Welsh Rarebit - snack from Wales

From the book : Easy Snacks from Around the World by Heather Alexander.

Welsh Rarebit. It's a traditional snack from Wales. I think children will like it because it's cheddar cheese. It's tasty. After writing a long ingredients list, it's time to get into action. She woke up at 7am excitedly. We arranged the ingredients and she crack the eggs, beat it and mix all the necessary ingredient. Along the way, she noted down her observation. It was really fun watching every single step she made. 

Ingredients: (mostly from the book with little improvisation)

Bread*

2 eggs, beaten

8 ounces grated cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon of soya sauce*

2 teaspoons mustard

1 tablespoon butter

4 tablespoons milk

1 ripe tomato, sliced 

Steps:

1. Cracked and beat the eggs. 

2. Pour milk into the saucepan with low heat.

3. Gently pour the beaten eggs into saucepan and stir well with milk.

4. Add butter, mustard and soya sauce and mix well.

5. Make sure it's low heat as we don't want to burn the milk.

6. Slowly add cheddar cheese into the saucepan and stir well.

7. Continue to stir until the sauce is thick. 

8. Toast the bread and line up the tomato slices on it. Spread the savory melted cheese sauce on the bread.

9. Toast it on the sauce pan until golden brown. Served.

* Note: 

1. You can use any bread as long as you toast it before you spread the melted cheese sauce on the bread. According to the author, sourdough works well.

2. You may replace soya sauce with Worcestershire sauce.

                                            

                                           

And her observation: 

                                            

    

                                    

Cold Sesame Noodle

We have incorporated 'food' as one of the topic as we learn about the countries around world. She is getting very good at locating country in the map. She likes to involve in hands on activities and that includes cooking. I feel it's important to allow our children to learn about food. I think it's important for them to learn at young age about nutrition and junk food. This will allow them to learn the right 'vocabulary' of food so they can make the right choices later in their life. We were in the library and I spotted a book by Heather Alexander - Easy snacks from around the world. 

This book allow her to learn to make different type of snacks. The fun part is to know where the snacks comes from. This time she has choose to make Cold Sesame Noodle. According to Heather Alexander, this dish is from Hunan and Szechuan provinces in China. She had fun time locating the provinces in the world map. 

We have improvised the ingredients a little so it'll be tastier. 

Ingredient:

Spaghetti

Sesame oil

Rice vinegar

Light soya sauce

Brown sugar

Fresh ginger (thinly slice to 8 slices)

2 medium stalks of spring onion

2 small stalks of parsley (for fragrant)

1/2 cups of unsalted cashew nuts (other options : unsalted peanuts/almond)

Steps (for 3 persons):

1. Bring spaghetti to boiled. Drain when it's soft.

2. Mix 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of light soya sauce to cooked spaghetti. 

3. Put aside. We didn't put it into fridge because we don't like cold noodle. You may put into fridge to chill the spaghetti.

4. Minced ginger. spring onion and parsley and set aside.

5. Crushed the cashew nuts.

6. In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, light soya sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and ginger. 

7. Pour the sauce into the spaghetti and toss until evenly coated. 

8. If your like cold spaghetti, store in the fridge until it's cold.

9. If not, you may serve immediately by adding crushed cashew nuts, minced spring onion and parsley. Toss until the spaghetti are well coated.

10. Served.

We had fun throughout the preparation. She was very focus and trying to understand the steps to make it right. This is another precious moment I had with her. Try it, it taste really good! 

                                                  

Lesson in Basketball court

5 years 7 months old

Mommy observed that you like outdoor activities. Mommy realized you like to play with the soft ball at home. You like to kick, throw and bounce (soft ball don't bounce back).

I have decided to get a small basketball/netball for you. You were so happy. Bouncing it at home, play ground and at every flat surface you can find. Mommy has decided to bring you to a basketball court this afternoon. You were running happily and starts shooting. As the goal post is for adult, it looks impossible for you to reach it. After a few tries, you ask for helped. Mommy showed it to you. After shooting, mommy said that we need to look for a children's heights basket. I caught myself saying this. Mommy, don't feel good as I have helped you judge the situation we were in. My self talk questioning me by thinking who said children can't shoot at adult's height basket. 

So I kept quiet and left you with the ball. You keep trying. You kept telling me it's too high. Mommy kept encouraging so you can go on. You strength increase as you practice. Eventually, you can throw it as high as the basket. You confident soar when you shoot it! You made it! Wow! You told me that you are proud of yourself. Mommy is happy for you.

I learnt a big lesson from here. As parents/caregiver, we don't judge a situation for a child too early. Let the child decides whether he or she wants to stop trying. We can encourage. Adult's mind are fill with analysis of 'can or cannot do'. Children don't. Children do things as they desire. It comes from heart. That's powerful. When there's a will, there's a way. 

I learn to keep quiet when I see limitation. I need to encourage first and let you decides whether it can be done (Not life threatening situation). Allowing you to decide and make decision will help you in many more decision making to come. This afternoon has teaches us that perseverance pays. You kept trying and you made it. Mommy is very happy for u.

                                                 

Ee Wern communicates with mommy

16 months 3 weeks old

This week is our second week at BSF at Bethesda Bedok -Tampines Church. The first time, you were not aware that mommy will leave you to a 2 hours class. You cried a little and hold on pretty well. Today, you cried when I leave you, for a few seconds. Mommy realized you can control your emotion very well. Teacher said you were not certain at first, eventually you starts to participate and enjoys it. 

Mommy thinks you adapt fast in new environment. Tonight, after dinner, you were holding the table mat. You put it on the floor and lie down on it. Then, you stand up and 'tap dance'. You did this for a few times. Mommy don't understand so I sat down besides you as you wished. 

Mommy starts to understand when I gave you a towel that you used in BSF class. You happily lie down. then, you stand up and tap dance again. Mommy was moved. Moved by your desire wanting to share your experience with me. You were delighted when I acknowledged that this is what you learn in BSF. 

Mommy admires your ability to communicate using your body language so I can understand. Daddy and mommy love you.

Child-Like Learning about Coins

It's time to teach simple calculation and money management as she (my eldest girl) is starting Primary 1 next year. 

We started with simple counting exercise. Besides counting, we sum different combination of one dollar. Then, she traced the coins. We continue to play. We take turn to be hawker and customer. This has helped her in counting especially addition and subtraction. After playing for 2 days, I continue to prepare her on saving versus spending. 

As she was preparing for a school visit, her school asked her to bring SGD 3 (combination of SGD1, 4xSGD0.20, 1xSGD0.50, 7xSGD0.10). With my previous experience with her, she need to learn not to spend all her pocket money. So I initiated by asking how much she plan to spend during her school visit. She said she plan to buy chicken rice, ice milo and an apple. So we estimated it will cost her about SGD 2. With that, I asked how much she can saved by deducting SGD2. She took sometime to count and answered SGD1. I continue to asked is there anything that she wants to eat? She said 'mamee' which is a junk food. It will cost her another SGD 0.30. With that, i asked how much can she saves? She answered SGD 0.70. 

So I continued to clarify whether is it better to save more or little. She answered little because with money she can buy things she likes. So I continue to compared SGD 1 and SGD 0.70 using more or less. I asked which is more, SGD 1 or SGD 0.70? She said SGD 1. So which is better? SGD 1 is more and SGD 0.70 is less. She pondered a while and answered SGD 1. So I asked, which is better, more or less? She said, more. I concluded that it's important to save more than spend money on things that's not important (like mamee, it's junk food). The more we save, the more opportunity we can utilize our saving to better use. 

Few things I learnt here:

1. Children at this age (5 years old) are very instant. When they have power to purchase things they want, they will buy. They can't utilized judgement yet. Their judgement is 'child like' judgement. If I want that, I will buy it. Period..

2. It's important for parents to role play with their children in new situation. The more we role play, the more 'control' possibilities come up and we, parents gets to control the thinking and the outcome before they step to the real world. They carry the benchmark they learned with you (parents) and compare when similar situation arise. 

3. Be patience. When they starts counting money, it can be very confusing for them. At primary level, I feel they need to know combination of coins to make it a dollar. So be patience and play with them. Help them identify a few different combination of a dollar.

4. Continue to follow up and play money game. 

After her school visit, she happily told me that she used SGD 0.80 for her fish ball noodle. She didn't buy any drink because she has water with her. Her eyes brighten when she said she saved SGD 2.20.  I am so happy for her.