Plan Ahead! National Find a Rainbow Day is April 3rd (Free Download!)

Did you know April 3rd marks National Find a Rainbow Day?  What a great excuse to plan a fun day for your kids and their friends!

The topic of rainbows will not only draw your kids' attention, but its also a great opportunity to work a mini-science lesson into your day by explaining how the natural phenomena occurs. 

Breakfast:  Rainbow fruit skewers and pot of gold yogurt.
This is a fruity breakfast option to start your day.  Take wooden skewers and skewer fresh fruit in the following order - strawberry, cantaloupe, banana, green grape, blueberries, and red grapes - Viola! a rainbow appears before your own eyes.  For pot of gold yogurt, take a serving of plain Greek yogurt in a small cup, pour a thin layer of honey over the top.  Doesnt get much easier than that!

Storytime:  A Rainbow of My Own, by Don Freeman.
"If I were a rainbow where would I hide?"  Follow along in this engaging book as a little boy plays with his imaginary friend - a rainbow.

Playdate:
Unfortunately April does not always provide the best weather for outdoor activities.  Make your own rainbows with many items found within your home.

Take a box of Fruit Loops, have the kids separate the colors, teaching the little ones ROY-G-BIV (red-orange-yellow-green-blue-indigo-violet). Then take the colors and paste them onto this free printable activity page.

Not into Fruit Loops?  Take pasta wheels, cook and use food dyes (we suggest mixing both the regular and the neon food dyes) to color the pasta the night before. 

Dinner:
With a little creativity and access to fresh fruits and vegetables, most meals can be turned into a rainbow experience.  Rainbow TexMex Tortellini Salad is easy, healthy and tasty - a true crowd pleaser.

Late-Nightcap:  
Look what mama found at the end of her rainbow!  An April Rain Martini is your beloved vodka martini with a hint of refreshing lime.  Easy to make and sure to put some Spring in your step.

To Do List: Berries & Cherries

It is a little known fact that March is the Berries & Cherries Month.

Why not spend the last day of March celebrating these wonderful fruits with the following activities:

Breakfast: French toast and berries is a no-brainer, turning them into sticks is sure to entertain your family.  Lets face it, kids love finger foods, and with a recipe this easy - we love making them!

Storytime: Blueberries for Sal, by Viking Kestrel & Robert McCloskey (author of the beloved Boston based book, Make Way for Ducklings) is a classic.  Chances are you already have it in your collection - this is the perfect occasion to re-read this time tested tale.

Lunch:  When you're dealing with Berries & Cherries, you don't need fancy recipes to make food taste great.  Your kids will love a classic peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich, and even more so when you pair it with a fresh berry lemonade. 

Playtime: Listen, we're not saying that tie-dye is making a come-back... lets put that on the record!  But we know for sure that this is an activity that everyone will love.  Not only is Berry-Tie Dye fun, but its 100% green.  So get in touch with your very distant past, pull out the rubber bands and show your kids how to tie-dye like a pro!

Dinner:  Its important for your kids to experience new flavors.  Try topping your regular grilled chicken dinner with berry salsa. Its an interesting twist on a basic meal, the flavors will delight the whole family.

Late-Night Cap:  We all know the Cosmo - early Carrie Bradshaw, no need to say more.  Try the Merry Berry Cosmo for a new flavor profile on the classic vodka beverage ... 4-inch heels not required!

Cooking with Kids: Let Them Eat (Yogurt) Cake!

Bonjour!  We’ve just finished re-reading Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman.   

We’ll let you decide what you make of this controversial guide to the essentials of French child-rearing – but one take away that everyone will enjoy is a recipe for gâteau au yaourt (Yogurt Cake)!   

One part of the book that we loved was the focus on engaging the family through food.  A ritual for many French families is to spend a portion of each weekend baking and cooking together, as a family.  The little ones learn to contribute in the kitchen as soon as they can lift a spoon!  

Gâteau au yaourt is a classic children’s recipe that bébés can make on their own (with a bit of loving oversight from their mamans and papas).

Gâteau au yaourt

• 2 six-ounce containers plain whole-milk yogurt (use the empty containers to measure the other ingredients)
• 2 eggs
• 2 containers of sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Just under 1 container vegetable oil
• 4 containers of flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• Crème fraîche(optional)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Preheat over to 375°F.

Use vegetable oil to grease 9-inch round cake pan or a loaf pan.

Gently combine the yogurt, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and oil.   

In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking powder.  

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients; mix gently until ingredients are just combined (don’t over mix).   You can add 2 containers of frozen berries or 1 container of chocolate chips, or any flavoring you like.  

Bake for 35 minutes, then 5 minutes more if the cake doesn’t pass the knife test.  

Let it cool.  Serve with tea and a dollop of crème fraîche.

To Do List: Cinco de Mayo (May 5th)

Cinco de Mayo, the 5th of May, commemorates the Mexican victory in the Battle of Puebla of 1862.  Cinco de Mayo is not a major holiday in Mexico, yet it has taken on a life of its own here in the US.  Its a great opportunity to bring some fun and culture into your family's day!

Breakfast:  Chilaquiles.  Chilaquiles are a delicious traditional breakfast served throughout Mexico.  They are easy to make, and make good use of some leftovers you may already have in your kitchen.  To make the meal complete, serve along side scrambled eggs and a fruit salad.

Storytime:  Grandma's Chocolate, by Mara Price.  This wonderful story introduces a young girl into a whole new world when she asks her Grandma to play princess.  The story will educate your children on Aztec and Mayan cultures, and offers a much welcomed twist on the typical "princess" definition.

Playdate: Make & Break Pinatas:  We all are familiar with pinatas, and no doubt have seen them hanging in every major big box party store around town.  But in reality, pinatas are not difficult to make, and are a fun creative project for your family.  If you don't have the time (and/or the patience) to make a paper maiche pinata, then try this super easy alternative that uses a paper bag and the base.

Dinnertime:  Fish Tacos & Corn on the Cob.  Save some tortillas from the chilaquiles you made in the morning, and use them in this easy healthy recipe for Fish Tacos.  The perfect Cinco de Mayo side dish is a delicious Mexican style corn on the cob.  Such a tasty meal - you'll wish every day was the 5th of May! 

Late-Nightcap:  Georgia Peach Margarita.  Once los ninos are asleep, let the real fiesta begin!  Try this delicious Patron and Peach Schnapps margarita - que rico!

To Do List: World Water Day (March 22nd)

Did you know that March 22nd is World Water Day?  World Water Day was created by the United Nations to bring attention to the issues relating to clean water supply throughout the world.  World Water Day is a great opportunity to educate your children on the environment and the importance of clean water.

Breakfast: Starting out the day with a Sailboat Ham & Egg Sandwich is sure to put your child in the spirit.  Turning a sandwich into a sailboat is about as easy as it can get, and sure to entertain the little ones.

Storytime:  Clean Water for Elirose, by Ariah Fine is a great way to communicate to children issues related to water availability and what some people have to do to get clean drinkable water.  The author has generously set it up so that you can read the whole book for free online.  While you're there, you can order your own copy at whatever price you can afford.

Playdate:  Its important for children to understand the role they can play in ensuring our water supply is clean.  Grab your rain boots, rubber gloves, and trash bags and head down to a local river, pond or beach to collect litter.  As always, adults should be involved in the playdate, you will not only set a great example for your children but you can also ensure that they aren't picking up and hazardous materials. If you're in the Boston area, Beacon Street Baby suggests the following locations: the Esplanade, Jamaica Plain Pond, and Spy Pond.

Dinner:  What more perfect way to end a day celebrating water then Fish Sticks and Seaweed Salad.  Seaweed Salad can be bought in most supermarkets, check the fish section or the sushi station area.

Late-Nightcap:  After a long day sloshing around in rain boots and scrubbing pond dirt off the little ones, mama needs a beverage.  Shake up a Fox River Cocktail for a perfect after dinner drink.

To Do List: St. Patrick's Day (March 17th)

There is much more to St. Patrick's Day than just green beer and shamrocks.  Here's the Beacon Street Baby way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style.

Breakfast:
Wish your little ones top of the morning with Green Eggs & Ham.  Whisk together eggs, add one cup chopped fresh spinach and a 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil.  Pour into buttered frying pan, scramble as usual.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread is a great accompaniment to the breakfast, especially when lathered with butter and jam!  No time to bake bread?  Check out the bakery section of your local supermarket, many actually carry Soda Bread for the time frame prior to St. Patrick's Day.

Playdate:
An essential pat of Irish culture is music and dance, for inspiration look no further than Riverdance.  A fun way to translate the rhymic step dance for children is through jump roping.  Lace up the tap shoes, pump up The Chieftains and let the kids loose!

Did you know that St. Patrick chased the snakes out of Ireland? Well he did!  Hide and Go Snake is a great game for kids and adults alike.  Plant hidden snakes throughout your yard / nearby park / or inside your house if its raining.  Whoever collects the most snakes - wins!

Dinnertime:
Shepard's Pie is a delicious traditional meal in Ireland.  While a true Shepard's Pie is made with lamb (hence the whole "Shepard" part), you can substitute ground turkey or beef stew meat if preferred.

Late-Nightcap:
The kiddies are asleep, what a better way to finish your day then with a delicious adult beverage.  The Nutty Irishman is a delicious combination of Bailey's, Frangelico, Kahlua, coffee and whip cream.  But if you're gonna call it a night after a long day of jigging and jiving, you may want to do decaf!