Setting up a Reggio Inspired Activity

Beautiful Reggio-inspired activities that will engage children and  appeal to their interests. You can find the blog here: Setting up a Reggio-inspired Activity. 

She also has another really good blog about reggio you ca. Find ot here: Getting Started: Reggio at Home. And this one is about about Reggio Materials 

 I hope you enjoy it and find it as useful as I did.

magical muddiness

I encourage everyone to check out forest schools blog posting about Magical Muddiness

SWIG SUGAR COOKIE

You have to check out this swig cookie recipe from vintage revivals!

NOTES:
~I did try substituting half whole wheat and half white. It was still good but was a little more dense then with all white.
~I halfed the icing recipe and that alone made about 2 cups of frosting.
~Makes about 64 1.5-2" cookies 
~Recipe can easily be halfed

Grandma's Banana Bread

Ingredients
2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (50 mL) granulated sugar
2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder
1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda
Pinch salt
1 cup (250 mL) chocolate chips
2 cups (500 mL) mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, melted
1/4 cup (50 mL) milk
2 eggs

Preparation
In large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt ; add chocolate chips. In separate bowl, whisk together bananas, butter, milk and eggs; pour over flour mixture and stir just until blended. Spread in greased 9- x 5-inch (2 L) loaf pan. 
Bake in centre of 350°F (180°C) oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Let cool in pan on rack for 15 minutes. Turn out onto rack; let cool completely.
(Make-ahead: Wrap and store at room temperature for up to 2 days or overwrap with heavy-duty foil and freeze for up to 2 weeks.)

Feta Dip

⅓ cup (about that ) olive oil
1.5-2 containers of cherry tomatoes, seeded and cut in quarters
4-5 green onions, sliced thinly
8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
2-3 teaspoons Greek seasoning
fresh baguette, sliced thinly

1. On a large platter drizzle olive oil until you have a thin layer on the entire platter. You may use more or less here depending on your preference.
2. Add the tomatoes, green onions, and feta on top of the olive oil. Sprinkle with the Greek seasoning to taste.
3. With a spoon carefully combine the ingredients.
4. Serve with warm sliced baguettes for scooping up the dip.

LAYERED TACO DIP

1 pkg cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 tbsp taco seasoning
3-6 leaves of lettuce (I usually do 4)
1 tomato cored(seeds removed) and diced
1 cup salsa (more or less to your tastes)
1 ½ c shredded cheese
Drizzle of taco sauce OR hot sauce (we like tapatio)

1. Shred the cheese and scoop seeds out of tomato (so it doesnt get watery).

2. Put the cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor and mix until smooth. Add the sour cream and taco seasoning and mix until well combined.

3. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly in the bottom of a glass baking dish. Top with the lettuce, salsa, tomatoes,then with the shredded cheese and taco sauce/hot sauce(optional). Chill until the cheese firms back up a bit, about 30 minutes. (Or it it right away!)

* You can also add ground beef, onions, jalapeño, peppers, beans, avacodo etc.

*Instead of sour cream (or to do half and half) you can use plain yogurt, cottage cheese, mayo

Veggie Bars

Ingredients:
2 packages crescent rolls
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 package ranch dressing mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
Grated cheese

Suggested Vegetables: cauliflower, diced broccoli, diced zucchini, diced carrot, finely grated celery, diced red/yellow/orange peppers or green pepper, diced green onion, cut tomato, diced

Instructions:
Roll out then press down your crescent rolls into a jelly roll pan with sides.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Blend together mayonnaise, dressing mix and the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Spread over cooled crut.

Then layering whatever veggies you choose over the entire crust and garnish with a little grated cheese

Fruit Enchiladas

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling
6 (8 inch) tortillas (whole wheat or white)
1-4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar or stevia
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water

-Grease a 9x13" pan ...or 2 smaller pans
-Spoon about 4-6 apples from the pie filling (approximately 1/4 cup) evenly down the center of each tortilla.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon; roll up, tucking in edges; and place seam side down in dish.
-In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes.
-Pour sauce over enchiladas and let stand 45 minutes.
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-Bake in oven 20 minutes, or until golden.

NOTES:
~tried using multigrain tortilla shells  and it defiantly took over some of the taste.  But whole wheat and white worked fine.
~we prefer more of the cinnamon flavor when we do it with apples so I add more(only with the apple flavoring)
~with that being said;  you can also use pear and peach, blueberry.  I have not tried it with cherry but I would assume it would be just as good.
~dust with icing sugar or coolwhip/whipping cream if you dont want the ice cream...or drizzle with remaining syrup!

Praying for a Pay Raise

Teacher in Mississippi: Praying for a Pay Raise (source)

“I’m getting ready to go to bed b/c I have to get up at 5:00 in the morning for early duty. I plan to pray tonight for our Elected Officials b/c that is what it says to do in the Bible to pray for them b/c they are placed in authority. I have a lot of emotions going through my mind but I hope and pray that the Representatives will do the right thing tomorrow and Support our Ms Teachers. We all work hard and we all do it b/c we love the children and love our communities. Even though we don’t teach for the money we all have bills to pay and have to provide for our on families. It really bothers me personally though that the State would be willing to give away $350 million to big corporations, willing to give tax credits to Vouchers for private schools, and expanding Charter Schools across our states. I truly believe that some of these elected officials have forgotten us and just don’t respect us anymore. I just don’t understand how they can start new schools while our schools are underfunded and teachers are struggling to make it. Anyway I’m off my soapbox but plan to keep the fight and plan to do the best job that I can to educate my children everyday. God Bless you all.”

Peanut Butter-Banana ice Cream

My husband forgot a bunch of bananas in the vehicle after shopping the other day, when I realized it the next day they were completely frozen!
I got tired of looking at these Brown bananas sitting on our counter.
And then I remembered My pintrest wall (pintrest.com/PrettiemommY)  has been flooded with people pinning almond butter banana ice cream.

But I didnt have and almonds  so I decided to try it with peanut butter  and heres the recipe.

(Photos of soft served.....photo of hard, still to come)

4-5 large very ripe bananas (yellow with lots brown spots)
3-4 TBSP Peanut Butter

1. Peel bananas and cut nto 1/2 inch slices. Put banana slices on a baking sheet (single layer). Freeze for 1-2 hours.

2. Place the banana slices in a powerful blender (I'm sure a food processor would work too). Puree banana slices, scraping the the sides. Puree until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Add the peanut butter and puree to combine. For 'soft-serve' ice cream consistency eat right away. If you want a harder ice cream, place in the freezer for a few hours before serving.

Banana Cake

Deliciously moist and full of flavor!

Potluck Banana cake
 Source: taste of home(recipe and photo)

INGREDIENTS: 
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
COFFEE FROSTING:
1/3 cup butter, softened
2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
2 to 3 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS:
-In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with bananas and sour cream, beating well after each addition.
-Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. -Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
-For frosting, in a small bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Dissolve coffee granules in milk; add to butter mixture and beat until smooth. Spread over cake. Yield: 12-15 servings.

CREATING A SAFER HAVEN FOR KIDS

Wonderful article from Norwex regarding creating a safer environment for children

DIY Natural Food Dye

RED/PINK: chopped beets, or fresh cranberries

YELLOW/ORANGE:  finely chopped carrots or turmeric powder

GREEN: finely chopped spinach

BLUE: blueberries (fresh or frozen)

PURPLE: finely chopped red cabbage

                             Photo from easy lunchbox

Directions:

-Add 1 cup of the chopped vegetable or fruit into a saucepan.
-Pour in enough water to just cover the pieces. Heat over medium-high heat and let cook.
-Mash the mixture once it has cooked and become soft, using a fork or potato masher.  -Continue to cook, adding more water if needed.
-Remove when you have the desired consistency and shade. (For a more intense colour, add more vegetable/fruit.)
-Let cool, then strain the mixture through a cheesecloth.
-Store in the fridge, in a sealed jar.

This makes 4oz food coloring

A few things to think about first:

-it will go bad within 1-2 weeks of making it.

Store in a sealed container, in the fridge. 
-This is not a concentrated colour so use this liquid in place of all liquid(example if yout sugar cookie frosting calls for 1 tbsp milk replace that amout with this natural food dye in your recipe. 

-The more vegetables/fruit the more intense the colour is  and visus versa for only a little amount of vegetable/fruit

Adapted from:
http://fromscratchclub.com/2011/12/13/from-scratch-holidays-diy-natural-food-coloring/

The Bitter Cold Isn’t So Bad When You Do What This Awesome Family Did. Brilliant Idea!

I was forwarded this really neat post.  Thanks Reggio Children Inspired for forwarding this site:

http://www.viralnova.com/colored-igloo/

As we have been bombarded with brutal cold weather and a snow storm at least once a week.  We have seemed to have tons of snow (3-5 feet) and are averaging temperatures of minus 25 to 45 degree.  It  feels like were living in an igloo.  It does require a lot of creativity, motivation and inspiration to get though (not to mention we will have another 2+ months to go).

Here's a photo of one of my little munchkins playing with some ice blocks as food and treasures.....

Slow unstructured play!

"Slowing Down And Embracing Unstructured Play"

Personally, I think time that is not planned out is really important for everyone, yes thats right adults included.  Whether its a stroll in the park, bike ride or some sun basking.   It can allow you to be more focused and creative once you are placed back at a structured task.

When we finally accept the truth about PLAY (article)

Check it out at Teacher Tom: parenting

                       Photo taken by pebble creek photography

What good Parenting Means

I wanted to share an article with you  written by Teacher Tom called What Good Parenting Means

Reason why it's such a great reminder (specially after the challenging morning I have had) because its something So simple, clearly very true, yet not always easy or possible and often gets forgot about/pushed under the rug... BUT we need to make time to try, its never to late!
And of course it not only applicable to our wee ones but to everybody(human or animal) and place (even possessions and things) to which we invest our hearts, time and soul into.
"It is how we handle our own reponces and observe our reactions that determknes our growth and instills and inspires growth and love in those around us"

Telephone meeting on manitoba government budget

Telephone town hall meeting on manitoba  government budget.

You will be able to vote on budget priorities and ask the minister questions.

This goverment needs to hear the importance of including childcare, families and our communities.

Call will take place February 10.
For more information and to Register  click this link...

http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/consult/virtual.html

Potato Salad (with sour cream)

This recipe was adapted from eMeal.com

Ingredients

• 4-6(2.5lbs) potatoes, cut in quarter inch pieces
• 1 sweet onion or 2 shallots, finely chopped
• 2 celery stocks, finely chopped
• 1/4-1/2 green pepper, finely chopped
• 1 cup sour cream (plain yogurt/mayo also works)
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 1tsp+ fresh dried dill weed
• 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika

• 
  

Instructions

1. Bring potatoes to a boil in salted water. Simmer 12 min. or until tender; drain and cool briefly

2.In a separate pot bring eggs to a  boil for 12 mins; drain and cool completely

3. Combine vegetables, sour cream, lemon juice, dill, and chopped egg.

4. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, paprika and toss.

Garnish with sliced egg and sprinkle with a little more paprika.