Yummy Summer Fruit Peach & Blueberry Crisp

Create a delicious and easy summer dessert with your child

(And see the tips for making Montessori magic below!)

 Organic, gluten free, with vegan alternatives

*Note: You can substitute other summer fruits!

Prep time: 30-45 minutes, depending on the skill level of your child

Baking time: 30 minutes

Eating time:  as long as you like! 😊

Servings: 4-6

Utensils

Mixing bowl, large spoon, cutting board, knives, measuring cups and spoons, 8×8 pan

Ingredients

3-4 ripe organic fresh peaches or nectarines, sliced (3 c.)

1 c. organic blueberries

1 T fresh lemon juice

1 T organic oat flour

1 T organic Blue Agave syrup (optional ~ use if the fruit is slightly tart)

½ c. cold organic butter (vegan option: organic vegan butter or coconut oil)

½ c. oat flour

½ c. organic brown sugar (or alternative sweetener, such as honey or agave)

¼ tsp salt

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 c. organic rolled oats

Directions:

·   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

·   Wash and dry peaches and blueberries

·   Slice peaches into even slices, setting aside 6 slices (and a handful of blueberries) for decorating the top

·   Put the rest of the slices in a mixing bowl and add the blueberries

·   Squeeze half an organic lemon and add 1 T lemon juice to the fruit

·   Add the agave and 1 T of the oat flour and gently fold together, taking care not to crush the fruit

·   Place fruit mixture into the pan

·   In a clean mixing bowl, cut the butter into slices

·   Add flour, brown sugar, salt and vanilla.  Using (clean) hands (or a pastry cutter), smush this mixture together until everything is thoroughly mixed

·   Add the oats and mix again

·   Spread this mixture evenly over the fruit

·   Decorate the top with the peach slices and blueberries·   Put in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges and top are very slightly browned and the fruit mixture is bubbling

Cool as long as possible and enjoy!  Also delicious topped with vanilla ice cream or Coconut Bliss! 

Happy Summer Fruit and Cheers to Cooking with Children! 😊

Some notes about working with children in the kitchen

As you might already know, children LOVE to cook!  And the more you involve them in the whole process, the more wonderful your adventures in the kitchen will be!

Getting Started:  1-2-3 for a stress-free cooking adventure Montessori-style

1)    Break the process down into sequential and manageable steps*

2)   Let your child take on as much of the process as they comfortably can manage (you might be surprised how much even 5-year-olds can do!)

3)   Give yourselves plenty of time so that you can comfortably move at your child’s pace without feeling stressed

Step by step guide for preparing a Summer Fruit Crisp with your child

·   Involve your child in the decision about when to make this

·   Help your child read through the recipe, noting ingredients needed, steps and time involved (Overview)

·   Make a list of ingredients and quantities needed

·   Make a shopping list (if necessary) and shop together

·   When you’re ready to begin, help your child refer to the recipe and get out all the utensils and ingredients needed, showing them how to lay them out in an organized way

·   Let your child take on as much of the process as possible* (including cleaning up!)·   HAVE FUN!

*Note about children and knives

Montessori believed that children should be given opportunities to learn to carefully handle real utensils. Choose a mildly serrated knife (most silverware knives have a slightly serrated edge) and show your child how to safely hold pieces of fruit so that they can cut while their little fingers stay out of the way.  The more confidence you have in them, the more confidence they will feel!

A bit of Montessori philosophy to even further enhance your experience

Dr. Montessori was well aware of the importance of helping children develop a global awareness, and many Montessori activities have opportunities for children to understand, acknowledge and express appreciation for each part of everything we use.  Bringing this awareness into your adventures in cooking will greatly enrich the experience.

If you would like to try this, precede your cooking adventure by initiating a discussion about some of the ingredients and where they may have come from.  Montessori was very keen on Socratic questioning, where the adult, through a series of asking questions, helps the child discover knowledge.  For example, try asking your child where flour may have come from.  When they answer, ‘The store,’ then ask, ‘Where did the store get it?’ And then continue to help them think back through the whole food chain as far as they can go without resorting to you (or Google) telling them.  When they reach the end of their current knowledge, you can say, ‘That would be a great research project! If you like I’ll help you get started with that tomorrow.’

HAPPY COOKING!