The Finicky Files - If she makes it, will she eat?
I thought I was so clever. Clare is such a bookworm, and this time of year we really enjoy reading Pumpkin Soup, a charming story about three animal friends who make pumpkin soup every day. “A-ha!” thought I. While previous efforts to involve Clare in the cooking process have not produced positive results on the eating front, I thought that perhaps a menu that recalled a favorite story (and no meat) would be more fruitful.
So the two of us embarked on making Pumpkin Soup. Clare was definitely enthusiastic about helping. Our usual cooking routine is for her to pull up a chair to the counter so that she can easily pour ingredients into the bowl, stir, etc. Queen Cautious was a bit dubious when this time we pulled the chair in front of the stove, and for a while she gave it a wide berth. Very wide. Ultimately, though, she grew comfortable with the fact that the gas flames beneath the pot would stay there and not leap out at her. (I find it funny that she’s so paranoid about such things, because I’m a bit lax when it comes to safety lessons for my kids. Tim had to teach me, as well as the kids, which way to look first when crossing a street. What can I say? I’ve never been hit by a car, so I figure I’m doing something right.)
Every step of the way, Clare remained engaged with the process and looked forward to her important roles of pouring items into the pan and then stirring. I did note that she didn’t really talk about actually eating the soup, but of course I didn’t create a discussion about it, either. Keeping it casual and all, per Allyson. At one point she remarked on the aroma – probably while sautéing the onions – and I imagine it was at this point that she started to realize this was going to taste nothing like the sweet pumpkin bread she is so fond of. But she kept any taste doubts to herself, either in the attempt to please me or possibly to try to convince herself she would like it.
As you can probably deduce by now, the soup was not a big hit with Clare. I witnessed her take one legitimate taste of it, and then she declared that she didn’t “care for it.” Well, at least I did, and being chilly and cloudy, it was the perfect soup night. I do think the preparation process was a positive one for both of us. Getting exposed to a variety of tastes and flavors, and being directly involved with what winds up on the dinner table, at least eliminates the fear of the unknown. And hey, she didn’t scald herself, so if I didn’t win one for the taste buds, at least I didn’t scar her for life, or even scare her off from cooking. As long as there’s room for the two of us in the kitchen, there’s room for hope that her palate will expand.
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I was immediately interested in this article once I realized you were making soup. I can hardly get my kids to eat any kind of soup.
I wonder if the soup could be used as a dip…for crackers etc. And if you put a spoon in there for them to scoop the soup onto the cracker…maybe a spoonful will hit their mouth.