Montessori Mom

Cooking with kids has great rewards. You can teach the sounds of the alphabet while learning about math and kitchen science! Rap or sing the little song after each recipe. Let's cook and lean our ABCs!

Applesauce surprise

Cut and peel some apples. Cook them for 40 minutes or until tender. Cool the apples. Take turns mashing the apples into applesauce. Add a little honey. Put the applesauce in a cup, add crushed cookies or raisins. Eat and enjoy.      
a-a-a- the apple sound,  A  makes an apple sound!

Ants on a log.

Spread peanut butter on short stalks of celery. Add raisins (Ants). Add some apple juice and you have a great snack.

a-a- a the ant sound,  A makes an ant sound!

Banana kabobs

With long skewers or toothpicks make a fun fruit kabob with thick, sliced bananas, pineapple chunks, grapes, marshmallows, and any other favorite fruit. Brush with orange juice to keep the bananas from turning brown and enjoy. This is a great activity for practical life skills. Even a young toddler can thread the fruit and “paint” with a brush the orange juice on the finished products. Let your older child peel and cut the bananas with a safe plastic knife. Slowly demonstrate how to peel and cut a banana.

b-b-b the banana sound, B makes a banana sound!

Frozen Banana Ice

.This is an easy to make "ice cream" type desert.

You can either use bananas that are already frozen-I just pop ripe bananas into the freezer to use later for cooking. Defrost the bananas until you can easily peel them. Let your child cut the bananas into small pieces with a spreading or butter knife.

Or you can use unfrozen ripe bananas by peeling, cutting them, wrapping in plastic wrap-Just pop them in the freezer for 2 hours. Again your child can peel and dice the bananas.

Put the frozen bananas in either a blender, juicer or food processor. You can add other flavors to this frozen banana ice. My favorite is to blend in chocolate syrup or chips. Also, oranges slices or strawberries are a yummy addition.

Cloud surprise

 

You’ll need whipped topping, instant pudding and milk. You can use prepared pudding or have your child shake up his or her pudding in a small jar. Combine the milk and pudding and mix well with a whisk. Take the mixture and divide into small jars, cover tightly with the lids. Let your children shake the pudding until thick. Let each child continue by scooping in the whipped topping in a clear bowl or cup- enough to cover the bottom of the container. Spoon in the shaken pudding, then cover with whipped topping. Have fun eating your cloud.

Caterpillar bread.

This is a quick and fun recipe when you use frozen bread dough.
You’ll need:
Bread dough
Licorice whips, jelly beans, chocolate chips, raisins, nuts, sugar and candy sprinkles, etc.
Divide the bread into 3 or 4 sections, depending how many children are doing this activity.
Have each child roll out the dough into a long caterpillar cylinder about 10 or 12 inches long.
Using a plastic serrated knife, have the children cut the caterpillar into 4 or 5 sections.
Place the sectioned caterpillar in an interesting design(head up, curved around, etc.) on a grease cookie sheet.
Decorate the eyes with raisins; use licorice whips for antennae and legs. You can use the jelly beans and other nuts and candies to make your creation look unique. Caterpillars are wild looking in nature so have fun.
Bake at 350f degrees for about 20 minutes or until done. ( Your bread is done when your lightly thump it with your finger and it makes a hollow sound.)

c-c-c the caterpillar sound,  C  makes a caterpillar sound!

Dinosaurs-Art you can eat.

d-d-d- the dinosaur sound, D makes a dinosaur sound!

Your child can make a dinosaur, a self portrait, or just an abstract
You’ll need:
A full graham cracker rectangle or a flat bread
Various dried cereal, chocolate chips, raisins, nuts, candy sprinkles, etc. for collage
Honey
Pastry brush or plastic knife
Use the honey as paste. Let your child spread the honey with a pastry brush or a plastic knife and then cover the cracker with the edible collage pieces. Let your child tell you about his or her creation.

Doughnut delight

You'll need toppings (sprinkles, nuts, raisins, coconut etc.), frosting and plain cake donuts

Give each child a doughnut, a plastic knife, a dollop of frosting, and some toppings
Let each child frost the doughnut and decorate.

D is for doughnut. Yum!

d-d-d the doughnut sound, D makes a doughnut sound!

Egg Cream Drinks
This is old fashioned drink is fun to make and drink.
You will need
1/2 cup chilled whole milk or soy milk
You can used flavored milk such as chocolate milk or vanilla soy milk
Add your own flavor, such as ¼ cup chocolate syrup, vanilla flavoring, fruit juice, etc.
Chilled club soda or seltzer
 
Pour milk into a 16-ounce glass and place spoon in glass. Pour seltzer (or squirt if using siphon) into glass to reach 1/2 inch below rim. (A snow-white foam will develop.) Pour syrup into center of white foam, then stir in syrup and remove spoon through center of foam.

Try this with vanilla and milk
or
Fruit juice and milk

Egg wash painted cookies
These are easy and fun to make.
You can make cut out sugar cookies using your favorite recipe or buy the cut and bake dough from the grocery store. If you are short on time buy plain sugar cookies.
You will need:
Food coloring
White Corn syrup
Water (if you need to thin out the egg wash paint)
Small pastry brushes or clean paint brushes
Baked sugar cookies
Method:
In small cups put in a teaspoon of corn syrup, add a few drops of food coloring. Paint your baked cookies. Bake again for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Delicious!

e-e-e the egg sound, E makes an egg sound!

Fruit  Dip

Ingredients    
 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (softened at room temperature)
1/2 cup brown sugar-let your child press the sugar in
1 tablespoon almond extract
food coloring
 

 Directions    
In mixing bowl let your child stir with a wooden spoon to the cream cheese (you can take turns stirring with your child),
Gradually add brown sugar and almond. Mix well, until all of the
brown sugar has been blended into the cream cheese and
Almond.  If the mixture is too thick for your taste, add a small
amount of  almond extract. Add a little food coloring as an added treat.

You and your child can wash different types of pears, apples or any hard fruit. Wash and dry. Cut up into dipping size pieces and enjoy dipping into the fruit dip.

f-f-f the fruit sound, F makes a fruit sound!

Fizzy Fruit Cooler
Try this: 
Mix together club soda or sparkling water with juice. Have your child pour a glass 1/3 full with juice. Then he can pour in the sparkling water slowly till the glass is 2/3 full.
Try apple juice, pineapple juice, orange juice, grape juice, anything juicy and good.
Talk About this:
What shape are the bubbles? Circles
What makes the bubbles? Carbon dioxide

f-f-f the fizzy sound, F makes a fizzy sound

Good Granola Bars
These are great tasting.
You will need:
Someone to help
Oven
Oblong cake pan
Bowl
Whisk
Spoon
2 cups of oatmeal
1 ½ cups of flour
½ whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1 cup of vegetable oil
¾ cup of brown sugar
¾ cup honey (or you can use maple or rice syrup or white sugar)
vanilla
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup flaked coconut or nuts
1 cup raisins or chocolate chips

Add the following ingredients to a large bowl and Mix with a whisk
2 eggs (Show your child how to gently crack the middle of egg, press thumbs together,  & empty contents of egg into mixing bowl)
1 cup of oil (Have your child pour and measure)
Add to bowl  and mix with a spoon (Take turn stirring with your child-count how many times your stir)
Sugar and honey  and vanilla

Next your child can-
Sift the flour, soda, and salt (You can put flour in a shallow bowl for easier measuring)
Sift onto waxed paper
Add dry ingredients to mixture and stir
Add oatmeal, then nuts and raisins or chocolate chips
Stir some more!

Spread into a bar or cake pan that has been oiled with a brush by your child.

Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 35 minutes
Cool and cut into bars. Store in a cookie tin.

Party variation: granola pops
Place about one teaspoon of dough on cookie sheet, insert with a stick to the middle of the dough. Bake 12 minutes at 375 degrees.

 
Granola Crunch
You will need:
Someone to help
An oven
Bowl and spoon
Cookie sheet or pan
Waxed paper or paper towels
Oatmeal (1 cup)
Wheat germ (2 tablespoons) or sesame seeds (2 tablespoons)
Nuts or coconut  (1/4 cup)
Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds (1/4 cup)
Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (1 teaspoon)
Honey or maple syrup (3 tablespoons)
Vegetable oil (2 tablespoons)
Vanilla or almond extract (2 teaspoons)
Mix together all the dry ingredients- Add honey, oil, extract, and mix well. You and your child can use your clean hands to mix gently. Spread evenly on a cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Keep an eye on it. It’s all right to stir it once or twice while it bakes.
Cool on waxed paper or paper towels. Eat this for breakfast or dry as a snack.
Try this:
1.Taste each food before you mix the granola together. How does the raw, plain oatmeal taste like before your bake it?  How does the granola crunch taste after you bake it?
2.What part of the mixture makes the granola stick together in pieces after you bake it? (The sugar melts and glues the granola crunch together.)

g-g-g the good sound,  G  makes a good sound!

Hot Dog Zap

You'll need:

hot dogs-vegetarian, chicken, turkey or beef
hot dog rolls-whole wheat ones work great!
paper napkins or paper towels
microwave

Show your child how to put the hot dog in the roll, unfold the  napkin and arrange in diamond shape, from one corner, roll the hot dog to the end, fold over the flaps.
Place hot dog in microwave for about 30 seconds or follow manufacturers directions. Let it rest for a minute to make sure the hot dog is not too hot.  Put on your favorite toppings.

h-h-h the hot sound,  H makes a hot sound!

 

Happy Face Sandwich

You'll need:

whole grain bread
nut butter
apples
raisins
maple syrup or honey
toaster oven

You and your child can wash and slice the apple into 1/2 inch slices. Your child can spread his or her favorite nut butter (peanut, almond, hazelnut) on a piece of bread. Add raisins for eyes and nose and  apple slices for smile and even  eye brows.
Drizzle with a teaspoon of maple syrup. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.
Eat with favorite veggies.

h-h-h the happy sound- H  makes a happy sound!

Ice Cream in a Bag
You"ll need:
Large zip lock bag
Small zip lock bag
Cream or milk
Sugar or your favorite sweet flavoring
Ice
table salt


In a sandwich bag (zip shut) put in a 1/2 cup cold cream, milk or soy milk
Add 2 Tablespoons sugar, maple syrup, chocolate syrup or honey
Close securely In a large zip shut, bag- put in ice till 3/4 full.
Add 1/3 cup of any type of salt.
Place the small bag with milk in the middle of the large bag.
Secure and shake back and forth until the small bag gets firm.
Cut the bottom of the small bag and squeeze out your homemade ice cream.
Variation: You can add any goodie to this, nuts, fruit, jelly beans, peanut butter and jelly, crushed cookies or chocolate chips.




Igloo Ice Cubes

You will need:
Ice Cube Tray
Your favorite juice

Put the juice in a small pitcher and let your child fill up each section. Freeze and put in your drinks for flavor.

i-i-i the ice sound I  makes an ice sound!

Jiffy Jam

This is my Grandmother's (Mormor) raw jam recipe. The jam tastes fresh and fruity.
If you can pick your own berries, it will even taste better!

You will need:
blueberries or your favorite ripe small berry
powdered sugar
bowl
masher
spoon

Use about 1 cup of clean blueberries and about 1 cup of powdered sugar.

Pour the berries into a bowl.
Mash the berries.  (This releases the pectin in the fruit)
Stir in powdered sugar.
Blend until the jam is firm.

Spread on your morning toast.

j-j-j the jam sound, J  makes a jiffy jam sound!

Jelly biscuits

You'll need:
Biscuit dough- you can buy biscuits in a tube in the refrigerator section in the market
jelly or jam
teaspoon
oven
baking pan

Have your child place the biscuits on a cookie sheet or baking pan.
Next,  make an indentation in each biscuit with your thumb, drop in a teaspoon of jelly.
Bake according to directions.

These are great with afternoon tea or breakfast.

j-j- j the jelly sound, J makes a jelly sound!

Kabobs on the Grill

These are easy to make and fun to eat. This is a great way to introduce different vegetables to your child's diet.

You will need:
You can pick from these fruits and vegetables:
pineapple chunks-tin or can
mandarin orange slices-tin or can
green or red pepper
green onions
zucchini
yellow squash
cherry or small tomatoes
mushrooms
skewers-you can buy long wooden ones at the market
sauce- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoons orange juice

Wash and cut the selected vegetables with your child. The cherry tomatoes are fine the thread on whole. The other cut vegetables should be no bigger than 2 inches.
Let your child thread the veggies and fruit on the skewer. You can even put the items in a sequence-pineapple, zucchini, madrian orange, onion, tomato, pepper-and repeat the pattern until the skewer is full.

Brush with sauce and grill or broil for 5 minutes, turn and cook 5 more minutes.

k-k-k the kabob sound-K makes a kabob sound.

Kiwi cakes

You will need:
Kiwi fruit
sponge cakes or lady fingers
1 cup heavy whipping cream or Soy Whip
bowl
egg beater
knife and/or peeler
2 teaspoons sugar

You child can-
measure one cup of whipping cream
to pour into a cold bowl.
If you have an old fashion egg beater your child can beat the whipping cream until it makes soft peaks, add the 2 teaspoons of sugar and beat one more time. You can take turns doing this! If you don't have an egg beater, a whisk will work-the helper may have to whisk a few times more. Put the whipped cream in cool place.

Peel the kiwi with a knife or peeler. Slice and place a few pieces on the cake, add cream, then add another layer of cream topped with a slice of kiwi.  This is really good!

k-k-k the kiwi sound-K makes a kiwi sound!


Letter Crackers
These crackers are from a Norwegian recipe for oatmeal crackers.

You will need:
Someone to help
Oven
A blender or food processor
Rolling pin or a bottle (wine bottle, etc.)
Bowl
Fork
Oatmeal (½ cup)
Honey
Salt
Soda
Whole-wheat pastry flour or whole wheat and 2 teaspoons corn starch (¾ cup)
Vegetable Oil ¼ cup
Yogurt (soy or dairy)- ¼ cup
Water (2 Tablespoons or until moist)
1. Grind 1/2 cup of oatmeal in the blender.   (If you are using regular whole wheat instead of whole wheat pastry flour-grind that next and add 2 teaspoons of cornstarch.)
2. In a bowl stir with a fork in flour and oatmeal with ¼ cup of oil. Add 1-tablespoon honey and ¼ teaspoon baking soda and ¼ teaspoon salt.
3. Add 1/4 cup yogurt and 2 to 4 tablespoons water. Mix gently with hands (oil them first so the dough doesn’t stick)
4. Roll out the dough very thin. About 1/8 of an inch.
5. Cut with cookie cutters or make your own letters with a butter knife.
6. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes.
Try this:
Have your child taste the oatmeal before you grind it. Taste some after your grind it into oat flour. How does it taste different? Do they have different textures?
Taste the yogurt. Is it sour or sweet? Taste the honey; is it sour or sweet?
(Where does honey come from?) (What is yogurt made out of?)
Use the dough scraps to make shapes.

Eat and enjoy!
 


l-l-l the letter sound-L makes a letter sound!


Little loaves of bread

This works great in a bread machine.

You'll need
1 package of yeast or 2 1/2 teaspoons of yeast
1 1/2 cups of water
2 Tablespoons powdered milk (dairy or soy)
2 Tablespoons of sugar or honey
1/4 cup of potato flakes
1 egg
1/2 stick of butter (1/4 cup softened butter)
2 1/2 cups bread flour
3/4 teaspoon salt

Your child can sift the flour  into a large shallow bowl or a large piece of waxed paper. Blend together the wet ingredients and egg in a large bowl. Add yeast, powdered milk, sugar, potato flakes, butter, and gradually add flour, add salt after you have put in about a cup of flour. You can use a mixer while the mixture is quite wet, after the flour makes the mixture thick, use a spoon, and then your hands.

Flour your work area, break the bread dought into small enough pieces so your child can work the dough easily. Show your child slowly how to knead the dough. You push and fold the dough, turn it, and push and fold and turn the dough again. Do this for several minutes.

Roll your dough into a fat cylinder shape. Your child can brush oil onto the bread pan or baking ban.  Place your bread in the pan. Let it rise for about 45 minutes in a warm place.
Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 25 to 30 minutes. The bread will brown and sound hollow when you thump it with your finger.

Cool and eat.

These small loaves of bread are easy for your child to slice. You can make a practical life center cutting and buttering bread.
Provide a cutting board, a safe serrated knife, plates, butter and butter knife.

If you use a bread machine, select the dough option and follow your bread machine manufacturer's directions.

l-l-l- l the little sound, L  makes a little sound


Marshmallow Smores
This is great indoors or by a campfire

Microwave plain or peanut butter smores
You will need:
A microwave or a campfire
2 Graham cracker halves ( any flavor)
1 square of chocolate candy
1 marshmallow or 4 miniature marshmallows, or in a pinch, marshmallow cream.
Peanut butter
paper towel

1. On one graham cracker put the chocolate square, marshmallow.
2. Put on paper towel.
3. Microwave for 10 to 15 seconds-chocolate will melt and marshmallow will melt.
4. On the other half spread peanut butter or any nut butter ( It tastes great!)
5. Let it stand for a few minutes ( Don’t want to burn your mouth)  and eat.



m-m-m the marshmallow sound,M makes a marshmallow sound!

mmmmm good!

Mousers
You will need:
Cheese-mild cheddar
Cheese Grater
Bowl
Butter
Flour
Dry cereal (toasted)
Cookie sheet
Oven

Have your child:
Grate about 1/3 cup of cheese
Put in a bowl.
Add 1-tablespoon butter
¼ cup of flour
¼ cup toasted dry cereal
Stir, and grease your hands and form into balls. Put balls on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes.
Talk about it.
How did the cheese change after you baked the mousers?

m-m-m- the mouse sound, M makes mouse sound.



No Bake Cookies
These are great because you don’t bake them.
Use your hands, these recipes are like fun dough you can eat.
Round orange ball cookies
You will need:
Rolling pin
Zip lock bag
7 to 8 ounces of plain cookies or graham crackers
¾ cup coconut flakes
½ to ¾ cup powdered sugar
½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate
Put the half the cookies or crackers in a zip lock bag. Let your child crush them with the rolling pin. Rolling the pin back and forth develps eye to hand coordination. Put the finished half in the bowl. Do the second portion. Add coconut, sugar and  orange juice concentrate. Mix well and form into balls.
Try this:
What would happen if you didn’t crush the cookies?
Would they mix together very well with the other food?

n-n-n the no sound, N makes a no sound


Nut butter

You can make any nut butter from your favorite nuts.
Here are some nuts you can use-
Peanuts
Almonds
Macadamia nuts
Cashews
Pistachios

You'll need:
Blender or food processor
1 cup of roasted nuts
1 to 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil-you can even buy nut oils to add-I usually don't add oil if the nuts are oily
2 tablespoons of honey

Measure and place in blender or food processor.
Blend at medium high, turn off occasionally to scrape the sides. You can make the butter chunky or smooth.

Refrigerate if you don't eat it within a week. Take out before eating so it warms up and is easier to spread.

Your child can spread this on apple or pear pieces, celery, carrots, and just plain bread.

n-n-n the nutty sound, N makes a nutty sound!

Ocean Drink

o- o -o - the O sound, O makes an octopus sound!

You will need for this fun drink:
Club soda or unflavored and unsweetened bubbly water grape Juice (or any ocean colored juice)

A clear tall glass and drinking straw

How to making this drink:

Put 1/4 cup of grape juice in a small pitcher or liquid measuring cup. Let your child pour the juice into the glass.

Slowly pour in the soda water and watch the drink turn a blue purple ocean color with air bubbles too.

Sip from a straw and enjoy!

 

Octopus Salad
You will need-
plate
a peach half
lettuce
raisin
almond
8 carrot sticks

Put the lettuce on the plate.
Next place the peach half on the lettuce.
Add the 8 carrot appendages.
Add raisin for eyes and an almond for the beak.
Eat and enjoy.


Peanut butter ball cookies
You will need:
Bowl
1/3 cup of honey
1/3 cup of peanut butter
1/3  cup of non fat dry milk (dairy, soy or rice)
¼ cup coconut
1 tablespoon of raisins
sesame seeds or chopped nuts or cookie crumbs
Mix together the honey, peanut butter, dry milk, coconut, and raisins.
Grease clean hands and form into balls. Roll into either sesame seeds, nuts, or cookie crumbs.
Eat, you don’t have to wait to bake these cookies.

Try this:
Taste all the ingredients. Which one do you like the best. How does it taste?

p-p-p the peanut butter sound, P makes a peanut butter sound


Painted toast


This is a fun art and food activity.
You just need milk paint and bread.

You will need:
Sliced bread
milk
food coloring
toaster
4 to 6 small pots or bowls
4 to 6 clean, small pastry brushes or clean or new paint brushes.

Put about 2 tablespoons of milk in each pot. Add a few drops of food coloring at a time. Stir and add more color until the milk paint nice and bright.
Make the paint nice and bright. You can make red, yellow, blue, green, orange, (mix together red and yellow) and purple (mix together blue and red).

Let your child paint the bread. It can be anything from dots, lines, circle, squares or a face. Abstract art if interesting too.
Toast and lightly butter, if you need something sweet on it, honey will glaze the master piece.

p-p-p- the paint sound, P makes a paint sound

 

 

Sing or rap this little ditty while you cook-

  q-q-q- the quirky sound, Q makes a quirky sound!

(Q always has her friend u follow him where ever he goes, together they make a ks blended sound.)

Quick Breakfast Bites

You will need:

An oven

A cookie sheet

Parchment paper for the cookie sheet or cooking oil spray

mixing bowl

small microwaveable bowl

kitchen scissors

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons melted earth balance margarine or butter

1 cup finely crushed cereal

How to make these yummy bites

Melt butter in the small bowl in microwave or pan on stove.

Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon in the mixing bowl.

This next part is great for cutting exercises

Take out the biscuits and separate. Show your child how to use scissors to cut the biscuits into small pieces

If you want to make this a fractions lesson, cut the first few in half, the next ones in fourths, sixths, and so on. Put the wedges in the cinnamon sugar bowl and coat by gently stir with hands

Using a small spoon, drizzle the butter over the dough pieces. Cover as evenly as you can.

This next step can be done by even a toddler.

Put about 1 1/2 cups of cereal in a zip lock bag. Press out the excess air zip securely. Have your child use a wooden block or rolling to crush the cereal. "Crush it-crush it-crush it-crush it-into crumbly cereal chunks." Add about a cup to the bowl of dough pieces. Stir slowly and gently to cover the bites.

Show your child how to place the dough bites on cookie sheets in rows without them touching each other.

Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes. If some pieces are done sooner, take them out and put the rest back in the oven. Remove and let them cool slightly. Eat them warm with tea or juice. They taste as good as they smell.

Queen of Tarts

This is a simple jam tart

You will need-
Ready made cresent rolls-you can find them in the refrigeration section at the market
Your favorite jam
Small tart pans or muffin tins
oven-preheat to 400 degrees

Take out the dough, show your child how to gently press the dough in the tins.
Place a spoonful of jam on top.

Bake about 6 to  9 minutes, or until light golden brown.

These are very light and easy to eat too!
 

r-r-r- the running sound, R makes a running sound!

Rocky Road Snack

You will need:
Bowl
Spoon
1 cup of chocolate chips
1 cup of nuts
1 cup of raisins
1 cup of pretzels
1 cup of cereal
1 cup of marshmallows

Combine the ingredients in the bowl. Let your child gently stir the goodies together. Store in an airtight container. Also, let your child use a measuring cup to take out an individual serving.  These are a great treat.

Radish Roses
You will need:
radishes
a bowl  2/3 full with cold water
a small serrated knife
cutting board
vegetable brush

Wash and lightly scrub with a vegetable brush. 
Cut the tops and roots off the radish.
After showing your child, let him or her help you.
Take one of the radishes, trim off 1/8 of an inch at top of radish. From the top of this cut edge, cut down 2/3's of the way down. Do this on the other three sides. Make more smaller cuts at the corners of the radish.  Place in cold water. After several hours the radish petals will start to pop out to make a rose.
It's fun to do each radish differently.


Sprout Jar

s-s-s- the silly seed sound, S makes a silly seed sound!

Sprouts-This is a great science experiment you can eat.

These are great by themselves, on a sandwich or in a salad.

You will need:

Vegetable seeds - alfalfa, mung, radish, or broccoli

Bowl

Jar

1. Soak the seeds over night in a bowl of water

2. Drain and rinse the next morning

3. Put in a clean jar.

4. Place the jar in a warm place away from the sunlight.

5. Look at the sprouts everyday and notice how they change.

6. In a few days you will have sprouts.

Activities: Use two different types of vegetable seeds and see which ones sprout the quickest.

Note: You may have to rinse and drain the sprouts every few days. Some more ideas-

How do the sprouts taste different?

Do the radish sprouts taste “hot” or “spicy”?

Can you see the leaves or the roots on the sprouts?

Your child will love how quickly the seeds germinate so they can eat the sprouts. Montessori noted in the Discovery of the Child-
"The work which pleases children most is not so much that of sowing seed as that of harvesting:


Seaweed Soup
I use dried sea vegetables for soup and stir fry! My children love it.
You can buy a package of sea vegetable or seaweed at an Asian market or many grocery stores in the Asian products aisle.
Buy the type that looks like wild hair. The finer seaweed tastes less fishy when mixed with soups and other dishes.
You will need:
3 cups of broth
1/2 ounce of hair sea vegetable, soak in cool water for a few minutes and rinse
1/4 cup of cut celery
1/4 cup of cut carrot
2 green onions, chopped
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons seasoned oil, like sesame or olive
Wok or large pan
Stove

Stir fry the carrots, celery and sea vegetable in oil for a few minutes. Add broth and green onions and bring to boil. Add vinegar, sugar and soy sauce. Add salt to taste. Serve with rice crackers.

s-s-s- the seaweed sound, S makes a seaweed sound!



Tangy Tea Mix

1 large jar of orange instant breakfast drink (astronauts love this drink)

½ cup instant tea

1 ½ cups of sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)

Mix the dry ingredients well and place in a well-sealed jar or container. Pour hot water into a cup and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of tea. You can also serve this in a teapot.



Tasty Tea Sandwiches

You will need these items:

Sandwich bread
Cookie cutters
Butter
Spreadable Sandwich filling, such as: peanut butter and jelly, softened cream cheese and jelly, egg salad, minced Bologna, tuna salad, vegetables, (cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes) How to make the sandwiches:

Cut the shapes of bread with cookie cutters that match your theme of the party or event (teddy bears, chicks, flowers, circles, etc.) Also, you can even cut off the crust and to make rectangles, squares, or triangles.

Butter lightly one side of the cut out bread shape. The butter keeps the bread from getting soggy from the moist filling. If you make peanut butter, spread peanut butter instead of butter and then put the jelly in the between the two pieces of peanut butter bread. This prevents the jelly from leaking.

Spread the filling on the bread, top it, place on a tray or plate and cover each layer with plastic wrap. Finally, refrigerate and it’s ready to go for your party.

Time Saver Tip-Use wraps instead of bread for your sandwich fillings.

t-t-t-the tangy tasty sound,T makes a tasty sound!

Upside down in the dirt cake

A package of chocolate cream filled (or mint) cookies. (or half of each type) up to 20 ounces
½ large tub of whipped topping with green food coloring added for a grass look
½ large tub of whipped topping to add later to the pudding mixture
Instant Pudding - Chocolate or Vanilla or any other flavor
(For a big dirt cake use two or more packages)

Milk (for the instant pudding) (for allergies to cow’s milk buy rice or soymilk)

Gummy Worms and bugs, even jelly bean eggs (some stores offer this in the bulk/bins food section)

Put the chocolate cream filled cookies in the freezer, at least overnight. This makes the cookies easier to blend in the blender to crush into a 'dirt like' granules. Blend the whole package into “dirt.” You can also use a food processor. For even more fun your kids can crush the cookies in a plastic bag with a rolling pin.

Make the Instant Pudding and fold in ½ the tub of whipped topping. It’s okay to swirl the topping and pudding if they are 2 different colors. I like to use a clear bowl to show the dirt layers and critters 

To make the cake upside down put the green whipped topping ,which is the grass, on the bottom. Put a layer of Oreo dirt, then a layer of pudding &  whipped cream mix. Lastly, place the gummy bugs, worms, and eggs strategically in the pudding. Continue to layer until dirt and pudding mixture, ending with dirt on top.  Put the cake in the refrigerator for an hour or more. Also, you can make the cake in individual clear plastic throw away cups. This is a no-stress dirt cake and your kids will love making this with you. Kids love this cake! Trick candles are fun for this type of cake, and vanilla ice cream on the side.

Hints. Small plastic shovels are fun to use as spoons. Also, new , clean buckets make great containers for eating this “dirt” cake.

Take a picture of everyone’s face after eating this messy delight.

Unbirthday cake

Sometimes winter holidays put a damper on your child's birthday party day. A great way to have a fun kiddie
party is to have an "unbirthday" party during the summer.
Make easy fun summer food and activities! Check here for some ideas.

Unbirthday Popcorn Cake

Ingredients:
4 quarts of popped corn
1 pound of candy pieces
(Gum drops, jelly beans, etc.) 1 pound of marshmallows
½ pound of nuts
(optional) ½ cup of butter
½ cup of vegetable oil
In a pan melt together ½ cup of butter, ½ cup of vegetable oil, and 1 pound of marshmallows. Combine melted mixture with popcorn, candy and nuts. Mix well and press into a greased angel food pan or bunt cake pan. Remove when cool. This is a fun cake to make with your child.

u-u-u-the upside down sound, U makes an upside down sound!

Vietnamese Fried Rice

Kim showed me how to make this 30 years ago. It’s a great way to use leftovers.
You just need a few tablespoons of each vegetable to make this dish. It’s perfect for lunch.
The base of this recipe is leftover rice. Just adjust the recipe for the amount of rice you are using.

You will need:

1 cup of cooked rice
vegetable oil
wok or frying pan
egg or tofu
leftover veggies

Heat pan with oil and heat rice.

Add leftovers and add one beaten egg or 2 tablespoons of seasoned tofu.

Heat and eat.

Your child can beat with a fork the egg and half teaspoon of water in a small bowl.
Tofu can be smashed with a fork. Season with salt, pepper, onion and garlic salt.

Look through your refrigerator and use leftovers to make a tasty dish. Here are some things to consider.
Peas
Grated carrot-your child can help grate the carrot
Green onions
Pineapple
Green pepper
Cooked meat or shrimp

Vegetable Pita Pizzas
You will need:
 2 round pitas
Vegetables of your choice- grate zucchini, carrots, or onions as a topper-kids who don't like veggies usually like this.
1/4 cup of your favorite sauce
1/4 cup of cheese-you can use cheddar, mozzarella or jack cheese. My favorite pizza chesse is Soy Sensation.
Olive oil to spray or brush on vegan type cheese-the oil helps the cheese to melt.
Favorite sprinkle cheese-parnesan or veggie parmesan

Microwave pitas for a few seconds to make them soft.
Let your child spread pizza sauce on pita.
Sprinkle with grated veggies, halved cherry tomatoes and favorite fresh spices such as basil or oregano.
Spread cheese and spray or lightly brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Bake in 425 degree oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until desired crispness.
Cut into triangles-
Eat and Enjoy!
Try this-
Talk about the round shape of the pita rounds. What shape are they when you cut them in half?  (A half circle)
What shapes are they when you cut them in fourths? (curved triangles)

 

v-v-v the vegetable sound, V makes a vegetable sound!

Zebra Cookies
This really isn't a cookie, but it is good to eat!
You will need-
A Rice Cake
Peanut Butter
A spreading knife
Carob or Chocolate Chips

Make stripes of peanut butter. Fill in with carob chips.
Eat your zebra cookie with your favorite drink.
Try this-
Why do zebras have stripes? (It helps them hide from lions because when they are in the big herd the lion
just sees stripes moving around and has trouble finding a single zebra.)


Zappy Znappy Cheese Wraps

You will need
Wraps-such as small flour tortillas or even lefse
Cream Cheese-I love tofutti cream cheese
Pepper jelly or favorite jelly
Favorite fruit-sliced (Kiwi fruit is always good with cream cheese) or dried fruit

Let the cream cheese soften at room temperature for a few hours or stir until soft-add a little liquid to soften more.
With a spreading knife, let your child spread on soft cream cheese, then add jelly and put on a single layer of fruit.
Roll and eat. You can use large tortillas and cover with cling wrap, chill for 2 hours, slice into pinwheels.
You may have to use toothpicks to hold them together!


z-z-z the zebra sound-Z makes a zappy sound!