Wednesday, August 31, 2023

Jello

Jello Recipe

Making Jello with Grammy

In-Our-Kitchen with Jell-O and Grandma

Children love to be helpful in the kitchen and they are very young toddlers it is hard to find projects that they can do themselves without being burned, cut, or harmed. That is why as a grandmother I love Jell-O. Jell-O is a very good substance for your toddlers to work with because they will not get hurt making it and they can have lots of fun in the process.
Bill Cosby set the pace when he showed how much fun children have eating Jell-O but in order to add to this fun you should let your toddlers make the Jell-O. I have two granddaughters age two and four years of age who constantly want to help me cook. I solved that problem with Jell-O!

 

Let your toddler pour the Jell-O in a mixing bowl with a handle, and then you add the hot water but let the toddler stir it with a plastic spoon. After the Jell-O has dissolved, let the toddler add the cup of cold water. Show your toddler the measuring line that says one cup. After this has been stirred for a bit, let the second little one stir the Jell-O for a while. Include all children in the stirring process this makes them feel very important.

 

I have Jell-O cups that are different colors so the girls select the cups that they want to put their Jell-O in. Wait! This is not the fun part! What better way to get your toddler to eat fruit than to add it into the Jell-O cups. I usually have fresh strawberries, blueberries, and peaches or pears chopped up into small pieces. The girls help me with the fruit by washing it under the water and sorting out the pieces. They have to separate the fruit by color or type we make a Kitchen Game of it in order to teach them about colors, fruit, and numbers.

 

Then I will tell the younger toddler she may have three pieces of each fruit. This may be the highest number some little ones can count to. When my granddaughter was very young, she knew the name of the fruits but not the colors. This comes with practice, and what better way to practice than eating fruit! The older girl picks out about six pieces of fruit but she can mix the fruit if she likes or she can put all of one kind in a cup.

 

We only but small bits of fruits into the Jell-O cups because we also have mini-marshmallows to add to the Jell-O cups. I try to get the colored marshmallows so the girls can tell me the colors and count their marshmallows. This does not take very long but it is a fun way to let your toddlers do their own cooking. I taught my own children how to make Jell-O when they were young so of course they expected me to teach the grandchildren.

 

Recipe
1- Box of any flavor Jell-O that you like
1-Cup hot water
1-Cup cold water
Mini-marshmallows colored preferred
Two or three kinds of fresh fruit

Let the toddler pour the Jell-O into the bowl you add the hot water.

Let the toddlers stir until the Jell-O is dissolved.

Let the toddler pour in the cup of cold-water try to let all toddlers in the kitchen stir at least once or twice.

Next have your fruit prepared and in baggies, so the toddlers can select the fruit they want.

Let them tell you the type of fruit, the color of the fruit and count out the pieces.

When fruit and marshmallows are placed in the cups then pour the Jell-O over the top and refrigerate until it sets.

Afterwards children can have fun eating their Jell-O and fruits.

You might even want to include story time with the Jell-O.

 

 

 

This guest post was written by freelance writer Victoria. She is a stay at home mom and is currently working on a project with
gulv slibning.

Thursday, August 25, 2023

Shooter’s Sandwich

Shooter's Sandwich

Shooter's Sandwich for a Picnic

We all love a sandwich right? So quick and easy and flexible. The history of the Sandwich is shrouded in mystery.  Did the Earl of Sandwich add something between two slices of bread because he was in a hurry? Maybe… It’s a rumor that has been around for many years and has yet to be officially proven.

 

Famous sandwiches, to the extent a sandwich can be famous do exist.  From the Philly cheese steak of the US, through the BLT to the humble UK “Breakfast in a Bap”, sandwiches and their origins have their stories to tell.

 

Non more so than the “Shooter’s Sandwich”. Invented so ‘Cook’ could prepare it the night before a hunt, the Shooter’s Sandwich was the staple diet of many a hunter in Edwardian England.

 

Described as a “Portable Beef Wellington”, this sandwich works well for picnics today…

 

Serves: 2
Prep-time: 15 Minutes
Cook-time: 5-10 Minutes

Equipment

Medium Saucepan
Frying Pan
Garlic Press
Sharp Knife
Tin Foil

 

 

Ingredients

Crusty Loaf
2 Steaks
500g of mushrooms
200g of Shallots
Butter
Salt and Black Pepper
Finely Grated Garlic
Dijon Mustard
Worcestershire Sauce

 

 

Cooking Instructions

The Shooter’s Sandwich can be adapted to suit your own taste.  Try adding your own herbs or your favourite cheese.

 

Cut off the top quarter of the loaf, hollow out the loaf and save the breadcrumbs

 

Finely dice the mushrooms and shallots

 

Put about 75g of butter into the pan and cook mushrooms and shallots until softened and reduced in size.

 

When done, season to your taste with salt and black pepper, finely grated garlic and Worcestershire sauce.

 

Season your steaks and in a red hot dry pan cook them till the pink side of medium

 

Without waiting or allowing to cool tuck the first one, dripping and hot, into the bottom of the hollow loaf

 

Add your hot mushroom mixture on top of the steak in the loaf

Now add your second steak on top of the mushrooms and smear Dijon mustard on the top steak and on the inside of the loaf lid

Now put the lid back on to the loaf

 

Wrap in tin foil and squash it all flat under a heavy cutting board and as many weights as you can find

 

Leave under the weight in a cool place but don’t refrigerate, for at least six hours or if possible overnight.

 

 

Remove the foil and enjoy!

I’m Heather, I hoped you enjoyed this recipe for a Shooter’s Sandwich. If you would like to make this yourself, you can
buy steaks online   from Westin Gourmet.

 

Thursday, August 25, 2023

Five Frugal Labor Day Dishes

Frugal Labor Day Menu

Frugal Labor Day Menu

Throughout Labor Day weekend, we celebrate hard-working Americans and their devotion to their jobs and careers. It’s fitting that we honor our workers by not working at all, instead gathering with good friends and family to celebrate the long weekend. These simple Labor Day dishes will help everyone have fun and avoid straining your wallet at the same time.

A Salsa of Your Own

Few appetizers are as inexpensive, easy to make and flexible as salsa. Use fruits and vegetables that are in season, such as different varieties of tomatoes, onions, peppers, mango, pineapple, and cilantro. Add salt, pepper and garlic to taste. Experiment with different combinations of your favorites, offering a few different kinds for your friends and family to try. Serve the different salsas with tortilla chips, pita or bagel crisps, or whole wheat crackers to enhance the flavors in your salsa creations.

Succulent Side Dishes

Instead of plain old pasta or green salad, try a couple of healthy and inexpensive side dishes made from vegetables that are in-season. Halve ripe tomatoes and cover with extra-virgin olive oil, grated parmesan or asiago cheese, salt and pepper and oregano. Bake in your oven or on the grill for about fifteen minutes until the cheese is melted and the tomato is tender.

Another healthy and inexpensive side dish involves zucchini, which is plentiful this time of year. Slice and place directly on the grill with olive oil and desired spices, or wrap chunks of it with butter and salt in aluminum foil and put on the back of the barbecue to steam. These side dishes are so delicious that your guests will hardly notice how healthy they are!

Make-Your-Own Kabobs

To save on the cost of providing meat choices to a large group of people, consider setting out a variety of items that participants can make into fun and festive kabobs. Consider what’s in season, like peaches, zucchini, yellow squash, bell pepper and tomatoes. Cut these items into easy-to-skewer chunks, along with different kinds of meat like pork and chicken. These choices will lessen the need for a lot of meat but still produce deliciously grilled, one-of-a kind main dishes for your guests!

Don’t Forget Dessert

A fresh fruit salad makes a simple and satisfying dessert, and can be combined with inexpensive ice cream or whipped cream. Whip up a yellow or vanilla cake from your pantry for a more hearty dessert, and provide toppings like chocolate and strawberry syrup so that everyone can enjoy it as they’d like!

 

Kelly Wilson is a freelance writer who loves gathering with friends over the long Labor Day weekend. To find out more about how to take care of your teeth on a budget, contact Dr. Todd Beck of South Waterfront Dental, a dentist in Portland, OR.

{ Last Page }