By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Abby Wodatch has funny ideas about how to make her favorite chocolate cupcakes.

Her recipe calls for cake dough, five eggs, one cup of milk and “a little sugar” – seven cups.

Mix. Pour into “a strange pan.”

Pop into a “hot oven, 12 degrees.”

Cook for 11 hours.

Put frosting and candy on top.

“Then go to a restaurant and order a drink with a cherry in it. Bring it home and put the cherry on the top of the cupcake. That is what makes it taste the best.”

Abby, 5, is a preschooler at the South Lewiston Childcare Center. Standing on the playground on Friday, Abby acknowledged that she’s never made cupcakes, but she’s eaten them. “They’re yummy.”

To amuse parents and friends of the center, director Donna Holt assembles a “cookbook” every year by asking her preschoolers to tell how they think their favorite foods are prepared.

The result is a publication that delights parents, grandparents and other relatives.

Holt said Friday she was planning to read aloud 10 of the recipes at the school’s “graduation,” to be held Friday night.

“People just crack up,” Holt said.

Preschool graduate Reagan Courbron, 5, had his macaroni and cheese recipe published.

According to the young connoisseur, macaroni and cheese is best cooked in the microwave. “You put the microwave on “1.” You cook it for eight hours. You will know when it is done because your mom will tell you.”

Hot dogs are essential with macaroni and cheese, he said. “But you can only have one hot dog because your brother will eat them all.”

Keyaira Darling, 5, knows hamburgers. They are cooked on the grill. They stick on the grill, she said. The grill is hot, “so hot it could burn you,” she said. Hamburgers are cooked for about 10 hours, Keyaira said.

“While they are cooking you will have a chance to play. When the hamburgers are round and brown, you will know they are done.”

Trevor Church, 4, chose hot dogs for his recipe: “Dad has to cook the hot dogs … on a stove that is outside.” That stove is hot. “Only dad can touch it because it is his toy. Dad makes the hot dogs turn black.”

Trevor likes ketchup on his hot dog, “but no mustard.” He recommends hot dogs be eaten with macaroni.

Hmm, maybe Trevor and Reagan should share recipes.

Holt first began assembling the cookbook 10 years ago. Enjoying it at graduation time has become a tradition, she said. “It’s really popular.” In addition to parents and grandparents, her neighbors and members of her church ask for copies.

She recommends not trying the recipes at home. “Read and enjoy,” she said with a laugh.

Little Georgia Brown, 5, however, may be an exception.

Georgia’s favorite is eggs. She and her mother cook eggs together, she said. Her recipe seems to support her statement.

Georgia recommends cracking four eggs in a bowl. Stir the eggs. Pour into a big pan.

“Use a spatula and push the eggs around in a pan. … When they are yellow and white, they are done.” Drink with milk.

Not bad.

Maybe we’ve got a future Julia Child or Rachael Ray in our midst.

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