I was recently asked by a local kids cooking school what my definition of “The Kids Table” is. It took me just a few moments of reflection to come up with my answer: time together. Kids should feel welcome in the kitchen at any time. It is the heart of every home, the place where parents do the most basic of loving and caring tasks: preparing meals for tiny tummies.

Meal preparation is a fact of life, and I always try to include the kids. Yes, their involvement might result in a bigger mess than if I was cooking on my own, but at the end of the day the counters must be wiped and the floors must be swept regardless of who was cooking, so what’s the difference?!

For me, The Kids’ Table means that kids are included in all areas of food preparation, including chopping with sharp knives:

The Kids’ Table means we come as we are…even if we are a 3 year old who prefers undies to clothes:

The Kids Table means we are happy and content – together!

On Sunday the big kids and I had some quiet time indoors while Chris worked and Ben napped. We had a lovely homemade Sunday supper in the works (roast chicken, rutabega, roasted potatoes, creamed spinach, bread), so an autumnal dessert beckoned. The kids and I turned a familiar rhubarb cake recipe into a cinnamon apple version, and it was delicious! Not too sweet, and a great way to end another weekend.

Cinnamon-Apple Cake

1 1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c butter, room temperature

1 c whole milk + 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, stirred together and set aside

1 egg

2 c flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 peeled and chopped apples

1-2 teaspoons cinnamon

Topping:

1/2 c white sugar

2 tsp flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together.  Add egg and mix.  Add milk/vinegar and mix.  Add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and mix well.  Stir in chopped apples. Pour into greased 9×13 baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine topping ingredients. Use your hands to mix well, until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle on top of batter.

Bake for 45-50 minutes.