While a meal is in the oven children and adults can do a little cooking together. On average, American families are spending about 29 minutes a day talking together. Most of the time is spent giving children directions to finish meals, prepare for school, lessons and bedtime. Those minutes of talking are decreasing by one minute per year in the past five years.

Children’s Pumpkin Pie

This recipe may sound a bit different, but is it a tasty, never-fail pumpkin pie recipe that is easy for children to make. Use prepared pie crusts or make your own, kept in a sealed zip locked plastic bag and cool until needed.

Ingredients: One 16 ounce can pumpkin pie mix, one 10 ounce package of firm tofu. If you want to add your own spices, follow the directions on a 16 ounce can of pumpkin.

Place ingredients in a blender. Supervise children while they mix the ingredients.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place mixed ingredients in a pie pan with one pie crust. Bake for 15 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 45 minutes. Allow to fully cool before slicing.

Grandma’s Leftover Pie Crust

Ingredients: Leftover piecrusts, soft butter, cinnamon and sugar.

Roll out or unwrap a pie crust into a rectangle. Spread butter on one side of the dough and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Take one corner of pie dough and begin to roll lengthwise to make a long cinnamon twist. Cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces. Connect pieces to make into capital letters or initials. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown. Allow to cool. These are great to serve with ice cream or jelly and warm apple cider.

Quick little books

Trace children’s flat hands on five large paper plates with the four fingers snug together and the thumb sticking out so they look like a turkey from a side view or keep the hand looking like a palm. Cut out the shapes and decorate one plate as the cover and title. Match up the pages and punch two holes on the left side for yarn or string to tie the book together. Children can print or dictate what they are grateful for or something special about each person. They can decorate each page and add pictures of their family. Children can read their books at the family table or while everyone is relaxing. Preparing books ahead gives children time to think about what they wish to say and provides a fine remembrance for family members. Children often need a quiet settling down time during the excitement of gathering with cousins.

For more, go to grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons.