little BUG box

We are looking for little bugs to visit our bug box.

We made these little necklace bug boxes from empty spice or candy sprinkle jars. These already have the holes in the top for air and they are just the right size to tie a ribbon on and wear it around to watch your new bug friend.

We found a ladybug and then we added
some leaves and grass to help her feel cozy while she is visiting our bug box.



We found our idea here.

map it

Summer is a great break from school and the daily homework grind. This season of fun is also a whole other world of learning adventures just waiting to be explored. There are lazy afternoons for reading, perfect weather to discover science at the beach or in the backyard, and more opportunity for hands on learning of the basic skills of life.  Simple ideas can keep children learning in fun ways all summer long.  One way is to hang a map in a central area of the house.

• When kids hear things about places in the world locate them on the map.
• Find home cities of extended family and mark them with small picutres.
• Track the travels of friends who are on vacation.
• There is just enough time left in the summer to learn about a different continent each week. Try foods and study about culture and traditions.
• Our favorite game is to write the name of a location on a small sticky note. The first person to find it on the map gets to write the next one. Sometimes it takes a few minutes and sometimes a few days.

summer strawberry shortcake

I love strawberries!!! Strawberry Shortcake has always been one of my favorite summer foods especially when the strawberries are fresh from the garden. My mom always made this classic biscuit like shortcake when I was little and I love it warm from the oven covered with strawberries and cream. I braved turning on the oven on this hot summer day for this yummy summer dessert and it turned out so good!!

2 Cups of Sliced Strawberries
1/2 cup of Sugar
1/3 cup of Butter
2 cups of Flour
1/4 cup of Sugar
3 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
1tsp Vanilla
3/4 cup Milk
Whipped Cream

Sprinkle the 1/2 cup of sugar on the sliced strawberries and then let is sit. The sugar will draw out all of the juices.
Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Place butter, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in food processor or blender until mixture looks like fine crumbs.
Place crumbs in a bowl and stir in vanilla and milk just until combined.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface and gently knead. I had to add a little more flour here because mine was still a little sticky. Knead about 20 times and then roll it out to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut out whatever shape you would like. You could use cookie cutters, the top of a cup, or just cut it into squares.
Place them on a greased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. I then sprayed mine with cooking spray and added a dash of cinnamon sugar on the top.
Bake these for 8-10 min until they are golden brown.
Split shortcake and fill with strawberries and cream.
Makes about 10 shortcakes.

chili lime chicken

Amazingly simple and amazingly good!

2-3 chicken breasts

3 tbsp. lime juice

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 cup salsa

8 oz. frozen corn

2 cups black beans (or one can)

Put the first three ingredients in a crock pot and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours. Break up the chicken and then add the next three ingredients. Cook until warmed through.

Serve on warm tortillas or over chips with cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes.

TIPS:

*This is quick and easy to put together and can cook while you are gone. Dinner will be ready when you get home.

*Use fresh tortillas and this will taste like something from a good Mexican restaurant.

black beans and rice

Here is the simplest of our black bean recipes. This is a favorite quick lunch or dinner.

2 cups water

1 cup rice

2 cups black beans (or one can)

1 can tomato sauce

1/2 cup salsa

2 tbsp. taco seasoning

optional add-ins:

1 cup corn

1 pound ground beef, cooked

Place all the ingredients in a large sauce pan, bring to a boil, and cover. Turn heat down to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve beans and rice on warm tortillas or corn chips and top with cheese, sour cream, and/or avocados.

TIPS: This is a fun recipe for a dinner kit gift. Start with a new pan and fill it with a package of rice, a can of black beans, a can of tomato sauce, a bottle of salsa, a package of taco seasoning, and a bag of chips. Put in the recipe and wrap it all up for a cute "welcome to the neighborhood", get well, or wedding gift.

black bean taco salad

It is simple, easy and the perfect summer dinner.

1 large head lettuce, washed and torn into bite size pieces

2 tomatoes- chopped

2 cups black beans- or 1 can rinsed

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1 can olives, sliced

1 cup corn (optional)

3 cups tortilla chips,

1 cup salad dressing

Mix the first six ingredients in a large bowl. Just before serving add the chips and dressing. Enjoy!

TIPS: I like to use romaine lettuce and either ranch dressing, french dressing, or my favorite, a mixture of 1/2 cup ranch dressing and 1/2 salsa.

southwest egg rolls

Here is the first favorite black bean recipe. These are much like the ones on the appetizer menus at a couple of my favorite restaurants. I found a few different recipes that came close and adapted them to create this one. The number of ingredients may make these seem a little complicated but they are really fairly easy. They work well to make in bulk and freeze. From the freezer they make a quick dinner for the family or a little snack for one.

SOUTHWEST EGG ROLLS

Filling:

2 tbsp. oil

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped

2 bunches green onions, finely chopped

Saute in a large frying pan until tender and then add:

4 cups, cooked chicken, chopped

2 cups corn

4 cups black beans, cooked (2 cans will work)

6-8 oz. frozen spinach. thawed and drained

2 tbsp. jalapeno pepper, finely chopped

2 tbsp. taco seasoning

Cook for a few minutes, and then add:

1 8 oz. package cream cheese

2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese

Stir until cheese is melted and remove from heat.

Cook or warm 32-36 tortillas.

Spread 1/4 cup of the filling onto each tortilla, fold in sides and roll up.

Place the rolls on a baking sheet.

If freezing, place filled baking sheet in freezer until frozen and then transfer rolls to a labeled freezer bag.

If baking immediately, spray rolls with cooking spray. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Slice in half and serve with dipping sauce.

To bake after frozen, place on baking sheet, spray rolls with cooking spray and bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or microwave 2-4 minutes.

Easy Dipping Sauces:

Salsa-Ranch

Mix:

1 cup ranch dressing

1/2 cup salsa

Avocado Ranch

Mix:

1 cup ranch dressing

1 avocado, peeled and crushed

TIPS:

*The green onions can be replaced with 1/2 of a regualr onion or 2 tbsp. dried onion.

*Jalapenos can be fresh or canned.

*I have also used colby jack or cheddar cheese and I like them all.

*The secret ingredient that makes these so great is fresh tortillas. I buy them at a local Sam's Club, cook them on a griddle, and then fill them while they are warm. They roll easier and have a much better texture and taste than regular tortillas.

*Spraying the rolls with cooking spray is an alternative for frying. It gives them a crisp outer shell without the mess or fat content of all the oil.

rainy day playdough

It has been rainy for a few days at our house so we decided to make some playdough. We made it a few days ago and the girls have played with it everyday since. I split the recipe into two bowls so that each if my girls could choose their own color and mix it up. I have seen two recipes. One uses Alum and the other uses Cream of Tatar. I tried both and I can't tell any difference. If anyone knows I would love to hear why. Here is what we ended up with.

Rainy Day Playdough

Flour 2 1/2 Cups (may have to add a little at the end)
Salt 1 Cup
Cream of Tartar or Alum 1 Tablespoon
Boiling Water 2 Cups
Oil 1 Tablespoon
Food Coloring 5-10 drops (color to your desire)

First mix all the of the first three dry ingredients. Next mix the next three in a seperate bowl. I found the adding the color to the liquid helps it the blend a little better. Combine the two mixtures and stir until it forms a stiff dough. I then just kneaded in any extra flour to make a good dough that was not sticky. Play, roll, and squish! Store in a plastic bag or container. I found that sometimes when it sits in the bag it may be sticky when you get it out next. I just kneaded in a little more flour.

*Your little ones may try a taste but at least you know what is in it (nothing to harmful in small quantities).

black bean basics

At our house it is the official first day of summer. This time of year brings great fun and food including cold watermelon, fresh salads and savory smells from the grill. Over the next month we will be sharing four of our favorite summer recipes and they all happen to include black beans. So we thought we would share a few black bean basics first.

Beans are a great source of fiber, protein, calcium, iron, and folic acid. They are fat free and rich in antioxidants. For more information about beans check out the US Dry Bean Council.

Black beans are available canned and ready to use in recipes. A regular can contains about 1 3/4 cups of beans.

They are also available dry. Preparing these usually includes soaking and cooking but there is a simple and easy way to use dry beans. It involves one of my favorite kitchen appliances, called the crock pot. Normally beans are soaked to reduce cooking time but by using a slow cooker the processes can be combined. Here's how:

1. Sift the beans through your hand and watch for any small rocks, or dirty beans. (Food growers have pretty cool machines that sort foods, but they don't always catch little rocks that look like beans so you may find one or two.) Then rinse the dry beans before putting them into a slow cooker.

2. Fill the cooker up to a third of the way full with beans and fill the rest with water. (Beans use the water to increase three times their size as they cook.) Don't put anything in with the beans while cooking, especially any acids like tomatoes or vinegar as this slows the softening process.

3. Put the lid on and cook on high for 5-6 hours.

4. It is important to drain and rinse the beans after cooking. Then they are ready to use.

5. Now that the beans are ready, use them in a recipe or put them in zipper freezer bags, label the bags and save for a later date. A quart size bag will hold four cups. After measuring the beans into the bag, seal it, lay it down flat, and press a space across the middle. This will make it possible to break off half the beans (two cups) after they are frozen.

Black beans are a simple, healthy, food that my kids love. Check back for four easy dinner black bean recipes.

mr. leaf bug

While out weeding one morning we found this little bug. The girls called him leaf bug because he looked like a leaf. They had a great time watching him, finding sticks for him to crawl on, and playing hide-and-seek with him. It was such a simple thing but it was the highlight of our morning.

In the Family Fun Magazine in April they had a cute article on six reasons that your family should plant a garden. I know that most of you have already planted a garden if you are going to but it is better late than never. That is how we live most of the time at our house.
I am no expert gardener but we learn a little more every year mostly by trial and error. So weather you have a few small pots on your back porch or a large garden here are some on the fun benefits that I have found.

1. Gardening is a great workout. If you have ever spent a day planting, weeding, or digging you have felt this.

2. Gardening makes healthy eating fun and adds easy nutrition to your family's diet. I have one very picky eater that will try a lot of things from the garden because she helped plant it and because she can pick it herself. Some of our fun favorites are cherry tomatoes, peas, strawberries, and jack-be-little pumpkins (those cute little mini ones).

3. Gardening is hands on learning. Families can learn about seeds, beneficial bugs, composting, and photosynthesis to name a few. (I put families and not just kids because I am still learning about these things too.) Kids can also learn responsibility and have fun taking care of their own little garden, little pot, or plant.

We have gained a lot of information from our local extension office and also seed and garden stores. We found a great planting guide, some fun ideas to do with kids, and other good information.

six super ways to say "thanks, teacher!"

Each morning this week my children have loudly announced exactly how many school days are left. They are excited about end of the year activities, but are mostly awaiting that glorious last day of school. The only bit of sadness this time of year is having to say good-bye to well-loved teachers. Great teachers play a big role in our children's lives and it may be hard to to know how to say thanks. We asked a few teachers what they thought and found six super ways.

1. JUST WRITE A NOTE!Teachers said they receive many different thank you gifts from students and parents but many times the best ones are just a little personal note of appreciation for specific things they have done.

2. THANK YOU SCRAPBOOK

Take a picture of each child and then give them a chance to write a note. This is a fun activity for the kids and when put into a book becomes a cherished memory for the teacher.

3. FLOWERS

Whether hand picked from the garden or sent from your favorite florist, flowers make a great statement all on their own (just ask any husband).

4. TAKE A BREAK FUN

Kids may be a little surprised to know that teachers are excited for summer vacation too. After a long school year send them a gift card for dinner, movie, ice cream or some other "take a break" fun .

5. THE STUFF WE USE

Teachers need and use a lot of different items in a classroom. Say thanks and help them out a little by sending things like note cards, fun pens, stickers, books, art supplies, soap, lotion, tissues, office supplies, Clorox wipes, storage containers, sporting goods or small gift cards for any of these things.

6. SOMETHING PERSONAL

This year my daughter had an amazing first-year teacher who is excited about teaching and doing fun activities. She had fun learning from his wacky science experiments, his Friday football and everything in between. She picked a green football to say "Thanks, I had a ball in your class!" to Mr. Greene.

packing your bags

PACKING YOUR BAGS







Summer is coming and with it comes the excitement and fun of family vacations. But even the best of parents get a little queasy at the thought of packing for a whole family. This task was greatly simplified at our house when we stumbled onto this one little idea.

By creating a packing list and hanging one in each child's closet, children can learn how to pack their own clothes, they feel more involved in the upcoming trip and last but definitely not least a list cuts down on the number of forgotten items. What seems like a scavenger hunt list to kids, can save rushed parents precious time. Younger kids can pull out all the items needed and have a parent do a quick okay check, before packing their stuff in their bag. As they grow older they will get better at packing on their own. If the list is hung in a plastic sheet protector, kids can use a dry erase marker to mark off items as they pack them. Below is a list a items that could be included on a packing list.





basic:
shirts
pants/ shorts
belt
underclothing
socks
walking shoes
flip-flops/ sandals
sweatshirt/ sweater
pajamas

others if needed:
jacket
hat
slippers
sunglasses
pillow
water bottle



activity bag:
electronic devices
books
snacks
activities

personal: (may be packed in a family bag)
toothbrush/toothpaste/ floss
hairbrush/comb
body wash/ face cleansers
hair products and accessories
sunscreen
lotion
lip balm


special occasions:

water activities:
swimming suit
cover-up clothing
water shoes
sunscreen
towel

snow activities:
coat
snow pants
hat
gloves
boots
scarf

dress-up activities:
shirt and skirt or pants/ jacket
extras like tie, slip, hair bow, jewelry, etc.
dress shoes
dress socks



Other tips that may help.
Buy a different color bag for each child or buy the same color for the whole family and then tie a different color ribbon on each bag.
To save clutter and confusion make a rule that "everything you take must fit it your bag."