We’re in the midst of learning about states of matter in Kindergarten. I can’t think of a more interesting matter experiment than this one – an old recipe from a Teaching Elementary Science class – concocting “Oobleck.”
Oobleck is hard to classify – it’s a liquid, but much like a solid. It gets drippy in your hands and then reverts back to a solid state. I have always loved hearing students make observations about it.
Beyond the cool problem solving factor, it’s just fun to play with. It would be a great April Fool’s Day experiment or a good gross one for boys of any age. Plus, it’s great for fine motor development. Because Selah loves to immerse her hands in paint, mud, dough, whatever – this stuff was an absolute hit! Let me know if you try it!
Oobleck Recipe
1 cup of cornstarch
1 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of water
Mix ingredients together with your hands.
I’m all for sneaking veggies into our kids just so they get the nutrients they need. However, I am wanting our kids to grow up to make wise food choices themselves – just because it’s good for them! And so far, just about all we’re choosing is mac and cheese.
The Pittsburgh Kids of Steel Taste Program (or any program like it) has been a good place to start for us. Our kiddos LOVE a good challenge, especially if incentives are involved! In addition, I’ve found that playing with our food has been beneficial.
The best thing about it? It seems to be working! It totally beats the inevitable dinner table war that ensues over eating vegetables. Our resident artist loves to create pictures out of her food (flowers, sunshine, hearts).
And the guy - when he participates in the vegetable playing – pretty much just plays sports and then eats the bat/hockey stick/basketball/whatever. But he ate a bell pepper the other night – so I couldn’t be more thrilled!
How do you get your kids to eat veggies?
We eat stockpiles of granola bars around this house. If it looks remotely healthy, I pick up a box to keep on hand. But it always kinda gives me the creeps that those bars last forever. Plus, it’s so much cheaper to just make your own.
Now I’m not giving up on store bought granola bars for good. But, it is so easy to whip up a homemade batch of bars. This recipe took us 10 minutes. Plus, it cost us nothing with ingredients on hand. These energy bars make a great breakfast or snack. And if your kids don’t need the energy, then maybe you will:)!
Chewy Energy Bars
2 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
In a large bowl, combine the cereal, oats, and wheat germ. In a small saucepan, combine the corn syrup, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Cook over medium heat until peanut butter is melted, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour over cereal and mix well. Transfer to a greased 9 inch square pan. Press mix into pan, cool completely, and cut into bars.
recipe source: Taste of Home Quick Cooking Annual Recipes 2011
*** By the way, this is another favorite recipe of ours – easily adaptable and delicious! ***
I’m working on pulling together Selah’s room so that it looks more cohesive. I love her Butterfly Art on the wall and am working on some roman shades and another piece of art. When I saw this lime green checkered lampshade at Goodwill, I snatched it up for $2 change.
I knew I had an old lamp in the basement and some green spray paint from an earlier project. So a little spray paint later and ta-daaa!!!!! A beautiful lamp for my beautiful girl.
With the final arrival of snow here in Pittsburgh, we decided to celebrate both indoors and outdoors. This snack was perfect! What could be better than making a snowflake that you can eat and then pouring massive quantities of sugar on top?
Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas
Ingredients:
whole wheat tortillas (fajita size)
kitchen shears
waxed paper
butter-flavored cooking spray
cinnamon
sugar
powdered sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Fold a tortilla in half, creating a half circle. Fold in half again to create a wedge. Cut shapes out.
3. Unfold the tortilla and lay it flat on waxed paper on a cookie sheet.
4. Spray tortilla with cooking spray and sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar.
6. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until crisp. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top. Allow tortilla to cool and enjoy!
adapted from January 2007 issue of Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr. magazine.
Let me know if you make these! Enjoy!
This recipe is a perfect winter recipe for kids. It’s simple. You can’t really mess it up. And it actually tastes REALLY GOOD! Adden loved the building required. And Selah – well, she just loved being in the kitchen with sugar. It was an instant family hit!
Boston Creme Eclair
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
2 cups cold milk
1 pkg vanilla instant pudding
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tub Cool Whip Topping, thawed and divided
Nilla Wafers
chocolate to melt
1. Beat cream cheese with a mixer until creamy.
2. Gradually beat in milk.
3. Add dry pudding mix, extract, and nutmeg. Beat 2 min.
4. Stir in 1 -1/2 cups Cool Whip
5. Line 9×5 inch loaf pan with plastic wrap.
6. Arrange Nilla Wafers, top side down on bottom of pan. Cover with 1/4 pudding mix.
7. Repeat layers 3 times. Top with remaining wafers.
8. Refrigerate for 3 hours.
9. Invert dessert onto plate. Remove plastic wrap.
10. Melt chocolate and 1 cup of remaining Cool Whip. Cool and pour ever dessert.
11. Garnish with cool whip and wafers.
adapted from the Nilla Wafer box:)
I married a guy who can do it all – I do believe!
Paul took a tabletop from Ikea ($10), designed my favorite verse, sent it to a print shop to make into vinyl, and applied it himself. Wow!
This thing is HUGE! We have yet to hang it in our enormous wall on our stairway, but it’s going to look great. I can’t wait to walk down the stairs to see these words every morning.
What an encouragement!
This week has been a week of comfort foods for us. The kids and I have been in New England, helping my family through a stretching time.
In preparing to come, I needed a menu plan that would appeal to everyone. I also needed the meals to be easy, fast, full of comfort, inexpensive, feed an army, and be freezable. Most of these fit that description. And with a salad and steamed veggies, most everything looked healthier than it probably was.
If ever you are in need of a little comfort food, I hope this list helps. Thus far, my little elves and I have received rave reviews. (Which, for me in the kitchen, is something to be proud of.) I really hope these recipes can be used to encourage someone who needs it. Enjoy, friends.
1. Classic Baked Ziti
2. Sweet and Sour Chicken
3. Best Sloppy Joe’s Eva
4. Classic Chicken Pot Pie
5. Vegetable Tortellini Soup
6. Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken
7. Marinated Steak and Chicken on the Grill
8. Twice Baked Deviled Potatoes
9. Apple Crisp
10. Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownie Pie
Last year, I happened upon Red Letter Words: Faith Inspired Art.
As soon as I saw her site, I loved her work. I especially loved the word of God – like this canvas art and this greeting card set for youth group girls. But then I wondered if she could design a custom print for me - one of all of the places God has allowed us to serve since Paul and I got married.
So I contacted her, placed an order, and she was sooooo sweet about creating this canvas. The cool thing was – she was just as excited about this idea as I was! She was great to work with, personable, and a complete blessing.
This was the only Christmas present that I almost could not wait to give Paul. It hangs in our home so that we see it every time we head out the door. It’s a reminder of how God has been faithful through ordinary us (even though we are I am terribly inept at times!) It also helps us to remember the missionaries still serving at each location.
Now I need another good idea for him. Anyone? What have been some of your favorite Christmas gift ideas?
If you’re looking for a last minute kids’ contribution to the Thanksgiving spread, this may be the one.
Grab random cookies from your pantry.
Find something that can substitute for feathers and eyes.
Attach everything with the yummiest adhesive there is – melted chocolate chips. (Not that I regularly ingest and rate adhesives.)
Now send the little fingers to work, sneaking candy and laughing. They will be busy.
And it may get messy. Allow for it!
You will now have time to concoct whatever Thanksgiving dish you need to prepare.
And sooner or later, they’ll have concocted Turkey Cookies that will appeal to the small crowd at the feast.
HAVE FUN!
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