Multicultural Puzzle

This puzzle was bought at a store called Anthropologie which is a ladies clothing store in West Edmonton Mall. Search in the back corner of the store to find a children's book and toy section. It was about $17.00 and has different pictures on the back of each piece as well. The box says 3 and up but some 2 year olds can do this with ease. It can also be bought online by clicking here to link to amazon.com.

Lentil Soup

4 leeks - white and light green parts only
1 bunch kale
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 can (28 oz) tomatoes , drained
6 cups water
2 sweet potatoes - peeled and diced
1/2 cup brown lentils
1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
12 fresh basil leaves (optional)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Slice each leek in half lengthwise, then slice into half moons about 1/4 inch thick. You should have about 2 cups. Place in a large bowl of cold water and swish to remove any grit. Drain and pat dry.
Remove stems from kale. Stack leaves on top of one another and slice into strips. You'll need about 3 cups.

In a saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add leeks and cook for 3 minutes.Add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add water and bring to a boil. Stir in kale, sweet potatoes, lentils, thyme, basil, salt and pepper.Simmer until lentils are tender- about 30 minutes. Spoon inti individual bowls. Sprinkle with parmesan.

To freeze: Omit parmesan. Let soup cool. Ladle into large resealable bags, filling each one halfway. Store up to 3 months.
Serves 6

Tacos

6 soft flour multigrain or corn tortillas
Hard shell tacos (optional)

Meat Mixture: make the night before so it's ready for lunch
1 pound of ground beef (can use ground chicken or turkey)
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp onion flakes
1 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water

Toppings:
leaf lettuce
green onions
cilantro (optional)
roma tomatoes
cheddar cheese, shredded, light or fat free
sour cream, light or fat free
chunky salsa

Brown ground beef in a frying pan. Add spices, ketchup and water to browned meat. Simmer on medium-low for 10 minutes.

Wash all vegetables. Cut them up small and set out in serving bowls.
Have the children spoon meat mixture onto tortilla, sprinkle with cheese and add their favourite toppings. Roll up the tortilla.

What Can We Do With Play Dough?

Here's some ideas to make play dough time more interesting for children:

- Make impressions in the dough with things from around your home.garden, or things you have collected on    walks (shells,leaves, sticks, plastic animals,cars, barbie shoes).

-Push small items into the play dough to create faces ( buttons,paper clips, popsicle sticks, googly eyes).

- Use Mr. Potato Head pieces to make play dough people.

-Add children's safety scissors so the children cut the play dough.

-Create a bakery by making cupcakes, birthday cakes, cinnamon buns, cookies, bread. Add cake decorations, muffin cups, rolling pins, bowls, spoons, plastic knives, small cookie sheets, spatulas, cookie cutters,potato masher, etc....

-Create a restaurant by making pizza, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, fries.

-Flatten dough and roll cars and trucks in it to make tire tracks.

-Roll snakes and balls and use them to shape letters.

-Sculpt animals-add feathers,eyes, fur, etc...

-Put fresh play dough in a syringe or icing bag and let children squeeze it out.

-Mix different combinations of colored play dough to make new colors. 
 Red + Blue = Purple, Yellow + Blue = Green, Red + Yellow = Orange
 Then mix all the colors together!

-Use small plastic animal toys (available at the dollar store) and let the child make different kinds of caves  and homes for the animals to live in.

-Make ornaments. Bake at 200 degrees for 5 minutes so they will harden and preserve.

Source: Play Dough, Painting, and Prop Boxes Workshop by Krista Anderson

What Can We Paint With?

Painting with paint brushes is always an engaging activity you can involve children in, but you can paint with many things you already have in your home. Try some of these items:

Apples - Cut apples in half, dip in paint and place on a paper.

Wet Chalk - Place sticks of chalk into a cup of water. You can add sugar to the water for a different effect. Draw on paper with the wet chalk.

Cars- Dip the wheels of a toy car into paint, then drive the car on a paper to make tire tracks.

Toothbrush - Dip a paint brush into paint and paint with it. Try an electric toothbrush!

Bottles - Paint the outside of an empty, washed, plastic juice or pop bottle.

Kitchen utensils- Wooden spoons, spatulas, flippers, forks, potato masher. use washable paint so it will wash off.

Toy animal footprints-Paint the feet of toy animals and have them walk across a paper.

Leaves and Rocks - Go on a nature walk, collect leaves and rocks. Paint one side of a leaf and stamp it onto your paper. Use silk leaves if not available. Paint the rocks and decorate them.

Ketchup - Provide a small cup  of ketchup, allow children to dip their fingers into the ketchup and paint on a high chair tray . Press a paper onto the tray to transfer their art to paper. Peel the paper off the tray and let dry.

Water - Small children can paint with a toddler paint brush, a small cup of water and paper.

Ziploc bag - Put finger paint in a ziploc bag and seal it. Tape it closed. Children can draw on the bag with their finger creating and erasing designs over and over!

Hands and Feet - Dip children's hands and feet in paint. Make handprints and walk across a large paper taped to the floor. Use different colors and watch how the colors mix.

Q-tips - Dip Q-tips in a container of paint and make dot pictures.

Potatoes - Cut a potato in half. Carve out simple shapes such as a square, circle, triangle and rectangle. Allow the children to dip the potato into paint and stamp on paper. Encourage them to arrange shapes to create characters, vehicles, houses etc....

Laundry Soap Caps - Dip into paint and stamp circles on paper or boxes.

Marbles or Golf Balls - Put marbles or golf balls in paint, scoop them out with a spoon, and place on paper cut to the size and shape of a cake pan or tin box. Roll the marbles around on the paper.

GREEK POTATOES

Greek Style Lemon Roast Potatoes

8-10 peeled potatoes cut in wedges

1 cup chicken broth

½ cup lemon juice

1/3 cup olive oil

3 cloves garlic minced

2 tsp oregano

1 tsp pepper

Place potatoes in a 13 X 9 baking dish

Whish together broth, lemon juice, oil and seasonings

Pour over potatoes, turning to coat

Bake in 325 degree oven for about 2 hours, turning occasionally

Post Office

Items to collect for a Post Office Prop Box:

Stamps-Stickers
Paper
Envelopes - all sizes
Ink pads and stamps
Play money
Cash register
Keyboard/Computer/Scanner
Mailing labels for parcels
Packing tape and brown paper to wrap boxes
Valentine cards and envelopes
Blank cards and envelopes
Markers
Pens
Paper pads
Letter Carrier shirt/coat/hat
Letter Carrier bag
Shoe boxes to put mail in
Box- to pretend it's a mail truck
Post cards
Index cards to write on
Telephone
Junk mail
Small wrapped boxes to deliver
Pictures of a post office
Mail box