Family Dinner

“Get the sheet pan out. Down there.” Grandma pointed below the oven.

“This one?” Asked Luca.

“Yup! Hand ‘er here.” She accepted the pan and set it on the counter. “Grab your stool.”

Luca walked over to the cupboard where his stool was, and grabbed it. He set it next to grandma and climbed up so that he could see the counter.

“We are making plum crumble sheet pan cake. In German it is called zwetgschgendatschi. Can you say, zwetgschgendatsch?” Asked Grandma.

Luca looked up and shook his head.

“Come on, give it a try.” Coaxed Grandma.

Luca said, “Shawatkin Dachi.”

“Good job Luca!” She said with excitement, which made him light up with a smile. “Okay, step one, let’s make the crust. Pass the sugar.” She pointed in the direction of the sugar.

He reached for the flour.

“Not that yet, the one next to it.”

Luca grabbed the sugar.

“Good. Now let’s crack a couple eggs. Watch how I do it now.” She skillfully cracked the egg on the edge of the bowl. Luca watched intently. “Now you try.”

Luca took the egg and carefully knocked it on the edge of the bowl.

“A little harder sweetheart.” Said Grandma.

He cracked it harder and some shell fell into the bowl. He looked at her concerned.

“That’s okay. Hand me the shell in your hand. Watch this.” She used the half shell to scoop out the shell bits in the bowl. “See. All good.” She smiled at him. He smiled back.

Luca was four, and loved going to grandma’s. She always had a project for him. And it usually resulted in something sweet.

“Let’s whisk these together. Can you do this for me?” She showed him how to whisk. He nodded and took it from her and got to work.

They worked through the recipe, step by step, all the way to where they put it in the oven.

“Now we wait!” Said Grandma. “In the meantime, we can do some art!” She walked him over to the dining room table, where she laid down some construction paper. “Do you think you can paint on this for me? I’d love to have some pretty pictures for the family to see. We will use it as a tablecloth.

Luca nodded. He sat down and Grandma put some water colors in front of him.

“Brush away my beautiful grandson!”

Luca smiled and picked up the brush.

Time flew by, and everyone gathered around the table. Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and Luca.

“Luca painted the table cloth.” Said Grandma. Everyone had their name and a painting in front of them. Grandma had helped with the spelling.

Everyone commented how great it was and it made Luca happy.

Dessert came around and Grandma announced that Luca had helped make the zwetgschgendatschi. Grandpa was excited and patted his belly. “Lecker Schmecker!” Said Grandpa.

Luca looked at his plate with the sweet and took a bite.