Chocolate on My Elbows and Jelly Beans in My Teeth

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Food for the Soul (and the Stomach).” Tell us about your favorite meal, either to eat or to prepare. Does it just taste great, or does it have other associations?

It doesn’t matter what I am preparing in the kitchen, if I’m with one of my grandchildren the results are guaranteed to be memorable.  Their innocence adds the right amount of spice, their laughter mixed with their enthusiasm provides the proper texture and their joy at the results encourages a hearty appetite … whether sweet or savory, edible or not, appealing or appalling, it is food for my soul.

This morning 6-year old Rebekah and I made chocolate bird nests for Easter candy as gifts for her family and her teachers (and two for herself).  There was melted chocolate smeared on the counters, under our fingernails and on our elbows (don’t ask).  Jellybeans were rolling around the floor as she traded me the black ones for the red ones that we tried to pitch into each others mouth. We laughed and giggled and didn’t even try the end result because it just didn’t matter.  We wrapped them individually in plastic wrap and tied each one with a purple ribbon and hope that the recipients will enjoy eating them as much as we enjoyed making them.

Chocolate Bird Nests

12 oz. package chocolate chips

12 oz. package butterscotch chips

12 oz. package chow mein noodles

Carefully melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips in the microwave.  Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the chow mein noodles in a large bowl and mix.  Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray and glop a big spoonful of the mixture into each muffin hole.  Smoosh the mixture to form a “nest” and refrigerate until set.  Remove from the tins and add candy.  We used jelly beans and robin eggs.

How to check if the pasta is al dente if you’re a member of my family!