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Fall Ahead to Festivities: September abounds with celebrations and yummy memories.
Batter Up
Devour delicious pancakes on National Pancake Day, September 26. This easy-to-make meal from www.allrecipes.com can be used to satisfy the entire family as a morning breakfast.
Ingredients:
•1½ cups all-purpose flour •3½ tsp. baking powder •1 tsp. salt •1 Tbsp. white sugar •1¼ cups milk •1 egg •3 tsp. melted butter
Directions:
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter. Mix until smooth. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour or scoop approximately ¼ cup of batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Cook until brown on both sides, flipping halfway during cooking to brown both sides. Serve hot with fresh fruit or syrup, if desired.
What’s for Dinner?
Kick the daily routine to the curb and get creative during Cook a Great Meal Day on September 4 by changing up what you usually serve. Nothing brings a family together like dinner time, especially when everyone is invested in the meal. Some suggestions for preparing something different for the brood include breakfast for dinner or ethnic dishes inspired by a vacation place or far-off locale. Check out sites like www.foodnetwork.com and www.recipezaar.com to expand your culinary horizons.
Cuddly and Cute
Honor Teddy Bear Day on September 9 by making teddy bear paper plates. This cute craft courtesy of www.preschooleducation.com is a fun activity that kids enjoy. Afterwards, they can present their teddy bears or use them to decorate their rooms.
Materials:
•Brown and red paint •Paper plates •Scissors •Crayons •Red and brown construction paper •Brown yarn •Glue •Pom poms (any color)
How to make it:
Paint a paper plate brown. When the plates are dry, add construction paper ears, eyes and a bow tie for a boy bear or a hair bow for a girl bear. Glue brown yarn as fur for texture. Paint a mouth in red and put on a pom pom nose.
Love for Grandparents
There’s Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and, this month comes, Grandparent’s Day. Show grandparents how much the family cares for them by sending happiness their way. A terrific way to illustrate everyone’s appreciation is by encouraging your kids to make a card for Granny and Grandpa. Grab some markers, crayons and construction paper, and let your kids share their sentiments.
Cultural Awareness
September is deemed National Hispanic Heritage Month to acknowledge the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States and to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture. If you want to teach your children about Latino culture, read Parenting with Pride Latino Style: How to Help Your Child Cherish Your Latino Values and Succeed in Today’s World (Rayo) by Carmen Inoa Vazquez, Ph.D. The book motivates readers to preserve the traditions of Latino generations and pays homage to what it means to be Latino. Get a copy at www.biblio.com.
Sweet Sensation
Return to the 1950s, when diners prevailed and servers wore roller skates, as National Chocolate Milkshake Day arrives on September 12. Mix things up with a Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake from www.1st-milkshake-n-smoothie-recipes.com.
Ingredients:
•1 cup creamy peanut butter •¼ cup chocolate syrup •¼ cup milk •12 ice cubes
Directions:
In a blender, combine peanut butter, chocolate syrup, milk and ice cubes. Mix until smooth. If desired, serve with whipped cream.
Circus Spectacular
What has big ears, but surprisingly poor hearing? An elephant. These big gray animals are special and that’s why there is Elephant Appreciation Day on September 22. As it may not be plausible to go see an elephant on this day, bring an elephant into your home with Circus Fantastico: A Magnifying Mystery (Andrew McMeel). The book by Lynn Gordon and Molly Idle features Ella the Dancing Elephant as the animal attempts to uncover why Madam Fantastico’s props have disappeared. The book comes with a working magnifier, allowing kids to lend a hand in solving the mystery. Find the book at www.andrewsmcmeel.com.
Safety First
Stay aware during Baby Safety Month this September by heeding the following tips from www.babysafe.com.
•Wash out cleaning bottles before putting them in the trash. Just a drop of cleaning fluid can cause serious injury to a baby.
•Avoid using magnets on refrigerators. If they fall on the floor, they may break and the baby can pick up and swallow the pieces.
•Don’t take pills or medicine in front of children. They will mimic what you do. Never refer to medicine as candy.
•Avoid leaving an infant alone in the tub. Babies can drown in just an inch or two of water.
•Do not use tacks or staples to secure electrical cords. They can come loose or be pulled out and be swallowed.
Benjamin Ha is an editorial intern.