Kids VT - November 2011 - Food Issue/Gift Guide by Kids VT

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VOL.18 N O.10

NOV 2011

Dr. Peet This Month’s Topic:

Allergies

DEPARTMENTS

Q. I really do not like to give my son drugs for his pollen allergies, which lead to ear fluid. Can chiropractic help?

HOLIDAYS

From the Kids VT Staff ............................................5 See and Say ......................................................................7 Birthday Club..................................................................43 Use Your Words: Essay ..........................................47

Toy Story

A. Young children & adults experience benefits

.................................................................................

with reduced allergy symptoms with chiropractic care. This happens because the body’s immune system is controlled by many responses that are ultimately controlled by the brain and nervous system. Chiropractic care works to restore optimum nervous system function. Gentle, precise spinal adjustments also relieve tension in the muscles that affect sinus and lymphatic drainage.

Consumerism with a conscience: a guide to hands-on holiday shopping

EAT. LEARN. PLAY

FOOD

The Kids Beat ..................................................................8 Ask Dr. First: Getting Kids to Eat Right ....10 Fit Families: Fall Hiking.........................................11 The Librarian Likes ....................................................11 Home Cookin’: Hearty Hotcakes ....................12 Out to Eat: The Bee’s Knees ...............................13 Go Ask Dad: Picky Eaters......................................14 The Art of... Rug Hooking ......................................15 In Season: Talkin’ Turkey .....................................27

Menu Makeovers

..................................

Meal ideas from some creative cookbooks

Dr. Jennifer Peet

ON THE COVER

CALENDAR

ALL NEW!

Daily Listings ..................................................................28 Ongoing Events.............................................................29 Playgroups.........................................................................30 Story Times.......................................................................32

FREE ✱ MENU MAKEOVERS ✱ DADS SERVE UP EATING ADVICE ✱ CRAFT AN EDIBLE CENTERPIECE ✱ THANKSGIVING TABLE TALK

Some adult patients feel their sinuses drain minutes after an adjustment. Children feel relief as the fluid drains down their ear tubes. Adjustments do not “kill” bacteria & viruses, but drugs are rarely needed because the fluid drains out along with the infection. Once the “petri dish” that the virus could grow in is removed the infection does not have a good environment to reestablish itself. Health is restored naturally without drugs.

Chiropractic for & Adults

NOV 2011

2882 Shelburne Road • Shelburne/Burlington Area www.drspeet.com • Call for an appt: 985-9500 Most Insurance Accepted

V O L.18 N O .10

Contest!

Find all the carolers in this issue and win tickets to A Christmas Carol. Details on page 7.

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HANDS-ON

Thanks to

Crafting With Kids: Apple-Turkey Centerpiece.....................................40 The Party Planner: Give-Back Birthdays.................................................42 Puzzle Page ......................................................................44 Coloring Contest .........................................................45

the food issue

VT GIFT GUIDE: Go on a shopping safari in your own backyard!

Bridget Haggerty, 7, and Kasey Haggerty, 5, for participating in the cover photo shoot at Healthy Living Natural Foods Market’s Learning Center.

Photo by Matthew Thorsen

colby@kidsvt.com cathy@kidsvt.com don@kidsvt.com kate@kidsvt.com Maryellen@kidsvt.com rhonda@kidsvt.com kristi@kidsvt.com judy@kidsvt.com

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NOVEMBER 2011

P.O. Box 1184 Burlington, VT 05402 802-985-5482 kidsvt.com

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Helps fight hunger

In 3 years, you’ve donated over 308,000 Helping Hands boxes and$268,000 to food banks and organizations throughout Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Thank you for helping Hannaford help families in need.

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Purchase a Helping Hands box filled with the essentials that food banks need most. We’ll deliver it to your regional food bank, and in return, you‘ll receive a coupon book full of valuable savings.

Donate $5 to your regional food bank. In return, you’ll receive a coupon book filled with special savings on some of the items you buy most often.

Look for “Buy 1 Give 1” tags on select Hannaford and my essentials brandTM items. For every one you purchase, we’ll donate one to your regional food bank.

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November 2011

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10/14/11 10:34 AM

A View of a Lifetime!

Thanksgathering THANKSGIVING IS CHAOS for my family. But it’s a good chaos: I’m one of seven kids, and we all congregate at my dad’s for dinner. Brothers, sisters, in-laws, kids and grandkids cram into a small space for a big meal. Every year, we run short on chairs and resort to mismatched plates to serve ourselves buffet-style because table space is limited. Between the setup of folding tables and the sinks full of dishes waiting to be hand-washed, the only lull is a pause for grace. I miss my mom, who died a few years ago. But in the crazy white noise generated by family and food, it’s possible to imagine she’s still at the table. Thanksgiving is a holiday that involves lots of eating, but it’s also about gathering to share a meal. That tradition — and how every family interprets it — is the topic of this month’s “Use Your Words” by Cathy Resmer on p. 47. Food is on everyone’s mind this month: Dr. Lewis First talks about healthy nutrition for kids, and local dads compare strategies to get picky eaters to turn over a new green leaf. On page 23, find a roundup of great family-friendly cookbooks. Even this month’s featured craft is edible. When you’ve gotten your fill of food and family, turn to the holiday gift guide. The goal is to support local retailers, whether you’re looking for a spade sled, a flip kite or a Bilibo. However your holiday goes — quiet or chaos, football or shopping — be sure to find a moment in the hubbub to be thankful for all of it. KATE LADDISON, MANAGING EDITOR kate@kidsvt.com

What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving? That perfect bite on the fork: turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. I love it so much, one time I had my mom make Thanksgiving dinner for my birthday in April. CINDY MORGAN, WRITER

COLBY ROBERTS, PUBLISHER

CHERYL HERRICK, WRITER

(802) 497-0872

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RHONDA FORCIER, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

I’m sure the answer ought to be the gratitude and gathering of friends. But if I’m honest I’ll admit that it’s eating pecan pie and crispy, salty turkey skin. With friends, of course!

KIDS VT

KRISTI BATCHELDER, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Enjoying the impromptu shows, dances and games that come about when you gather 14 cousins under the age of 11 for three to four days. That, and the success I feel when I fit 25 people in our house as overnight guests. It’s an engineering feat, and an endorsement for Aerobeds.

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I love spending a whole day at home with my family — cooking, playing games, watching movies and indulging in yummy Thanksgiving fare.

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10/27/11 2:33 PM

SEE AND SAY

How often do your kids eat a “hot lunch” at school?

Eating a school-provided hot lunch beats brown bagging it for most Kids VT readers. Almost 68 percent of our poll respondents said their kids eat hot lunch regularly; a quarter of respondents say their children get in the lunch line every day.

COLORING CONTEST

The winners of our three $25 gift certiﬁ cates to Texas Roadhouse are…

Holy coloring contest, Batman! We received 171 entries this month —˜more than ever before. Maybe it was the candy that prompted the bounty … but whatever the reason, we enjoyed them all.

HONORABLE MENTIONS CREATIVE CANDY Isabelle Collum, 10, Fairfax STANDOUT OUTLINES Eric Godin, 10, Milton

8.75% 2-5 times per week

28.75% Rarely

1-3 times per week

33.75%

1-3 times Every per week

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Rarely

TOP USE OF SUBTLE SHADING Drew Coel, 12, South Burlington SPARKLIEST STROKES Emily Deibler, 9, Essex Junction APPEALING PAINT Elijah Duhamel, 4, St. Albans

Chandler Chickanosky, 4

4 and under

MONKTON

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BEST BATS ON BAG Skylar Barbarow, 8, Essex Junction FANGTASTIC Jenna Day, 8, New Haven

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Every day

CAREFUL COLORING Kayleigh Cutsinger, 7, Bristol

Day

BEST ENTRY BY A FORMER WINNER Daphne Lassner, 7, Roxbury

5 to 8

Jonathan Smith, 8

NEATEST NEON Sally O’Brien, 5, Charlotte

ESSEX JUNCTION

“Spookytown”

BEST BLOOD Brooke Brunton, 8, Williston TOP TITLES

Contests!

These count as ﬁ ve!

Speak Up! Kids VT wants to publish your rants and raves.

Sarah Eustis, 12 ESSEX JUNCTION

“Trick or Treat”

Your comments should

Email us at feedback@kidsvt.com or send a letter to Kids VT, PO Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402. We also reprint comments we receive via Facebook and Twitter, with permission from the authors. Kids VT reserves the right to edit for accuracy and length.

KIDS VT

• be no more than 250 words long, • respond to Kids VT content, and • include your full name, town and a daytime phone number.

NOVEMBER 2011

Count the individual carolers singing their way through this issue and you could win a pair of tickets to A Christmas Carol at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. The show takes place Sunday, December 11, at 7 p.m. Add up the carolers, then tell us how many you found at kidsvt.com, or write to us at Kids VT, PO Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402. We’ll collect the correct responses and choose winners from among the entries. Enter by 5 p.m. on November 15 to win.

See a slide show of all of the submissions at kidsvt.com. Find this month’s contest on page 45. The deadline is November 15.

9 to 12

KIDSVT.COM

Count the carolers to win a prize

“Witch Robot Vampire Happiness” Max Cleveland, 7, Essex “Sweet, Sweet Candy” Cameron Eaton, 9, Williamstown “Killer Eyeballs” Carver Delp, 7, North Ferrisburgh “Vampire’s World History” James Ripley, 5, Je° ersonville “Truth or Scare” Morgan Lavallee, 10, Milton

Christ the King School

3 years old to 8th Grade 136 Locust Street Burlington, VT 862-6696 www.cksvt.org glatcheran@cksvt.org facebook.com/cksvt

We are proud of our Faith Filled Environment & Academic Excellence Art Music PE French Technology Licensed After-School Program Athletic & Enrichment

Opportunities EARLY EDUCATION OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, November 17th at 8:30am For learners entering Pre-school(3yo program)-Kindergarten for the 2012-2013 academic year. Please visit our website and click on “Admissions” for more information.

Vermont Skating Academy

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THE

BEAT

B Y K AT E L AD D I S ON & M E G AN J AM E S

ARTS

A Year at the Museum There’s just one problem with the Shelburne Museum: It’s only open to the public between May and October, limiting opportunities for kids to take the helm of the restored steamship Ticonderoga, peer into the exquisitely decorated of dollhouses, or run up and down the museum’s expansive fields. Schools trips are almost impossible. Not anymore. The Shelburne Museum recently announced plans to construct a 16,000 square-foot, LEED-certified CENTER FOR ART AND EDUCATION,, which in addition to providing more gallery space will house an auditorium and classrooms. Kids and adults will soon benefit from art-making programs all year round. Plus, the whole museum is getting a fiber-optic upgrade, so your tech-savvy kids will feel right at home. — M.J. THE CENTER FOR ART AND EDUCATION AT SHELBURNE MUSEUM: Construction is set to begin next year, with the center opening in 2013. Info, 985-3346, shelburnemuseum.org.

10/25/11 10:56 AM

EDUCATION

The Bully’s Brain A Basic Skills Skating Badge Program at the Essex Skating Facility Skating Director, Renee Deeghan rdeeghan@ccsuvt.org

KIDS VT

NOVEMBER 2011

KIDSVT.COM

Our programs are open to children of all ages. Registration Schedule: Fri, Nov. 18, 6-7 pm Sat, Nov. 19, 10-11 am 7 Week Session Open Registration for Both Dates

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Ice skate rentals available

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10/20/11 3:52 PM

Meanness isn’t new. But bullying is a hot topic for parents and educators. An upcoming educational conference takes the bully by the horns and looks deep into his or her brain. Puppets in Education brings speaker Frank J. Kros to Main Street Landing to look at bullying through the lens of cognitive neuroscience. The morning’s topic is “CHANGE YOUR LANGUAGE, CHANGE THEIR LIVES”; in the afternoon, it’s “BATTLING THE BULLY: BRAIN-INSPIRED RESPONSES TO BULLYING.” Both are designed to provide practical take-home strategies. “I want feet-on-the-ground tools that I can employ right now,” says PiE executive director Deb Lyons. Breaking up the brainy sessions, PiE’s puppets model problem-solving skills, respect and compassion in an after-lunch presentation on bullying. — K.L. PUPPETS IN EDUCATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Friday, November 22, Main Street Landing, 1 Main Street, Burlington. $100. Info, 860-3349, puppetsineducation.org.

Real Science. EAT. LEARN. PLAY.

AL FUN! E R

BOOKS

Small Wonder

It ain’t easy being small. Little Bunny knows that all too well. But in this magical holiday book by Northeast Kingdom resident David Martin, a young rabbit gets even smaller on Christmas Eve and discovers that small stature results in big perspective. Little readers will look longingly at LB’s adventure racing around the Christmas tree in his favorite fire engine ornament. Illustrator Valeri Gorbachev’s muted watercolors lend the holiday tale a dreamy, oldfashioned mood. LITTLE BUNNY AND THE MAGIC CHRISTMAS TREE isn’t Martin’s only book for children. He’s also penned Hanukkah Lights and All for Pie, Pie for All. This new story is perfect for any child who has fallen asleep under the Christmas tree, dreaming of a holiday fantasy Martin brings to life. — K.L. LIT T LE BU NNY AND T HE MAG IC C HR IS T MAS T R E E : By David Martin, Candlewick Press, 40 pages. $15.99. Info, davidzmartin.com.

Museum of Science

montshire.org • 802.649.2200 Exit 13 I-91, Norwich, VT • Open Daily 10-5

CRAFTS

Paint in Numbers

KIDS VT

TIME TO PARTY AND PAINT: Open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Located in the University Mall, across from the IHOP restaurant. Prices range from $2.95 for small items to $69 for specialized items. Info, 863-1922.

NOVEMBER 2011

Nothing promotes painting like a blank slate. You’ll find dozens of functional and decorative molded items ready for embellishment at TIME TO PARTY AND PAINT. Leo and Anne Valliere own the new University Mall store that offers an affordable, makeit-and-take-it activity — painting party, anyone? Kids choose what to pretty up from hundreds of white objects, including cups and saucers and chess sets. The paint dries quickly. The retired-but-still-working Vallieres have another store, in the Berlin Mall, where they say customers really throw themselves into the creative process. “This really means something to those kids,” says Leo. Bonus: The Vallieres clean up. — K.L.

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Blacklight mini golf course.

• Unlimited visits for 12 months • Savings on education programs • Early registration and savings for Summer Camp • Savings in the Museum Store

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WHIRLIE’S WORLD: Open Tuesday through Thursday, hours vary by day. $6 per game of mini golf, $2-6 for unlimited bouncing for kids, price varies by age. 1232 Exchange Street, Middlebury. Info, 989-7351, whirliesworld.com.

Montshire Membership!

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ENTERTAINMENT

A new family entertainment center in Middlebury, WHIRLIE’S WORLD, invites you to bounce, putt and play. The name is a nod to kid-loving family patriarch Whorley John Neff — father of owner Peter Neff — who passed away three years ago. If a glow-in-the-dark, 13-hole mini golf course doesn’t pique kids’ interest, the converted warehouse is packed with other activities, too: arcade games, inflated bounce houses, 55-inch TV, Xbox Connect, Nintendo and a concession area. “We appreciate the need for a safe, fun space for kids to meet their friends or come with their parents,” says Naomi Neff, Peter’s wife. That their six kids — from different marriages — all work at the place makes this a real family business. — K.L.

Discover the Benefits of a

A Healthy Body Begins with a Healthy Spine!

ck ba

a Ndy d u

Healthy People Begin with Healthy Bodies

A Healthy Planet Begins with Healthy Communities

Healthy Communities Begin with Healthy People

Q AsK dR. FiRsT

How do you get kids to eat right — and like it?

WHEn noVEmbER Rolls around, we begin thinking about food, families and giving thanks —three front-burner topics for parents. Lewis First, chief of pediatrics at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen and editor-in-chief of Pediatrics, discusses palates and clean plates.

It all begins with you

Kids VT: Everybody says that sugar makes kids hyper. is that true? LEWIS FIRST: It’s not true. The only health issues that have been linked to high sugar intake are tooth decay and 11:28 AMobesity. There have been at least 12 studies that I know of that have tried to link sugar intake to hyperactivity, and not one of them could show any linkage, comparing children who got lots of sugar to those who didn’t. Whether this was done studying natural sugars, sugar in sweets such as chocolate candy or even in kids whose parents said they were very sensitive to sugar, no studies proved it.

RUSHFORD FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC 100 Dorset Street, Suite 21 • 860-3336 www.rushfordchiropractic.com

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9/22/11

Kids VT

November 2011

KidsVT.com

KVT: How does food insecurity relate to sugar intake and childhood obesity? LF: Often when families cannot afford the healthiest food, they tend to buy food that is high in quantity but low in nutritional value — foods that are going to lead to kids having an increased risk of becoming overweight or obese. Thanksgiving is a great time for people to think about families who may not be as secure with their foods and think about ways to help them by volunteering at food shelves, donating foods or even making a contribution to one of the food charity organizations here in our area.

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KVT: is it true that exposing kids to different foods can shape their tastes? LF: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends solid foods being introduced between the ages of 4 and 6 months. Ideally it’s recommended that parents breast-feed exclusively to as close to 6 months as possible and then introduce solids. The reason we go so long before we introduce solids is because solids don’t contain enough calories and nutrients to help your child grow in that first year of life. Solids are purely for taste and texture, believe it or not. If you go a lot further past 6 months before you introduce the solids, your child may be less excited about trying different tastes and textures. One suggestion that some health care providers 10/27/11 12:59 PM

make is that you begin with cereal, which is very easily digested, move on to vegetables and eventually get to fruits. Because the fruits are the sweetest, children will like them. If they’ve been eating fruits, and then they get introduced to the spinach or the broccoli, they’re not going to be as enthused.

an adult’s diet really should consist of. Hopefully, how you set your child’s plate up will mimic the proportions on the new MyPlate. In addition, there’s a website (choosemyplate.gov) where you can enter your child’s age, height and weight. Then it offers you and your child choices of different food groups and proportions.

KVT: Any ideas for picky eaters? LF: Offer some choices with each meal. Not 25 choices, but “do you want eggs or pancakes with your breakfast?” That way, children begin to understand that they have some control over the meal but not the entire kitchen. With an ability to choose, they may be more apt to eat what is in front of them rather than be picky. Also, kids respond better to small portions on bigger plates than they do to overwhelming their plate with lots of food on a small plate. Parents need to realize that between one and two Send them to years of life, a ideas@kidsvt.com. child averages about two and a half pounds of weight gain. Often, because there’s been such an emphasis on helping our babies grow in the first year of life, they forget that they don’t have to cram food into their toddlers.

Got questions for Dr. First?

Parents forget that they don’t have to cram food into their toddlers. KVT: What happened to the old “food pyramid”? LF: This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture switched from the pyramid to this colorful food plate, which is called MyPlate. It helps families eat healthy in as simple a manner as possible. Instead of six sections of the pyramid, the plate has four: vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins — plus a side spot for dairy. Fruits and vegetables make up more than half the plate, which is what a child or

KVT: There’s an old saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. is that true? LF: Absolutely. There have been lots of studies that children perform better with the right healthy protein, grains, fruits and vegetables in their digestive system before they focus on using their brains to do some good schoolwork. Kids should strive to eat a healthy breakfast, either with their family or, if families can’t make that happen, many of the schools in our area really focus on making sure that kids have a good breakfast at school before they start class. K — Kate Laddison

Sponsored by:

✱ FIT FAMILIES

EAT. LEARN. PLAY. ✱ THE LIBRARIAN LIKES

B Y KRIST IN FL E T CHE R

Fall Hiking

Like the Y on Facebook for resources on how your family can become healthier!

How to Prepare

For November hikes, prepare for cooler conditions and hunting season. THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB OFFERS THESE SUGGESTIONS: • Use a wicking layer of polypropylene, silk or wool against the skin.

JEB WALLACE BRODEUR

• Dress in layers of medium- to heavier-weight clothing and a waterproof outer layer. • Hats, mittens, and hiking boots or trail-running shoes are recommended.

You are likely to see deer and other woodland animals more easily than in the summer. ROCHELLE SKINNER, VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

TRAIL MAPS AND GUIDES: vtstateparks.com/htm/hiking.htm

higher elevations, and members of the weasel family such as ermines and minks, according to the state’s conservation education coordinator Rebecca Phelps. “One of the very best treats about winter wildlife is the tracking,” Phelps said. “This is the only time when you can reliably see what animals have been there before you.” We didn’t see any moose or mink on our hike, so we might try it again when the trail is dusted with a thin layer of fresh snow.

AGE RANGE: preschool through grade 2

Comiskey’s summary: The book begins when the little boy’s mama catches him “paintin’ pictures on the ﬂ oor/and the ceiling/and the walls/and the curtains/ and the door.” She takes his paint away and cleans him up. Once she’s gone, he works on getting the paint back and then paints himself in creative ways. Why kids will enjoy it: With each turn

of page, children are delighted to ﬁ nd out what the main character paints next, and it’s easy for them to predict the rhyming word coming up. The part that always generates giggles: “I’m such a nut, gonna paint my … WHAT?”

Why parents will love it: This is a book that you can read again and again without growing tired of the story.

˜˜

“The Librarian Likes” features a different librarian and book each month. Got an idea for a future LL? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

KIDS VT

“Fit Families” is a monthly feature that offers easy and affordable ways to stay active. Got an idea for a future FF? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com. Kristin Fletcher is a former sports editor for the St. Albans Messenger and Barre-Montpelier Times Argus who lives in Cabot. She has two children, 12 and 9, and works for Re-Bop Records.

BOOK: I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!, by Karen Beaumont; Illustrated by David Catrow

NOVEMBER 2011

joined my 9-year-old son and me recently to explore the Groton State Forest Nature Trail. The dynamic Ws took turns ﬁ nding red and blue trail blazes along the self-guided 0.6-mile loop. We examined mossy rocks and waxy-looking mushrooms and took turns guessing who might be living down the deep, dark holes we found. A giant glacial boulder captivated us; it was covered on all but one side with lichen, moss and other plants. Our best evidence of animal life was a large pile of owl “pellets” that Jennifer eagerly pulled apart to reveal the bones of a recently consumed rodent. The kids loved hearing about how owls regurgitate their prey. The winter months are the best time to spot moose, which move to

INFO: Take the turn for Boulder Beach off Route 232 in Groton. The visitors center has a large parking area, but facilities are closed in the off-season.

LIBRARIAN: Liza Comiskey, director, Highgate Public Library.

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THERE’S NO REASON to pack it in for the year just because the state parks have closed their gates. Even in the o˛ -season, trails are open for walking and snowshoeing with children. With a few added layers and safety precautions specifi c to hunting season, cool-weather hiking o˛ ers unique benefi ts. My favorite: not having to fend o˛ swarms of stinging insects. In these cooler months, you can experience nature DEET-free. And because the bare trees expose the changing forest and its inhabitants, “you are likely to see deer and other woodland animals more easily than in the summer,” said Rochelle Skinner of Vermont’s Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation. “Watching squirrel behavior is quite amusing.” A note of caution, though: Hunters benefi t from that exposure, too, and they’re all over the Vermont woods in November, shooting bear, deer and wild turkey. That means you need to dress your kids in orange, prevent them from bounding ahead and be prepared to explain that rifl e report when they ask, “What was that?” Twin 3-1/2-year-olds William and Wesley and their mother, Jennifer,

Sport some blaze orange for safety while hiking during hunting season. Hunting is allowed on state land, but Vermont law restricts the discharging of firearms within 500 feet of a building. That makes trails around campgrounds and structures such as fire towers a good choice this time of year. Vermont’s Deer Rifle Season runs from November 12 to 27.

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1½ cups rolled oats (quick cooking or old fashioned) 1 cup all-purpose flour (or a combination of all-purpose and whole wheat flour) 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 eggs 2 cups buttermilk ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

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NOVEMBER 2011 KIDS VT

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1. In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and brown sugar. 2. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk and vegetable oil. Add this wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. (Do not overmix; the batter will be a bit lumpy and that’s OK.) 3. Using a ⅓-cup measure, scoop batter and pour onto a hot, lightly greased griddle or skillet. 4. Flip the cakes when bubbles form on top and the edges appear dry, after about 2 minutes. 5. Cook until the second side is golden brown, about another minute.

EAT. LEARN. PLAY. ✱ OUT TO EAT B Y CINDY M O RGAN

The Bee’s Knees 82 Lower Main St., Morrisville, 888-7889

“Mom, I can get bacon in my mac and cheese!” burgers and a daily flatbread. The five relatively healthy entrées on the kids menu are served with sides such as carrot sticks or housemade applesauce. The narrow dining room at the back of the restored brick building was about half full the night my husband and our twins came in for dinner — for a second time. The crowd in the

JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

THE FIRST TIME she saw the menu at the Bee’s Knees, my 8-year-old daughter started sobbing. “You mean they don’t have chicken fingers here?” she asked, tears rolling down her cheeks. Nope, there’s no sign of that particular kidsmenu staple, which made me ecstatic. My son had already moved on. “Mom, I can get bacon in my mac and cheese!” he enthused. Devotion to home-cooked entrées loaded with locally sourced ingredients distinguishes the little eatery on Morrisville’s Lower Main Street. The bread is made just down the road, at Elmore Mountain Bread. The eclectic menu offers Mexican and Asian dishes, vegetarian and vegan options,

Server Alyssa Spada with macaroni and cheese

FAMILY-FRIENDLY AMENITIES: high chairs, booster seats, books and toys, and a kid’s menu with more healthy choices than fried fare. OUR BILL FOR FOUR: $76.79, including tax and tip.

front of the restaurant, which hosts café tables and a small bar, seemed more inclined to drinking and live music. But in a corner of the bar area, a bookcase of games, toys and books offered just the sort of distractions little diners require on a school night. Unfortunately, the pickings were slim. The Monopoly game we saw last time was gone, and the Uno deck was missing most of its cards. We placed our orders: pasta with spicy andouille sausage, quiche with scallions, kalamata olives and chard, a burger and fries, and a kids black bean and cheese quesadilla. Then we played short-decked Uno and waited for our meals. And waited, and waited. After 25 minutes I found an old Brain Quest

deck, and we spent the next 25 minutes answering trivia questions, growing ever hungrier. It suddenly became clear to me what happened to the Monopoly board and Uno cards: Starving patrons ate them while waiting for their meals! We had a pretty good view into a kitchen that seemed understaffed and in no particular hurry to fill orders. When our food finally arrived after an hour, we fell on it like a pack of starving animals. All of our dishes were good, though none was great, and my enjoyment of the food was hampered by the slow service on a school night. But the long wait won’t stop me from dining again at the Bee’s Knees — a quirky, small-town restaurant with strong locavore values. Next time, we’ll bring our own Uno deck.

“Out to Eat” is a monthly family-friendly restaurant review. Where should we eat next? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com. Cindy Morgan is a freelance writer who recently moved with her family from California to Shelburne.

NOVEMBER 2011 KIDS VT

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What’s your best strategy for getting a finicky kid to eat?

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I had two kids who were not finicky and one who was very finicky. James couldn’t tolerate anything that had anything remotely spicy in it. I know a lot of parents cook multiple meals for their kids, but I was the cook, and I cooked one meal and one meal only. I did cut back on the spiciness, and we all added spice to our tastes. If you didn’t like what I cooked, sooner or later you’d get hungry enough to look for something else. I can remember one time when I did an experiment in the kitchen. Everyone hated the meal, including myself, and we all had cereal. James had a lot of cornflakes growing up. I would never force anyone to eat anything, but I wasn’t going to cook five different meals. I’d sort of put the ball back in their camp. James changed completely. There were a couple of different things that made him change: growing up, having different life experiences and his palate changing. He also cooks now.

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Well, I’m a marketer, so I see the same problems in marketing as I do with kids eating. There’s a difference between what I want them to eat and what they want to eat. One of the things we tried to do was to look at what our kids like to eat and how we can make food that speaks to their learning taste buds but gets them the nutrients they need. We eat a lot of vegetables. When we started steaming vegetables and marinating them in soy sauce and sesame oil, all of a sudden Felix would eat up all of them and not leave any for us. We found ourselves saying crazy things like “If you don’t eat the rest of your hotdog, there’s no more broccoli for you.” Now we do that with almost all of our vegetables. My daughter became a vegetarian when she was 8 or 9. She still needs to get protein somewhere. Well, I love making soups. One day I gave her some of my soup, and she started wolfing it down. I thought, “Wait a minute. The beans — there’s her protein.” Now both kids gobble up the soup so I rarely get any. I experimented with a number of stews and found that Olivia loved dishes that used North and West African spices, especially ones that combined things such as cinnamon, cumin, turmeric and hot spices. I throw tofu in them, and she gets her protein there, too. It’s still a struggle getting them to eat right, but we’re getting smarter at it. As in marketing, you have to know your audience.

It’s still a struggle getting them to eat right, but we’re getting smarter at it. As in marketing, you have to know your audience.

Education is the big thing. My wife studied nutrition in college, and she has always made sure that we understand what we eat. She’s always reading the labels. She’ll read off all the things that we want to avoid. From the start, what’s in our cupboards is usually pretty healthy. A lot of our strategy is talking to the kids and letting them know how the food helps them and why it’s good for them. But to hear that it’s good for you is not always enough. The next thing that’s helpful is role modeling. We eat healthy because we want to be healthy. The kids seeing us eat healthy encourages them. The older kids have gotten into the habit of eating healthy foods, and the younger ones see them as role models, too. But then, if it comes down to them saying, “I still don’t like this food,” we have a last fail-safe, and it’s to be expressive about what we like and don’t like and to tell them that we’re still going to eat those things: “It’s okay not to like everything, but you still want to make sure that you eat food that’s healthy for you.”

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Children: daughter, Olivia, 12; son, Felix, 9

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Child: daughter, Grace, 5

I’ve always been amazed at how we form tastes about which foods are supposed to go together. Kids, especially little kids, don’t have that. Grace loved whipped cream. Whipped cream could go on anything. I would go with the disguise method — maple syrup, anything sweet I could find, I’d put on the product. I’d take things she did like and put them on things that she didn’t like. I was under the assumption that she’d grow out of needing her favorite things on everything, and she did. Now she just has whipped cream on ice cream. Kids’ tastes change so fast that what they don’t like today, one year from now they will. Grace’s favorite restaurant now is Stone Soup. She’ll plow through that vegetarian buffet like no one’s business. She’ll eat things there that she’d never eat at home. There’s another strategy: Find a restaurant she really loves. — IntervIews compIled by erIk esckIlsen

“Go Ask Dad” is a monthly feature in which we ask fathers to answer a question. Got a question, or a pop you’d like to hear from? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com. Erik Esckilsen is a freelance writer and Champlain College instructor. He lives in Burlington with his wife and twin daughters, and their dog.

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eAT. LeArN. PLAY. Q ThE arT of…

Rug Hooking

bY IsAbeLLA F I sk e mcFA rL I N

WhaT yoU’ll nEEd A kit for beginners contains a pattern, hook, instructions and precut stripettes. kits from Green mountain Hooked rugs (GmHr) range from $35 to $154. or purchase the necessary items separately.

Create something special for Mom, Dad, Grandparents, Teachers and Friends.

IsAbeLLA FIske mcFArLIN

• a hooK: $7.25 at GmHr • a hooKing framE: $85, or hoop: $26 from GmHr • cUT sTrips of Wool: $25 for GmHr to cut the wool for you • BacKing maTErial: $20 from the Dorr mill store • a good pair of rUg-hooKing scissors: $10 from the Dorr mill store Ryan, Autumn Joyner and Stephanie Allen-Krauss

Learn more at the “Hooked in the mountains Xv” show, November 12-20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the shelburne museum.

21 Taft Corners Shopping Center Williston • 288-9666 • www.beadcrazyvt.com Birthday Parties • Repairs Instruction is Always Available Class schedule online.

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Workshop

800 members, an educational program for children and an annual November show at the Shelburne Museum. Allen-Krauss also offers classes for beginners and kids at her Montpelier studio-store when she’s not teaching at rug schools and camps around the country. Recalling an enthusiastic group she taught there recently, Allen-Krauss noted, “The homeschoolers really went to town on it! One of them — a girl of 10 or 11 — finished her design after the first lesson and wanted to do another one right away.” Rug hooking offers rich history lessons for kids. It’s easy for them to imagine early Vermont settlers wielding similar hooks, making similar loops. The perfect recycling craft, it also allows them to transform favorite T-shirts or old jackets into a warm, cozy, old-fashioned floor mat. Before you know it, they’re hooked. K

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“The Art of...” spotlights creative skills that enrich kids’ lives. Got a class or teacher to recommend? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com. Isabella Fiske McFarlin, a freelance writer, lives with her husband in Rochester and has two grown children, Joya and Andrew.

Holiday Sale

November 2011

Autumn slowly, cautiously pulled up three almost-even loops and proudly showed them to her family standing nearby. That sense of accomplishment draws young people to rug hooking, Allen-Krauss said. In rug hooking, there’s only one stitch to learn, making it easier to pick up than knitting or crocheting. That single motion can be used with an infinite number of colors, textures and drawn patterns. “The most important thing, at any age, is to work on a design you like and colors you love,” added Allen-Krauss. New England farm wives of the early 1900s used scrap wool to make rugs that were cheap, beautiful and added warmth to their homes. They cut up old woolen clothes and blankets, and dyed them in creative preparations — onionskins and butternut — to get the colors they wanted. In the absence of linen, burlap feedbags served as backings. Allen-Krauss began to make rugs at the early age of 5. Her mother, Anne Ashworth, was a nationally known rug hooking teacher who founded Green Mountain Rug School. Her daughter carries on the tradition each June at Vermont Technical College. Ashworth cofounded the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild with her students in the mid-’80s. The Guild now has 600 to

for sUppliEs and informaTion: grEEn moUnTain hooKEd rUgs, monTpEliEr: greenmountainhookedrugs.com. dorr mill sTorE, gUild, n.h.: dorrmillstore.com. grEEn moUnTain rUg hooKing gUild, onlinE: gmrhg.org.

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EVEryThing’s old fashionEd in the Log Cabin Museum at the annual Tunbridge World’s Fair. Atop Antique Hill, with Civil War reenactors camped outside, the exhibition hall features weavers, printers and a rock-candydispensing general store. But for Autumn Joyner, the appeal was Stephanie Allen-Krauss and her voluminous creation — a hooked rug, taut on its frame. The 6-year-old leaned over the pattern, lured by the abundant, precise drawings of leaves, flowers and vines. It didn’t hurt that Allen-Krauss, a fourth-generation rug hooker and educator, was also dressed in 19thcentury attire. While passersby looked on, she pulled strips of wool fabric upward through a linen backing, using a tool that looks like a crochet hook with a handle. Allen-Krauss invited Autumn to touch the soft yet tough loops of neatly cut white wool that make up the background of the rug. She demonstrated by holding a strip of wool up to the pattern from underneath. With her other hand, she dipped the tip of her hook through the linen, caught the woolen strip and pulled it through elegantly, so it was even with the other loops. “Would you like to try it?” AllenKrauss offered. Taking the hook,

Bracelets • Necklaces • Earrings Bookmarks • Key Rings Zipper Pulls • Wine Charms

10/28/11 10:36 AM

Toy Story Consumerism with a conscience: a guide to hands-on holiday shopping

KIDS VT

NOVEMBER ˜°˛˛

KIDSVT.COM

S T O R Y B Y NANCY STE AR N S BE R CA W • ILLUSTRAT I ON S BY MO OH

I HAVE ONE THING ON MY HOLIDAY WISH LIST THIS YEAR. It’s neither a Crock-Pot nor a trip to Fiji. What I want more than anything is for us parents to go out and look for just the right gifts for our children. No more hitting “enter” on the keyboard to order cheap plastic stu˜ from China. Instead, let’s go shopping in our hometown. Let’s talk with local shopkeepers about the smartest, silliest, sturdiest, cutest, warmest, coolest, happiest, quirkiest, funniest toys and games available. Let’s make physical contact with the playthings our children will hold in their hands. Maybe we’ll get back in touch with our own playfulness in the process. Remember the toys that had a lasting impression on you? I delight in recalling the lighted globe I got from my father when I was 8. We’d take turns spinning and stopping it. We swore to visit every place we landed on. Two decades later, we took a safari in Kenya — one of the very ﬁ rst places my ﬁ nger touched on the globe. That simple, beautiful gift spawned another memory of a lifetime. I asked some of my friends about their most memorable presents, and the answers all had a similar theme: toys that helped bring their own stories and selves to life. They mentioned paper dolls, handmade wooden stilts, Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoys, Fisher-Price Village, blocks, Colorforms, a baseball glove, a doctor’s kit, a red wagon, a Davy Crocket raccoon hat and crayons.

No more hitting “enter” on the keyboard to order cheap plastic stuff from China.

Oh and yes, Barbie. Like it or not, she popped into many minds of the people I polled. One of my friends, who grew up to be a novelist, used her parents’ paperback-book collection to build houses where Barbie and Ken could kiss. I liked to test the rules of gravity by dropping the dolls out of my tree house — another treasured gift from my parents, built by a local carpenter. I discovered that even if I switched Barbie and Ken’s heads, heads, they they fell fell at at roughly roughly the same speed. Ultimately, I gave gave them them aa burial burial at at sea from my rubber inner tube. (For more backbackground on Barbie’s cultural significance, check out The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie: A Doll’s History and Her Impact on Us,, by Tanya Lee Stone, $19.99, $19.99, at at Flying Pig Books and Phoenix Books.) Here’s a preliminary guide to presents that have have the potential to reach into our children’s heads and pull out a never-ending story. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa Kwanzaa or or Winter Winter Solstice, I hope there’s something here that also makes you feel like a kid again while you shop for memories yet to be made. *Nota bene: Many regional retailers may carry the toys highlighted in each category. I simply mention the store or stores where I saw or heard about it. So remember the words of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, “You’d better shop around.”

HOLIDAYS

Speed Demons

Does your tyke like physical activity? Is he or she on the go and game for anything physical? Explore these suggestions to inspire, and tire, your indefatigable offspring.

FREESTYLE SPOONER BOARD for young snowboarders, skateboarders, surfers and riders in the making. Kids can pretend they’re hitting the slopes, seas and streets without leaving the safety and warmth of the family room. Before kids are ready for the real thing, the Spooner off o˜ ers a preview of what board sports have to off o˜ er. Ages 3+, $44.99, Kids Town, Learning Express. AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF PIRATE VS. PIRATE: THE TERRIFIC TALE OF A BIG, BLUSTERY MARITIME MATCH, written by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger. In this 40-page book, Bad Bart, “the biggest, burliest boy pirate in the Atlantic,” challenges Mean Mo, “the maddest, mightiest girl pirate in the Pacifi Paciﬁc.” c.”Ages Ages4-8, 4-8,$16.99, $16.99,Flying FlyingPig PigBooks. Books. ANNIKA JR. (for girls) and MERLIN JR. (for boys) Inline Skates, by K2 Skate, feature a “vibration-absorbing composite frame” on the company’s comfy, trademark “Softboot.” “Softboot.” With With 5-size 5-size adjustability, kids can get years of wear wear from from tearing tearing around. around. Adjustable sizes, 1.0-8.0, 1.0-8.0, $66, $66, SkiRack. SkiRack. QUICKY KIDS SPADE SLED, by TSL Sleds, is a tiny, half-pound, durable sled (shaped like a shovel) that off o˜ ers high speed on the slopes. Miraculously designed to fi ﬁttall allfannies, fannies,young youngand andold. old.Just Justsit sit down with handle between your legs and off o˜ you go. Parents should decide when their kid is ready for solo sledding, $4.99, Outdoor Gear Exchange.

CHICKEN PURSE PURSE, by Pylones, is a regal-yetwhimsi cal hen-shaped whimsical handbag that hangs from a short strap. Crafted from sturdy rubber in soft colors, kids (or grandmothers) can tote everything from wallets to walkie-talkies in the belly of this sweet beast. Any age, $29.95, Jamie Two Two Coats. Coats.

Fashion-forward bambinos have funky taste buds. They love rocking duds, cutting-edge fads and chic accessories. Complement your progeny’s wild streak with some of these trendsetting threads and toys.

GOOD MANNERS FLASH CARDS, by eeBoo, use polite pigs to demonstrate good behavior in familiar situations. One side of a card asks how to behave in a certain situation; the reverse off o˜ ers a good suggestion. After all, kids who want to grow up to break the rules need to know them fi ﬁrst. rst.Ages Ages5+, 5+,$14, $14,Isabean. Isabean. x, are backSPIKETUS REX, by MadPax, packs and tote bags that come in four “funtastic” sizes — Full Pack, Half Pack, Pack, the Nibbler and the Mighty Bite — all designed to “funk up your trunk.” With soft dinosaur spikes covering these brightly covered satchels, kids won’t just be kids; they’ll be rock stars. For middle and high school students, or precocious grown ups, prices range from $12 to $60, Woodbury Mountain Toys.

NOVEMBER ˜°˛˛ KIDS VT

FIVEFINGERS FOOTWEAR FOOTWEAR, by Vibram, is designed to give kids the feeling of running barefoot in the yard while still protecting their little paws from the elements. Made of thin, abrasion-resistant stretch nylon upper with a specialized rubber grip to avoid slippage. Think of FiveFingers as gloves gloves for for the feet. Kids sizes 11.5 to 4, $65-$85, Onion River Kids.

GNOME PORCELAIN LAMP, by Seltzer Studios, brings the beloved lawn ornament inside and adds whimsy to bedside tables. Best for older kids because the mischievous little fellow plugs into the wall, $46, Jamie Two Coats.

Funky Monkeys

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Z-CURVE Z˛CURVE BOW, by Zing, is an archery set with soft foam arrows that can travel uup to 125 yards. Not to fear, the suction-cup tip won’t hurt a fl ﬂy,y,but butdoes does stick on many surfaces. Ages 8+, $24.99, Kids Town, Town, Learning Express.

AIR SWIMMERS SWIMMERS, by the William Mark Corporation, are fi five-foot-long ve-foot-long sharks, also available as clownfi clownfish, which move around the room courtesy of a remote control device and helium. Air Swimmers look like they are moving through the water as they fl oat overhead. Ages 8+, $39.99, Woodbury Mountain Toys, Learning Express.

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TOY STORY P. P. 18 ˛˝ »˙

Toy Story

CONTINUED FROM P. ˛˝

Outdoor Explorers

Calling all nature lovers, outdoor explorers and animal observers! If your child fits this description, consider these options for feeding his or her fertile imagination.

OUTDOOR EXPLORER KIT, made by Seedling, includes a checklist of creepy crawlies to fi nd, a sketchpad and colored pencils, as well as a magnifying glass and LED headlamp. Comes in a handy drawstring bag. Ages 5-10, $44.95, Isabean. ANIMAL˛SHAPED SLEEPING BAGS, by Melissa & Doug, come in alligator, turtle or ladybug designs, with matching tents. (Kids tuck into the gator’s mouth!) Ages 4-8, Bags $30; Tents $50, available available at at the the Outdoor Outdoor Gear Gear Exchange. In a similar vein, Nap Mats come with a built-in pillow (removable for washing) and roll up to fi fitton onyour yourdaycare-bound daycare-boundtoddler’s toddler’sback. back.Designs Designs range from butterfl butterflies iesto toelephants. elephants.By ByStephen Stephen Joseph, $49.99, Buttered Buttered Noodles. Noodles.

ECHO LAKE AQUARIUM AND SCIENCE CENTER family membership is a gift that keeps on giving. Support the study of our local environment while encouraging the conservationist in your kid. Dual memberships for one adult and one child are $60 annually. Depending on the size of your gang, you can get them all in every day of the year, except holidays, holidays, for an annual expenditure of $100-$150.

FLIP KITE, by Prism Kite Technology, Technology, has has been called a kaleidoscope in motion. The eye-catching, spinning graphics add a burst of brilliance to the sky. Also exciting is the mechanism by which it fl ﬂies ies— —achieving achievinglift liftvia viathe theMagnus Magnus eff ect,the thesame sameprinciple principlethat thatgives givesgolf golf balls balls loft. loft.But But e˛ ect, the best thing of all? It requires no assembly. Great for all ages, and their parents, $29.95, $29.95, Outdoor Outdoor Gear Gear Exchange.

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KIDS VT

˜°˛˛ KIDSVT.COM NOVEMBER 2011

MERMAID ISLAND ISLAND, by Peaceable Kingdom, a cooperative board game for kids invented by a little girl and her family while they sailed around the world. The goal of the game is to get the mermaids to the island before the Sea Witch can get there. Billed as a “lively, strategic game of chase.” chase.” Ages Ages 5+, 5+, $15.99, $15.99, Flying Pig Books and Woodbury Mountain Toys. Toys.

HOLIDAYS

MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE o˜ ers a passbook for exploring interactive bubble stations, the region’s largest collection of moths and butterfl butterﬂies, ies,creative creativeRube Rube Goldberg devices, topological puzzles, a colony of leaf-cutter ants, and much more. There’s also 100+ acres of trails, a walking tour of the solar system and “the most intelligent water park” in New England (open in summer only). Passbooks contain 12 admission passes for $110.

Think Tankers

Most kids ask “why” as toddlers, and many never stop questioning how things work. Youngsters who fall into this category have a passion for experimenting, building, reading, constructing and deconstructing. Fuel their fervor with toys that test their minds.

THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA, by Tom Angleberger, tells the story of Dwight, a so-called weirdo who’s “always talking about robots or spiders or something.” One day he shows up at school with a little origami Yoda fi ﬁnger ngerpuppet puppetthat thatspews spewsschoolschoolyard wisdom. The mystery is whether the Yoda is just Dwight speaking in a funny voice, or if the puppet actually has mystical powers. Grades 3-6, $12.95, Flying Pig Books. PERPLEXUS ˛D PUZZLE, by PlaSmart, is an addicting maze game that challenges everyone who dares to try. Players must maneuver a small marble around challenging barriers inside a transparent sphere. Ages 6+, $24.99, Buttered Noodles, Learning Express.

ALIEN CONQUEST BATTLE PACK, by LEGO, features fi ﬁve vemini-fi mini-ﬁgures guresand andprovides providesan anopportunity opportunitytotodefend defend Earth from invasion. There’s even even aa tiny tiny businessman businessman to protect from attack, unless you and your rug rats share an anti-Wall anti-Wall Street Street sentiment sentiment and and prefer prefer that thatthe the Aliens win. Ages 6+, $14.99. Add an Alien Mothership, appropriate for ages 8-14, for $59.99. $59.99. Available Availableat atmany many local stores. es & Kosmos, is a kit that PHYSICS PRO, by Thames teaches kids to build wind tunnels, pneumatic shocks and hydraulic lifts. The main focus is water and air but the lessons grow from “why a streamlined shape lets a car drive faster” to “how power plants convert a current of

KIDSVT.COM

BILIBO is an oddly shaped and weirdly wonderful, brightly colored, shell-like Swiss-designed thing with holes that look like eyes. It comes with no directions, so kids can interpret at will. Sit in it and spin. Stand on it and balance. Fill it with sand. Wear it like a helmet. Serve oatmeal in it. The shell is made of high-density polyethylene that’s billed as “shock-resistant, weatherproof, food safe and completely recyclable.” Ages 2-7, $33, Isabean.

water into electrical current.” Ages 10+, $44.99, Woodbury Mountain Toys. Check out the Physics Solar Workshop, too.

NOVEMBER 2011 ˜°˛˛ KIDS VT

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TOY STORY P. ˜° ˝

Toy Story CONTINUED FROM P. 19

Artists in Residence

Every child loves to create, so you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong with a gift that is a piece of art or leads to one. Besides, no home in Vermont is complete without a box of art, books and crafts (the other ABCs) to help pass the coldest and snowiest of winter days. Here are a few gift ideas to warm the heART.

KIDS VT

NOVEMBER 2011 KIDSVT.COM

KID CONCOCTIONS: WEIRD WACKY & WILD STUFF YOU CAN MAKE AT HOME, an Alex book, has more than 200 recipes for fun. Create toys, contraptions, paint, dough and silly snacks with common household ingredients. Ages 6+, $9.99, Woodbury Mountain Toys.

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SAFETY PIN BRACELETS, by Klutz, comes with simple, illustrated directions for making 10 unique, sparkly bracelets with more than 1000 beads and 175 safety pins. Ages 8+, $19.99, Kids Town. TINTE, invented by Burlington-based Learning Materials Workshop, is a set of notched hardwood building blocks, painted in 42 different colors, that comes in a wood box frame. Kids can create colorful forms and structures on the floor, and then hang them

HARRY BLISS

HOLIDAYS

days, a specialist will call to discuss details. They later provide a sketch, a price quote and a delivery date. Price varies, as does bear size. Ages 12+.

on the wall. A guide introduces the concepts of hue, value and intensity. Ages 3+, $195, Isabean. Variations on the theme, called Arcobaleno and Spectra, sell for $49.95 and $34.95, respectively. DESIGN YOUR OWN BEAR, by Vermont Teddy Bear Company, allows Project Runway-wannabes to test out their designs on an ursine subject. Select a bear size online, and then follow the step-by-step process of selecting specifications. Within two business

BAILEY, by local cartoonist, illustrator and author Harry Bliss, is the charming “tail” of dog’s first day at school. Will he eat his homework? School proves to be an unexpectedly artful place for Bailey to do what he loves: read, fetch, paint, dig, sing and make friends. Ages 3+, $16.99, Flying Pig Books.

CREATIVE HABITAT GIFT CARDS provide your pint-sized Picasso with the tools of the trade. Pick tried-and-true art forms, like pen and ink, or delve into scrapbooking or custom framing. All ages, all price ranges. Creative Habitat.

LAPTOP BUDDHA BOARD, by Canadian-company Buddha Board Inc., is a portable canvas and easel that gives Zen-like artists the chance to paint over and over again — clearing both mind and palette. The “laptop” reference is an antidote to (and pun on) the computer. Comes complete with water well and bamboo brush. Ageless, $39.99, Homeport.

K I D S

T O W N

Nancy Stearns Bercaw is a journalist who has written for newspapers from the Korea Herald to the New York Times and is a frequent contributor to Seven Days.

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KIDS VT

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Kids VT.com

Multiple Slides & Kid’s Play Area – Big River and Big Falls Climbing Wall – Indoor & Outdoor Hot Tubs – Elevation 1851’ Family Arcade – The Warming Shelter Snack Bar – The Drink (pool-side bar) – The Wave Surf Shop

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Kids VT

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FOOD MATTHEW THORSEN

Makeovers Meal ideas from creative cookbooks BY C H E R YL H E R R I C K

Healthy Cooking with Young Kids

The Whole Family Cookbook: Celebrate the Goodness of Locally Grown Foods Michelle Stern, Adams Media, $17.95

Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook for Young Readers & Eaters Jane Yolen, Crocodile Books, $20

˜°

MENU MAKEOVERS P. ˜˝ ˙

KIDS VT

Full of fairy tales, folksy illustrations and simple recipes, Jane Yolen’s collection connects two terriﬁ c rainyafternoon activities: cooking and reading. Zander, my 6-year-old, thinks that the oatmeal we make from the recipe accompanying the “Magic Pot of Porridge” story is the very best. I’m not sure why he feels it stands out, but I like his enthusiasm for reading and cooking, so why challenge him? The book includes some lesser-known folk tales, such as “The Magic Pear Tree” and “The Great Turnip,” alongside usual suspects “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Cinderella.” At your next story time, try Very French Toast or Runaway Pancakes.

NOVEMBER 2011 ˜°˛˛

Michelle Stern is from the San Francisco area, but her eat-local and cook-from-scratch ethos fi ﬁts tsthe the values of many Vermont parents. parents. Her cookbook opens with an introduction called “Raising Little Locavores” and provides enthusiastic help, teaching parents how to shop for, cook with and train the palates of young children. She o° offers lists of equipment for cooking with kids, along with down-to-earth advice. For the parent considering a cooking project with a toddler, she says, “If you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, reconsider this activity. Have a glass of wine and a good night’s sleep — and try again tomorrow.” Her recipes are child friendly and combine ambitious ﬂ avors in unthreatening presentations. Try Breakfast Anytime Pizza with olives, tomatoes, cheese and ham, Corny Raspberry Mu˝ ns, or Acorn Squash and Wild Rice Bowls.˙

Cooking With Your Bookworm

KIDSVT.COM

“YOUR RECIPES JUST DON’T DANCE ACROSS MY TASTE BUDS.” A harsh line from a restaurant review? No, that indictment came from a child —˜the son of my hairdresser, Linda Pacheco. Parents worry plenty about kids and their relationship to food. Are they eating too little? Too much? Are they getting enough vegetables, or an excess of junk? Parents negotiate precise counts of peas and carrots in exchange for coveted cookies, all the while trying to model good manners and healthy practices. Turns out parents are food critics, too. “I don’t love cooking, especially for this ﬁ nicky group I live with,” says Pacheco, “and I’m tired of the same old, same old.” Even the most creative cooks can ﬁ nd themselves in a rut caused by the daily routines of feeding family. Thankfully, a good cookbook can really help. Here is a list of some standouts.

Breakfast with SANTA

FOOD

• Creating Christmas Cards and Ornaments • Write a Letter to Santa • Storytelling with Mrs. Claus

FREE ACTIVITIES! • Pictures with Santa • Cookie Decorating • Manicures

All proceeds go to beneﬁt Joseph’s House Emergency Outreach Center

Saturday, December 3rd 8:30am, 10:30am & 12:30pm ice cream social $8/person St. John Vianny Community Center, South Burlington Register online at www.josephshousevt.org or call 951-4290 K8h-JosephsHouse1111.indd 1

10/25/11 2:28 PM

The Nutcracker 2011

Albany Berkshire Ballet

Madeline Cantarella Culpo, Artistic Director

FlyNN CENTER FOR ThE PERFORMINg ARTS

153 MAIN STREET, BuRlINgTON, VT

Sat, Nov. 26 • 3 and 7:30 PM Sun, Nov. 27 • 1 PM

Continued from p.23

TICKETS/INFORMATION FlynnTix Regional Box Office (802) 863-5966 • flynntix.org

Marvelously Meatless

Vegan With a Vengeance: Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Marlowe & Company, $17.95

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10/14/11 10:18 AM “ I cook because I love to eat,” says author Isa Chandra Moskowitz. And she brings that simple enthusiasm to the table in this collection of recipes gathered from 16 years of life as a committed vegan — a vegetarian who does not consume dairy, eggs or other animal products. While telling compelling stories of growing up in Manhattan, Moskowitz shares recipes such as Coconut Pancakes With Pineapple Sauce, ParsnipScallion Pancakes, Pizza Dough, and an amazing and easy recipe for homemade seitan.

Baking for Special Diets

BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES

BabyCakes: Vegan, (Mostly) Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free Recipes From New York’s Most Talked-About Bakery Erin McKenna, Clarkson Potter, $24 Packed with celebrity endorsements and glossy full-page photos, BabyCakes inspires the belief that it’s possible to create delicious treats for the vegan, the food intolerant and the omnivorous alike. Erin McKenna tempts with an incredible lineup of sweets available for snacks, breakfast and dessert at the BabyCakes NYC bakery: Chocolate Shortbread Scones With Caramelized Bananas, Red Velvet Cupcakes, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and dozens of other recipes. The friend who lent me the cookbook recommends the Carrot Cake — it’s one of her son’s favorites.

KIDS VT

NOVEMBER 2011

KIDSVT.COM

Early Education Programs GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA

PRESCHOOL OPENINGS AVAILABLE! Call Jen at 862-8993 x149 Ask about our financial assistance program.

Baking Bible for Busy Parents

The Weekend Baker: Irresistible Recipes, Simple Techniques, and Stress-Free Strategies for Busy People Abigail Johnson Dodge, W.W. Norton, $24.95 GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA 266 College St., Burlington VT 802-862-9622 5-STAR rated

Financial assistance is available

gbymca.org

A French-trained pastry chef, Abigail Johnson Dodge caters to busy cooks and parents by organizing recipes according to the amount of time required to complete them. Got a bake-sale obligation on a busy weeknight? Try a selection from the “Baker’s Express” section such as Warm Cinnamon-Spiced Blueberry Cake or

Fall Parent

OPEN HOUSE

Wednesday, November 16 • 6 pm Learn more about our school and our holistic approach. Call to RSVP.

Spaces available in our Preschool Program for 2011-12.

TO SEE US IN ACTION, WATCH THE VIDEO ON OUR WEBSITE OR COME IN FOR A TOUR!

1186 S. Brownell Rd. • Williston • (802) 863-4839 • BellwetherSchool.org 8h-bellweatherschool1111.indd 1

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Emergency Blender Cupcakes. Have a larger window of time? Consult the “Baking in Stages” pages for make-ahead sweets, such as Coconut-Crusted Pudding Tart or Crumble-Topped Pear-Rum Raisin Pie. When you’ve got extra time on your hands, go for a showstopper from the “Productions” chapter, such as Chocolate-Dipped Macadamia Brittle or Nut-Crusted Chocolate-Banana Swirl Cake.

We recycle and donate up to 100 percent of every load and run our fleet on bio-diesel. Call 1-800-468-5865 or book online at 1800gotjunk.com. VERMONT_SMALLAD_180311.indd 8h-800gotjunk0411.indd 1 1

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Breaking the Food Rut Without Breaking the Bank EatingWell on a Budget

Jessie Price, Countryman Press, $18.95 Every family needs a source of new dinner ideas when they’re bored with the usual ones. This book, produced in Vermont by the staff of EatingWell magazine, offers flavorful and easily prepared options, all priced $3 or less per individual serving. While not specifically a family cookbook, there’s plenty for most kids to enjoy, from Grilled Black Bean Nacho Pizza with homemade crust to Spaghetti Frittata and Sweet & Sour Chicken Drumsticks. The book also offers more sophisticated options for parents. Try Sweet Potato and Tofu Red Curry, Barley Risotto With Fennel, or Maple-Chili Glazed Pork Medallions for your next stay-at-home date night.

Homemade for Babies and Toddlers Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook

KIDSVT.COM

Lizzie Vann, DK Publishing, $15

NOVEMBER 2011

One of the first gifts I received as a new mom, this beautifully colored book is filled with easy purées for babies sampling their first solid foods. It also includes recipes the whole family can appreciate, such as Corn and Potato Mash With Herbs and Vegetable Korma. The fruit mashes and pasta recipes are easy to make, and my first son enjoyed them through toddlerhood. Though he lost his adventurous taste buds around age 3, this book encouraged us to experiment with flavors and ingredients atypical for most American families with young kids.

KIDS VT

Cheryl Herrick is a writer and blogger who lives in Burlington. Got a comment? Email us at feedback@kidsvt.com.

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Join your friends at the 15th Annual KidsVT

Camp & School Fair

SATurdAy, FebruAry 4, 10 A.m. - 2 p.m. Hilton Hotel, Burlington • Free!

Fair@kidsvt.coM • kidsvt.coM • 802-985-5482

Kids VT

november 2011

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Meet caMp & scHool staFF • ask questions • collect inFo

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10/28/11 10:33 AM

IN SEASON

Talkin’ Turkey SLOW ROASTED OR DEEP FRIED, maple glazed

or butter rubbed, stuffed or unstuffed, a turkey is the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving tables. After the initial carving, a meaty bird keeps on giving for days, in the form of sandwiches, soups and casseroles — and, of course, every kid’s favorite: the wishbone. The best birds hail from here. Unlike birds that are raised in crowded factory farms and injected with flavor enhancers, local, farm-fresh turkeys are free to roam the outdoors and eat a natural diet. What’s more, a visit to a local farm to fetch the Thanksgiving bird is a great way to show the kids where their food comes from. Someday, they’ll be thankful for that. The farms listed below roughly coincide with the KidsVT circulation area.

Back Beyond Farm 9 Glen Road, Chelsea 889-3211

Maple View Acres 211 Polly Hubbard Road, Georgia 527-1251

The Barn at Gray Rocks 1147 Main Street, Richmond 878-4291; 434-2783

Misty Knoll Farm 1685 Main Street, New Haven 453-4748

Brotherly Farm Organic Lavender Road, Brookfield 276-9904

Mountain Edge Farm 2568 Silver Street, Hinesburg 842-7405

Cloudland Farm 1101 Cloudland Road, Woodstock 457-1520

Parsells Farms 719 Sawyer Hill Road, Mount Holly 259-2838

Dunstable Farm 960 Bothfield Hill Road, Cabot 563-2715; 563-2386

Seymour Farm 299 Turner Hill Road, Moretown, 244-5533

Fat Rooster Farm 354 Morse Road, Royalton 763-5282

Stonewood Farm 105 Griswold Lane, Orwell 948-2277

Four Springs Farm 776 Gee Hill Road, Royalton 763-7296

Teenie’s Tiny Poultry Farm Teenie’s Tiny Road, Rutland 773-2637

Gaylord Farm 2587 Main Street, Waitsfield 496-5054

Vermont Country Meats 509 Lakeview Drive, North Hero 238-2846

Hogwash Farm 97 Kerwin Hill Road,Norwich 649-8807

Winding Brook Farm 1224 LaPorte Road, Morrisville 888-5922; 279-3234

Hollister Hill Farm 2193 Hollister Hill Road, Marshfield 454-7725

Windy Hill Farm 1850 New Boston Road, Norwich 649-1568

(off Industrial Ave.)

OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12th, 11am-4:30pm

Our Space has DOUBLED!

Free Classes during our Open House! Tiny Tumblers Open Gym (ages 9mo- 6yrs) 11-12 Team Exhibition 12-12:15 Recreational Classes For Kids (ages 2 and up) 12:30-1:30 Team Exhibition 1:30-1:45 Tumbling Class for Cheerleaders and Boarders w/Exhibition 2-3:15 Open Gym (ages 6 and up) 3:30-4:30 Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Lincoln Farm 4884 East Bethel Road, Randolph Center 748-4273

802-652-2454 k2v-GmGymnastics1111.indd 1

10/28/11 11:23 AM

www.GreenMountainGymnastics.com

KIDS VT

Got ideas for other “In Season” topics or listings? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

NOVEMBER 2011

Lune Bleu Farm 96 Boles Road, South Royalton 763-7981

260 Avenue D, Williston

KIDSVT.COM

Adams Turkey Farm 1192 Old Stage Road, Westford 878-4726

New Location in Williston!