When Charlie and Suzzane was Homeschooling one thing I wanted them to be able to do was experience new foods, traveling and Countries and this week we’ve been able to Discover German cookies, explore another culture, and turn reading into a family adventure without leaving home which is perfect for a #armchairtraveler and her family.
Let me share something about the people around me. Some people travel the world with a suitcase, and others travel from their favorite chair with a good book, a little curiosity, and a willingness to explore somewhere new. I’m an armchair traveler, and one of the things I love most about discovering different places is the opportunity to share what I learn with my family.
That’s one reason I was excited to explore the Germany baking kit from eat2explore. This isn’t simply a box of baking supplies. It’s an invitation to try foods we might never have heard of, learn facts about a country we may know very little about, and explore another part of the world right from our own kitchen.
And for Greatful Moments, it fits beautifully into our Halloween Gift Guide! Inside the box is three German Cookie Recipes to for us to discover and then we can go visit David’s mom and ask if she had them when here family was stationed in Germany for the Army.
This kit features Germany and it offers us a baking kit featureing three recipes: Nutella Plätzchen (Nutella Cookies), Zimtsterne (Cinnamon Stars), and Vanillekipferl (Vanilla Crescents) Charlie could make Granny Sherry for Christmas Eve at her home to share with our friends and family.
Each recipe card includes instructions, preparation and cooking times, serving information, and details about the ingredients. The cards also identify dietary options, which is helpful for families who need to plan around particular food needs. I love how there are pictures because it will make it easier on David who struggles with reading.
The Nutella cookies caught my attention immediately because my son Charlie loves Nutella. I’m going to have to keep those packets tucked away until we’re ready to bake, or he might find them before I do! LOL Then they would be gone in a heartbeat because we all know how hungry teens get.
The recipe calls for 20 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking, along with additional time for chilling and allowing the Nutella to firm up. A gluten-free option is also provided. Lordy LORDY that is going to be hard for Charlie and I because were not a patient person when it comes to Cookies. Are you/
Next are the cinnamon stars, which sound like a fun recipe to explore. They call for 20 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking, and the recipe is labeled gluten-free and dairy-free. Since gluten can sometimes be a problem for Charlie and me, I appreciate having those options identified on the recipe card. Plus this is something my sister would be able to try because she is Gluten-Free.
The third recipe is for vanilla crescents. These call for 20 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking, and a gluten-free option is available. The ingredients include pecans and vanilla sugar. Anything with pecans and vanilla sugar already sounds good to me!
I haven’t baked or tasted these cookies yet. I’m saving the kits for my nieces and nephews not only for Christmas but Halloween because kids are out of school and will need something to do. I’m sharing what I found in the box rather than claiming to have tested the recipes.
I like how inside the box is more than Cookies: when your exploring Germany one of my favorite things about this kit is the Country Explorer booklet. It has beautiful illustrations and information about Germany, along with activities that encourage children to explore what they’re learning.
The educational materials include a seek-and-find activity, matching fun facts, and information connected to history, social studies, art, and music. The kit also provides access to online exploration resources, giving families opportunities to continue learning beyond the printed materials.
Children can read the recipe instructions, follow steps in order, discover new vocabulary, and learn about another country’s food and traditions. Cooking can also create opportunities to practice measuring and math skills. Making this the perfect gift for families who are #homeschooling.
This makes the kit worth considering for families who enjoy hands-on learning,because learning doesn’t always have to happen at a desk. Sometimes, a kitchen table and a recipe can provide a wonderful place to begin. Just ask Charlie who has experience this first hand.
The box includes three recipe cards, specialty ingredients and mixes, a shopping list, a Country Explorer booklet, an online exploration guide, a country collectible, and a cooking tool to help children begin building their own kitchen utensil collection. The materials also provide information about the kit’s contents, ingredients, nutrition, and the company’s story.
I especially liked the silver star-shaped cookie cutter. I can picture using it for Christmas sugar cookies, too! Looking at that little star reminded me of the star on top of a Christmas tree and the Star of Bethlehem. It’s a small detail, but it made me think about how a simple baking activity can lead to conversations about family traditions and faith.
Of course, there are a couple of ingredients I’ll need to protect until baking day. I could easily snack on the pecans instead of saving them for the cookies, and Charlie might have his eye on those Nutella packets. I may need to go grocery shopping before we get started! Laughing out loud.
Now I would like to share something about my family you may not know Germany is particularly interesting to us because of David’s family history. His dad served in Germany, and David’s family lived there for three years. His brother Bo and cousin Deedee were born there, so the country is part of our family’s story.
David and I also shop at Aldi in October because he and his mom enjoy German food. As I looked through the kit, I could imagine the conversations it might inspire about the places our families have lived, the foods they enjoy, and the memories connected to those places.
I may have a hard time getting the Country Explorer booklet away from David! It could give us plenty to talk about. That is one of the things I appreciate about exploring other cultures. Sometimes, learning about another country helps us discover something new about our own family, too.
Here at Greatful Moments, we want to encourage children to make reading part of their everyday lives. That’s why our 10-Minute Reading Challenge is such an important part of our family activities. Children can spend just ten minutes reading about Germany, exploring the Country Explorer booklet, or learning about the foods and traditions connected to the recipes. When they complete the reading challenge, they can earn a ticket!
Then, families can extend the adventure by looking at a map, discussing what they’ve learned, or preparing a recipe together with adult guidance. Reading doesn’t have to feel like another assignment. It can be the beginning of an adventure. A child might read about Germany today, discover a new food tomorrow, and start asking questions about another country next week.
And you don’t have to own an eat2explore kit to participate in our reading challenge. A library book, a story about another country, or a book you already have at home can get the adventure started. The goal is to help children enjoy reading, remain curious about the world, and discover that learning can be fun. Earning a ticket gives them another little reason to keep going!
The Germany baking kit is featured in our Greatful Moments Interactive Halloween Gift Guide because I like the idea of giving children something they can do, explore, and share with family. Instead of taking them out to collect candy they may or may not need.
For families who don’t go trick-or-treating, or who want another activity to enjoy at home during the Halloween season, exploring a different country’s food and culture can offer something a little different. It gives everyone a chance to put down their electronics, work together, and try something new.
The kit is listed at $29.95, so I understand that it may be a planned purchase rather than an everyday treat. I wouldn’t be able to purchase one myself right now. But I can appreciate what it offers families who have room in their budgets for this kind of experience.
The value isn’t just in the ingredients or the cookies. It’s in the combination of cooking, reading, cultural discovery, and time spent together. And our exploration doesn’t stop with Germany! We’re looking forward to featuring another eat2explore baking kit for Thanksgiving, when we’ll explore Turkey and its semolina cookies. Then, as Christmas approaches, we’ll turn our attention to Colombia and its traditional Christmas custard.
Each box offers a different opportunity to discover another culture, try something new, and bring learning into the kitchen. I’m looking forward to sharing what we find in those boxes, too. I hope your as excited as I am to share the other boxes with you and your family.
What I love about the idea behind eat2explore is that it gives families an opportunity to discover foods they may never have heard of, learn facts about countries they may never have studied, and explore the world without leaving home. As an armchair traveler, I enjoy discovering new places. Being able to turn that interest into something I can share with my family makes it even more special.
The Germany kit brings together recipes, educational materials, cultural facts, and hands-on activities. I can see why it might appeal to families who enjoy cooking and learning together, grandparents looking for meaningful activities with their grandchildren, and homeschool families who want to bring a little extra discovery into their lessons.
I haven’t made the recipes, so I can’t tell you how the cookies taste. What I can share is what I found inside the box and the possibilities I see for families who use it. And don’t forget our 10-Minute Reading Challenge! Read about Germany, complete the challenge, and earn a ticket. You never know where ten minutes of reading might take you.
Sometimes, an adventure begins with a book. Sometimes, it begins with a cookie recipe. And sometimes, the best part is getting to share it with the people you love.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
Disclosure: eat2explore provided the baking kit for this feature. This article describes the kit’s contents and educational materials; the recipes have not yet been prepared or taste-tested.
Explore eat2explore’s country-themed cooking and baking experiences at eat2explore.com.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
