Beef Stew & Sweet Moments: One-on-One Time with My Littlest Sous Chef

With big sister Jessica off perfecting her triple axel (or at least standing up on skates without flailing), I found myself with a rare treasure: one-on-one time with Jenna, my spunky little four-year-old. And instead of spending time on her tablet or watching cartoons, we rolled up our sleeves and dove into something both hearty and wholesome—making beef stew!

Now, I’ll admit, I originally went to the store thinking, “Maybe I’ll just grab a rotisserie chicken and call it a night.” But then I saw the cubed beef on sale and all the beautiful fresh veggies, and next thing you know, I had stew on the brain and a cart full of carrots, potatoes, celery, onions, and a four-year-old who insisted on holding the parsley like a bouquet the entire way home.

Back in the kitchen, Jenna transformed into the world’s tiniest and sassiest sous chef. She stirred, she measured, she “taste tested” at least three raw carrots, and she was very in charge of sprinkling the salt (read: half the container almost hit the pot, but crisis was averted). The house smelled amazing, and somehow—miraculously—we didn’t spill a single thing on Nugget, who was circling us like a shark in a Food Network episode.

The best part? No screens. No distractions. Just us, a big bubbling pot, and the kind of messy, giggly, cozy memory that I know will stick with her (and me) far longer than any cartoon ever could.

I need to make more time for these small, special moments. They don’t require tickets, reservations, or a Pinterest-worthy plan. Just a little intentionality and maybe a few extra napkins.💕

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