Author Archives: Rosa Woodhams

Learning how to bellydance!

Our May cluster meeting for a “first” for all!  Karla, one of our wonderful au pairs, taught us how to bellydance.  Let me tell you, it is not easy.  The moves for the lower part of the body are difficult in themselves but add the upper body, scarves, and finger chimes to the mix, and we were in awe of Karla’s accomplishment with the age-old art.  Take a look!

Corinna’s mom was visiting so she joined in the fun!  What a great sport!Karla, Bellydancing, 2Karla, Bellydancing

Make a Bird Feeder with Host Children

Recycle a soda bottle into a bird feeder.  Some inexpensive wood spoons, bird seed, a cord to hang it with and a tree to hang it in is all you need.

 

Then you and the host kids can watch the birds flock to the feeder!   Have the kids color pictures of the birds that visit.  Take photos, too.  Identify the birds and keep a little photo album of the birds that visit your feeder

May 5: Tacos for Cinco de Mayo

Kid Friendly Tacos

    taco-truck-lunches-medMake lunch a fiesta by turning tonight’s leftovers into tomorrow’s tacos. With a simple make-your-own taco seasoning recipe, you can easily flavor meat from tonight’s dinner and add a variety of toppings on a tortilla. Who needs taco trucks parked in the nearby lots when you can make your own tasty tacos?

Taco Seasoning Recipe
Start with this easy taco seasoning, and add it to the meat of your choosing! The seasoning will store for up to six weeks in an airtight container, so you can make multiple batches.

Makes about 3/4 cup

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4  cup salt
3 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika (use smoked paprika for deeper flavor)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Meat, fish or beans

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Whisk together all ingredients and transfer to an airtight container.
  2. Add two tablespoons (or to taste) of taco seasoning and 2-3 tablespoons water per pound of meat, fish or beans. Stir to combine; simmer 5 minutes.

Taco Lunch Inspiration
Now comes the fun part. Use your seasoned leftovers and try some of these delicious combinations, which include adult and kid-friendly options.

Chicken

  • Adult Option: Combine mashed black beans, shredded grilled chicken, grilled red pepper slices, diced tomatoes, pickled jalapeño slices, sliced green onions, salsa and sour cream on a flour tortilla.
  • Kid-friendly Option: Season ground chicken and spoon it into a crunchy taco shell. Top it with a dollop of queso, shredded lettuce and salsa.

Pork

  • Adult Option: Lay pork on a warm tortilla and top with grilled pineapple slices, diced red onion, cilantro leaves and canned chipotles in adobo sauce mixed with sour cream.
  • Kid-friendly Option: Line a tortilla with sliced pork, and top with shredded pepper jack and cheddar cheese, diced avocado and orange sections.

Beans

  • Adult Option: Mix leftover white rice and black beans with chopped green chiles and taco seasoning. Top with greens, salsa, shredded pepper jack cheese and a squeeze of lime in a flour tortilla.
  • Kid-friendly Option: Heap refried beans mixed with a pinch of taco seasoning onto a crunchy taco shell and top with guacamole, shredded cheddar, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream and sliced olives.

Fish

  • Adult Option: Use leftover mahi-mahi, tilapia, or any favorite fish and top with shredded Napa cabbage, tomatillo salsa, sliced avocado, minced fresh cilantro and lime juice in a warm flour tortilla.
  • Kid-friendly Option: Stack a couple breaded fish sticks in a flour tortilla or a crunchy taco shell. Top with shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream seasoned with a pinch of taco seasoning and a squeeze of lime.

Tip: Eat tacos on the go! Season the meat the night before and build the ingredients in a portable container, and refrigerate overnight. Put tortillas in a plastic bag. In the morning, pack it all, with a spoon, in an insulated lunch box. You’ll have a portable taco truck at your desk or in the lunch room!

Happy New Year, Thailand!

Songkran-2013-Thailand-New-YearSongkran 2013 Dates

When: 13th – 15th April, 2013
Where: Thailand

Water Festival in Thailand (Songkran) –
You will get wet on the 13th of April – if you happen to be in Thailand. It’s a given that you won’t escape the water pistols, the water balloons and buckets of water as the Thais celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year. Songkran festival is also known as Thailand Water Festival!

‘Songkran’ (from the Sanskrit word Sankranti, signifying the sun’s shift from one zodiac to another) heralds the beginning of the solar year and is the most important festival for the people of Thailand. The festival is celebrated over three days, ‘Mahasongkran’ on the 13th of April marks the end of the old year, Wan Nao (14th April) is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok when the New Year begins. Sonkgran is akin to the Indian festival of Holi and the Chinese festival of Ching Ming. Though it is celebrated all over Thailand, it is in Chiang Mai that the Thais hold the very important ritual of bathing the Buddha and people from all over come to be witness to this event.

On Thailand New Year’s Day, people in Thailand say prayers to the Buddha, clean temples and houses, offer alms to the monks and sprinkle scented water on elders as a mark of respect. The pouring of water is symbolic of the cleansing of the spirit, mind and body. The water is also supposed to wash away bad luck – so consider yourself blessed if you get drenched! Happily, Songkran falls during the hottest time of the year and the water is a welcome relief.

Happy Easter and Happy Passover!

 
Eggs on tree, Germany
EASY HARD “BOILED” EGGS: Bake at 325 for 30 minutes. Remove with Chef’s Tongs and place immediately in an ice bath. Same temperature no matter how many eggs you… bake. Easy to peel.TIP: Place eggs on their side (so yolks stay in middle) in a mini muffin pan (so eggs don’t roll all over

 

St Patrick’s Day

“May your thoughts be as glad as shamrocks,
May your heart be as light as song,
May each day bring you bright, happy hours,
That stay with you all the year long.”

St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the Roman Catholic feast day of the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick died on March 17, 461. He was born in Roman Britain. He was kidnapped into slavery and brought to Ireland.  He escaped to a monastery in Gaul (France) and converted to Christianity. He went back to Ireland in 432 as a missionary. While Christianity had already taken hold in the country, tradition has it that Patrick confronted the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites, making Christianity more widespread.

Patrick became a bishop and after his death was named Ireland’s patron saint. Celebrations in Ireland were understated though. When the Irish emigrated to the U.S., they created the bigger celebrations and parades known today.  Eighteenth century Irish soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War held the first St. Patrick Day parades. The celebrations became a way for the Irish to connect with their roots after they moved to America.

For those of you brave enough to get through the crowds, take a train to NYC and watch the St Patrick’s Day Parade-lots of fun!

Fun Facts:

  • The shamrock: According to legend St. Patrick used the three leaf clover (or shamrock) to explain the Trinity.
  • Dyeing the river green: The practice of dyeing the river green started in Chicago in 1962, when city officials decided to dye a portion of the Chicago River green.
  • Corn beef and cabbage: This is an Irish American dish. Irish Americans were so poor they could not afford certain meals. On St. Patrick’s Day, the best meal they could afford was beef and cabbage. It became a staple for the holiday.

Kids activities including crafts, printable bookmarks and coloring pages to share with your kids : http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/st_patricks_day.htm

Spring is just around the corner

We may seem to be having an endless winter, but Spring will come soon.  This weekend temperatures may climb into the 5o degree mark!  This year Spring begins March 2oth, the signs of spring are already beginning.  Take your host kids on a nature hunt for the signs of spring in your garden and neighborhood!

March

MARCH IS:

  • Irish American Month – St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th.  Watch this blog for parade information closer to the date
  • Music in Our Schools Month – Does your host child play an instrument, help them practice, go to their concert, enjoy the music!
  • National Craft Month – How many craft projects can you do with your host kids this month?
  • National Nutrition Month – Help the host children eat healthy meals and snacks!
  • National Women’s History Month – Learn a little about Women’s History and share with your host kids: http://www.factmonster.com/womens-history-month/
  • Poetry Month – Read and write poems with your host children. http://www.storyit.com/Classics/JustPoems/index.htm
  • Red Cross Month – Au Pair in America offers scholarships for Au Pairs to take Red Cross Classes: http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/insurance.as

President’s Day

Here are some fun facts for President’s Week!

Click on the blue underlined words for more info on the fun fact!

  • At his inauguration, George Washington only had one tooth. Contrary to popular belief, he never wore false wooden teeth. However, at various times he did wear dentures made of human teeth, animal teeth, ivory and lead.
  • Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were the only two presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence. They also both died on the same day—July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the signing.
  • At 5 feet 4 inches, James Madison was the shortest president.
  • Before he was president, Andrew Jackson was wounded in a duel at the age of 39. The bullet remained lodged in his heart until the day he died.
  • Zachary Taylor let his old Army horse, Whitey, graze on the White House lawn. Visitors took horse hairs as souvenirs.
  • James Buchanan is the only president to remain a bachelor his entire life.
  • While he was president, Ulysses S. Grant was arrested for riding his horse too fast and fined $20.
  • James K. Polk’s wife did not allow card playing, dancing, or drinking in the White House.
  • James A. Garfield could write with both hands. To entertain people he would write in Greek with one hand and Latin with the other.
  • Benjamin Harrison was terrified of electric lights. He would ask White House staff to turn them on and off for him.
  • Rutherford B. Hayes was the first U.S. president to use a phone at the White House. Alexander Graham Bell personally showed him how to use it and his phone number was 1.
  • Calvin Coolidge liked having his head massaged with Vaseline during breakfast in bed. He also rode his own mechanical bull and played “ding-dong ditch’em”—he would ring the White House doorbell and then run and hide.
  • Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, was present at the assassinations of three presidents: his father’s, President Garfield’s and President McKinley’s.
  • All presidents receive code names from the Secret Service.  Ronald Reagan was “Rawhide,” George H. W. Bush was “Timberwolf,” Bill Clinton was “Eagle,” George W. Bush was “Trailblazer” and Barack Obama is “Renegade.”
  • Abraham Lincoln was a licensed bartender. He was co-owner of Berry and Lincoln, a saloon in Springfield, IL.