There is just something about being in the kitchen that makes the world a better place.
When I’m in the kitchen all the worries and stresses from the day disappear. I could be chopping for hours and be still at complete and utter peace. I don’t have to worry about a thing in the kitchen; I can just cook and reap the benefits of a delicious meal after a couple of minutes!
Growing up, the kitchen was a place where my mom and I connected. To this day it still is, especially after she went back to school at Le Cordon Bleu. When she comes to our house to visit we usually hang out in the kitchen, she teaches me the things she’s been learning and I cook her my latest recipe from the blog.
Because the kitchen was such a big part of my childhood memories, I want it to be the same for my little guy. Between making meals, eating, and taking photos, I probably spend between 2-3 hours in the kitchen a day so I want to make sure that little man can be involved in most if not all of those activities. Teaching him what things are called, letting him stir things, letting him taste things, and helping me take photos (he, of course, has his own camera), I want him to be involved in everything!
After all, he is going to be the next “Bobby Flavor,” hehe! 
One of our favorite things to do in the kitchen is make cookies. This kid LOVES cookies, he definitely is his mother’s son!
As soon as he sees me bring the bag of dark chocolate chips out of the freezer he goes crazy! Literally. He has his own chocolate chip dance that he does in the kitchen and then climbs up on this stool to help me make the cookies.
Mommy is in charge of scooping and measuring and little man is in charge of dumping the ingredients into the bowl and mixing. Yes, on occasion we have missed the mixer or turned it on too fast, resulting in flour everywhere. But that is the joy of cooking and making memories in the kitchen!
I absolutely love that he enjoys spending time with me in the kitchen, that he likes to learn, and to try new things. What kid do you know who eats goat cheese and balsamic reduction on a regular basis! 🙂
I hope that his childhood memories will be filled with fun times in the kitchen like mine were!
As little man continues to get older, I secretly want him to still enjoy coming into the kitchen with me, making cookies, anxiously waiting until they are finished, and then eating them warm right out of the oven with gooey chocolate running out of them.
I will continue to do it as long as he’s interested and plan on doing it with our grandkids when we are older! 
These are just a few memories I will cherish in the kitchen.
The kitchen should be not a child-free zone, it should be one where they can learn, experiment, and try the creations they’ve made! The kitchen is the heart of the home – and so much of life plays out in its most honest forms.
Do you have any memories in the kitchen from when you were growing up?
Are you making any new ones now?
GE Appliances put together a few fun stories as part of their Our American Kitchen series of why the kitchen is the heart of peoples’ homes! Since I have been talking about cookies you need to check out this video: Maryann, the Cookie Lady of Rome, NY.
It is about a woman who is known as the “cookie lady.” She is always baking and showing her love by handing out cookies to people in the neighborhood, police officers, whoever! Her husband is a politician and she is known around the town more than he is! She is pretty hilarious to watch too and you can tell it brings her joy! 🙂
What does the American Kitchen mean to you? Tell me in the comments in three sentences or less and you’ll be entered to win a GE Cafe™ Series Refrigerator worth $3,100! Entries from participating blogs will be pooled and one winner will be chosen at random.
Entry Instructions:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
- Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on the blog post promoting this Promotion. Your comment will be your entry. In your comment, tell us what your American Kitchen means to you in 3 Sentences or less.
- For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available HERE.
This sweepstakes runs from 9/16/15 – 10/25/15.
Be sure to visit the GE Appliances brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
The American Kitchen…. It’s where the magic happens!!!!!
https://mobile.twitter.com/Esham4life/status/658566930354348032
It’s where my woman goes to win my heart… Through my stomach and her good cooking!
Where family comes together to celebrate holidays and enjoy get-togethers!
https://mobile.twitter.com/kytah00/status/658556514874073088
It brings back memories of joy, learning and laughter
The America kitchen to me is an America love story. Love and passion of food, sharing,caring, history and memories all centered around the table and great food. Start kids very young and they will have a love of food and stories to tell and heritage to continue.
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/658409543123210240
the American Kitchen is what changes a house into home when the kitchen it being used it make u feel like home
The american kitchen is a place where I can learn how to cook from my fiance. we have many nights together where we pick a dish and cook it together.
#SweepstakesEntry – comment
I feel the American Kitchen is the most important room in a house for the family as
it is where we all grow. Not just growing from eating nutritious food prepared in the kitchen
but growing (closer) as a family & individuals as we come together to eat, relax, converse & work on projects.
KC
kacor7@hotmail.com
my #SweepstakesEntry tweet:
https://twitter.com/thrincor/status/658347988755050497
KC
https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/658342401375903744
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
The american kitchen means to me a place to cook food from the heart. It’s a place for family members to gather just to sit and talk and catch up. it’s a place for families to sit and eat a home cooked meal together.
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
The American Kitchen means a place for family and friends to get together for a great meal.
to me, the American kitchen means a place where I look forward to spending quality time with my family- where we sit together,
converse & enjoy a meal or even cook together #SweepstakesEntry
cateria7@live.com
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/BurtArby/status/658136542834204673
cateria7@live.com
The kitchen is the place where our family gathers for conversation and nourishment over a wonderful meal that we prepared together.
Personally, it means a place to cook and share food with friends and family. I don’t know what else it would mean really. I guess it is what it is. hahaha!
I posted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/656594338202460160.
The American Kitchen to me is a place for gathering, family fun and of course eating. I love to cook/bake and hope to pass this on to my children as my mom did for me. The kitchen provides a great learning environment and the best place to find a warm gooey cookie!
https://twitter.com/shiebs24b/status/656185913542889476
The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where the family comes together. It’s where dinner is made, kids learn to cook, lunches are prepped, Christmas cookies are baked, and family and friends come together!
i posted a tweet: https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/655933869628133376
An American Kitchen means to me a kitchen with modern convenient appliances – its the heart of the home where family meals are prepared and served!
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/655913107278032896
An American Kitchen is where we share our favorite meals and learn to make them for others. We help with homework and hear stories of teen age love and loss. We have great memories in our kitchen.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/sazzyfrazzy/status/655098171840860160
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
The American Kitchen is a place where memories are made, where stories are shared, and where love is reinforced. Food has always been a central feature complementing the most important events in life (holidays, weddings, birthdays, etc). This makes the American Kitchen a central feature of American life as well.
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
Tweeted https://twitter.com/aqualina56/status/653890597468680192
It means the heart of family. The place we use to find out about each others day, make plans, and where our bellies are filled with great food and love.
it means something that runs smoothly and seamlessly to help me get through the day
The American kitchen means the place where the family and friends get together, at the end of a long day or holidays/events, to relax and enjoy meals and conversation.
My American Kitchen is where I spend most of my time with family everyday..
https://mobile.twitter.com/michael64263870/status/649035227780677632
My kitchen is a place for loved ones and friends to feel comfortable and welcome. I love baking goodies for friends to enjoy.
To me, the American Kitchen refers to the heart of every home. Families all over America gather together, share great food, cook together, entertain friends and family, work on homework with their kids, and so much more every single day right in the kitchen. American Kitchen=Love.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
American Kitchen means great food and great fellowship! We love trying new recipes together with friends and family. The more the merrier!
To me, American Kitchen means a safe place where my family can share our thoughts and love. It’s a place to create good food and enjoy time shared together.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
American Kitchen to me means that itās the place in the home that families spend the most time together, catching up and enjoying meals and time together.
Thanks so much.
The American Kitchen to me is like the heart of the home. It is where meals are made with love and care. It is also where family can come together to work and share in laugh and brings back memories from when you were little and cooked with your mom or other adult.
Love it LaTanya, so true! š
Lovely post!! I love getting my eldest in the kitchen (my other son is only 15 months so not quite a helper yet;) ) I think it’s so important! I was in my moms kitchen all the time too!
Not yet, but he will be soon. They love doing what mommy is doing. š
American Kitchen means family time and memories to me. It is the place we cook daily, bake on holidays, laugh, chat, even argue together.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
Love it Jessie! That is exactly what it means to me too!
OMG HE IS TOO CUTE FOR ME TO EVEN HANDLE! Ahhhh! I love this post so much, Krista. Thanks for sharing with us! <3 <3 <3
haha… thanks Justine! So glad you liked it! š
I’m so happy that your little man enjoys learning in the kitchen. He will surely have a great childhood filled with fun memories. š
I’d glad too! It’s something we can share together! š
I miss having little ones in the kitchen with me. You are making wonderful memories for your little guy
Thanks so much Chandra! I’m sure those older kiddos still enjoying coming into the kitchen to help mom! š
Love seeing you with your little guy…so adorable! I grew up in the kitchen with my Nana. Whisking up her famous sugar cookies, making a powdered sugar glaze for them and munching on graham crackers dipped in the icing while the cookies bake. I can’t wait to have my little guy in the kitchen with me in the next few years!
Ohh… that is one awesome memory Meg. Love the graham crackers and icing combo too, you were already a culinary genius then! š I can’t wait to see that little guy of yours, as I’m sure you can’t either!
Oh gosh! I need to mellow out and lose some of my type A personality before I have a little baker running around in the kitchen with me! Props to you for including your little man whenever you can!
haha… Its definitely hard! Especially when he drops a bag of quinoa (hand to forehead) you don’t realize how small they are until they are all over your floor!
I love that you are making kitchen memories with your son! My son is interested in learning to make meals now. I recently showed him how to make alfredo sauce!
So fun! I love that Tonia! And that is one good delicious sauce to start with.. good thinking!
Such a sweet story, Krista! I loved seeing you and your little man cooking and eating together š
Thanks girl! š That’s going to be you and C soon!!!
When I think of an American Kitchen, I immediately think of families gathered together for the holidays. In my family everyone makes a dish or two, and we have so much fun putting our meal together. Those memories are priceless! Your little guy is so precious!
Those are some of my favorite memories too Jaren! Love holidays and family gatherings and everyone pitching in to get dinner on the table!
So fun to see you on this campaign too girl! Great post!
Thanks so much Melissa! š