BIRTHDAY FUN---SUMMER OR FALL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL HALLOWEEN BABIES!

Indian Summer is lasting a very long time in Northern California.  After an early but wicked rainfall in late September all my roses are blooming again.  We will have a summer-like Halloween.  Unfortunately for my family and friends in New York they will be having a white Halloween and burning jack-o-lanterns might be the only light many powerless East Coasters will have. Hard to imagine what the next two months will bring.

My friend, Garnet, a young girl in her twenties, wondered where the year has gone.     And me--now officially in my sixties---saw it flash by even faster!

Well my birthday was a success.  All my children, son-in-law and granddaughter were there and the entertainment was tie-dye.  Tie-dye inspired by "KITCHEN ART" of course!  Over the summer my son Teal experimented with recipes from "KITCHEN ART" his favorite being FOOD COLORING and COFFEE FILTERS.  This lead him to dying t-shirts and an afternoon of family tie-dye.  T-shirts, bandanas,  dresses for Zora, and bedsheets.  Lots of Fun!

Well my birthday is past, but my daughter and mother and cousin all have birthdays in the next two weeks.  Here are to ideas from KITCHEN ART to help them celebrate!

PINATA MONSTER*

    Pinata originally delighted children in Mexico.  Today they can be found in local supermarkets, and as the highlight of many birthday parties.  Here is a wild papier-mâché do-it-yourself pinata:

INGREDIENTS:  2 cups white flour, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 gallon warm water, 1/2 quart cold water, 1/4 teaspoon oil of cinnamon, 9" paper plate, two recycled toilet paper tubes, one recycled egg carton, box of straws, recycled newspapers, balloon, tape, stuffing goodies (candies, small toys) string, tempera paint.

TOOLS:  large bowl, blender, stove* (adult supervision required), paint brush, wooden spoon, scissors, large clear recycled one gallon plastic soda bottle

INSTRUCTION: * (adult supervision required). Prepare Monster:  1.  Blow up balloon, tie to string and hang from work area.   2.  Cut newspaper into 1 1/2 by 7" strips.  3.  Cut paper plate in half.  Cut top from egg carton and cut cups so you have a group of four.   Prepare papier-mache:  4.  Mix flour and sugar, add some warm water, stirring slowly until you have made a smooth paste.  Add rest of warm water stirring continuously. 5.  Place on stove and boil until a thick and clear, constantly stirring.  6.  Add cold water and stir again until you have a thick gloppy mixture.  7.  Add oil of cinnamon at this point if you need to keep the mixture more than one day.  REMEMBER: this paste works best while still warm. 
Make Monster: 8. Cover balloon with papier-mâché:  dip newspaper strips into paste, pull through fingers to remove excess, then lay on balloon.  Repeat steps until balloon is totally covered.  Repeat process to make three layers.  9.  Add monster features.  EARS: paper plates  EYES: toilet paper tubes MOUTH: egg cups HAIR: straws.  To adhere hold in place and attach with newspaper strips and paste.    If this becomes too difficult let base dry for a day then tape facial features into place and adhere with newspaper paste strips.  Dry.  Cut slot in base and fill with goodies.  11.  Tape closed then papier-mache for added strength.  Dry.  12.  Paint to decorate.  Make PAPER TUBE BAT and have a wild party.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Use liquid starch or wallpaper paste to cover base.  OR use newspaper stuffed grocery bag instead of balloon as base.  OR create other pinata shapes and designs and use tissue paper as the final cover.

PAPER TUBE SWORD PLAY

    How many times have you discarded the empty cardboard holiday wrapping paper tube, towel or toilet paper roll and wondered if it could be recycled or reused?  Here is one versatile project that answers your question.

INGREDIENTS:  lots of recycled tubes, tape, tin foil

TOOLS:  scissors

INSTRUCTION:  1.  Tape tubes together, end to end, making one long tube about one yard long.  2.  Cover with tin foil, if desired.  Use as sword or baseball bat.  Attach a short tube at base to create L shape and you've made a golf club or hockey stick.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Cover taped tubes with papier-mâché and decorate. Now you have a more durable toy to use with Pinata Monster. 

Uncle Eddy I love you

August 25th my Uncle Eddy died.  He was 80 years old and shared the same birthday as my grand daughter Zora.  He lived a long life and was survived by four children seven grandchildren one sister and many who loved him.  He was a hand full.  I was estranged from him for much of my life but I loved him dearly.  He was a complex man.  A Korean War Vet and a lover of symphony.  He loved flowers and "The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam" was his favorite book.  But his sense of humor could wound you.  I love you Uncle Eddy.

I am a vegetarian now so in honor of Ed here is the Czech dish we celebrate.  Ed loved pork sauerkraut dumplings but we favor PEACH DUMPLINGS!

This is Grandma Maries's recipe:
1 1/2 oz butter
1 egg
1tsp salt
3 oz cottage chesse
2 cups flour
1/2 cup milk
dash of vanilla
PEACHES

BREAD CRUMBS
BROWN SUGAR
COTTAGE CHEESE
CINNAMON
MELTED BUTTER

Mix everything.  Roll out dough on floured board cover peaches (not to thick).  Cover with wet cloth for some time then place in boiling water for 20 minutes.   Serve with rest of ingredients!  Yum!

Love you Uncle Ed!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREAT GRANDMA HELEN!

I have enjoyed the month of August as I have celebrated all of the people born this month.  Birthdays are a special day enjoyed with a million balloons or a simple walk in the park with your favorite pet.  It is a time to pause and honor yourself, honor your life, and perhaps set goals for the future.  A person's life goals or "bucket" list can begin at any age.

Yesterday my mother-in-law Helen turned ninety.  She lives in Alaska and has lived a long and productive life.  To this day she has a radiant smile.  She raised three successful sons, has six delightful grandchildren, one great-grand daughter and always appreciates the simple things in life.  Helen loves nature, art and people.  She shared her talents with her family where creativity and a love of the outdoors are paramount in their lives.

Helen lived through the Depression era and was a young woman during World War Two so learning to stretch the penny, and laugh instead of cry were part of her daily experience. In fact, her son's first electric guitar came from saving 'green stamps'.  Value those coupons folks!  Helen, like Heritage House (where she lives) would be an advocate of KITCHEN ART.  At Heritage House they keep the elderly entertained with songs, beautiful smiles and a multitude of creative projects.

So here are two new food projects that can be done for a two-year-old a ninety-year-old or anyone in-between.  Happy Birthday Helen!

TASTY GREEN SNAKE DIP

INGREDIENTS:  3 avocados, red pepper, one pint cottage cheese, one olive, 1/4 cup salsa, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts

TOOLS:  spoon, knife, tray, cutting board, fork, bowl

INSTRUCTION:   Create snake body: 1. Peel and mash avocados.  Add cottage cheese and salsa, mix.  2. Scoop onto tray and shape your snake, making it long, thin and wiggly.  3.  Make features:  cut bit of red pepper for tongue and olives for eyes.  Create background:   4. Cover the rest of the tray with lettuce and sprouts.  YUM!

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Use walnut bits to create rattle on tail.  Or create palm trees in background with celery sticks, carefully scallions and bits of radishes or olives.

CREATIVE SANDWICHES*

Did you ever notice your child eats more when they make it themselves?  These are fun and tasty open-faced sandwiches that your child will love.  And maybe the staff at Heritage House will think to try this themselves!

INGREDIENTS:  soft sandwich bread, sliced cheese, pickles, olives, tomato, walnuts, tin foil

TOOLS:  cutting board, cookie cutters, knife, broiler*

INSTRUCTION:  *  Adult supervision required.  1. Place a slice of bread on cutting board, cover with slice of cheese and use cookie cutter to make sandwich shape.  2. Decorate sandwich with bits of olives, pickles, tomato, and crushed walnuts.  3. Toast and enjoy!

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Use avocado and sliced cucumber.  OR make pizza sandwiches: tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and olives.  YUM!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YUM!

My partner and I celebrate the same birthday,  August 23rd.  Last year he turned sixty and now it is my turn.  We met because of our birthday and for along time it was fun.  Now I'm not so sure.  It is great if we go away for the day but if we are at home who does the dishes etc.   Otherwise we seem to have a different attitude about getting older.  He is much more upbeat!  But sharing the same birthday, with the thought of horoscopes, is interesting.  We are born on the cusp of  Leo and Virgo.  I know that the time of day, moon, and sun all have an influence but it does make me wonder.  In the Chinese ideology he is a Tiger and I am a Rabbit.  People put tons of energy in these belief systems and I don't see that much similar between us.  But… when I was a little girl I used to go Sand City, a beach on Long Island.  The tip of the beach faced Connecticut, where Mark lived as a child, and I used to think that one day I would meet someone from there.  So ESP not Astrology?  Who knows!

Here is the recipe for my delicious birthday cake, compliments of JOY OF COOKING  with special ingredients of my own!  Happy Birthday August Babies!  And PS the comet is passing over now so enjoy the falling stars!  Best to watch after the moon has set.  August 11 thru August 13th.

FOUR EGG CAKE

2 2/3 cups organic pastry flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

sift these ingredients together

Cream until soft:
1 cup organic butter
add 2 cups organic sugar
cream until smooth
Add one at a time
 4 egg yolks
Add:
1 1/2 almond extract

Ready to mix.  Alternate flour mixture with butter mixture and one cup organic almond milk in three parts.

Whip four egg whites then add to mixture.  Add1 cup shredded coconut. 

Bake in greased pan for 30 to 35 minutes.  Cool on rack then add icing.

YUM!  Note never over mix.  Experiment, use coconut milk  or whole milk in place of almond milk.  Use vanilla instead of almond extract.

EUROPEAN CHOCOLATE ICING:

Prepare icing in double boiler

Melt:
1 tablespoon organic butter
4oz semisweet chocolate
add 6 tablespoons organic whipping cream

sift then add 1 1/2 confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract

Spread while warm and sprinkle with coconut flakes.

Add cut strawberries, candles and sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARACK OBAMA

This week our president Barack Obama turned fifty.  The same day the New York Stock Exchange crashed.  Some birthday present!  Not only did he have to deal with the emotional ramifications of entering another decade he had to deal with  another world crisis!  I am turning sixty at the end of this month and when I was wishing I could go back in time my friend said "The best time is now."  Yesterday is history,  tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift.  That's why we call it the "Present!"  Sometimes when I hold my granddaughter I want my kids to be little again.  Sometimes I want to be that person in college who  just had dreams.  But that is all history and today is my gift.  So even as the stock market crashes and the news is so scary "the best time is now".  To prepare for my new decade I am setting new goals having new dreams and enjoying the best time ever!

For all of you with August birthdays enjoy your "present",  and to prepare for your fun KITCHEN ART has lots of party ideas. This month my blog will teach you party activities---from hats to games to music to snacks to FUN FUN FUN!

HATS---HATS---HATS

Party themes are all the rage.  Using paper plates both children and adults can transform the party.  A Mad Hatter party or an English tea party or anything you can imagine!

BASIC HATS:

INGREDIENTS:  Two 9" white paper plates, ribbon

TOOLS:  scissors, stapler, hole punch

INSTRUCTION:  1.  Using your scissors make one straight cut into the center of one paper plate.  Overlap the two sections until they form a curved peak.  Staple in place.  This is the top half of your hat.  2.  Take the second plate and cut out the center;  thus creating a three inch doughnut shaped ring (usually you can follow the imprinted line).  This section is the bottom of your hat.  3.  Evenly place the curved peak onto the doughnut ring.  Staple in place.  4.  Punch two holes on either side of the rim.  Attach ribbons to tie under your chin.  Your Basic Hat is complete.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Decorate with food coloring, sponge stamps and tin foil flowers,  OR use smaller paper plates to make hats for stuffed animals or dolls.


HUMMING KAZOOS:

Need to liven up your party?  This instrument is simple to make and perfect for young children.  My one-year-old granddaughter hums her kazoo better than I do!

INGREDIENTS:  once recycled toilet paper tube, 4" by 4" square of waxed paper, rubber band

TOOLS:  scissors, hole punch, ruler

INSTRUCTION:   1.  Punch a hole about one inch from one end.  2.  Place waxed paper over this end and secure with rubber band.  TIP:  Do not cover hole.  3.  Put lips against open end.  Hum a song!

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Decorate kazoo with tin foil.  Experiment with songs, make several and hum "Happy Birthday"!

SWELTERING HEAT---SUMMER'S HERE!!!

SWELTERING HEAT---SUMMER'S HERE!!!

Sweltering heat!  Summer's here! A time to enjoy and a time to feel the heat!  Oh my!  My granddaughter came to visit and it was time for my KITCHEN ART philosophy to kick in.  Water is ever so refreshing and soothing.  The sink, the pool, the river.  When I babysit Zora I often put her in the sink and play with the rubber duckies and running water.  Visiting us, when everyone was outside, on that sweltering hot weekend, it became time to be creative.  What do you do with a one-year-one when the temperatures are soaring?  Open those cabinets and search for water toys.  Cups, Tuperware, spoons and your child's beloved 'baby' make an afternoon of delightful fun.

Besides opening your cabinets  here are some recipes to beat the August heat!

BOATS BOATS BOATS

WATER TOYS:

Your kitchen holds the ingredients for many floating water toys.  Wine corks are buoyant and the perfect substructure for a variety of boats.

INGREDIENTS:  recycled corks--all sizes, recycled 1/2 gallon milk cartons, recycled spice jars, recycled spice boxes, water resistant glue, toothpicks

TOOLS:  scissors, glue brush, recycled jar lid

INSTRUCTION:   1.  Cut an empty, clean milk carton in half, lengthwise.  This is for your boat base.   2.  Squirt glue into jar lid.  3.  Completely cover the outsides and bottom with glue then press on corks. Line corks up side by side, lengthwise.  Glue and dry.  3.  Let your imagination go wild--create cabin and smoke stack using spice jars and tins.  Use toothpicks as flags etc..  5.  Float in the tub or pool.  Make two and have a race!

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Use recycled paper towel tubes as smoke stacks.  OR cut the boat base from a recycled Styrofoam tray and add lightweight objects for cabin.


SPONGE BOATS:

It is amazing how many water resistant objects there are in your kitchen.  Sponges can also double as floating summer toys.

INGREDIENTS:  Sponges---all sizes, toothpicks, water resistant glue.

TOOLS:  scissors, glue brush, recycled jar lid

INSTRUCTION:  1.  Pick a large sponge for your boat base.  2.  Cut other sponges into shapes (heart, rectangles, circles, etc.).  3.  Squirt glue into jar lid.  Brush glue onto sponges and stick shapes together.  4.  Use toothpicks to hold in place or as flags and decorations.  5.  Set afloat!

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Combine corks, sponges and milk carton.  Make more than one and have a race!

INSPIRING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

                                               INSPIRING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

I am amazed by the far-reaching surprises inspired by KITCHEN ART.  My youngest son, Teal, a junior at UC Merced, is home for the summer.  As part of his family participation he volunteered to create each project  in KITCHEN ART to fine-tune the instructions and product results in the final steps before I publish my book.

Making his way through Chapter One Food Coloring and Chapter Two Printing Teal became excited by the blending of colors.  He quickly realized how simple it is to turn a paper towel, coffee filter, or freezer bag into beautiful art.  Although he found adding the rubbing alcohol to the food coloring and water (used to set the dyes) created a powerful smell, he really enjoyed the 'surprise' element of unfolding the dyed product and appreciating the results. 

My nineteen-year-old-son, a scientist and mathematician at heart had his creative juices inspired and flowing.  Suddenly KITCHEN ART had both his right and left brain working!

So now he is tie-dying.  From flimsy paper towels and coffee filters Teal is now making tee-shirts and wall hangings!  He plans to take them back to college and create a small business.  So open those cabinet doors and get creative---you never know what you will inspire!

                TIE-DYE TOWELS

Tie-dye was the rage in the 1960's and returned in the 1990's and stayed!  Following simple steps your child can create their own folded tie-dye patterns.

INGREDIENTS:  Food coloring, water, paper towels

TOOLS:  Muffin tins, clothes pins and line, measuring spoon

INSTRUCTION:  1.  Place small amount of food coloring into muffins tins. Hint: Start with red, yellow and blue, each in their own tin. Dilute with one tablespoon water.  2.  Fold paper towel several times into fan or square shape.  3.  Dip corner into selected color.  Watch the ink soak into the toweling.  4.  Repeat with different colors.  Continue until all white areas are dyed.  Hint:  DO NOT OVER WET CLOTH!  Hang on line to dry, or place in warm oven.  7.  Unfold and admire your results.  Notice how blue and yellow make green and red and blue make purple and yellow and red create orange.  REMEMBER:  The stronger your dyes the deeper your colors.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Try coffee filters or paper napkins as a base.  Add alcohol to set the colors.  Enhance your design with potato stamps.

                POTATO PRINTING

All types of vegetables can be used for printing from celery to slices of pepper but for a more controlled stamping technique try potato printing.  Using 1/2 of a soft potato and a paring knife you can cut your own simple designs.

INGREDIENTS:  Food coloring, soft potatoes, recycled freezer bags.

TOOLS:  muffin tins or recycled Styrofoam trays, paring knife, cutting board, measuring spoon

INSTRUCTION:  *Adult supervision required.  Set up:  1.  Cut soft potato in half.  2. Using knife, sketch design, centered, on flat half of potato.  A star,  crescent moon or heart can be easily made.  Carve around pattern so your design is raised about 1/2".   3. Place a few drops of food coloring in muffin tins or on Styrofoam tray plus one tablespoon of water, mix.  Begin printing:  4.  Carefully dip design into ink, covering only the raised area.  6.  Print onto paper, pressing gently.  Dry.  Repeat patterns or make a picture!

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Use small cookie cutters to make your designs in the potato.  OR stamp on your tie dyed napkin and frame!  BE CREATIVE!