When Stella was about four, she decided that since toys and food both made her happy, they belonged together. Many days, when we opened our fridge, we were greeted by small plastic figures sticking out of the food.
The David and Goliath characters liked cupcakes. They were often found, buried head first in the muffins. Pongo, the daddy dalmation, lived in the milk cartons. When someone tried to pour milk on their cereal, an inevitable “PLOP” was heard, and there was Pongo, swimming in the bowl. He was just the right size for her to fit into the cartons. We’d wash him off, put him back in the toy box, and find him in the milk again the next day. For months on end.
Want some yogurt? Surprise! It’s full of Little People, looking up at you.
The trend caught on. Then-tween Genius Child made lunch for the little ones when I was gone to one of our bajillion doctors’ appointments.
She made refried beans.
But you know what she did? She emptied two cans of beans and sculpted them into a volcano shape. Melted cheddar oozed down the sides of the mountain, and a pool of molten salsa filled the cavity inside. An army of plastic dinosaurs marched up and down, oblivious to their dangerous proximity to the lava.
The entire mountainside (sans dinos) was devoured by the toddlers. A mountain of beans.
So there you have it; lesson learned. Even beans can be exciting!
Now go play with your food.