I am the mother of two boys, Hayden and Holden, and I decided when they were young that I would teach them as much about cooking, cleaning and various other chores as I could.  I wanted them to grow up to be self-sufficient, independent men.

The boys are only 14 months apart, and when they were young, if one was doing something - it was guaranteed the other one had to be doing it too.  So when they helped me cook, for safety reasons, I would set them on chairs and let them hold spoons, measuring cups, etc. while I did the actual cooking.   However, when Holden was in Pre-K, the school was selling cookbooks and his teacher, Mrs. Armstrong, told the class she had a recipe in the book.  Well, Hayden  and Holden both had Mrs. Armstrong and they dearly loved her, so it was their mission we cook whatever it was she had put in the book. 

After a few torn pages from hurried little hands, we found it, on page 48 was a recipe for sugar cookies by Mrs. Armstrong.  And I figured, if her recipe was half as amazing as she was, we were in for quite a treat!

The boys were bouncing around waiting to bake the cookies, so I began to set up the usual arrangement of chairs and spoons.  Before I could finish, they both put their little hands on their hips and demanded they "Get to do more this time!"  Well, how could I resist those two with their 'oh so serious' tones and well...they did have their hands on their hips, so they meant business.  Since most of the work could be done away from the stove, I agreed and pulled the two chairs up to the bar. 

I told the boys the quick run-down of what was in the cookies and turned to get the items out of the pantry.  My super helpers took it upon themselves to gather the sugar and flour canisters and drag them over to the center of the cabinet.  I was so proud!  The boys were glowing...they couldn't believe they were making Mrs. Armstrong's cookies...and actually getting to do the work!

To make things easier, I handed each a pre-measured cup (the ones with the handle) so they could actually scoop out the ingredient and pour it into the bowl.  Hayden was first, since he was the oldest and he scooped two perfect cups of flour and into the bowl it went.  I followed the recipe and added the next ingredients while Holden, not so patiently, waited his turn.  Then finally, it was Holden's turn and he scooped and pour one perfect cup of sugar.  So proud of their accomplishment, and now a little bored, off the two ran to watch Dora the Explorer.  While those two were trying to help Dora figure out how to make it to the castle, I finished the cookies.

After chilling, baking and cooling, it was time to taste our cookies.  All at about the same time, we took big bites.  And again, all at about the same time, we spit them out!!  "Yucky mommy," said Hayden.  "I don't like Mrs. Armstrong's cookies," said Holden.  Well, I just stood there dumbfounded.  The cookies tasted like salt!  Now, it was my job to measure the salt, so I went over to the counter and double checked my measuring spoon.  It was the 1/2 tsp, just as the recipe had called for, so what could have went wrong?

Then I all of the sudden it hit me like a ton of bricks!  The boys had grabbed the salt, not the sugar!!!  So, rather than having one cup of sugar and 1/2 tsp of salt, we had made sugar cookies with one cup of salt and 1/2 tsp of sugar! 

As I stood there laughing, the boys were talking about their opinion of Mrs. Armstrong's cooking.  I had to interrupt their conversation and stop in their plans to tell her she needed to "Talk to her mommy and ask her to teach her how to cook!"

After a quick explanation of what we had done and that I would re-do the cookies, the boys were happy and went back to Dora.  I made the corrections, baked the cookies and to our delight, they WERE as wonderful as Mrs. Armstrong!

Mrs. Armstrong's Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup SUGAR
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs, well beaten

Sift:  Flour, salt and baking powder.  Cream: butter and sugar.  Beat 2 eggs and vanilla then add to sugar mixture.  Add flour and mix until mixture rolls in bowl.  Chill in refrigerator in covered container for one hour.  Grease baking sheets lightly and heat oven at 350 degrees.

Once chilled, roll dough on floured surface and cut into desired shapes.  Sprinkle with sugar, bake until lightly browned on edges.