Valentines, Valentines, Valentines!

This past week (and last week) we had many Valentine activities on the shelves!  One was making your own Valentine bag!  The children wrote their name on ones side of a white paper bag and then glued on a red or pink doily heart on the other side.  They were all so happy to be able to have a bag so they could take their Valentines home! (Even better, it was one they made!)

 We also made Valentine cookies!  Here two older girls help out other children make the cookies.  (Afternoon children made the dough on Tuesday afternoon).

 They first wash put on an apron then wash hands.  Lightly flour the surface, roll out the dough ball, cut out the heart and then carry it on the spatula (!) to a baking tray on a different table. 

 On Thursday morning the children decorated the cookies with frosting and a tiny amount of sprinkles.  Before going home on Thursday they all ate the cookies!

Happy Valentines Day!

Gingerbread Cookie Baking

We continue to prepare cookie dough on Thursday afternoons so baking can be done on Friday mornings.  This week we decided to make gingerbread cookies.  The children sprinkle the surface with flour (of course after putting on an apron and washing hands!), take a ball of dough and roll out.

Using the various cookie cutters, the children cut out a shape and used the spatula to put on the cookie sheet.  Yum!

Making Cookies

Tis the season for baking!  On Thursday afternoons, the children are beginning to make cookie dough for baking on Friday morning.  So far we have made sugar cookies and oatmeal cookies. 

 First the children put on an apron and wash their hands.  Then they take a piece of dough and put it on the floured surface.  Using the rolling pin, they flatten the dough.

 A cookie cutter is used and then with a small spatula, they transfer the cookie to the baking pan. For the oatmeal cookies, we flattened with a fork before transferring to a pan.

 

 

Once there are enough cookies on the pan, a teacher will take the pan into the kitchen to bake the cookies.  Our school smells wonderful and before we head outside to play, everyone enjoys the fruits of their labor together!   They have all learned to wait until everyone is served before eating. 

                                                                       Bon Appetit!

Pumpkin Muffins

Last week we dissected a pumpkin in class to learn about the different parts.  We then baked the pumpkin and the children took turns scooping out the inside.  To demonstrate what to do with pumpkin we decided to make pumpkin muffins.  The children all had a chance to help with mixing up the muffins, putting them in the tins and of course, eating them! 

Still in Europe- England

We had moved on from Holland and studied a bit of England last week.  The children engaged in many activities from coloring and learning about the St. George's cross (the Flag of England) to singing songs from England and making scones and having a tea party at the end of the week. 

The afternoon children made scones and then ate some as a snack.  They were able to practice their spreading skills with butter and jam!  (Sorry, no clotted cream here much to our disappointment!)

Later in the week we decorated hats to wear to the "tea" party.  We used a plastic bowl, punched a hole on either side, cut the middle out of a paper plate and taped them together.  The children decorated then we used white yarn to tie together.  Everyone made a hat and were so excited about wearing them to the party.

We had scones with jam, sliced grapes, tea sandwiches (the children helped to prepare these by spreading the cream cheese on the sandwiches) and lemonade which was our tea.

It was fun to have our tea party on Friday.  We were able to practice our Grace and Courtesy as always during the tea party.  We waited until everyone was served to begin eating or drinking, when asking for more we used please and thank you.  At the end of the party, the children were able to clean up independently.  It was a great week in England! 

Homemade Fish Crackers

This week we decided to give homemade fishy crackers a try.  These turned out to be very labor intensive but it was fun and the children seemed to enjoy the process. 

First up was grating the cheese.  We then made the dough (recipe to follow) and using a lightly floured surface and rolling pin rolled the dough into 1/8 inch thick pieces.  We used a tiny fish cookie cutter hand crafted by Amy.  (amazing!) Once in a while the cutter was dipped in flour to help the shape drop out. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, making sure they don't get too brown.

Enjoy! 

Fish Crackers

Yield: About 100 small crackers

6 ounces sharp cheddar, orange if you can find one you like

4 T. butter

1/2 c. all purpose flour

1/4 c. white whole wheat flour

1/8 t. onion powder

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon table salt

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine all ingredients in a food processor, running until the dough forms a ball, up to 2 minutes.  Wrap dough in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill in fridge for 30 to 45 minutes which also makes it easier to transfer shapes.  Cut out the shapes.  Bake for 12 - 15 minutes or until barely brown at the edges.  Remove and set on a rack to cool.

These could also be made with bigger shapes and would not take as long to make. 

 

Granola Bars

More baking!  The winter is upon us and baking is practical, fun and warm!  We decided to make granola bars together.  Wash hands, put on apron, mix ingredients, push in a pan and bake! 

Mix together:

3 c. oats

1 c. coconut

1 c. chocolate chips (we used about 1/4 c. at school)

1/2 c. dried fruit

2 T. melted butter

14 oz. sweetened condensed milk

1/2 c. wheat germ

Press into a greased pan (or parchment paper).  350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Enjoy! Make sure to cover if eating the next day.  These may be cut up into rectangular pieces and frozen in tin foil.  They are great to throw in a lunch, thaws by lunch.

Enjoy!

Granola

Yesterday the children made granola to have as their snack today.  Many of them took turns helping in the process.  They are really getting used to cooking and now understand they must wash their hands and put on one of the child-sized aprons in order to help.

Pumpkin Spice Granola

Here is a child using a small spice grater to grate the nutmeg.

Adding ingredients, including pumpkin to the pan.

Spreading the granola on the pan for baking.

Enjoying with a bowl of organic vanilla yogurt!  YUM!

Pumpkin Spice Granola

3. c. old fashioned oats

1/2 c. canned pumpkin

1/4 c. honey or brown rice syrup

3 T. vegetable oil

2 T. packed light brown sugar

2 t. vanilla extract

2 t. ground cinnamon

1/8 t. ground ginger

1/4 t. ground nutmeg
Optional: dried fruit, sunflower or pumpkin seeds

Spread oats onto a 15 x 10 inch jelly-roll pan.  Toast in preheated 325 degree oven for 20 minutes, stirring halfway.  Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees.  Pour toasted oats into large bowl.  If using, add the optional ingredients.  In a medium saucepan, blend pumpkin, honey, oil, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.  Heat gently and stir until honey is melted and incorporated.  Pour over oats.  Toss well to coat and spread in greased (or parchment) pan.  Bake for 30 minutes stirring at 10 minute intervals.  After cooking add fruit.  While still hot, press mixture in to a hard pan with a flat spatula.  Cool and break apart. 

Making Pizza!

Today the afternooners made pizza for lunch! We had to begin the process during the morning work time so they could be done baking by lunch time.  First we mixed up the pizza dough. 
Pizza Dough
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
1 package of yeast
3 T. oil
1 c. warm water
Mix it together, you will have to use your hands! 
Let it rise for a while (even half a day). 
Bake at 425 until it is done.

After mixing and rising, the children then came back later to add sauce and grated cheese (which one of our afternooners grated) to the top.

We then baked them in the oven and ate them!  YUM!!

Because the morning children were soooo interested and the aroma was so nice in the school, we decided to make them one to warm up for snack tomorrow.  It is a surprise for them!

Afternooner's Lunch

We had read "Pancakes, Pancakes!" by Eric Carle on Tuesday afternoon and thought that sounded pretty good.  So, today our extended day children, aka "afternooners" along with a child staying for lunch made pancakes! 

First we made the batter!

We set the table together which included a plate, fork, knife, napkin and glass.  The children were able to serve themselves apples, cheese, water and pour their own syrup. 

We then gave a lesson on cutting food with a fork and knife! 

This was a very fun day, the children and adults seemed to enjoy all of the food! 

We also made very funny masks to surprise the morning children with tomorrow.  No scary Halloween masks here!  We used pictures from magazines to make various eyes and mouth masks.  We then pasted on poster board and put on a popsicle stick.  We were all laughing pretty hard at some of the silly masks! 

The afternooners also made cinnamon-squash muffins for snack tomorrow, it was a very busy day!

Muffin Recipe

We made muffins again, this time with carrots.  The children love to help measure and pour the ingredients, mix and eat!  One thing that is challenging at times is getting the paper off of the outside (and of course waiting for the muffins to finish baking)!  Thank you to all of the parents who have brought us baking ingredients!
Recipe:
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. white flour
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
3 eggs
1/2 c. canola oil
1 t. vanilla
1 c. carrot puree or any other fruit or vegetable puree

Mix all ingredients until moistened.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cooked through. 

Many children love to help in the kitchen, pull up a sturdy stool (away from the stove) and let them pour the ingredients, turn on the mixer and work your way up to measuring.  One very helpful tip is if they are stirring, I will tell my boys to keep the top of the spoon on the bottom of the bowl, this prevents various ingredients from popping out...  Enjoy!