image via bn.com
We bought This is the Feast as our Thanksgiving book this year. With a rhythm reminiscent of The House that Jack Built, this beautiful picture book tells the pilgrim story with excellent detail and imagery-filled language.
Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
15 minutes : Make It : Boat Place Holders
image via marthastewart.com
I like this idea...good for my two kids who are currently into paper folding and gluing.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
15 Minutes : Make It : Folk Art Pilgrims
image via craftjr.com
Look at these sweet, folksy place cards! We could even use them as Happy Thanksgiving cards for the kids' teachers and friends. (And I'm always trying to find ways to encourage my daughter to practice writing.)
Friday, November 20, 2009
15 minutes : Make It : Napkin Folding
image via marthastewart.com
Teach your kids these simple, elegant napkin fold techniques. Then, let them show off their skills as they help set the Thanksgiving table (or and dinner table). I think we may even add napkin folding to our list of setting the table chores.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
15 Minutes : Make It : Hand Trace Turkey
I've never known a child that hasn't loved their hand being traced. There is just something so cool about seeing the shape of your hand transferred onto paper and being able to create it into something like a turkey.
I love this activity because with a little creativity anything can be created. You can use crayons, colored pencils, paint, or even use different materials to create different textures (features, glitter, pasta, rice).
Thursday, November 12, 2009
15 Minutes : Make It : Veggie Cornucopia
I love this appetizer idea from Family Fun for Thanksgiving dinner.
Here's how:
1. Give each child a tortilla cut in half.
2. Roll the tortilla into a cone and secure with a toothpick.
1. Give each child a tortilla cut in half.
2. Roll the tortilla into a cone and secure with a toothpick.
3. Have your child fill the tortilla with veggies from the veggie tray.
4. Serve with dip or dressing.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
1 Hour : Make It : Cranberry Bread
image by redrokoMini-loaves of cranberry bread make a festive, delicious gift for a teacher or neighbor. My kids helped me make a batch, then we wrapped the loaves and delivered to couple friends. Here's our recipe for this seasonal favorite.
Cranberry Nut Bread
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup chopped cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 Tbsp. orange zest
1 egg
2 Tbsp. canola oil
3/4 cup orange juice
Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add cranberries and nuts. In separate bowl, combine egg, oil, juice, and zest. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Spoon batter into sprayed mini-loaf pan (or muffin pan, or 9x5 loaf pan). Bake at 350-degrees for 12-15 minutes (or up to 50 minutes for one large loaf), until toothpick comes out clean. Let bread sit in pan for 5 minutes, then remove to cooling rack.
Notes: I usually use frozen cranberries because they are storable and easy to chop with a food chopper. You could also use a food processor for this step. Orange zest is best fresh, but I keep a bit in my freezer to have ready anytime.
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup chopped cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 Tbsp. orange zest
1 egg
2 Tbsp. canola oil
3/4 cup orange juice
Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add cranberries and nuts. In separate bowl, combine egg, oil, juice, and zest. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Spoon batter into sprayed mini-loaf pan (or muffin pan, or 9x5 loaf pan). Bake at 350-degrees for 12-15 minutes (or up to 50 minutes for one large loaf), until toothpick comes out clean. Let bread sit in pan for 5 minutes, then remove to cooling rack.
Notes: I usually use frozen cranberries because they are storable and easy to chop with a food chopper. You could also use a food processor for this step. Orange zest is best fresh, but I keep a bit in my freezer to have ready anytime.
Monday, November 2, 2009
1 Hour : Make It : Thankful Tree
image via flickr
Thursday, November 27, 2008
15 Minutes : Know It : Pilgrim-speak
The English language has changed a lot since 1620 when the Pilgrims arrived in America. We say, "Hi, how are you?" but the Pilgrims would have said, "Good morrow!" or "How now?" Try a couple of these out during Thanksgiving, and check out Plimoth Plantation (yes, that's the original spelling) for more Pilgrim speech.
Pray, pardon me. (Excuse me.)
Huzzah! (Congratulations!)
Fare thee well. (Goodbye.)
Mouser (Cat)
Breeches (Pants)
Pray, pardon me. (Excuse me.)
Huzzah! (Congratulations!)
Fare thee well. (Goodbye.)
Mouser (Cat)
Breeches (Pants)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
15 Minutes : Make It : Cornucopia
The cornucopia, meaning "horn of plenty", is a popular symbol of the harvest of Thanksgiving.
This activity provides a fun way for your child to learn by identifying different foods and creating it into something they can be proud of. It can be tailored to any age.
This activity provides a fun way for your child to learn by identifying different foods and creating it into something they can be proud of. It can be tailored to any age.
Materials:
1 sheet brown construction paper
Masking tape
Magazines
Scissors
Roll the sheet of brown paper to create a horn shape. Secure the edges with tape.
Go through the magazines with your child to find appropriate items to add to the cornucopia. Explain that the cornucopia holds food from a harvest: fruits and vegetables that have been picked.
Assist your child in cutting out the magazine pictures or have him tear out the pictures. Let him tape the food into the cornucopia.
1 sheet brown construction paper
Masking tape
Magazines
Scissors
Roll the sheet of brown paper to create a horn shape. Secure the edges with tape.
Go through the magazines with your child to find appropriate items to add to the cornucopia. Explain that the cornucopia holds food from a harvest: fruits and vegetables that have been picked.
Assist your child in cutting out the magazine pictures or have him tear out the pictures. Let him tape the food into the cornucopia.
craft via familyeducation.com
photo via allposters.com
Monday, November 24, 2008
15 Minutes : Know It : Thanksgiving Food
Image via marthastewart.com
In a survey conducted by the National Turkey Federation, nearly 88 percent of Americans said they eat turkey at Thanksgiving. The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds, which means some 690 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the U.S. during Thanksgiving in 2007.
The cranberry is one of only three fruits—the others are the blueberry and the Concord grape—that are entirely native to North American soil, according to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measured just over 12 feet long. It was baked on October 8, 2005 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio, and included 900 pounds of pumpkin, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs, 300 pounds of sugar, 3.5 pounds of salt, 7 pounds of cinnamon, 2 pounds of pumpkin spice and 250 pounds of crust.
More interesting facts at history.com.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
15 Minutes : Make It : Headdress Napkin Wrap
Ribbon and a couple feathers make the easiest Indian headdress I've ever seen. It starts out as a lovely napkin wrap at the child's plate, then becomes the post-feast activity.
Friday, November 21, 2008
1 Hour : Make It : Edible Thanksgiving Favors
Thanksgiving is only a week away. Here are some VERY cute and easy favor ideas for the table I saw on a morning show. I remember making Thanksgiving favors when I was young and LOVING it. It is a great family tradition. I loved these ideas because they are kid friendly.
For a better idea of what they look like and how to make them view the video HERE.
Place sugar ice cream cones in a steamer basket over hot water. Let each cone steam for a few minutes which will soften it. Carefully bend end up to form a cornucopia shape. Cone will harden quickly. Fill with a mixture of fruit shaped candies, nuts, pretzels, etc. If desired, place a ribbon around the opening of the cornucopia and attach a tiny name tag to serve as a place card.
Pilgrim Hat:
Dip large marshmallows in melted chocolate or almond bark. Set onto flat round chocolate covered cookies (chocolate covered graham rounds, fudge-striped cookies, chocolate ginger snaps, chocolate wafers, etc.). Let set until chocolate is hardened. Wrap marshmallow "hat brim" with a black ribbon. Using a rolling pin, roll out a yellow Starburst candy and cut into a square to form a "buckle". Attach to ribbon with a tiny amount of melted chocolate or icing.
Turkey:
Dip the bottom of a chocolate crème drop candy into melted chocolate or almond bark. Immediately attach the candy to the bottom of a leaf shaped or round cookie (I used Dare brand maple leaf crème cookies or you can use any round type cookie). Attach a candy corn point down to the top of the crème drop using melted chocolate. Attach a red hot candy to the side of the candy corn to become a "wattle". Adhere a small pretzel under the crème drop to create "feet". (Option: Instead of a crème drop you could also use a chocolate covered cherry, an unwrapped caramel, an unwrapped peanut butter cup or any other chocolate covered candy about 1" in diameter.)
Candy Acorn:
Mix together 1 cup of creamy peanut butter, ½ cup of margarine and 3 cups powdered sugar and mix well into a soft dough. Roll a 1" ball of dough into an acorn shape. Dip the top of the dough shape into melted chocolate or almond bark and press into finely chopped nuts to form the acorn cap. Break a stick pretzel in half and insert in top to create acorn stem. Set on was paper until chocolate has set. Display at each place setting with leaf cookie.
Indian Corn:
Create a dry mix of items that would resemble Indian corn with a mixture of fall colors. Use items such as: cold cereal, popcorn, nuts, candies, dried fruits, etc. Take a square (approximately 12" square for a large favor) of cellophane and place approximately 1 cup of mix in the center. Tuck cellophane around mix and fold in back if needed to wrap the mix into an oblong shape. Tie cellophane closed with tan string. Cut cornhusks (available in the Mexican food isle of grocery stores) into long strips with pointed ends. Wrap ends on corn husks around end of mix and tie with string. Wrap ends with a ribbon and tie a bow. Attach a nametag or small photograph if desired and set at each place setting.
Fall Leaf:
Divide homemade or purchased sugar cookie dough into three or four portions. Color each portion a fall color such as red, orange, terra cotta, copper, olive green, yellow, tan, etc. using paste food color. For brown color, use cocoa powder. For each cookie, press together several colors of dough and roll out so the colors mix slightly and the dough has a variegated look. Cut using a leaf shaped cookie cutter. Bake and cool. If desired, use melted chocolate or chocolate icing and a pastry bag with a writing tip to write the name of each guest on a cookie. Place a cookie at each place setting with several candy acorns. Tip: dust cookies with gold luster dust for a beautiful sheen. Luster dust is available at baking supply stores.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
1 Hour : Make It : Finger Puppets
These finger puppets from Martha Stewart are perfect for entertaining your kids at the Thanksgiving table. You can even use them to create a fun finger puppet play that can be acted out at the table. This is also a perfect project to do with older children.
For instructions, click here.
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