Earth Hour 2013

Earth Hour has become a celebrated holiday for families across Canada and around the World since 2007.  For many families it is a chance to spend some fun and educational time together and to find a renewed our commitment to the planet. 

 I love Earth Hour and tend to make a day of it spending time reading, crafting and preparing for lights out at 8:30.  Early in the afternoon, I like to take a walk with the kids and have them find the following:

·        Two pieces of bark
·        Two round rocks
·        Three pieces of trash
·        Two signs of spring
·        Something red
·        A twig that looks like a tree

Returning home, we begin to decorate for our evening celebration.  Last year, we made this banner from old paper bags and materials from our recycle bin. 

 

You will need:

·        Paper bags
·        Your recycle bin (full)
·        White glue
·        Jute rope or yarn
·        Stapler
·        Scissors
·        Paint or markers

Pick a message and lay out your bags “Earth Hour, Save our Planet, We Love Earth.”   Sketch out full block letters as a template.  Have kids use safety scissors to cut, crumple and tear recycled items to fill in the letters.

Staple banner points to jute or yarn. 

Hang and admire. 

This year, I am planning to create a picture of the world using our thumb prints.  It is going to make a beautiful keepsake.

 One ink pad for each family member participating

·        Canvas
·        Frame and poster paper
·        Light pencil
·        Sharpie

Sketch a circle to represent the earth and lightly draw in the continents leaving room for signatures at the bottom.

Taking turns, have each person make a print to fill in the areas with appropriate colour. 

Have each family member make one last print on the bottom and sign their name under it.

After a little down time for reading our favourite earth and recycling books, it is time to decorate our dinner table.

Last year, I found a world map beach ball and hung it from the ceiling.  We used a big world map for our table cloth and filled jars with some twigs and branches we had picked up on our nature walk.

Don’t forget the candles.  In the past I have purchased big pillar candles and had the kids paint and decorate them.   We have also used simple tea lights and votives to make the evening special. 

Golden Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Tomato Salsa

This attractive and tasty brunch dish is simple to prepare. The secret to these creamy eggs is to cook them slowly over low heat without overcooking. For convenience, chop the tomatoes and green onions for salsa the day before.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes 
Cooking Time: 12 minutes 
Servings: 6

Ingredients:

Salsa:
• 2 large Ontario Greenhouse Tomatoes, seeded and diced (about 2 cups/ 500 mL)
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) thinly sliced fresh Ontario Basil (or 2 tsp/10 mL dried basil)
• 2 green onions, diced
• 1-1/2 tbsp (22 mL) balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp (5 mL) salt
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) pepper

Eggs:
• 8 eggs
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) milk
• 2 tbsp (25 mL) butter
• 1 cup (250 mL) diced Ontario Greenhouse Sweet Yellow Pepper
• 1 container (250 g) herb-and-garlic cream cheese

Toast:
• 18 diagonal slices baguette, toasted

Preparation:

Salsa: In medium bowl, combine tomatoes, basil, green onions, vinegar, salt and pepper; set aside.

Eggs: Whisk eggs and milk together. In large skillet, melt butter over medium heat; add yellow pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes or until softened. Reduce heat to low. Add egg mixture; cook, stirring constantly, until egg starts to set. Add cream cheese by spoonfuls and cook, stirring, until thick and creamy.

Toast: Arrange 3 slices toast on each plate in shape of trillium; spoon egg mixture on top. Spoon salsa in middle of trillium design.

Tip: If dicing tomatoes ahead of time, drain off any liquids before completing salsa.

Variation: Substitute 250 g chèvre for herb-and-garlic cream cheese and add 3/4 tsp (4 mL) dried thyme.

Fun and Healthy St. Patty's Day Food

Mint-Lime Spring Green Fruit Salad

• 1 green apple, sliced thin, dime-sized slices
• I avocado, diced
• 1 lime, squeezed (add a touch of zest too if you’d like)
• 2 kiwis, sliced into thin rounds
• 2 Tbsp raw or roasted/salted pistachios
• 2 fresh mint sprigs, remove and chop leaves
• 1 Tbsp maple or agave syrup
• *mint for garnish

(This can be made with or without nuts to accommodate allergies.)

To prepare:  Chop, squeeze and peel all ingredients.Add to a large bowl.

Toss well with spoon.

Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.

Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Green Eggs and Ham

To tint eggs green, add several drops of green food coloring to the water used to poach the egg.  Bring an inch or two of water to a gentle boil in a skillet big enough to accommodate the number of eggs you’re cooking. (It’s best to do no more than 3 at a time – too many eggs will crowd the pan and cool down the water.) Gently break your eggs into the water and as they start to set, spoon the water over the tops of the yolks to help them cook. If they stick to the bottom of the pan, loosen them with a thin spatula. Poach your eggs for 3-4 minutes, until the whites are firm and the yolks have filmed over. Remove them from the water with a slotted spoon and transfer them to buttered toast or onto a paper towel to drain.  Serve with ham. 

Edamame Hummus

• 1 1/2 cup edamame, shelled, cooked and cooled
• 2 tablespoons water
• Juice of 1 lemon 
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 tablespoons tahnini or sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 2 – 3 tablespoons olive oil
• kosher salt to taste

In a food processor, pulse the first six ingredients together until very well blended.  Keep pulsing the food processor and drizzle in the olive oil, until the consistency of the dip is soft but not drippy.  Salt to taste. Serve & enjoy!

Leprechaun Hats

A Simple Healthy Snack for St. Patrick’s Day! These healthy snacks are made out of cucumber, yellow bell pepper and cheese. They are so simple to make and kids can help make them too!

 

Green Skewers

Slice the apples, pears, & kiwi to your desired size and shape. Cut the melon into a large rectangular shape - they will be the base of the skewer and hold it upright.

Slide the fruit onto the skewer and fill about 1/2 way anymore will make it top heavy.

Place the skewers on a flat plate and use green ribbon or washi tape to adorn the top.

Rainbow Fruit Plate

Get Away with a Family Theme Night

March Break is in full swing.  Spring has sprung, the weather is mild and the city is overflowing with activities and offerings to keep you and your family entertained throughout the break.  It seems that there is something fun to do in every corner of the city and out of town too.  Yet still there are those of us who would much rather have journeyed off on a family adventure this week.

Maybe you would have liked to take a cruise, lay on the beach or learn to hula.  It is only Wednesday, so you still have time.  With a little imagination you need to go no further than your living room to enjoy a family theme night that will take you anywhere you want to go. 

Hawaiian Luau

Visit the Islands with a trip to Hawaii.  Prepare for your big adventure by making leis or grass skirts, shopping for tropical fruit and setting up a volcanic eruption.  This theme is so much fun; you may want to stay for a few days. 

Set the Scene:

Get out the beach towels, picnic blankets, Tiki torches and candles.  Dress in Hawaiian shirts, wear leis and flip flops.  Girls can put tropical flowers in their hair.

Ideas:

Make leis or grass skirts.  instructions here

Play limbo.

Dance to Hawaiin music. 

Cut open a coconut to enjoy. 

Make a volcanic eruption using baking soda, red food dye and vinegar. 

Read some books.

• Hawaii is a Rainbow:  Stephanie Feeney
• A is for Aloha by U’ilani Goldsberry
• Hula Lullaby: Erin Eitter Kono

Meals and Snacks:

Luau food is amazingly simple.  Serve ham, pineapple, fruit salad, smoothies and tropical drinks with little umbrellas.  For dessert, make a pineapple upside down cake. 

Beach Party

The preparation can be half of the fun for this theme.  Have the kids gather beach buckets, sand toys and beach balls.  Turn your living room into a beach scene and turn up the music.  You could do a shell themed craft or play in the sand and water.  Make sure to eat your meal on the blanket for a true beach day feel and wind the day down with a book or DVD. 

Set the Scene:

Tune in some relaxing sounds of ocean waves on a CD or iPod.

Place sand toys and balls around the room.   Wear your favourite shorts or bathing suit and cover up, flip flops, sunglasses and hats.

Ideas:

Make an indoor sandbox, if you dare, by filling a large container with rice or oatmeal.  Fill sand with shells and other objects to dig for.  

Blow some bubbles. 

Lay back and relax.  

Play beach bingo instructions here

Dance to theWiggles – Splish, Splash, the Big Red Boat. 

Read:

• A House for Hermit Crab:  Erick Carle
• At the Beach:  Anne Rockwell
• Swimmy:  Leo Lionni

Meals and Snacks:

Pack a picnic of sandwiches, fruit and salad or serve foods that you may find at a beach stand, hot dogs or tacos. 

All Aboard for a Family Cruise

Keep the kids busy all day preparing for this fun theme night.  Start by making an ocean scene mural.   Designate areas of the house to serve as different parts of the ship.  Make a movie theatre, a dining room and cabins.  Be sure to lay out chocolates on the pillows just like a real cruise. 

Once your scene is set, it’s all aboard and time to take a fun picture of your family setting sail.  Serve fruity drinks and dance to the sound of steel drums during your bon voyage party.  If you are feeling really adventurous, take a “shore excursion” to a nearby attraction just like they do on a cruise. 

Set the Scene:

Make a fun mural to set backdrop of your cruise.  Use a roll of craft paper and blue paint or markers.   

Ideas :

Learn how to fold napkins for your elegant dinner.   instructions here

Dress in fancy clothes for dinner. 

Whatch  a movie in the shipboard theatre

Make souvenir t-shirts

Write postcards back home.

Meals and Snacks:

Oh the fabled cruise buffet.  If you are in the mood for some fancy food, this is the theme night to enjoy.   Think of lobster or surf and turf, a selection of salad fixings and decadent desserts. 

Don’t forget to dress in fancy clothes.

Mexican Fiesta

Set the Scene:

No fiesta would be complete without sombreros and maracs.  instructions here and here

Have the  kids make the crafts early in the day.  Hang coloured lights and blankets.  Lay the table with a bright coloured  table cloth.  Make a piñata.

 Ideas:

Dress in bright clothes and big hats.

Play Mexican jumping beans. instructions here

Hide an object under a big hat and play 20 questions to guess what the item may be.

Learn the Mexican hat dance. instructions here

Do the Macarena

Learn a few Spanish words.

Read some books about Mexico.

Meals and Snack:

Make a taco bar.  Lay out taco shells and all the fixings.  Serve with rice and salad. 

March Break 2013 Must Do s

Bytown Museum

Scavenger hunts, hat making and more are offered with admission to the museum.

Hours:  11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

More Info

Canada Agriculture Museum

Barnyard Break. This event encourages children to have fun making maple taffy, “eggs-ploring” the world of chickens, and hands-on barnyard fun!

Hours:  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

More Info

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Magic, Lego Contests, Zoom to the Moon! - All sorts of fun is to be had at the museum, with visiting parachuters, magic shows, and special events.

Hours:  10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

More Info

Canada Science and Technology Museum

Have you ever wanted to construct a giant marble run, or build a super-tall tower? Visit the Museum and unleash your inner engineer.

Hours:  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

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Canadian Museum of Civilization, Children’s Museum

The World Is My Stage - Performances and workshops in mime, magic , busking, puppetry and music. For the sports fanatics: The Hockey Sweater live reading.

Hours:  Monday to Friday:  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m  and Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

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Canadian Museum of Nature

Fish, Reptiles, and Dinos Oh My - Check out all of the LIVE action: from fish feeding to meeting reptiles, the Museum is offering all sorts of events for the whole family.

Hours:  Tuesday to Sunday:  9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m  and Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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Canadian War Museum

War Technology - Kids can examine how gadgets and tech devices help during wartime.

Hours:  Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday:  9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m ; Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday:  9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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National Gallery of Canada

Artissimo - This series of hands-on workshops has kids making their own creative artworks in the museum.

Hours:  Monday to Sunday:  9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,  Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday:  10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m

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Maple Sugar Bushes

Enjoy pancakes, taffy on the snow, nature treks and sugar shacksd as local maple syrup begins to flow. 

Stanley’s Old Maple Lane Farm

Hours:  Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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Fultons

Hours:  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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City of Ottawa – Swimming and Skating

Check out some of the many activities that the city of Ottawa has to offer this March break.

Hours:  various times and locations

 More Info

RCMP Musical Ride Stables 

Meet the majestic horses and be charmed by their beauty and friendly temperaments. Tour the stables where the training begins and then stop by the Riding School challenging and mesmerizing choreography. 

Hours:  Tuesdays and Thursdays  10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

More Info