Busy Bank Holiday

My brother asked us whether we could look after his three little darlings on Sunday evening as he and his wife were going out.

We enjoy looking after his kids - after all they were one of the main reasons we moved 140 miles North a few years ago!

On telly recently, there has been a series called "Junior Masterchef" where young kids, of about the age our nephew and neice are, cook a series of dishes, some of their choosing and some not, and battle it out for a trophy at the end.

The series inspired us to get Martha and Leo doing more cooking when they visit us, so I went into town on Sunday morning, and found a really lovely beginners cook book to inspire them!

I looked at quite a few other childrens cookbooks, and this was the best! I was also pleased because it had a recipie for Spaghetti Carbonara, which was what M&L had decided they wanted to eat that evening.

The next few photos show cooking in progress. Both kids did well, and were impressed that Douglas has "Chefs fingers" - the ability to handle things that are rather hot (like putting spaghetti into boiling water)

I love this photo, because Martha is concentrating very hard on her frying onions, and the way Douglas put the spaghetti into the saucepan is beautiful!

Another great photo... Both kids in on the action!

Carlo, being nearly 6, is a little too young to be looking after things on a hot stove, but he "supervised" and gave encouragment (oh, and told them to hurry up lol) whilst his older siblings were busy! (I admit, I did suggest to him that he could encourage them AND to tell them to hurry up!) - oh what a wicked Aunty I am!

Dinner being ready, the three kids and Douglas all tucked in to a very well made meal (I dont really like spag, and Im veggie, so I left them to it)

Carlo looks like a little angel in this photo.. he ate up every scrap of his meal and would have eaten more had there been any!

After tea, we got the kids washing up a few plates each. This is not part they enjoyed very much, but its an important part of the process, and has to be done!

The next installment is going to be..... leek and potato soup when they next visit. Martha has taken the cookery book home with her, and has probably spent all evening pooring over the recipes trying to decide what to make after we have made soup! (ahh.. so many choices.. but lots of time too)

The kids stayed over, and this morning we took them swimming. We had about an hour and a half in the pool, playing with an inflatable ball, and the kids having fun in the waves and water flumes.

My brother had invited us round for a BBQ at lunch, so after nipping home and making a potato salad, we went round t their house and had a really lovely lunch with them.. my brothers roast pepper quiche was really fantastic!.. it was possibly the best BBQ he has done :-)

Home later that afternoon.. exhausted but happy.