Overall, I greatly enjoyed this project and I am happy with how it turned out. I was happy to spend time with my grandmom and baking just like we use to do. It was so much fun reminding with her and I know she was extremely thankful I was able to spend time with her. It was interesting knowing peoples reactions when I told them I was baking with my grandmom. All of my girls friends said it was cute I was spending time with my grandmom and my guy friends didn’t think much of it. Whether it was an intentional gender role association or not, I thought their reactions were interesting. I have learned a lot from this project and from the discussions in class. It has taught me to examine the world and the actions of others in different ways. I started to pick up on my reactions and thoughts to those who may be preforming a role outside their standardized gender roles. These reactions would be unintentional and I would normally just be kinda confused, but never think much more about it. These standardized roles are implanted in our minds through media and, intentionally or unintentionally, from the environment we grew up in. I never realized this was the case when I grew up until I reflected on these memories. However, I had so much fun creating this project and I would love to do it over again. Our desserts turned out amazing and, unfortunately, with none to spare after Thanksgiving.
Reflections
When my grandmom and I were reminiscing about the times we would bake when we were younger, no one thought anything of it. I had to older brothers and a younger male cousin that would always be over while my grandmom and I baked. Them and my grandfather would always be downstairs watching movies or playing games. They never offered to help us, and that was fine, because we were happy to bake together. However, when my brother of my cousin offered to help, it was a big deal. Since they were expected to just “be boys” and do “boy things”, no one expected them to help us women bake. Therefore, when they would offer to help my grandmom would be shocked because it was out of the norm. She would always let them help, and they would always help for at least 10 minutes then get bored and go back to playing. After talking about gender roles in class, it made me realize that from even a young age, I was still expected to help my grandmom cook/bake. All the while my brothers, cousin, and grandfather got to play games. I truly never realized this until we talked about gender roles in class and my grandmom and I went down memory lane. I never realized the gender role I was supposed to have, because in my house my dad was the one that always cooked dinner. Therefore, I wasn’t until this project I understand why my grandmom was shocked when my brother or cousin offered to help. And she would always tell my mom or my aunt if they did so. From there my mom or my aunt would praise them for wanting to help bake cookies, but would never praise me. And this is due to the fact of gender roles and the fact that, even at 9 years old, I should be in the kitchen.
Interview
I was exactly sure how to go about the interview with my grandmom. Truthfully, for this whole project we kinda went with the flow and messed around the whole time. We reminisced about when we would bake together when I was younger. My grandmom told me that is one of her favorite memories about me growing up, and I told her it was mine too. However, my grandmom did compare how I did now, 10 years later. She said I was much more helpful and she was more relaxed. She didn’t have to worry as much about me using the oven or trying to eat the cookies too soon. She said I was more interested in the process of baking and trying to perfect it, rather than rushing to simply just eat the cookies. She said I still snuck as many chocolate chips as I could and ate as much batter as I could before she noticed, just like I did when I was younger. She said I have definitely improved with my patience when it comes to baking. She said the next time I will have to do all the prep and baking by myself while she steals chocolate chips. My grandmom, on a serious note, did ask me to bake the cookies by myself when I come and and we will compare. She wants to know if I actually learned what she taught me or if I just goofed off too much. Overall, my grandmom was extremely happy with the turn out of our desserts and was proud of me. She said I have greatly improved from when I was 9 years old and I am ready to bake by myself. She told me I do have to actually make these cookies, because she wants me to teach my kids and for them to pass it on. She said her goal was to start a tradition and for everyone to know how to bake the best chocolate chip cookies. Even though I did not take pictures while we baked the cookies, here is the final picture of our brownies.
Process
My grandma and I had a limited time for baking over the break. We decided to bake a bunch of treats before Thanksgiving, so we would have dessert. My grandmom and I made chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of use baking the chocolate chips cookies. However, I do have the recipe we followed to bake the cookies from scratch. We over estimated the time we had to make the batter and bake the cookies. Therefore, we kinda, “cheated” as my grandmom said, when it came to baking the brownies. We simply used the Ghirardelli brownie mix, but they still turned out amazing. To make our delicious desserts we just followed our recipes, so you are able to do the same thing at home. While we were baking, my grandmom said it was just like old times and that she was baking with a 10 year old. Nine years later I am still easily distracted, constantly wanting to eat the batter, and only slightly more helpful. I personally don’t understand how my grandmom is able to stay so controlled while baking and not eat the batter, because, after all, that is the best part. Since my grandmom has taught me how to bake when I was little, I already knew how to do so going into this project. However, I continued to learn how to bake from my grandmom, because it gave me a reason to spend more time with her and I will always cherish that. However, I did learn more about time management and timing when it came to cooking. My grandmom and I had the best time together baking, just like we did when I was little. I have attached some pictures that I remembered to take while we were baking brownies.
Coach bio
My grandmother that I will be baking with is my moms mom. I call my grandmother on my moms side Gram.She has been baking for as long as I can remember, and even longer since my mom said the same thing. My grandmom has always enjoyed baking and trying different recipes. She loved having everyone in the kitchen, especially during the holidays. She felt is brought the family closer together and by the end we had delicious cookies. My grandmom has multiple different baking books and is also looking for new things to try. She loves getting inspiration from magazines and cooking channels. She also enjoys a challenge to see what she is capable of making. My gandmom also loves to but her own spin on the desserts she makes, so it feels like her own. I believe this is what makes her desserts so amazing, because of the personal touch. My grandmom doesn’t really have a back story on how she got into baking. She just genuinely enjoys doing so and has taken it up as a hobby.
Initial thoughts
I am very excited to start this project, and I know my grandmom is even more excited. Personally, I am just excited to spend time with my grandmom baking cookies, just like we use to do. When my brothers and I were younger, we would have sleepovers at my grandmoms house around twice a month. Every time before dinner, my grandmom and I would bake in the kitchen. I don’t remember ever being too helpful, because I always wanted to eat the batter. My grandmom would have to tell me a couple of times to mix something together, or pour something together, or pull something out of the fridge. I was always really excited for the end result and could never stay focused enough. I always wanted to try the batter and would sneak chocolate chips while my grandmoms back was turned. Thinking about this project and being back in the kitchen, baking with her, brings back all these memories. This was a huge part of my childhood, because I would spend so much time with my grandmom and we created the bond we have today. I believe this is going to be a fun, nostalgic project and I can not wait to get started.
cooking with gram and sam 