stuck inside
Filed Under Stuff, Tips & Tricks | November 19, 2008
With the weather becoming inclement and the afternoons shorter we’re spending more and more time indoors with the kids and we’re constantly on the lookout for things to do. Here are some ideas for whiling away long, dark, wet afternoons:
We’re Cooking: With Lauren Bank Deen’s Kitchen Playdates which has easy-to-follow, yummy, foolproof recipes, and fun ideas for parties and playdates (mums of junior princesses will want to check out the fairy-tale birthday cake). We feel this is a great book for the winter, as it’s full of comfort-food type recipes. And we’re now planning our Mad Hatter Tea Party. Find a recipe for her 1-2-3 Cheese Tart at the bottom of this article. So good!
We’re Playing: Sleepy Princess and the Pea with our toddler, Hi Ho Cherry O! with younger kids who are just learning about turn taking and counting and Junior Scrabble with the older kids. And though we admire their competitive instincts, we’re working on demonstrating all the qualities of a gracious winner rather than a sore loser, which can be hard when a two-year-old beats you.
We’re Drawing: Thanks to all the great goodies we stocked up on the book’mark, the Vancouver Public Library’s store. We picked up Faber Castell’s non-toxic GRIP pencils, eco-pencils made of FSC-certified wood, and triangular, erasable crayons all of which are designed for little hands. We also added a few plain drawing pads to our collection.
We’re Dancing: To Bobs & Lolo’s brand new album, Action Packed which is chock-a-block with songs about trains, superheroes and adventure stories and has underlying themes of literacy, health and fitness, teamwork and friendship. Because no matter how many “quiet” activities you have planned, your kids still need to get their beans out and after a day at home with them you may too!
How are you spending your indoor time? Use the comment functionality below this article to share what you and the kids are up to in your house.
1-2-3 Cheese Tart
Roll, stir, and bake – those steps are the “one, two, three” of this recipe’s title, and it really is that easy to make. Tangy cheese in a buttery crust is a welcome change of pace from the expected cheese plate. And since most children can whip this up on their own, the recipe is an instant winner. Most of the ingredients are easy to keep around, so you can make this tart at a moment’s notice. By all means play with different cheeses, just make sure to use the ricotta for creaminess. Instead of feta, try Cheddar, blue or even something like kashkaval from the Balkans, if you can find it. This irresistible tart is a natural for cocktails or a light supper with a salad.
1 sheet best-quality frozen puff pastry, such as Pepperidge Farm or Dufour
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated aged provolone or Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 egg
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
Chopped fresh thyme, oregano or rosemary for garnish
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry into a thin rectangle, 11 by 13 inches and about 1/4 inch thick. Transfer to a baking sheet or rimmed half sheet pan. Prick the dough all over with a fork to prevent the tart base from bubbling up.
- In a medium bowl, mix the cheeses, egg, salt and pepper. Spread over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border. Brush the edges lightly with water, fold over the sides of the dough and press them to create an edge, pinching the corner and pulling them to small points like the tip of a star. (The tart can be refrigerated for up to 8 hours before baking. However, you may need to slightly increase baking time.)
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly, and the sides and bottom of the crust are dark golden brown, making sure that they don’t burn. Let the tart rest for a minute, then cut into 2 inch squares, sprinkle with the fresh herbs and serve.
Serves 6 to 8.
Notes: Defrost the pastry over night in the fridge or for half an hour or so on the counter. The pastry should be able to be rolled easily when ready; if not, allow it to sit until it is pliable, but not too warm.
If you are using the Parmesan and a mild feta, you may want to add an additional 1/4 tsp of so of kosher salt. Or taste a square after baking and if it needs salt, simply sprinkle salt over the top of the tart.
Kids in the Kitchen: Older kids can make this with little supervision. Younger kids may need help, but they can roll the puff pastry, crack the egg, mix the cheeses and egg, brush the dough with water, form the tart, and scatter the herbs.
~ Lauren Bank Deen, Kitchen Playdates, Chronicle Books (2007)
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The best craft my kids ranging in ages 2-6 enjoyed during this rainy weather is making bird feeders with pinecones we collected, peanut butter, and bird seeds. And the birds LOVE them – we’ve seen the most amazing birds come eat this winter. Just lather on the peanut butter, roll into seeds, tie with string and hang. Easy for all ages!
Suzanne
http://www.mommyfootprint.com
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