Just Add Water?

Since she returned home on Saturday afternoon, Alexa has been making up for lost time with her Christmas gifts.  I cannot believe how self-entertained she has been with her new toys (although I will admit I did talk her out of playing tennis...I pictured balls ricocheting off my belly).  Each day she's also wanted to sample one of the mixes for her Easy Bake Oven - - the sight of them in the pantry is pure temptation to make them.

Tonight we discovered the Easy Bake Oven has its limitations.  Alexa was excited to make pizza using one of the mixes she received with the oven.  I was expecting a Chef Boyardee-like pizza, simple with grated parmesan as the cheese topping.  However, when we opened the mix, we discovered everything was packaged as a powder and required water to make the component.  Just add water for cheese?  Eek.  Regardless of the texture and smell, Alexa was insistent upon making the pizzas in her beloved oven, and we followed the recipe verbatim.  After 12 minutes of baking time (+ another five of cooling), the pizzas were ready, and she was ecstatic to have the first bite.  Her face was priceless, as she couldn't even stomach one of the microscopic pizzas.  Looks like we won't be buying the pizza mix again.  I think her hope of making me dinner in the Easy Bake Oven is a thing of the past, as the "magical" purple oven seems to do a better job with desserts.

Maybe when I pick her up from school tomorrow we can squeeze in a quick game of tennis - the thought of the 'just add water' cheese has turned me off from the Easy Bake for a few days. :)

Baking away with her Easy Bake....
Much better luck with the pink sugar cookies and lemon frosting.