Monthly Archives: August 2022

Around the World in 80 Days – Chinese Coke Chicken

Chinese Coke Chicken Recipe 

Ingredients:  

  • 6 chicken wings 
  • 1 can of Coke 
  • 1 cup of soy sauce 
  • 1 cup of oil 
  • (Optional) Green onion for garnish 

Instructions: 

  1. Rinse and clean the chicken wings.
  2. Put chicken wings onto a large plate.
  3. Open coke and add half onto the plate. Let it soak with chicken wings for 40 minutes.
  4. Pour 1 cup of oil into pan. Wait until oil is heated.
  5. Add wings into pan.
  6. Fry wings on high heat until both sides are golden brown..
  7. Add the remaining half can of Coke and 1 cup of soy sauce into the pan and bring to a boil with wings. 
  8. Cook another 20 minutes over medium heat until sauce thickens. 
  9. Add green onion before serving for flavor and presentation.

Photo by: Stu_Spivack {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Russia

RUSSIA

Asia
Capital: Moscow
Languages: Russian, many minority languages

  • English is compulsory in Russia.
  • Classes begin at an early age.
  • The idea of being an au pair is common in Russia.
  • Applicants from Russia are motivated by opportunities to improve their English.
  • The job potential of an au pair improves upon her return to Russia.
  • Applicants sometimes have difficulty affording the program fees. Many applicants are teachers who are paid low wages.
  • Young people in Russia have the freedom of their family to socialize and date.
  • Curfews are not common.
  • Young women are accustomed to sharing in household chores.
  • Russians are cheerful, cordial, and have a great love for children. Russians are very open and honest and like to discuss problems and situations.

Photos by: Andrey Filippov {flickr}; flowcomm {flickr}

Camp Au Pair – Nature Exploration

Now for some fun in nature!!! Get out and explore a bit, collect some treasures along the way! Most of these activities are easily created using items likely already around the house, but you may need to plan ahead a bit to have supplies on hand! Check with your host family about getting supplies to use!

 

So many great ideas! Check them out on the Au Pair in America Pinterest boards here!

Let’s Learn About:

  • The Baltimore Oriole. From their brief taxonomic hiatus to their intense sugar cravings, there’s a lot to know about these brilliant birds.
  • Make hummingbird nectar. Hummingbirds may be some of the smallest birds in the world,  but fluttering those tiny wings can be quite a workout. Flapping away at up to 90 beats per second burns up calories fast; to maintain their momentum, hummingbirds need to eat—a lot! To satisfy their speedy metabolisms, these busy birds consume half their body weight in bugs and nectar, feeding every 10-15 minutes and visiting 1,000-2,000 flowers per day.
  • Illustrator Johanna Basford teaches us how to draw simple birds.

Focus on History:

Rachel Carson, was a writer, scientist, and ecologist. She had a a life-long love of nature and the living world that Rachel expressed first as a writer and later as a student of marine biology.

Field Trips:

 

Check out Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center. They have a wonderful Fairy Lolly to play in and trails to walk along. This summer, they are hosting an Enchanted Summer at the Garden. Admission is charged.

Historic St. Mary’s City walking trails are open year round.  While the living history portion of the center is by admission, hikers can travel a rustic 3.2 mile path through 700 acres of natural areas without tickets. This trail travels through woods and fields at water’s edge along Milburn Creek and the St. Mary’s River. This hike offers numerous opportunities to discover the native flora and fauna of the tidewater region.

Virtual Field Trip Options:

The Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma: Escape the confines of your home and take a virtual  field trip through Oklahoma’s vast wilderness by clicking through several 360-degree views of the Conservancy’s various preserves. You can also click on features of the landscapes to learn more about the unique prairie ecosystem.

Yellowstone National Park: Experience the main attractions of Yellowstone National Park from the comfort of your home! Feast your eyes on famous sights such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs and Mud Volcano. Scientists have also created 3-D models of some of the landscapes and geysers that are not to be missed.

Virtual dives:

You won’t need scuba gear to feel like you’re underwater with these stunning high-res 360-degree views of national marine sanctuaries like the Florida Keys, Monterey Bay and the Olympic Coast. You can even pair your device with a virtual reality headset for the ultimate immersive experience.

Webcams:

National Audubon Society Webcams: Explore a variety of webcam options, from Africa, farms, bears, puffins, wolves, honeybees, and even the Aurora Borealis.

Videos: Check out the cool videos at Bob’s Pennsylvania Wildlife Camera 

Resources:

Consider joining in the Free Forest School near you! Free Forest School ignites children’s innate capacity to learn through unstructured play in nature, fostering healthy development & nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers, collaborative leaders & environmental stewards.

Books:

Check out your library (or Amazon) for great books about the outdoors!

  • Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail.
  • My First Book About Backyard Nature: Ecology for Kids!
  • Hiking Day, by Anne Rockwell. A little girl and her family go hiking up a nearby mountain for the very first time. As they climb up and up the path, they see everything from a friendly toad to a prickly porcupine, tall leafy trees to tiny red berries.
  • Gator, gator, gator, by Daniel Bernstrom. A fearless little girl takes off in search of a giant gator–but she’s not going into that swamp alone! No way! She wants YOU, the reader, to come along. Off you go, peering through the lush landscapes, looking for that gator! But each time you think you see it? Oops! Just a fox. Or some ducks! Or a snake. Maybe you’ll never find the gator, gator, gator…

Photos by: Virginia State Parks {flickr}, rain0975 {flickr}, Nick Goodrum {flickr}, Fred Schroeder {flickr}, Cynthia Chan

Around the World in 80 Days – German Potato Pancakes

German Potato Pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer) Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

  • 5-6 potatoes 
  • 3 eggs 
  • 1 small onion (grated) 
  • 1 teaspoon of salt 
  • 4 teaspoon of flour 
  • butter or oil 

Instructions: 

  1. Grate potatoes. Be sure to remove any excess moisture by squeezing grated potatoes in a dish towel. 
  2. Place all ingredients into bowl (except butter) and mix.
  3. Put enough butter/oil for frying into a pan. Pour about ½ cup of batter into pan and fry about 3-4 minutes on each side. Repeat until batter is gone. Add butter/oil when needed. 
  4. Eat plain or with apple sauce or jam! 

Photo by: Krista {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Portugal

PORTUGAL

Europe
Capital: Lisbon
Languages: Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official – but locally used)

 

  • The idea of being an au pair is a new concept in Portugal.
  • Applicants from Portugal are motivated by travel and language opportunities.
  • The job potential of an au pair improves upon her return to Portugal.
  • Young people in Portugal have the freedom of their family to socialize and date, though Portuguese parents are very protective of their children. The normal procedure for children is to complete high school, attend university, find a job, buy a house and get married. Only after you complete those things would you then move out of your parents house.
  • Curfews are not common.
  • Young women are accustomed to sharing in household chores.
  • Portuguese describe themselves as caring, flexible, and fluent in English.

Diet

  • Most young people in Portugal eat meat.
  • Vegetarianism is not common.
  • A typical Portuguese diet includes rich, filling, and full-flavored dishes made from seafood, fish, meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.

 

Religion

  • The most common religion in Portugal is Catholic.
  • Most young people in Portugal do not practice their religion regularly.

Photos by: Man Alive {flickr}; Pug Girl {flickr}

Around the World – Bitterballen

A favorite snack in Holland, this beef and gravy croquette is very popular! Crisp on the outside, moist and gooey on the inside!

There are a few ways to prepare. Here are a couple of recipes from Taste of Home  and another one from Jo Cooks. 

Ingredients  

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 3/4 lb sirloin or flank steak cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1/4 cup finely minced fresh parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cups dry bread crumbs, plain
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • Oil for deep-fat frying
  • Spicy mustard

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
  • Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add broth; bring to a boil.
  • Cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened.
  • Carefully add meat and parsley; cook and stir for 2-5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink
  • Stir in the salt, pepper and nutmeg.
  • Transfer into a bowl; refrigerate for 2-12 hours or until chilled.
  • Place bread crumbs in a small shallow bowl. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and oil.
  • Drop the meat mixture by tablespoonfuls into bread crumbs; shape into balls. If you have a cookie scoop, you could use that.
  • Dip the shaped meat balls in egg mixture, then coat with crumbs. In a skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°.
  • Fry the meat balls, until golden brown on all sides, about 2-4 minutes. Do just a few at a time.
  • Drain on layered paper towels to remove excess oil.
  • Serve warm with a spicy mustard or other dips of your choice.

Make ahead and freeze for later!

Photo by: www.snack-nieuws.nl {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Poland

POLAND

Eastern Europe
Capital: Warsaw
Languages: Polish

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Polish people describe themselves as hospitable, ambitious and resourceful.
  • Poles have strong family ties.
  • Tradition and culture are very important values for young Poles.

FUN FACTS:

  • Poland has exactly the same population and is almost the same size as California.
  • Poland’s biggest city is… Chicago – the number of people of Polish origin is higher in Chicago’s metropolitan area than in Poland’s capital Warsaw!
  • Poland is the most important bird breeding ground in Europe, as it hosts over one quarter of all migratory birds traveling to Europe for the summer.

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?       Jak się masz?
  • Fine, thanks.        Dobrze, dziękuję.
  • My name is…       Nazywam się…
  • Nice to meet you!      Miło Cię poznać!
  • Thank you.            Dziękuję.

Photo by: Photo RNW.org {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Swedish Krem

Swedish Krem is a refreshing and scrumptious dessert. 

Swedish Krem Recipe:

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream 
  • 1 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar, divided 
  • 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract 
  • 2 cups sour cream 
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries 

Instructions: 

  1. In a large saucepan, combine cream and 1 cup sugar. Cook and stir over low heat until a thermometer reads 160°F (do not allow to boil). Stir in gelatin until completely dissolved. 
  2. Remove from heat and stir in extracts. Let cool for 10 minutes. Whisk in sour cream. Pour into 8 dessert dishes. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. 
  3. Just before serving, lightly crush raspberries and gently stir in remaining sugar. Spoon over tops.

Photos by: Clemen v Vogelsang {flickr}; mroach {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Peru

PERU

Western South America
Capital: Lima
Languages: Spanish (main), Quechua, Aymara
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity
(Catholic)

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Peruvian people describe themselves as optimistic, creative and persevering.
  • Peruvians are characterized by being hard workers.
  • Peruvians maintain a very strong sense of national identity – they love to celebrate their Independence Day on July 28th!

FUN FACTS:

  • Peru has 84 “microclimates” of the 114 that exist in the world and also has more than 75% of ecosystems, making it one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet.
  • Peru is one of the richest countries in terms of natural resources – it is one of the world’s top producers of gold, silver, copper, lead, iron and zinc and also has reserves of oil and natural gas.
  • Lake Titicaca in Southern Peru is the world’s highest navigable lake and South America’s largest lake. Machu Picchu is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?       ¿Como estas?
  • Fine, thanks.       Bien, gracias.
  • My name is…       Mi nombre es…
  • Nice to meet you!      ¡Encantado de conocerte!
  • Thank you.           Gracias

Photos by: Glauber Riberio {flickr}; Erico Luxero {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Mung Bean Salad

Mung Bean Salad – Asian

12 ounces thin Asian vermicelli noodles such as rice stick or mung bean

2 carrots shredded  

2 cucumbers seeded and shredded

4 green onion chopped

1 1/2 cups fresh bean sprouts

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup fish sauce

1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar

3 tablespoons sugar

2 cloves garlic pressed or minced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Lime

Instructions

  1. Soften the vermicelli noodles in a large bowl by covering with boiling water and soaking for 3-4 minutes or until tender. Rinse under cold water, drain, and add to a large bowl. Add the shredded carrots, cucumbers, bean sprouts and chopped cilantro to the noodles.
  2. In a glass jar fitted with a lid or a bowl, mix together the fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic and crushed red pepper. Pour 3/4 of the dressing over the noodles and toss to coat. Add more dressing if desired. Sprinkle with more cilantro and green onion and a squeeze of lime if desired. Salad can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight, however if making ahead, add the cilantro just before serving.