagination runs away with me sometimes?
Or perhaps I just watch too much TV…
14 Comments
•´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Trish.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´•
LOL that was beaut fun.Very cute too.
I love the way the photo changes …how did you do that ?
Cactus Jack Splash
What fun. Thanks for sharing
sues2u2
That was so sweet. We just gave away my daughter’s kitchen. My time passes quickly, doesn’t it?
Leenie
LOL
Gina
How cute! They look like they are having fun. My girls would spend hours playing with their kitchen. Heck, I remember playing with mine with my sister. Funny how somethings never change.
Woman in a Window
Kid’s ‘ill cook up anything. And have a heck of a good time doing it.
jeanie
ha ha – we watch The Cook and The Chef here also when we remember – you caught their interaction beautifully! (And I think you should send this link in to the show – they would cack)
Reddirt Woman
In a word, YES…
But it is all good and wonderful to have photos of Violet and Dash playing so well together. And I love a man that’s not afraid of putting on an apron!
Great series of shots.
Helen
Debby
Tho picture of Dash’s back, his little ‘chicken wings’ his blonde hair: strangely, I looked at it and had an unaccountable welling of tears. The picture reminded me of my Dylan, all grown up and on his own.
traceelements
I think both. ie. you have a great imagination, AND you watch too much TV. Which all results in a classic post which had me chuckling. You’ve got The Cook and The Chef down to a T!
Helz
Shades of Beef ’09 coming to the fore also… ? Great Capture.
M+B
*LOL*
We love The Cook and The Chef at our house too. Though Miss 3 is also still very disgusted that The Cook did pig's ears a few weeks back, and they should only be used for dog treats!
~*Autumn*~
That is so stinking cute BB! I loved the pictures of the kids doing their own thing, cooking away at the mud pies, dirt scones, grass soup… ahhh.. love it!
Anonymous
my husband and i watch the cook and the chef every wednesday night. we sit there silently letting all the cooking experiences sink in. then at the end i say well next week im going to cook that, and of course i dont. it would be nice to have them in your home cooking for you every night though