There were lots of colorful descriptions (thankfully PG) of pattypan squash this week. There was some debate, some tasting, and for the first time in weeks….a hit, a hit everyone! We’ve got ourselves a winner. Despite not enjoying zucchini and yellow squash (except in noodle form), pattypan was a success. Which goes to show that with kids, introducing a vegetable with a funny shape and an even funnier name is half the battle. I don’t often include the audio but when it’s a good discussion, I can’t help but share it, so be sure to click the audio link below if you want to hear the conversation live.
SAM: What’s that?
ME: What do you think it is?
LAUREN: I know what it is. I think it’s a tomato.
ME: Do you guys all want to hold it?
EMMA: I wanna hold it!
ME: OK, don’t fight over it. Lauren’s first. Lauren?
EMMA: [crying]
ME: She’s going to pass it to you next.
ME: What is it?
SAM: No, I’m next!
LAUREN: Smells like some green.
ME: Smells like a green?
LAUREN: Yeah.
ME: OK. Who’s holding it next?
SAM: ME ME ME!
EMMA: [crying]
ME: OK? What does it smell like?
SAM: Banana
LAUREN: It smells like kind of a leek.
EMMA: [still crying]
ME: Sam’s turn. You have to tell me what it smells like.
SAM: It smells like radishes.
ME: What does it look like to you guys?
SAM: It looks like a star!
ME: That’s a great description!
LAUREN: I think it looks like a yellow snowflake with green… and it twirls.
ME: Interesting…Do you guys want me to cut into it?
LAUREN: Sure.
SAM: Is this mystery food?
ME: Yes, it’s mystery food. What do you think it’s going to look like on the inside?
SAM: Uhhh…
LAUREN: YELLOW!
EMMA: GREEN!
ME: You think green? OK.
SAM: I think yellow.
LAUREN: Yellow or green… or… white.
ME: Lauren, you’ve got to just choose one. You’re choosing a million colors. So, of course you’ll be right!
LAUREN: Just white…yeah…white.
ME: Yeah.
LAUREN: White, yellow, or green.
ME: Well, that’s three colors. What do you think the most it’s going to be?
LAUREN: White.
ME: Don’t touch the knife!
LAUREN: White or green.
ME: OK. Let’s see.
LAUREN: Or yellow…
[cutting]
[loud gasps]
?: Green!
SAM: I’m right! It’s… wait, you’re right.
ME: It’s white.
?: White.
ME: So, because Lauren was right, she’s going to get the first taste. But don’t, don’t taste it yet.
LAUREN: Wait, we could eat the skin?
ME: Yeah.
EMMA: Nooo I don’t want the skin.
ME: You can eat it all. It’s all edible. OK. Here’s one with less skin.
ME: MMM. What is it?! What’s it taste like?
EMMA: I don’t want skins!
ME: OK.
SAM: MMM. IT’S GOOD!
ME: Do you love it?!
SAM: Buy it again!
ME: Buy it again?
SAM: I love it!
ME: OK. Here you go. Let me try a little piece too…
LAUREN: Can I have another one too?
ME: Yeah, you can have another piece. There you go.
SAM: Another one?
ME: Another one! Oh my gosh! Are you guys going to have this for dinner instead of dinner?
ME: Maybe, you didn’t really like my soup that I made for you. There you go. You can actually cook this and put it in your soup, if you want.
ME: Sam, you want another piece?
SAM: Yep.
ME: There you go.
SAM: Now hand it over!
ME: OK.
ME: OK. I’m going to have my first piece.
ME: Yeah, it’s good. It’s kind of sweet. OK, can I tell you something crazy?
LAUREN: What?
SAM: What?
ME: This is just yellow squash!
LAUREN: Eww.
SAM: Eww.
ME: But you guys all liked it, though. Right?
LAUREN: Yeah.
ME: You liked it. So maybe you do like yellow squash. Right?
EMMA: I like a squash.
ME: Should we get it again?
EMMA: Nooo
SAM: Did you get this from the farmer’s market?
ME: So, you guys like it raw not cooked, right? Do you want me to cook it or do you like it raw?
LAUREN: I like it… raw.
SAM: Raw [laughing]
ME: It kind of tastes like an apple when it’s like this.
EMMA: I want more!
ME: You guys all want more? OK.
EMMA: I said NO skin!
ME: Actually this has a silly name. It’s not just regular yellow squash. It’s got a certain name. You know what it’s called?
LAUREN: What?
ME: It’s called Pattypan Squash. Isn’t that interesting?
SAM: Pattypan Squash?
ME: Yeah. Isn’t that so funny?
[laughter]
ME: So, now I know that you guys don’t like the green squash. Which is also called… What’s the green one called?
LAUREN: I don’t know.
ME: Zucchini.
SAM: Green squash.
ME: No, Zucchini is the green one. Right?
LAUREN: Yeah. We don’t like that one.
ME: But you guys like Pattypan. How interesting is that?
EMMA: I don’t like Pattypan.
ME: Everyone else does.
SAM: I want Pattypan! I want more Pattypan!
ME: All right. Good, I’m glad we found something you like.
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