When I taught Kindergarten, Fridays were “cooking” days.  I kept it simple for the kids (and me).  So one Friday I brought in a couple of toasters and loaves and loaves of bread.  I mixed up a batch of cinnamon and sugar and put salt shakers out with the mix in them on each table.  Paper plates, plastic knives, and a bit of soft butter were involved.  I toasted the bread for 32 five year old children so each of them had two slices of toast.  Then I showed them how to butter the toast and shake the cinnamon and sugar mix onto the butter.

My eyes had to be everywhere on Friday.  Things got really messy really fast.  There was a cloud of cinnamon and sugar in the air.  Then the room was quiet.  It was the sound of silence as the kids ate their cinnamon toast.

I cleaned up the tables and set up other tasks after the snack.  It had been a success.

Just before dismissal a little boy came up to me with a pencil and a blank piece of paper.  “Can you write the recipe for cinnamon toast for me?”  he asked.  I felt the thrill of being asked for such a thing.  I am a boring, often shitty, cook.  No one asked me for a recipe.

So I wrote it down, pleased with myself.

CINNAMON TOAST RECIPE

Toast two slices of bread.  Spread with butter or margarine.  Mix a tablespoon of cinnamon with five tablespoons of sugar.  Put the mix into a clean salt shaker.  Shake the cinnamon and sugar mix onto the toast.  Enjoy!

He held the recipe in his hand as though it were a dead sea scroll.  He was a happy boy.  I was happier!  I never was asked for a recipe again.