Curious Emma

This is Emma. She is a good little girl and always very curious. Emma always likes to watch her Mommy cook. All kinds of good smells come from the kitchen when Mommy cooks. Mommy cooks all kinds of good tasting food like pizza, spaghetti, and chicken! Emma's favorite is always noodles. Emma especially enjoys noodles when they are completely covered in cheese!

Mommy uses lots of different pots and pans and spoons and spatulas. Sometimes, Emma gets to play with the pots and pans and she imagines cooking the most wonderful foods! Everyone loves to eat Emma's food. She holds the best tea parties her Mommy and Daddy have ever seen. However, her biggest fan and most often dinner guest is her sister, Erin. Erin thinks Emma is the best cook ever. She is even better than Mommy because imaginary food always taste better than the real thing, because you never have to eat your vegetables when you pretend.

One day, Emma was watching Mommy cook. "Wow! What are in all those little bottles?" Emma wondered. Over and over again, Mommy would pick up these little bottles and shake them over the pan. Emma was curious. What ever was in those bottles must make the food taste so good. "Maybe," Emma thought, "those bottles have a secret ingredient that makes the food taste yummy or maybe it is magic." She had to find out.

That afternoon when Mommy had to change Erin's diaper again, she told Emma, "You stay here and be a good little girl and I'll be right back. And don't be too curious." Emma remembered the magic bottles. She wanted to know what was in those make-everything-taste-good bottles. Quickly, she stretched up on her tippy-toes and reached her hand far above her head to the counter beside the stove. There! That was it! She had it! Now she would know the secret and really be able to impress Erin. Emma quietly made her way to the living room ottoman, which was her stove. How could she find out what was inside this bottle? It looked like red sand. How could red sand make food so special? She tried to do exactly like she remembered Mommy doing. She shook and shook and shook. Now the whole ottoman was covered with red powdery sand, but nothing was happening. Maybe if she tasted it. Emma covered her hands in the mysterious powder. She was really having fun now. She thoughtfully licked her hand. It definitely tasted different than usual but not like spaghetti or chicken.

Just then, Mommy came in and saw the red powder which was all over the ottoman and Emma. After washing Emma's face and hands, Mommy explained that the red powder was a spice called paprika. Spices go into the food to make it taste better. Mommy says there is no magic in cooking, but Emma is still convinced that something special takes place over that kitchen stove.
Just a side note! Erin will not be overshadowed or outrun by Emma, she is walking! She is also just as curious as her big sister. I'm sure this will not be the last episode of the Curious Barnett girls.