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‘The Cookie’ at the game Forget peanuts and Cracker Jack: The next time you’re at T-Mobile Park to see the Mariners play, head to Section 132 for a warm chocolate chip cookie from Metropolitan Market. Yes, you can now get “The Cookie” at the ballpark. Crafted with two kinds of Belgian chocolate, walnuts, and a sprinkle of salt, it’s sure to get us through the seventh-inning stretch.

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Eating with kids

Gracie and Max are planning fried chicken, macarons and maple pie for their Mother’s Day menu. Lucky mom, Melissa Clauson.

Mother’s Day masters

When your kids can cook, Mother’s Day brunch is made with love — and chocolate ganache

by JACKIE VARRIANO / photo by JOSHUA HUSTON

If the second Sunday in May had a morning

soundtrack, it would probably be the sound of a thousand eggs cracking, followed by the sizzle of bacon and the pitter-patter of little feet as they race to deliver their proudly made breakfast to moms everywhere.

Considering my baby is just 10 months old, I’ll be content with a snuggle and perhaps a morning out, but for Melissa Clauson, fried chicken awaits.

“My mom’s favorite food is fried chicken,” says 11-year-old Max. That, and potentially some fried asparagus or a salad, are a part of his menu for this upcoming Mother’s Day brunch.

“And maple pie, because she loves making that on Thanksgiving,” adds his sister Gracie, 13.

Max and Gracie — along with

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Right under your nose! Beyond Bonchon

Lines at Korean Fried Chicken specialists Bonchon (bonchon.com) have been steady since the popular South Korean chain opened on Capitol Hill in early March. Head there for incredibly crisp chicken and the soy garlic wings, or check out one of these other tasty spots the next time a craving hits:

Ma’Ono: incredibly spicy fried chicken sandwiches. 4626 Ave. NE, 1610 12th Ave., 4437 California Ave. SW; maonoseattle.com Bok a Bok: Be sure to grab a side of kimchi cheese sauce and fries. 1427 10th Ave., 1521 SW 98th St., Suite D, 131 SW153rd St., Burien; bokabokchicken.com The Wandering Goose: Don’t miss fried chicken Friday nights from 5 to 9. 403 15th Ave. E, thewanderinggoose.com Chi Mac: Whole or half crispy fried chicken, in addition to wings. 4525 University Way NE, chimacseattle.com

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A portion of the proceeds from each birth certificate helps children grow, thrive and learn in safe and loving environments.

This official birth certificate is personally signed by the Governor and State Registrar.

Certificate is 8 1/2 x 11 and includes the name, date and place of birth, as well as the name and birthplace of the parent(s).

Framable keepsake

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their 15-year-old sister Dylan — aren’t your average egg crackers “helping” dad in the kitchen. Max’s favorite thing to make is spaghetti from scratch. Gracie’s a baker who loves to make macarons.

“Max, you make a cheese sauce that’s killer,” Gracie says when talking about their afterschool snack routine.

Unlike when I was a kid, Max’s cheese sauce isn’t melted Velveeta; instead, he quickly talks me through the steps: first melting a tablespoon of butter and mixing in two tablespoons of flour to make a roux, before whisking in milk, then slowly adding cheese.

“He makes an amazing cheese sauce,” affirms their mom, Melissa.

The kids first learned of their love of cooking after attending Deb Brownstein’s Kitchen Coach Cooking School at Mangia Bene in North Seattle. Although they had both spent time in the kitchen with their dad, Tom, before attending the kid-focused camp, it was there they both discovered a love for cooking.

“I was at first scared, because there’s all these videos of people on the internet burning themselves, but [Deb] taught us how to use knives and how not to burn ourselves with oil,” Max says.

“After the camp it was like, oh, a whole new world,” Gracie says with a smile.

They both try to cook or bake as often as they can, barring homework and other school commitments. And although Gracie has attended the camps at Mangia Bene for three years, Max for two, this is the first time they’ve cooked mom a special meal for Mother’s Day.

They both feel confident writing a menu and executing the entire plan. Max says he’s well-versed on how to make the chicken and keep it crispy, while Gracie adds they might also make some macarons with her special ganache filling.

“Ever since I was four I’ve wanted to make Mother’s Day special, and now I can,” Max says.

Gracie adds, “I am excited to cook my mom a meal for Mother’s Day because she is my role model and one of the strongest women I know. She cooks meals for me, so why not give her a day off?”

“I’ve been waiting for this my entire life,” Melissa says with a laugh.