What's for dinner? How bout some chicken noodle soup!

The children requested another cooking project.  Happy to oblige, we settled on chicken noodle soup.  

Which involves A LOT of vegetable chopping!

If you don't have one of these knives at home I highly recommend getting one!  Your child will become your best kitchen helper in no time!  For best results, clarify that the goal isn't speed, but careful, deliberate chopping.  Your child's precision will surprise you! 

The added bonus of all this work was getting to participate in all of the conversations gathered around the table.

Want to make our soup at home?  We thought you might say that!  The talented Cadence, in Ward Hobbs XP, wrote up the recipe for you:

Once all that chopping was done, we cooked our soup in an Instapot, sautéing the vegetable ( in butter or oil of choice) before adding the chicken (you could use left over turkey!), broth and seasonings (oregano, basil, salt and pepper) to cook.  When your soup is all done, just ladle the yumminess into bowls, top with cooked noodles and ENJOY!

Prepare to be satisfied!

Grape fun and observations in Ward Hobbs

The backyard grapes are at the peak of ripeness.

So the children helped with another harvest and carefully stripped each grape from its stem in preparation for another round of grape juice!

We also harvested the potatoes and beets from the back yard and while doing so we found a wonderful praying mantis.

This inspired some great conversations and Vida supported the children in observing our new friend and recording our findings in science journals.

Inside the children experimented with different materials on a black drawing surface.

It was another fun filled week in Ward-Hobbs!

Stone Soup, Grandparents/Special Friends Day and Gratitude

What a full week I have to share with you!  A week overflowing with collaborations and celebrations!

First off, our executive director and resident story teller extraordinaire, Bekke, told the story of Stone Soup to the children.  If you don't know the story there are lots of online resources but none compares to Bekke's (she put a Lakota Sioux spin on hers, weaving native traditions into the traditionally European tale).  Here is a  link to a simple one I found this morning.  Stone soup is a perfect story for Thanksgiving too!  (In case you get inspired to share).

The children were so captivated by the story that they asked to make stone soup in the studio.  Not yet having any ingredients to offer, I asked how they might make it with the materials available.

In a blink the children collected supplies and set to work, drawing, coloring and cutting their contributions before adding them to the soup.

On Thursday we made the real thing.  The children carefully cut all the vegetables into small, bite sized pieces to share with their loved ones on Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

Rhiannon joined me to make dozens of delicious gluten-free corn muffins to add to the festivities.

And BJ spent a day with me, stringing sliced fruits to make garlands that will dry and adorn the studio in the months ahead.

 On Friday we set the bounty on display and opened our doors to greet family and friends.

The atmosphere was enthusiastic!
Throughout the day the children and their friends wrote their gratitudes on brown paper to be added to the Love Tree and dished up their culinary creations.

It was certainly a week to be grateful for!
I am wishing you a wonderful holiday filled with gratitude and thanksgiving, may your days be lit with wonder and your moments bright with curiosity.
See you in December!

Here's a little clip of Bekke's story to get a taste of the tale:

Stone Soup, Pumpkin Bread and Sharing

We just celebrated Grandparents day and it was a huge success.  Let me tell you a little about the food the children made for the occasion. 

First, I joined the class at circle time to tell a story about a hidden forest where animals don't talk to each other, nor play together, nor really know one another at all.  An insightful dragonfly who happened upon this lonely wood had the brilliant idea of making stone soup.  He brought out a large pot with a flourish and he placed a stone and some water inside before placing it over a flame to cook.  Soon one indignant animal after another stepped out from their hiding places in the woods to say that stones and water weren't sufficient ingredients to make a soup and so they each added a new ingredient to the pot.  When they were done they had a delicious soup filled with shared ingredients.  

A great little reminder about the power of sharing.  Inspired by the story we decided to make stone soup for our grandparents.  I brought the stones and the pot and asked each child to choose a vegetable on their way into studio.  The children did their part washing and cutting every vegetable that became the soup.

Stone Soup

Cut up some garlic, onions, carrots, celery, snow peas and tomatoes.  Add to a pot with one stone (optional).  Add a bag of split peas.  Cover with water and cook in a crockpot on low overnight.  The next morning stir in salt and pepper to taste and some cumin.

Serve and Enjoy.

BJ joined the children and made The Best Pumpkin Loaf Ever (Gluten Free and Better than Starbucks).  Here's the recipe:

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 t. vanilla

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup apple sauce

1/3 cup vegetable oil

11/2 cup gluten free flour (we used Pamelas)

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking power

1/2 t. cinnamom

1/2 t. ground ginger

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. each of nutmeg, all spic and pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 350... Line 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Beat together eggs, sugars and vanilla.

Add pumpkin, oil and beat some more.

Add dry ingredients.  Stir.

Spoon batter into lined pan.  Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

 And the children were so proud to share thier Yummy creations with grandparents and friends.

It was a lovely and festive occasion.

Grapes Glorious Grapes

Today BJ joined me in the studio to harvest and juice grapes.  This is a long standing tradition and Children's Garden and this years harvest was INCREDIBLE.  Here are a few pictures from the day: