The Grammy Date

Grammy, can I help you cook? I welcomed the opportunity to spend some one on one time with eight your old Eva as the other grands busied themselves at Cousins Camp with volleyball, fishing, board games and playing in the woods. I chopped and Eva dropped the veggies into the sauce and stirred. The tossed salad was prettier and tasted better because Eva added the dressing and mixed the greens. Time to pull out silverware, paper plates and cups - Eva eagerly took on each task, chattering away. A week later Eva asked if I remembered her cooking with me and how she stirred the sauce. Her sweet face and question reminded me that making memories is not complicated and perhaps the best memories can happen when a grandchild gets my full attention.  And so, I invited Eva to come over, by herself, for some one on one time. The rest of the grands didn't have a problem with Eva coming for a "cooking lesson" and would join us for dinner. We needed to get busy. Eva's eyes lit up when I showed her a picture of how our special dessert would look - Neapolitan Ice Cream Pops (Recipe below).

Neapolitan Ice Cream Pops - Recipe, Better Homes and Gardens

Note to Grandmothers: pick a simple, easy, sure to succeed recipe.

Eva counted out the storebrand Oreo knock offs, placed them in a plastic bag and smashed them with a rolling pin. She added a little butter and pressed the crumbs into the bottom of a greased pan. Into the oven for a few minutes to create a nice cookie crust. Eva's big brown eyes twinkled when I showed her the next step - three layers of ice cream, starting with chocolate, then vanilla, then strawberry.

Grandad adding some sugar to Eva's Recipe

While the ice cream pops hardened in the freezer, Eva and I moved on to our next adventure, delivery of flowers to Aunt Heidi to help celebrate the launch of the new family business, Sweet Darlin' Cleaners and lunch with Cousin Danielle.

The Flowers are Almost as Pretty as Eva

Two Beauties - My heart overflows with Love

Makng Memories of Simple Moments

Back to cooking. Eva carefully measured each ingredient for the bread maker and I started counting the minutes until I could stretch out for a quick nap before the rest of the kids arrived.

Always flexible, we used plastic spoons for popscicle sticks. Eva's grin tells the tale. Definitely a do-over!

Time for the Taste-Testers

The Votes are In! Yum!

Grandparents today sometimes shake their heads in dismay, wondering how to connect with grandchildren who seem to have everything. Our grands continue to teach me that what they really want is a few moments of undivided attention. Eva regularly reminds me of all the cooking we do together. I recently learned that every time a child recounts a fun experience, it's as though it is happening all over again. Kind of like how our body keeps burning calories after we exercise! 

I think that works for grown ups, too, because I am feeling all warm and fuzzy as I recount my sweet time with Eva.

In His grip,
Sharon

Neapolitan Pops - Better Homes and Gardens

Prep Time

40 min

Total Time

3 hr 40 min

Ingredients

1. 15-Oreo cookies with white filling, crushed (1 1/2 cups)
2. 3-tablespoons butter, melted
3. 1/2-1 3/4 quart container chocolate ice cream
4. 1/2-1 3/4 quart container vanilla ice cream
5. 1/2-1 3/4 quart container strawberry ice cream-
6. 1/2-cup chopped strawberries

Instructions

1. Line an 8x8x2 or a 9x9x2-inch baking pan with 2 pieces plastic wrap or waxed paper, extending over edges of pan.
2. Stir together crushed cookies and butter; press into the bottom of prepared pan. Freeze for 10 minutes.
3. Place chocolate ice cream in a large bowl and stir to soften. Spoon in mounds over crust and spread evenly. Freeze for 15 minutes. Repeat with vanilla ice cream.
4. Place the strawberry ice cream in a large bowl; add strawberries. Stir together to soften.
5. Spread over vanilla ice cream layer.
6. Freeze 15 minutes. Insert 16 wooden craft sticks into layers, starting 1 inch from the edge of the pan and spacing sticks about 2 inches apart.
7. Cover loosely with foil and freeze several hours (at least 3 hours) or until firm. Use plastic or paper to lift dessert from pan. Remove plastic or paper. Cut between sticks into bars. Enjoy!