Friday, October 29, 2010

Friday's Food: Mini Pizza's

This was my FAVORITE as a kid!!!

Ingredients:
- Pillsbury refrigerated biscuits (in the tube that *pops* and scares you when you open it)
- 8 oz. can tomato sauce (or ready pizza sauce or plain spaghetti sauce)
- Dried spices (oregano, garlic powder, basil, or italian seasoning mix)
- Grated cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, etc.)
- Toppings of your choice
(ex: pepperoni, sliced black olives, pineapple chunks, lunch meat ham cut in small squares, green pepper strips, etc.)

Directions:
1.  Lightly grease a cookie sheet.   
2.  Have children help roll out individual biscuits, with their hands, rolling pin, or a plastic cup, then place individual pizzas on the cookie sheet
3.  Spoon tomato sauce (or other sauce) on each circle of biscuit dough
4.  If using plain tomato sauce, sprinkle spices on top.  (With young children, you'll want to do this part)
5.  Let kids top their own  pizza.  They can make faces, designs, flowers, etc. with their toppings if they want to.
6.  Bake in oven according to regular biscuit directions on package

This isn't a world famous tasty pizza recipe, but because kids can make it themselves and it's tiny just like them, they'll think it is amazing and will beg for more.

***Variations: use homemade biscuit dough, and divide into small balls for them to work with, or use english muffins. 

***Tip: line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil, then lightly grease it.  Makes for a super easy clean up after it bakes, especially if kids get messy with their ingredients.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Thursday's Thing to Do: What's Different?

This is a great game that doesn't take too much energy for mom, but is super fun for kids. It is also an INDOOR game, which is handy since it's wet and cold in many places right now.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT?
How you play:
1.  Stand in front of your child or children dressed in something extra (a hat, necklace, or holding something random) Give your child a moment to study you.
2.  Leave the room and change something about your appearance.
3.  Come back in the room and have them figure out what is different.
4.  Take turns. 
* If you have more than one child, it could be played that the quickest to guess gets to be "it" next, or you could just take turns so everyone has the same number of turns.
* This game works great for nearly every age.  With young children, keep it more obvious, with older children, it can be something specific, a sleeve that's rolled up, or a shoe lace that is tied strange, etc.

Developmentally, this game helps children increase their attention span, pay attention to detail, and when they have a turn, gives them a chance to "be in charge" and lead the play time which is important in their development of self confidence and being able to take initiative.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Wednesday's Word:

The past is behind: Learn from it.
The future is ahead: Prepare for it.
The present is here: Live in it!
~Thomas S. Monson

Monday, October 25, 2010

Monday's Mail: CRIBS & MATTRESSES

A mother sent me an email asking about cribs and mattresses and would like your feedback.  Here are her questions:

"I need to buy a crib & mattress for my baby that's coming soon.  Seems simple enough, right?  Well, I once heard something to do about mattresses and risk of SIDS, so I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any type of mattress that may pose a problem or one that is especially good (but reasonably priced).  Or, can I just dismiss the concern altogether and buy the least expensive mattress out there?  Just wondering what you other moms have heard/may know.
Also, does anyone have a crib that you just love and would recommend?  The one I used with my first had a way you could adjust the height of the mattress, so when he was a newborn and there was no risk of him climbing or rolling out, I could leave it high so I didn't have to bend so far over the railing to lay him down.  Then we just lowered it as he got older.  I really liked that feature, but have not really noticed it on newer models."

*As you answer her questions, please leave a comment or email me so I can post your answers.
*Do you have any questions of your own that you'd like to have other mom's answer?  If so, let me know and I'll include it soon.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Friday's Food: Zucchini Oven Chips

I didn't take this beautiful picture...it's from myrecipes.com
Ingredients
  • 1/4  cup  dry breadcrumbs
  • 1/4  cup  (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4  teaspoon  seasoned salt
  • 1/4  teaspoon  garlic powder
  • 1/8  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
  • 2  tablespoons  fat-free milk
  • 2 1/2  cups  (1/4-inch-thick) slices zucchini (about 2 small)
  • Cooking spray
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425°.
Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Place milk in a shallow bowl. Dip zucchini slices in milk, and dredge in breadcrumb mixture. Place coated slices on an ovenproof wire rack coated with cooking spray; place rack on a baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until browned and crisp. Serve immediately.
~Recipe from www.myrecipes.com