Bad day? Bake some bread!

Posted on July 12, 2010 by viviankirkfield

We all have bad days…alarm fails to go off and everyone is late, coffeemaker filter had a hole in it and your mouth is full of coffee grounds, you’ve just finished buttoning and zipping your toddler’s outfit and he spills his breakfast all over it…and these are the little things. Health, relationships, finances…we won’t even go there!

Life can definitely be frustrating. I’ve found that baking bread, especially with young children, can lift your spirits, help lessen anxiety and get rid of negative feelings (all that kneading and punching down the dough…I think bakers must be among the most peaceful people in the world). It also provides a wonderful activity (with science and math concepts) for you and your preschooler AND everyone gets to enjoy delicious homemade bread!

When my children were young, we baked bread at least twice a week. They had fun. The house smelled like heaven. Here is a recipe for their favorite bread.

CHILD-FRIENDLY SWEET WHEAT BREAD

You will need: 2 cups warm milk, 2 packages of yeast, 1/2 cup canola oil, 1/2 cup honey, 1 egg beaten, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup wheat germ (optional), 5 cups (or a little more) flour, 1 Tb milk, 1 Tb honey, large bowl and 2 lightly greased loaf pans.

Combine milk and yeast in large bowl and mix well. Then beat in 1 cup flour.
Add canola oil, honey, egg, salt, vanilla and wheat germ and beat well.
Add enough flour (about 4 cups) gradually, mixing till you can knead the dough.
Knead 5-10 minutes (you can give your child a small piece of his own to work on), keeping a little flour nearby for your hands if the dough is too sticky.
Put kneaded dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a clean cloth (dish towel is fine) and let rise for about an hour. Then punch down(YES! Get rid of all those negative feelings…you and your child will be laughing by the time you finish punching the dough) and shape into loaves and let rise till a finger mark remains when you press a finger into the dough (about 1/2 hour).
Heat the oven to 350 degrees and bake about 25 minutes. Brush tops with milk and honey, if desired, and bake 5 more minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Makes 2 regular-size loaves or 4 or 5 mini-loaves.

The new parenting book I’ve just written has quite a few delicious, child-friendly bread recipes that have been favorites in our home for decades. Encourage your young children to help with the planning and preparation of family meals. It will provide a GREAT boost to their self-esteem. Positive parental participation develops a life-long parent-child bond.

So, make it a GOOD day…bake some bread!

Have any healthy, child-friendly recipes to share? I’m going to be setting up a contest to solicit recipes for my next book…winners get a free copy of the book (SHOW ME HOW! CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING) and their recipe will appear in the book with credit given to them.

Money-saving summer snack

Posted on July 11, 2010 by viviankirkfield

Yesterday I said that summer vacations and activities can put a strain on your budget. When we get stressed about money, life can seem more difficult and overwhelming.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on snacks or desserts!

Try this simple and economical one (as in easy and cheap) that even your preschooler can help prepare and EVERYONE in the family will enjoy eating.

COOL AND REFRESHING ICE POPS: Simply pour grape, apple, orange or any other juice into 3 ounce paper cups. For a less sweet, less concentrated pop, dilute the juice with water. Put in the freezer (stand the cups up in a plastic container so they won’t tip over…you can also cover each cup with plastic wrap). After the cups have been in the freezer for about 90 minutes, insert a popsicle stick into each cup and return to the freezer till completely frozen. Tear away the paper cup and you will have a delicious, healthful, economical ice pop for snack-time or dessert. So much less expensive than buying ready-made pops from the store. And, NO preservatives or additives!

For a more “gourmet” ice pop (this one will taste like a creamsicle):

Put 1 cup softened vanilla ice cream or ice milk, 1 cup orange sherbet and 1 (11 oz) can mandarin orange sections (drained) into a blender and pulse till well-blended.
Spoon into 3 oz paper cups.
Cover and freeze till firm (about 90 minutes).
Insert popsicle sticks if desired…or your child can eat it out of the cup with a spoon.

Important tip: You and your child can experiment with different fruit, sherbet, ice cream and yogurt combinations.

5 Summer Travel Tips for Parents of Preschoolers

Posted on July 8, 2010 by viviankirkfield

When you have little ones, you can’t just jump into the car and GO! You need to do a little planning and preparation before you take off for a week-long trip to see the grandparents or even when you go to the store a mile down the road. Here are 5 timely tips that will help your summer travels with preschoolers go more smoothly.

Pack a small backpack for your young child…it could include his special stuffed animal and/or small comfort blanket, favorite toy, book, one change of clothes (just in case there is an “accident” or major spill…you won’t have to start going through suitcases), a small zip-lock bag with his favorite dry cereal (or mix of small crackers, pretzels and cereals…see below for a GREAT recipe your child will enjoy preparing with you) for emergency munching.
Pack a first aid/medicine bag (in a medium zip-lock bag) that will fit into your purse so that it will be handy at a moment’s notice. Include in it band-aids, antiseptic ointment, and any medications your family takes (labeled carefully as to dosage), as well as important phone numbers such as your child’s doctor.
If traveling by car, pack a small cooler with juice boxes, water bottles, packaged snacks such as cheese and crackers and/or peanut butter and crackers, granola bars and fruit. A box of crackers and a tube of squirt cheese in the hands of an adult can entertain a young child who first requests a particular letter or design and then eats it. Use small sandwich bags to hold clean, wet washcloths…very refreshing for wiping hot faces and dirty hands, especially if you keep them in the cooler.
Pack a special box or bag with new little surprises…each gift-wrapped with plenty of tape and ribbon…to be opened when spirits need a lift, whether in your car or wherever you are staying…the opening will provide a few moments of peace and your child will look forward to this special treat.
Take along a plug-in nightlight if your child will be sleeping (and perhaps waking up) in a strange room.

Traveling with little ones takes a little more preparation…but what a joy to see the world through their new and innocent eyes!

TRAVELING TRAIL MIX

You will need: 2 cups corn chex, 2 cups rice chex, 2 cups wheat chex (or 6 cups of your favorite dry cereal…pops, cheerios, etc), 1 cup mixed nuts (or melba toast rounds if your child has a nut allergy), 2 cups thin stick pretzels, 1 Tb margarine, 2 tsp soy sauce or Braggs Aminos, 13x9x2 inch baking dish.

Melt margarine, mix with Braggs Aminos or soy sauce and pour into baking dish.
Add cereals, pretzels, and nuts or toast, mix thoroughly to coat and microwave on high for 3 minutes…one minute at a time.
Stir and continue to heat, one minute at a time, until evenly toasted.
Makes about 3 quarts. Store in an airtight container.