I was in Buenos Aires recently and couldn’t keep away from the Recoleta Cemetery. (And not to see the hoards of people looking at Evita’s grave.) The sense of peace and solitude I felt was overwhelming. The elaborate tombs are above ground and house every member of established Argentinian families. It is their legacy.
Jennifer Low has done it again! With a belief in teaching kids to cook healthy and fun meals, she has developed 100 brand new recipes that use no sharp knives, no stove-top cooking and no motorized appliances. In her new book – Everyday Kitchen for Kids, she encourages children to experience the thrill of cooking for the first time. We’ve been given a peek and can’t wait to get into the kitchen. (But with stilettos instead of bare feet.) Here’s a teaser for you – Real Mac ’n’ Cheddar Cheese.
Makes 3 cups (750 mL).
Supplies
2 1⁄2-quart (2.5 L) glass or ceramic baking dish, baking spatula, measuring cups, measuring spoons, foil (or lid of baking dish), bowls, whisk, wooden spoon.
Ingredients
macaroni
1 1⁄2 cups (375 mL) uncooked elbow macaroni
1 tsp (5 mL) vegetable oil
2 1⁄3 cups (580 mL) warm tap water
cheese sauce
1⁄4 cup (60 mL) unsalted butter
3 Tbsp (45 mL) all-purpose flour
1⁄2 tsp (2 mL) dry mustard
1⁄2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1⁄2 tsp (2 mL) white sugar
1⁄4 tsp (1 mL) onion powder
1⁄8 tsp (0.5 mL) chili powder
1 cup (250 mL) milk
1 1⁄2 cups (375 mL) pre-grated cheddar cheese
breadcrumb topping
1 Tbsp (15 mL) unsalted butter
1⁄2 cup (125 mL) dry breadcrumbs
pinch of salt
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
In the baking dish and using a baking spatula, mix the macaroni with the vegetable oil until the macaroni is well coated.
Pour the warm water onto the macaroni. Cover tightly with a lid or foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Get help taking it out of the oven. Keep covered for at least another 15 minutes. The macaroni softens some more and the baking dish cools off a bit.
Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter in the microwave at 50% power (about 1 minute). Use a whisk to mix in the flour until smooth. Then mix in the dry mustard, salt, sugar, onion powder, and chili powder. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth.
Heat the sauce in the microwave on high for 1 minute (or longer, but only 1 minute at a time so it doesn’t foam over), until the sauce is bubbly and thickened. Get help removing the bowl from the microwave. Cool slightly so the bowl isn’t too hot to touch.
Stir the cheddar into the sauce. The cheese does not need to be fully melted in right now. Set aside.
Next make the breadcrumb topping. In a large microwave-safe bowl, heat 1 Tbsp (15 mL) unsalted butter in the microwave at 50% power until melted (about 30 seconds). Mix in the breadcrumbs and salt. Use the back of a wooden spoon to mash the breadcrumbs into the butter to break up lumps.
Get help uncovering the dish of macaroni (there should be some water left in the bottom of the dish). Using a baking spatula, scrape the cheese sauce onto the macaroni. Stir well. Spread the macaroni evenly in the dish. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top. Bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are lightly golden.
Jennifer is inviting kids to send in pictures of their favourite recipes from the book to her website www.kitchenforkids.com
Excerpted from Everyday Kitchen for Kids (Whitecap Books) by Jennifer Low
Photo by Ryan Szulc from Everyday Kitchen for Kids (Whitecap Books)
The Lunch Warmer comes in purple, blue, black, red. It has a 20 oz capacity making it perfect for an individual sized meal!
No time in the morning to pack a warm meal for yourself or your children? Enjoy a comforting meal with the Crock-Pot Lunch Warmer. It warms food on the go, while still staying cool to the touch outside for safety. It’s easy to clean-just stick the removable food storage container in the dishwasher! You can even leave the warming base at work/school and use the detachable food container to transport meals back and forth. How about packing last night’s leftovers of Slow Cooker Lasagna for a nutritious lunch? Crock-Pot
Au revoir, plastic wrap. Sayonara tinfoil. These Abeego Flat Wrap Covers for Food are used in the same way, but they’re far safer, effective – and reusable. Made with beeswax, tree resin and jojoba oil infused in a hemp/cotton fabric, these all natural rectangle shaped flat food wraps do not leach nasty chemicals into your food.
The warmth of your hands as you press the wraps around your cucumbers, bowls, cheese or half-eaten baguette (as if it’s not always totally gone) allows you to shape it easily. The stiffen when cooled. Oh, and they are compostable, which will make my veggie gardens happy as well. Lavish and Lime
As a university student I invested in metal dishes. They were durable and stylish and I hadn’t been able to find similar funky hand-painted designs since. My search is over with these gorgeous Eva Bird bowls and cups sporting a dash of hand painted colour. Highly durable, non-leaching and recyclable stainless steel cups and bowls with hand painted bird designs in red, green and varying shades of blue. Lavish and Lime
Michelle Addison has impeccable style and perfect advice for busy Moms. After cultivating experience in the fashion and film industry she has become one of Vancouver’s fashion experts. Her ability to decipher trends, convey style, and trim closets down to the essential key pieces, led to a thriving personal styling career. Addison lives in Vancouver with her husband Nick and her two year old daughter Stella. UrbanMommies was granted an exclusive interview.
UM: You mention that individuals are their own brands. If a Mom stays at home, how would you style her? Because we know that she’s still an individual with her own branded style.
MA: I would style a stay-at-home mom with the priority of “has to be easy to wear”, non complicated style is best when being a full-time mom. I was a stay-at-home home for a year and mainly wore things I could sit cross-legged in!! Often women come to me and say “i want to be stylish but don’t want to put in the time” I would suggest eliminating all threatening items: ugly shoes disguised as really comfortable, pregnancy items that don’t apply when not pregnant, lululemon stretch pants worn as a fashion trend etc. Having a great wardrobe that all works together makes getting dressed in the morning easy. Eliminating the bad and only keeping the good help with this process…as you don’t have “the bad” as go-to’s.
UM: My closet is filled with amazing pieces that I never have time to ‘style’ myself (without paying a nanny a fortune in childcare). How would you help a busy mom ‘shop’ and style her closet and put quick outfits together? Polaroids? Lookbooks?
MA: I work by appointment at The Bay downtown. It’s so easy to book an appointment, come down, spend a couple hours(like, 1-2) and come away with a whole selection of items that all work together, fit properly and are fully endorsed by someone who may pay a little more attention to fashion that you might. I also have a package called “tied together” that allows me to come over to your house and put some outfits together with items you already have and take pictures so you remember what goes with what. I send you a little book so you can have it on hand for your reference. This comes in handy at fashion week…barring that :)… work trips, or holidays, or everyday suggestions. This takes around an hour and a half…just enough time for your kids to go to the park and back.
UM: Is it necessary to revamp a closet every season? How can you work with a stylist to help you do this in the most cost-effective way?
MA: It isn’t necessary to revamp your “entire” closet every season. My philosophy is cleanse, build the basics and insert a few trends each season. Working with a stylist can save you thousands on making ill-purchases that you never wear. When working with a client, I have the benefit of knowing their personal style and recommending pieces each season that go with what they already have. Shopping seasonally is great for saving money and time. Women in their thirties can start building quality wardrobes that will last a decade by adding a few investment pieces each season. A great coat, a good purse, a classic boot etc.
We love design. We love babies. And the chic stroller makes us want to keep the kids coming….. Here are a few of our top picks at the moment for the coolest new strollers.Silver Cross Balmoral
An iconic, stately pram, hand crafted in Yorkshire with unique leather suspension straps and a classic carriage that guarantees comfort and safety.
Weighs 37kg. Prices around $4000
4 Moms Origami stroller
Opens and closes itself with a simple press of a button. Rear wheels have built in generators that charge the stroller while you walk (and can charge a cell phone!). Lots of storage (cup holders and removable storage bags) Has running and pathway lights for safety. LCD screen includes thermometer, speedometer and other lifetime odometers.
for use with children up to 40lbs. Dimensions are 41” l, 28” w, 39” when open. The toddler sized stroller is 32 lbs.
Prices $849.99 on www.shop4moms.com
Bloom CMYK Zen Stroller
This stylish, light all-terrain stroller includes a solar lighting system (light beams or flash hazard lights), a freestanding folding design that makes it easy to stash In small spaces.
Stroller weighs 25.3 lbs. For infant up to 44lbs.
Price $799 at Giggle.com
Ride on Carry On
Traveling with little ones is made easy with this convertible children’s chair that comfortably snaps onto carry on luggage. Perfect for rolling your child through the terminal and right to their seat. The padded headrest can be pulled down for use as a tray table. The chair folds flat without removing so it can fit through security and in the overhead storage compartment.
Recommended for children from 8mnths-5 years (up to 50 lbs)
Priced at $39.99
Bugaboo + Missoni Chameleon
This stylish, brightly colored stroller features a detachable bassinet, adjustable handle, and four swivel wheels. The suspension is also adjustable and creates smooth strolling.
include a matching Missoni chevron blanket.
$880
Mima Kids Kobi cosmo stroller
Has a patented “carrycot” system where the seat can be converted by unzipping the seat. The seat can be rear or forward facing. Removable changing bag, clip on canopy, adjustable handle and seat height positions. Can accommodate another seat while still being average sized for a stroller.
Weighs 29.4 lbs. Suitable for infants from birth to 37 pounds.
1200 Euros on kidslovedesign.com
Almost every child goes through a picky eater stage…and some seem like they will never come out of it. How do you get a nutritious diet into a kid who won’t eat anything green or white, or who refuses to eat anything except chicken nuggets or macaroni and cheese? Nearly two thirds of parents describe at least one problem with their child’s eating, according to a study in Contemporary Pediatrics, so you are definitely not alone here–millions of parents feel your pain. There’s more to this dilemma than just tempting a picky eater, but that is a great way to start. Here are some practical solutions to helping your kid get the nutrition they need, without the wailing and gnashing of teeth.
I get a ton of PR pitches and therefore a staggering number of flash drives. Incidentally, I also receive a ton of CD roms filled with information I can’t access with my MacBook Air. (PR People please take note). I thought I’d follow through with Kelby Carr’s ingenious ‘Marketers Who Understand Blogger Outreach’ post with something fun before the long weekend. So I emptied my USB Drawer and found my ultimate favourites from Public Relations teams who know their brand and respect me as a writer enough to make me want to grin. Here are my favourites:
1. McCafe, who engraved my Twitter handle ‘@urbanmommies‘ on the back.
2. Honda – A clever car key (that I could make into a necklace a la Tiffany & Co and take my data with.)
3. Disney Fantasy. Rubber (waterproof I think), fun for kids to play with and very chic.
4. Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe. Gorgeous wood. Refined and symmetrical.
5. Dole. Because who doesn’t want to carry a banana-shaped flash drive in their purse?
6. Disney Cars Land – in the shape of a race announcer’s microphone.
7. Store Brand Formula.com in the shape of a formula bottle. Because I laughed out loud, as no Canadian PR company would ever attempt this given the volatile and judgmental Canadian nursing climate, and the most popular articles on UrbanMommies are breastfeeding-related.
8. The Victorinox 4GB super-secure flashdrive which cannot be broken into if you’re a PC user. And because it is made by Victorionox and stores information on it’s own brand, which is smart and somehow ironic. And I love the spy-like nature of it’s security.
9. The ultimate: The G. Marquis Winery flashdrive in a branded wine cork. Because it floats, it’s durable, cool, on-brand, and, well.. they did their homework.
Cheers!
I couldn’t possibly test a vehicle without the kids in tow. I thought this Chevrolet Spark Test Drive would be a tough one for the boys, as the car was so compact (awesome for squeezing into city parking spots). But for the urban driver? Amazing.
Safety-wise, the 10 airbags, great sight lines and Onstar phone services provide the driver with a ton of confidence. You can’t really beat Onstar (and not just to ask a live person to send directions to the vehicle for the nearest Starbucks). My kids know that if Mommy is ever in trouble, they press the red button and wait for emergency response crews who will track the car via GPS. The peace of mind is priceless.
With USB connectivity for his tunes combined with great maneuverability and talent, my husband was able to back up within 1.5 inches of a pylon and became the proud recipient of the award for this feat (as opposed to the actual pylon award he received in recreational hockey). I was thrilled to be able to tweet that my dear husband ‘won with an inch and a half!’.
The verdict? A great economical and compact choice for big-city driving. It may not be the best option for schlepping gear and multiple kiddos on playdates if you need more than 31.2 cubic feet of volume, but did I mention it comes in pink?
www.chevrolet.ca