http://www.playtacoma.org/blog/recipe-fun/ en-us Fri, 18 May 2012 19:59:44 PDT Fri, 18 May 2012 19:59:44 PDT SiteCrafting.com GearBox 1.0.10 http://playtacoma.org/blog/applesauce/ Preparing food with your child provides opportunities for learning basic math and cooking skills such as measuring, comparison and mixing ? not to mention being just plain fun! With the variety of tasty apples available in our area, celebrate the abundance of the season by creating delicious homemade applesauce!6 tart apples, peeled, cored and cut into chunks½ cup flourjuice of half a lemon½ cup water¼ cup sugar1 tsp. cinnamon¼ cup raisins (optional)Place the apples in a large non-reactive saucepan and add the lemon juice and water. Stir in the sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and cook for 30 minutes or until the apples are soft. Remove from heat and add the cinnamon and raisins, if desired. Stir lightly for a chunky sauce and vigorously for a smooth sauce. To create pink applesauce, leave the skins on red apples while cooking. Once the applesauce is soft skins are easily removed with a fork or slotted spoon. Makes 2 ½ cups. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:05:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/salt-dough-ghosts/ Get ready for Halloween with a fun and easy craft!Materials: 1 cup flour 1 cup salt 1/2 cup water Large Bowl Wooden Spoon Permanent Black Marker Instructions: 1. Combine flour, salt, and water in bowl. Mix with spoon until smooth. 2. Divide the dough into six equal pieces and shape each into a ghost, flattening the base so it will stand up. 3. Microwave ghosts on a plate two at a time for 20 - 30 second intervals until the dough is fairly firm (about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes total). *Careful* The ghosts will be HOT! Let cool before handling. 4. Use permanent marker to add eyes and mouth. You can find this recipe and more at familyfun.com!  Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:44:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/capturing-memories/ An Idea For the Mom Who Can't Craft My son's birthday is fast approaching and it's a big one; he'll be 10 years old and is excited to be "double digits". Planning his birthday celebration made me a bit melancholy.  I decided to look through old photos to remember when he was small enough to curl up in my lap. What I also found were the interviews I've conducted with him every year on his birthday since he was two. This interview idea wasn't mine. I'm sure I read about it in a book or magazine but these notes of who he was and what he was thinking are by far my most treasured possession.If you'd like to try something similar with your little ones I'd suggest keeping the questions simple, writing down the answers verbatim and asking some of the same questions every year. Putting their hand print or having them sign their name to the interview sheet is also a great touch! Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:42:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/baby-showers-birthdays-bar-mitzvahs/ In need of cool gifts... People all around me are getting married or having babies. This means I'm constantly on the look out for gifts. Sure I could just consult one of the many registries and be done with it but it just doesn't seem right to buy something from Target to celebrate a close friend's first born! In my search for something more personal and original I found reasonably priced artwork that would look great in any little one's bedroom. This print reminds me of one of my favorite books by Maurice Sendak, "Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue" (maybe I'll buy it for myself!). You can find this print and many more at matteart's shop on Etsy.com. Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:44:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/gobble-up-words/ Yummy in my tummy... Fill your tummy and mind with a literacy activity that you and your child can eat! Make a pot of Alphabet Soup and see how many delicious words you can munch.  Ingredients: 1 cup chopped onion1 cup finely chopped carrots4 minced garlic gloves3 cups water1 cup rinsed, dried white beans1 large can tomatoes, chopped1 teaspoon dried Italian Herbs1/8 teaspoon cayenne1 cup dry alphabet pasta Directions: Combine first five ingredients; boil.Add next four ingredients; boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer stirring occasionally for 1 ½ hours until beans are tender.Using a slotted spoon, remove most of the beans and transfer remaining liquid to a blender; process until smooth. *This step is for grown-ups only.Return mixture and beans back to the pot. Stir in alphabet pasta and bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 8 minutes until pasta is tender but firm. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:01:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/slightly-spooky-fun/ All you need for Halloween fun right here: a craft, a book and even a quiz!"Summer is over, now it's fall; just the nicest time of all."  Check out award winning author and illustrator Lois Lenski's "Now It's Fall" from your local library. Reusable, make-it-yourself Flower Pot Pumpkins courtesy of Family Fun.Think you know it everything about Halloween? Test your Halloween Smarts with the always smart Martha Stewart.Or stop by the Museum during Halloween Week for Halloween Howls. Each day there will be a slightly spooky craft in Becka's Studio, Play Guides in creative costumes and treats. But there won't be any tricks, we promise! Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:42:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/fresh-fall-leaves/ Fall is all around us. Leaves are changing colors.  The air is crisp.  And colorful leaves are falling down.  Try this simple activity with your child to help enjoy the beauty of the fall season.  You will need: Collection of leaves Paper Glue   Activity: Go outside with your grownup and collect colorful, interesting leaves. Bring your leaves inside and lay them out to dry. Talk about the different sizes, shapes and colors of your leaves.  How are your leaves similar?  How are they different? Create a leaf collage by gluing leaves to a sheet of paper.  Make sure to use enough glue so that your leaves stick. Tell your grownup about your collage.  What colors did you use?  Did you make a pattern?   What is my child learning? Collecting leaves provides time for outdoor play and physical activity. Gluing leaves and creating collages develops fine motor skills, focus and concentration. Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:53:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/winter-sparkle-dough/ Looking for a fun indoor activity to engage your little ones?  Try one of our favorite playdough recipes with a special wintry touch!  You will need: 3 cups Flour 1/2 cup Salt 2 cups Hot Water 3 tablespoons Vegetable Oil 2-4 drops Food Coloring Glitter!   Mix all the dry ingredients together.  Slowly stir in the hot water with food coloring and continue mixing.  Turn mixture out onto a smooth surface; it will be a little sticky.  Knead the dough and slowly add more flour until the right consistency has been reached.  Look at all the glittery sparkles in your dough!  Feel free to add more glitter if your dough doesn't feel sparkly enough! *Store your Winter Sparkle Dough in an air-tight container. *While this is a great activity to do with children, an adult should measure and stir-in the hot water.  Once the dough has cooled a bit, invite your child to help with the kneading process. Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:33:00 PST