Bread Spread Concocting

concocting bread spreads:up close and in personal
Originally uploaded by dalbhat

If all else fails, kids generally like to eat a piece of toast so lately we have been mixing up different bread spreads to liven these up. Our favorites so far have been...

• Butter, honey (or maple syrup), and cinnamon

• Tahini and lots of sweet honey (or pekmez molasses; this is a variation on a spread that a Turkish friend taught me)

• Butter, garlic, parsley and basil from our garden. We melted this up on the stovetop and now have it ready to make up some garlic toast in the toaster oven at any time. This is great with homemade cream soups (stay tuned for those recipes too!!)

The kids enjoy the mixing up and I enjoy having something easily on hand that they want to eat. So spread the LOVE, I say!

Paint-something-up Hobby Cases

hobby cases
Originally uploaded by dalbhat

These little metal cases come in all shapes and sizes at the local market. When my son was having his friend over after school and I was getting some snacks, I got the idea to buy two and let them paint them up with a bit of acrylic paint.

I love how different they both came out.

You don't need to buy something new to let kids paint-up on: try old photo frames, bookshelves, wooden or cardboard boxes, door frames, walls, etc...