Nebraska – the Cornhusker State

May 20, 2013

Nebraska was the 37th state admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867.  It is the Great Plains state that a famous author, Willa Cather, wrote about – one of her books even won a Pulitzer Prize.  Much of the land was given to homesteaders per the Homestead Act of 1852.  The US government gave people title to lots of 160 acres of land if they lived and worked the land for 5 years.  It brought lots of people to this windy state.

Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in this state.  Father Flanagan founded Boys Town in 1921.  It started as a orphanage for boys, but now is a whole town for boys and girls who are in trouble.  They can come here for school, work, play and just a chance to get away from home when things get rough for them.  Buffalo Bill Cosy’s Wild West show began in Nebraska.  He was a Civil War solider who shot a lot of buffalo and gave the meat to railroad workers.

Capital:  Lincoln

Bird:  Western Meadowlark

Flower:  Goldenrod

Nickname:  Cornhusker State

 

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Eat a Rainbow – Buttered Carrots and Rotini

May 17, 2013

Kids can have fun with this dish and pretend to eat a rainbow.  They will hardly notice the vegetables mixed in with the various colors of the pasta.

Buttered Carrots and Rotini

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup uncooked rainbow rotini pasta
  • 2 cups baby carrots
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 tsp.  dill weed
  • salt
  • pepper

Directions:

  1. cut carrots lengthwise and cross wise
  2. cook pasta per instructions on package
  3. add carrots for the last 2-3 minutes
  4. cook until tender
  5. drain
  6. add back to pot
  7. add butter, dill, slat and pepper
  8. toss gently to coat

Make a game of this dish and call out various colors that your kids can find and eat.

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Montana – Take Your Kids to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks

May 16, 2013

Montana was the 41st state admitted to the USA on November 8, 1889.  The name is Spanish meaning “mountainous”.  It is home to both Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.  Montana has the lowest population density and in fact, there are more elk, deer and antelop than people.

Glacier National Park is more than a million acres and has over 300 lakes.  Lewis and Clark, famous early explorers of the West, went over the Continental Divide on their expedition.  They took along a translator, Sacajawea, on the  trip. 

Capital:  Helena

Bird:  Western Meadowlark

Tree:  Ponderosa Pine

ANimal:  Grizzley Bear

Slogan:  Big Sky Country

 

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Cheesy Vegetable Risotto – Kids Will Love it!

May 15, 2013

This dish is a good eats for kids.  The vegetables are covered with a cheesy sauce and your kids will eat them up without even realizing they are in the dish.

Cheesy Vegetable Risotto

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic chopped finely
  • 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
  • 32 oz chicken broth
  • 12 oz bag frozen vegetables in cheese sauce
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

  1. heat butter in a skillet, add onion and garlic, cook for 4 minutes, stirring often
  2. add rice and cook until kernel edges are translucent -stir often
  3. add 1/2 cup broth and cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring, or until broth is absorbed
  4. add 1 cup of broth and cook uncovered for 5 minutes or until broth is absorbed
  5. add remaining 1 cup of broth and cook for 8 minutes, stirring often
  6. cook frozen vegetable per instruction on package
  7. add cooked vegetables, cheese, parsley and pepper
  8. stir well and serve
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Missouri – The Show Me State

May 14, 2013

Missouri is a state right smack in the middle of the Midwest.  It was the 24th state admitted to the United States on August 10, 1821.  It gets its name from a Sioux Indian Tribe called the Missouris.  It means “town of the large canoes” – because both the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers run through it.

Lots of famous people are from this state.  Mark Twain, Laura Inglass Wilder, Walt Disny and Charles Lindberg.  The ice cream cone was even invented here in 1904 at the St Louis World’s Fair. 

Capital:  Jefferson City

Bird:  Bluebird

Tree:  Flowering Dogwood

Nickname:  The Show Me State

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Italian Chicken Mom-Nuggets

May 13, 2013

A quick and easy dinner that is sure to be finger licking good for your kids.

Italian Chicken Nugget Recipe

Ingredients:

  • frozen chicken nuggets
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 28 oz jar spaghetti sauce
  • 4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tsp Italian Seasoning

Directions:

  1. put nuggets in your crock pot – spread out as much as possible without stacking
  2. sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top
  3. layer with spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese and  seasoning
  4. cover and cook on high for one hour

Better than any fast food!

 

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Critter Creature Cutouts – A Kids Project

May 10, 2013

Your kids can create a collection of paper animals with this project.  They are made of folded paper and can be decorated to their liking.  When done, they make great toys, homemade gifts or handmade greeting cards.

 

Items Needed:

  • sheets of construction paper
  • pencil
  • colored pencils
  • scissors
  • items for decorating such as glitter, sequins, ribbon, etc.

 

Directions:

  1. fold the sheets of construction paper in half so that the short ends meet
  2. draw animal shapes so that the top of the animal is along the folded edge
  3. cut out the shape leaving the folded part uncut
  4. decorate
  5. open slightly so that it stands up for display

 

Children can create a circus train, a petting zoo, a barnyard, a safari, a seaworld or whatever their favorite animals are. 

Have fun!

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Mississippi – Southern Charm at its Best!

May 9, 2013

As a kid, I learned to spell Mississippi with this saying – M I crooked letter, crooked letter, I crooked letter, crooked letter, I humpback, humpack, I.  It worked – I never forget how to spell it now!

Mississippi was the 20th state of the Union on December 10, 1817.  It was a slave state with the slaves working in the cotton fields.  During the Civil War, they wanted to secede from the Union to keep slavery.  In the 1960′s, the civil rights movement began in the state.  President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves as a result of the Civil War, but it took another 100 years for President Lyndon B Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Act.

Lots of famous people are from Mississippi – Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Buffet, BB King, and Elvis Presley.  A huge source for many talented musicians.

Capital:  Jackson

Bird:  Mockingbird

Flower:  Magnolia

Take your kids and family on vacation to this lovely southern state and be sure to ride a river boat up the Mississippi River.

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Strawberry Banana Smoothie – A Breakfast on the Go!

May 8, 2013

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 – 8 oz. containers of vanilla yogurt
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 1 banana

Directions:

  1. put all the ingredients in a blender
  2. cover and blend until smooth
  3. pour into glasses
  4. optional:  can top with a piece of fresh fruit, cereal, or chocolate chips

You can create your own special smoothie by using the flavors your kids like.  Mix it up and make it fun.  A great way to start the day with this nutritious and delicious fruit smoothie.  Kids will love this breakfast!

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Minnesota – Home of Paul Bunyan and Babe

May 7, 2013

Minnesota – the 32nd state to be admitted on May 11, 1858.  It is often called the land of  10,000 lakes – but in reality – there are many more lakes than this.  The Twin Cities – Saint Paul and Minneapolis – are home to about half of the population of the state.  The two cities are divided by the Mississippi River with Minneapolis being a more financial city and St Paul more of a cultural city.  The best of both worlds!

Paul Bunyan and his ox Babe is a legendery myth from this state.  He was a lumberjack who could fell giant trees with a single swing of his ax.  His blue ox named Babe was his sidekick.  There are statues of him all around the state.  It is a big part of the lore of Minnesota logging. 

The Mall of America is a big attraction for the state.  It has everything from shops to a roller coaster in it.  At one time, it was the largest indoor mall in North America.  There is alot to do and see for families with kids.

 

Capital:  Saint Paul

Bird:  Common Loon

Flower:  Pink & White Lady’s SLipper

Nickname:  Gopher State

 

 

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