FamilyLife - Jan/Feb 2019 by Lawrence Ambrocio

Make your own salad

Comfort foods

DIY Photos

B-Day Turning 1!

FamilyLife Warm Recipes

Jan/Feb 2019

Jan/Feb Contents

ADVICE

ORGANIZE

FEATURES

11 Dangers in Your Yard

29 2 DIY photo gifts kids can make

41 Creating a sense of community

25 Unhelpful things parents say 35 My house is messy—and I'm 18 not ashamed of it Oh, What Fun! I'm Turning 1! 23 A Valentine's Day Playbook for Your Family

45 4 easy ways to teach kids gratitude

18 IN EVERY ISSUE 8 Editor's Letter 60 Last Look

47 Salad Days

ON THE COVER

FOOD

Photography by Erik Putz Food styling by Ashley Denton Prop styling by Catherine Doherty

53 Comfort Food

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

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FamilyLife EDITOR IN-CHIEF Pamela Hayford EXECUTIVE EDITOR Suzanne Moutis CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karen Paddon EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa TEST KITCHEN FOOD DIRECTOR Soo Kim SENIOR FOOD ASSOCIATE Stina Diös CONTRIBUTING FOOD SPECIALISTS Donna Borooah, Cara Tegler ART DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Lena Diaz ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Sarah Big Canoe CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTOR Leanne Gilbert PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Genevieve Pizzale EDITORIAL SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR Megan Howard FEATURES EDITOR Mary Levitski COPY EDITORS Debbie Madsen Villamere, Stephanie Zolis EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Marianne Davidson, Sarah Dziedzic HOME & GARDEN HOME & STYLE DIRECTOR Ann Marie Favot DESIGN EDITOR Morgan Lindsay ADVERTISING SALES, TORONTO SENIOR DIRECTOR, MEDIA SOLUTIONS, TRANSACTIONAL Jérôme Leys KEY ACCOUNT DIRECTORS, NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES David Garby, Andrea McBride, Akta Sharma ADVERTISING COORDINATION TEAM LEADER Maddie Belanger ADVERTISING COORDINATION MANAGER Janice Clarke NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES Cathy Ellis, Gary Forshaw, Joanne Landry, Delainie Salvatore, Vanessa Watson DIGITAL NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES Paul Cummins, Gwen O’Toole, Tony Vigario, Joanna Woodman SALES ASSOCIATE Patricia Mixemong MARKETING & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS BRAND MANAGER Mieka Jansen SENIOR STRATEGIST Stephanie Mediati STRATEGIST Jeremie Marcoux PROJECT MANAGERS Janine Short, Kathryn Walsh ART DIRECTOR Suzanne Lacorte

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Editor's Letter

Warm it up! Happy New Year! I trust your holiday season was a good one! After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, January is a good time to settle in and enjoy a comfy, cozy winter. And, just so I don’t seem like a complete winter downer, one thing I do love this time of year is the citrus fruit in season—so tasty! Spend a short amount of time with me and you’ll learn I’m a talker. So much so that now my younger gets in the car after school and says, “Because I know you’ll ask: I don’t have any homework, my day was pretty good and nothing out of the ordinary happened.” I need to change up my repertoire and get creative in my conversations.

Pamela Hayford Editor In-Chief

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Advice

Dangers in Your Yard Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Advice Each spring you stock up on lawn and garden supplies. You buy fertilizer to make your lawn thick and green; spray herbicides or pesticides to control unsightly weeds and lawn destroying insects; and plant gardening fertilizers to keep your vegetable garden growing. “Pesticides are the most dangerous in this group, especially insect killing agents, which may be very poisonous,” says Gary Wasserman, D.O., chief of the Medical Toxicology Section at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. “Before applying pesticides, make sure children and their toys are away from the area, and keep them away until the pesticide has dried.” If lawn-care products get in the wrong hands, it can create real safety concerns. “If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind for a child. Always store your lawn supplies away from children's reach, in a locked cabinet or garden shed,” says Dr. Wasserman. “If you’re storing lawn supplies in the garage, make sure they’re on a high shelf that a child can’t climb up to reach.” What to do if your child comes into contact with lawn or garden supplies: Swallowed poison: Take the item from her and have her spit any remaining substance. Don’t make her vomit; some products will cause more damage if she vomits. Skin poison: Remove his clothes and rinse the skin with room temperature water for at least 15 minutes. Throw away contaminated clothing or thoroughly wash it separately from other laundry. Eye poison: Flush her eye by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the inner corner. Do not use eye drops in the wash water. Poisonous fumes: Take him outside or into fresh air immediately. If he’s stopped breathing, start CPR and don’t stop until he breathes on his own or until someone can take over. If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911. Otherwise, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 for information and treatment advice.

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Advice

We’ve all been there: Our kid is upset or worried, and we try to give advice to help. But when trying to help our child feel better, we may accidentally say things that cause more harm than good in the long run. Taking the time to think about a better reply is hard sometimes, but better for our children. By JENNIFER HIGGINS

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Advice

Don’t worry; everything will be fine! Everyone says this, but in reality, everything might not be fine, and there might be cause to worry. While it can be easy to just say “Don’t worry,” getting to the root of the problem is a better idea, because then you can address the underlying problem at hand. “You might say, ‘I know you're nervous/scared, and I understand. How can I help you feel better?’ Then talk through different scenarios or talk them through the situation or the day,” Ronna Sparks Woodward, Liberty mother of two, says. “For example, if your child is going to have surgery, let him or her know the process of check-in, IV, etc.” Once the underlying problem is established, then “don’t worry” can really happen for the child. “When my children start to worry, I encourage them to pray about it. If there is something specific that they are worried about, then I go through the worst scenario with them,” Amanda Jensen, Kearney mother of three, says.

You'll do better next time. Maybe it’s an F on a test or a strikeout with bases loaded, and we respond with an encouragement that they’ll do better the next time. But what if they don’t? Kids need to learn from their mistakes in order to improve and truly do better the next time. “Sit down with the child and say, ‘Let's talk through what happened and why it didn't go as well as you hoped. Did you do your best/try your hardest? What happened? Why do you think that it ended up that way? Let's figure out what happened and how it can go better next time,’” Sparks Woodward says. “That way, they can learn from their mistakes to fix what happened.” Learning from their mistakes is important if they want to do better the next time. If they keep repeating the behavior, they won’t see any improvement. “We might say, ‘No one expects you to know how to do it all the first time. You are just learning,’” Jensen says. “‘We keep learning.’”

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Stop being so shy and try to be more outgoing. Especially to an outgoing parent, a child’s being shy or uncertain in a situation can be frustrating. It’s easy to tell her to stop being shy, when she might just need encouragement. “You might say, ‘Let's talk through different ways that you can approach people.’ Or ‘Is there something that bothers you about what's going on that makes you feel like you can't talk to people?’” Sparks Woodward says. “Some kids are just naturally shy, and if parents push and force them out of their comfort zone, it can be harmful.” Pushing a child to be overly friendly when that’s not her personality can actually be harmful for a child. Working to help the child learn strategies to help the shyness is better than harping on her to stop being shy.

Advice

Oh, What Fun! I'm Turning 1! By JUDY GOPPERT

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Advice Hurray! You made it through the first year of being Mommy and Daddy! Now, it’s time to throw that first birthday party for your little human. Don’t fret—you’ll find many ways to commemorate the day beyond the traditional birthday party. After all, this is really about celebrating you and your new family. The first year can be a challenge as you and your spouse settle into your new roles as parents. Make sure you take time to celebrate the both of you for surviving sleep deprivation, adapting to the demands on your time and finding a new rhythm as husband and wife—as well as parents. To recognize this milestone is important. You may want to turn on your favorite romantic movie over champagne and pizza or ask a grandparent or friend to watch the birthday baby while you two go out for a night on the town. A nice way to create something that Baby will enjoy when he is older is to jot down some of your reflections on this first year in your journal or baby book, or make a list of the top 10 parenting highs and lows on which to reflect. Of course, you will want to make sure your little one gets to attack a cake of some kind. Remember, you can always place a cupcake in front of her, which is easier to pick up and devour. When you are planning the party, keep it to about an hour and a half. Babies have a short attention span and run out of energy and interest quickly. Plan the party for late morning or late afternoon, or pre- or post-nap, when your baby is lively and awake. Theme the party to what your little one likes to make the gathering more personalized. Highlight some of your baby’s favorite things over the first year, such as his first word, first food or favorite stuffed animal. Create a poster to display at the party. Remember, your baby won’t care whether it’s Pinterest-sworthy or not!

Take photos before anybody arrives, before Baby gets too sleepy or starts screaming from all the new commotion. You even can go ahead and take the “cake” photo ahead of time by making a small cake before the big day and conducting your own low-key photo shoot without guests around. That way, Baby will be all smiles and nobody will know the difference when you show photos later. If older children attend, put them in charge of games. Cousins and friends’ children love to be given extra responsibility at parties and are great at getting the attention of younger ones. Try face painting, musicmaking, singing songs and more. Remember to keep your guest list small so your babe doesn’t get overwhelmed and to keep costs down. Designate a play place that is baby-proof, filled with age-appropriate fun items for tiny guests. Be sure to ask whether any guests have food allergies to consider, and keep any snacks super simple, such as chopped fruit and graham crackers for the kiddos and possibly cheese and crackers for grown-ups. Because these munchies are self-serve, you can enjoy the fun yourselves. Weather permitting, take the party outside to a park or playground, and all you’ll need to bring are the cake, balloons, party favors, snacks and a table to put everything on. A blanket works for the kids, and they can have space to run around. Another idea to commemorate this special milestone is to create a time capsule. Ask guests to write the birthday child a short letter to read years from now. Give them themes, such as advice, a memory of the party or first year or wishes for the future. Store the notes in a marked container that reads, “Don’t open until you turn 21,” or whatever age you choose. Remember, this is your day to make your new baby feel special … and yourselves. Happy first birthday to you all!

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Advice

A Valentine's Day Playbook for Your Family By CHRISTA MELNYK HINES

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Advice Create a sweet tweets jar. Decorate a mason jar for your child. On slips of paper, write adjectives or short sentences in 140 characters or less that describe traits you most appreciate, admire and love about him or her. Hunt for Cupid’s treasure. Challenge your kids to a scavenger hunt. Give them clues on a trail of paper hearts or cupid cut-outs. One clue leads to the next until they find a Valentine’s Day surprise. Check online for scavenger hunt clue ideas. “Attack” them with hearts. On each of the 13 days leading up to Valentine’s Day, Alexis Sanchez, Olathe mom of four, posts a heartshaped note on her kids’ doors each night after they go to bed. By Valentine’s Day, their doors are covered. “Usually it's just characteristics I see in them or ways that they’re kind to others. They really love this, and I even found my 8-year-old kept all his hearts from last year in a special drawer, so that's pretty awesome,” says Sanchez, whose other children are 10, 6 and 1. Send a singing telegram. Video your preschooler singing a ditty like “I made this little valentine, Of red, white and blue; I made this little valentine; Especially for you!” (point at the camera). Email the file to grandparents or another relative your youngster is crazy about. Customize cards for classmates. Bypass the usual cartoon paper postcards and publish simple photo cards with a themed border. Last year, Sanchez attached a small bottle of bubbles to her daughter’s cards, which read “Friend, you blow me away!” Play the Queen of Hearts. Ace V-Day by sending love notes in a pack of red playing cards for your beloved. Punch holes in the corner of each card. On paper squares, write down 52 reasons why you love or appreciate him. Paste each sentiment in the middle of a playing card. Title the deck “I love you because...” and paste it on the top card. Attach the cards with a c-clip.

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Treat them to a hearty breakfast. Surprise your kids with heart-shaped cinnamon rolls. Instead of rolling your cinnamon roll dough from one side to the other, roll it on both sides so that each side meets in the middle forming a heart shape. Slice and bake. Serve juice out of dollar store champagne flutes. Make a fruit salad. Cut fruits like apples, strawberries, banana and watermelon using a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Toy with chemistry. Put candy conversation hearts to the test. Gather vinegar, salt water, tap water and bleach (with adult guidance). Place a candy heart in four bowls. Ask your child to hypothesize about what will happen when each liquid is dropped over the candy. Using an eye dropper, test her hypotheses. How does the candy react to different liquids? Did your young chemist’s predictions prove true? Get those hearts pumping. Using a poster board, make a grid of nine different exercises (sit-ups, somersaults, jumping jacks, push-ups, etc). Players take turns tossing a beanbag (or other item) onto the grid. Then they roll the dice to see how many times to do the exercise their beanbag landed on. For more ideas, check out 12345 Fit-Tastic! on Pinterest, a healthy lifestyles initiative in collaboration with Children’s Mercy Hospitals.

Advice

Hug a tree. Boost your family’s feel-good hormones by reconnecting with nature. As part of her weekly nature adventure meet-up for families, Kelly Daniels, photographer and Overland Park mom of two, is inviting families to her 10-acre property on Valentine’s Day to play in nature. Try awareness activities like the “blindfold tree hugging adventure,” in which participants are blindfolded and guided to a tree in the woods. “They get to know the tree just by feeling it, smelling it, listening to the sounds around them and feeling the direction of the sun. Then they go back out of the woods, remove their blindfold and go back to find their tree,” Daniels says. “It’s all about using awareness with all of your senses, not just your eyes. We’ll talk about how to love not only with eyes, but also with feelings.” Rev up date night. In the whirlwind of parenting, life as a couple can get routine. Plan an outing with your sweetheart that’s playful and gets you out of your dinner-and-a-movie rut. For example, lift off in a hot air balloon ride, go dancing, take a couples cooking class at the Culinary Center of Kansas City (themes on Friday nights are usually geared toward couples), paint together at a drop-in paint-and-sip studio. Or head to one of Kansas City’s best jazz clubs, The Majestic, which is located in a historic downtown building.

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Organize

2 DIY photo gifts kids can make Turn your favourite photos into personal presents with these charming DIY photo gifts.

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Accordionstyle homemade photo album

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Popsicle stick craft: Honeycomb picture frame

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Organize

Popsicle stick craft: Honeycomb picture frame

Accordion-style homemade photo album

1. Cover 6 mini Popsicle sticks with washi tape. (You can use regularlength Popsicle sticks, but you’ll need a much large photo.) 2. Glue ends of Popsicle sticks together in honeycomb shape. 3. Make a string loop and tape to top of the frame. 4. Use double-sided tape to secure photo to frame.

1. Print and cut out pictures into 6 x 8-cm rectangles. 2. Cut card stock to a 8.5 x 23 cm– long rectangle shape. 3. Fold card stock into 8-cm sections. 4. Affix pictures to card stock using double-sided tape.

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Organize

My house is messy—and I'm not ashamed of it

If you came into our home, you would see piles of clean laundry, backpacks not on their designated hooks and baskets upon baskets of toys. It's messy, but I am truly OK with it. By LOUISE GLEESON

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Organize When I come home, I toss my keys into the clutter on the table by the door. There’s a basket there that’s supposed to help avoid the morning panic about lost keys, but it’s always filled with other stuff. Lately, it’s been holding all the 3-D glasses with punched-out lenses that our eight-year-old has been collecting. If any of the kids are home, I am greeted by shoes, backpacks, dance bags and music-lesson paraphernalia, which will trip me as I make my way into the house. Yes, we have a mudroom with hooks and more baskets for those kinds of things, but we’ve all accepted that none of the clutter will find its way there unless it’s the weekend (or my more organizationally inclined husband decides he’s had enough and orders a tidy up). Truthfully, there are various levels of chaos in most of the other rooms in the house, too. And we are okay with it. Not just resigned, like a lot of parents with young kids, but really, truly okay with it. Really! We are a busy family of six, and anyone who steps into our home can see that we fill every corner of the space we live in with stuff. We did try to have an organized home in the beginning. When we were first married, and even after our first two kids were born, we cleaned up after playtime, everything went back to its designated place, and laundry wasn’t seen on the first level. I was proud to have a tidy home and felt like I was setting a good example for our kids. But then we had our third child in four years, and my husband was travelling for work, and somehow along the way we lost our grip on those routines. And so our house got messier and much less organized, but it also felt familiar and comfortable. When I visit my parents in their sparsely decorated townhome, I’m struck by how different it looks from the cozy space where my sister and I were raised. My childhood home was known for epic sleepover weekends, and neighbourhood friends (kids and adults) would often gather in our kitchen after school. There was a board game closet and a family room stocked with toys and craft supplies. If we created an elaborate Barbie world with our friends, my parents were fine with us leaving it until the next weekend rolled around and we could pick up right where we left off. I would describe it as a place you wanted to stay and spend time, and I know our friends remember it the same way.

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Our family room today reminds me of my childhood, and it’s the place in our home where people most often gather. There are piles of stuffed animals left mid-action, homemade artwork on the walls, a huge chalkboard that we use to share cheesy inspirational quotes, photos of family on every available surface, shelves of board games, baskets upon baskets of kids’ books, dog toys and, yes, piles of clean laundry. But four kids means a lot of stuff, and sometimes it does get too chaotic—like when I’m tripping over shoes or searching for an elusive hairbrush in the morning rush. And so we do an overhaul, setting aside some time to go through the house and pare things down. We donate to charities and give hand-me-downs to family members regularly (and gladly accept them, too). We keep our clothing purchases to a minimum and we don’t buy many toys, but gratefully receive them as gifts on special occasions. And after age 10, we suggest our kids accept donations instead of stuff at their birthday parties. Keeping the house clean matters, too. Bathrooms and kitchen counters are wiped down, floors are swept and mopped, and the vacuum comes out a lot—we do have four kids, after all. I don’t worry that I’m not setting a good example or that I’m raising kids who won’t know how to care for a home. They are expected to help out with the day-today operations like washing the dishes and getting their clothes into hampers. We also do our best to keep organized areas for schoolwork to be completed. We’ll do a deep clean when we have to, like on special occasions when we’re having company. And not because we’re worried about what people think, but so there’s plenty of space for our guests to hang out and stay awhile. We believe our home should be somewhere we are free to be who we really are: a busy, creative, fun family with a lot of different personalities (and shoes!). An organized, clutter-free home is definitely something my husband and I look forward to in the distant future. But for now, we’re in no hurry to get there.

“You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans. ” ― Ronald Reagan

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Creating a sense of community In her final blog post, Ruth Lera writes about the bonds she and her family form with their neighbours in the Yukon.

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

This weekend I have been feeling particularly filled with gratitude. You see, a local dog musher asked our family to help take care of his dogs while he went away for the weekend. Each morning after breakfast we have dutifully headed over to his dog yard and mixed up some slushy dog food goop and ladled four scoops each for the dogs. This small, yet significant experience has me feeling grateful to be part of a community. I didn’t have this experience of community growing up in downtown Toronto. I had neighbours as a kid and friendly neighbours at that. I played outside with the neighbourhood kids on warm summer nights, riding our bikes and skateboards up and down the dead end in the middle of the block. There was an aspect of being acquaintances with these neighbours and friendliness abounded but it wasn’t community. We didn’t help each other out in our gardens, play music together, eat meals together or depend on each other when times were tough. Here, living in the Hamlet of Mt. Lorne, 40km south of Whitehorse, Yukon, I get to do all these things with the other people who live in the Hamlet and this is what I think makes a community. One of the fascinating things about living in Yukon is that most of us live far from our biological families and it is amazing how that changes our relationship with each other. Neighbours call me when they have pneumonia and need that emergency ride to the hospital and I feel grateful that I get to be there for them. Birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving and other holidays are spent with friends in cozy homes with woodstoves burning bright as we potluck-meal our way through housewarmings, anniversaries and solstices parties alike.

My children have no biological cousins but when we go to our local community centre for volunteer work days and evening music events they romp with a group of children, many they have known since birth. The adults at the events mostly know my children by name and care about how they are and what they are interested in. These are friends who live physically near where I live and who I care about, too. This caring gets to grow by being more then acquaintances — by being people who rely on each other, and this I think is what makes community and my children are absorbing this concept just by living it everyday. Caring about people who live near you is definitely not a trait that is confined to remote rural locations. Neither is growing your own food or finding ways in which to un-school your life even if your kids go to school everyday. In a world that becomes increasingly technological, where can we each find those places to connect? Connect with each other on a human level. Connect with our children through unstructured time to be together. Connect with nature through walks in the forest or time spent in the garden. Connect with ourselves through life-nurturing introspective and quiet reflection.

January/February 2019 - Family Life

4 easy ways to teach kids gratitude Studies show that grateful kids are happier, less stressed and have a more optimistic outlook on life. Here’s how to instill this practice in your kids.

When Candice Falby and her six-year-old daughter were walking home from school together one day, her daughter asked why there was always a man sitting on the street. Taking the opportunity to explain what it means to be homeless, Falby was amazed at what came next. When they stopped at a bakery, her daughter asked if they could buy something for the man to eat. Once inside, Falby clarified it would be easier to choose an item that wouldn’t require reheating or utensils, as he likely didn’t have these items. “She became emotional and grateful for the simple things we do have, which we all sometimes take for granted,” says Falby. It’s possible for young kids to be taught to understand gratitude. Researchers have found that by age five, most kids have developed a preliminary grasp of it. While practising gratitude is a process that takes time, it’s worth instilling when kids are young. “When a child is able to appreciate the positives in their life, it can improve their mental and physical health, resiliency and academic outcomes, and can even help them create stronger social connections,” says Cristina Magriñá, a clinical psychological associate at Kindercare Pediatrics and Springboard Clinic in Toronto. Teaching gratitude might seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are four simple ways to integrate this practice into your life. Practise what you preach The first step in teaching gratitude is modelling the behaviours yourself, says Magriñá. To do this, designate a specific time each day—like at dinner or on the drive home from school—to discuss things you’re grateful for. For example, say something like, “It’s such a sunny day today. I’m so grateful for that,” and then ask your kid what they’re grateful for.

Encourage sharing Sharing is the simplest gratitude-building activity and yet one of the most effective. Jessie Bawden, a mom of two girls under five, likes to take advantage of holidays such as Halloween and Easter to teach her kids how to share. She gets them to save a few favourite treats from their hauls and send the rest with Mom and Dad to share with co-workers. “I have been encouraging them to think about children who might not have the abundance we do and to be generous,” says Bawden. Donating outgrown clothing, books and toys is another great way to encourage sharing. When Bawden and her family does this, she’s often surprised when her kids donate a few of their favourite items. Some children have a harder time letting go of toys they’ve formed a connection with, so it’s important to empathize with your child and compromise—have them choose just one or two toys to give away, which will make them feel like they have control of the situation. Write it down Another easy way to get kids thinking about the positives in their lives is by keeping a gratitude jar and having them add notes to it every night before bed. If your kid would rather draw, they can start an art journal, in which they can illustrate what they feel grateful for. Magriñá recommends reading through the notes or reviewing the art once a week, as feelings of gratitude are best absorbed upon reflection. Give them a chore and then thank them for the work Giving your kids age-appropriate chores can foster gratitude in two ways. First, they flex their empathy muscle by understanding that these chores, which caregivers regularly do for them, often take a lot of work. This ability to empathize with someone’s effort puts them in a better position to experience genuine feelings of gratitude, says Magriñá. Second, your kid will likely feel proud of their actions after receiving favourable feedback—thanking them can reinforce this positive behaviour. Plus, it increases the likelihood that their future “thank yous” will come unprompted.

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Salad Days Adding oil, herbs and flavourings transform individual salad components into a deconstructed meal the brood will love.

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

White Beans 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest pinch of salt pinch of pepper 1 540-mL can white kidney beans (drained and rinsed well) 2 tbsp chopped parsley Couscous 2/3 cup uncooked couscous 1 cup boiling water 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/4 cup chopped roasted almonds 2 tbsp chopped green onion 1/2 tsp salt pinch of pepper Tomatoes 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil1 tbsp basil leaves pinch of salt Tuna 170-g can solid white tuna (drained well) 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp finely chopped shallot 2 tsp drained capers Greens 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil1 ½ tsp red-wine vinegar ½ tsp Dijon mustard pinch each of salt and sugar 4 cups baby salad greens Greens: Whisk oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar and salt together. Add baby salad greens and toss to combine. Tuna: Combine tuna with olive oil, shallot and capers. White Beans: Combine all ingredients and mix well. Couscous: Place uncooked couscous in a bowl. Add the boiling water, cover and let stand 5 min. Stir in celery, almonds, green onion, salt and pepper. Tomatoes: Toss tomatoes with olive oil, basil and salt. Serve each salad component buffet-style, so that everyone can take a little of everything.

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Food

Comfort food Take the stress out of busy weeknights with these easy makeahead dinners. Photography by ERIK PUTZ

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Comfort Food Baby napping? Before you crash on the couch, whip up this easy recipes and pop it in the freezer so you're prepared for that next sleep regression. Photography by ERIK PUTZ

Pasta e fagioli Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Chicken pot pie

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Black bean and veggie enchiladas

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

Slow cooker bone broth

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Food

Slow cooker bone broth PREP TIME:30 MINS TOTAL TIME:11 HOURS 1.5 kg mixed bones , (such as knuckle, neck, back, shank, etc.) 1 tbsp canola oil 2 carrots , coarsely chopped 2 celery stalks , coarsely chopped 1 large sweet onion , coarsely chopped 1/4 cup coarsely chopped parsley stems 2 sprigs fresh thyme 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 2 bay leaves 2 garlic cloves , crushed 1 tsp salt 1. Preheat oven to 475F. Place bones in a roasting pan. Drizzle with oil, then toss to coat. Roast, turning bones occasionally, until they smell like roast beef and are dark brown, 30 to 40 min. 2. Using tongs, transfer bones, to a 4quart slow cooker. Carefully drain and discard fat from roasting pan. Pour 1 cup water into roasting pan. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, then pour into the slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients, then pour in enough water to cover bones. 3. Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours. 4. Using tongs, remove bones to a large bowl. Remove any meat from bones (for another use), then discard bones. Skim off any remaining fat. Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve into Mason jars. Seal and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Pasta e fagioli PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:30 MINS 1 tbsp olive oil 3 celery stalk , Chopped 2 carrots , Peeled and diced 1 small red onion , Finely chopped 1/4 cup tomato paste 4 cups water 2 cups diced ham steak 900 ml carton chicken broth 1 tsp dried rosemary 540 ml can no-salt-added red kidney beans , drained and rinsed 1 cup star or Ditali pasta Garnish 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley 1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium. Add celery, carrots and onion. Cook until onion is soft, about 3 min. Stir in tomato paste and cook, 2 min. Add water, broth, ham, salt and rosemary. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, 5 min. 2. Remove from heat. Uncover and let cool. Stir in beans and uncooked pasta. 3. To freeze: Ladle soup into freezer bags. Let out all the air. Label and date, then lay bags flat to freeze for up to 3 months. 4. To reheat: Defrost frozen soup in a sink of warm water. Reheat over medium-high, stirring often, until it boils for at least 2 min. Ladle into bowls and top with Parmesan and parsley.

January/February 2019 - Family Life

Black bean and veggie enchiladas PREP TIME:25 MINS TOTAL TIME:25 MINS 540-mL can no-salt added black beans , drained and rinsed 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese , divided 1 cup frozen corn 1 red bell pepper , diced 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp salt 10 small whole-wheat tortillas 283g can red enchilada sauce To serve sour cream sliced pickled jalapeno peppers 1. Line a 9 x 13-in. baking dish with 2 sheets of heavy-duty foil, leaving overhang on all sides. Spray bottom, sides and overhang with cooking spray and set aside. 2. Combine beans, 1 cup of the cheese, corn, pepper, chili powder, coriander, cumin, garlic powder and salt. 3. Lay tortillas out on work surface, then divide filling equally among tortillas, placing a line down the centre of each one. Roll each tortilla around the filling and place, seam-side down, in prepared pan. 4. Wrap tightly with overhanging foil. Pack remaining 1 cup cheese in a resealable zip-top bag and place on top. Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours. Remove foil packet from pan, and wrap tightly with plastic wrap, including cheese. Label and date, then return packet to freezer for up to 3 months. 5. To bake from frozen: Position rack in bottom third of oven, then preheat to 375F. Remove plastic wrap and cheese. Place foil packet back in 9 x 13-in. pan. Bake for 45 min, then unwrap so top is uncovered. Top with enchilada sauce and cheese. Continue baking until cheese is bubbly and golden at edges and insides are hot, 10 to 15 min. Top with sour cream, jalapeños and green onions, and serve with a green salad.

Food Chicken pot pie PREP TIME:45 MINS TOTAL TIME:1 HOUR 45 MINS 1/3 cup butter 1 large onion , diced 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 2 cups 2% milk 900 g Skinless, boneless chicken thighs , cut in chunks 2 large potatoes , cut in 1/2-in. cubes 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 750 g (about 6 cups) bag frozen peas and carrots 1. Line two 9 x 13-in. baking dishes with heavy-duty foil, leaving 5 in. of overhang on all sides. 2. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 min. Stir in flour and cook for 1 min. Gradually pour in chicken broth and milk while whisking, then bring to a simmer. Add chicken, potatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink and potatoes are tender, about 15 min. 3. Remove from heat, then stir in frozen peas and carrots. Divide mixture between prepared baking dishes. 4. To freeze: Let filling cool completely to room temperature, about 45 min. Wrap filling tightly with overhanging foil. Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours. Remove foil packet from baking dish, then wrap well with plastic wrap. Label and date, then return packet to freezer for up to 3 months. 5. To bake from frozen: Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400F. Remove plastic wrap and return foil packet to baking dish. Bake for 30 min. Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to the size of the baking dish. Unwrap foil and cut away overhang with scissors. Stir filling, then spread evenly. Place pastry on top, then cut slits with a paring knife and brush pastry with milk. Continue baking until pastry is golden brown and filling is hot in the centre (it should reach 165F with an instant-read thermometer), about 20 min. Let stand for 10 min before serving.

Family Life ‐ January/February 2019

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A Dog's Way Home January 11 Over the years, Lucas plays with and takes care of Bella. However, Lucas also continues to feed the cats at the old house, putting himself in the crosshairs of Günter Beckenbauer, the man who intends to demolish the house. He even calls the city about the cats who live there, which delays the demolition. Vengeful, Günter notifies animal control that Bella is a pitbull (despite not looking like one), because in Denver, pitbulls are illegal, due to (the assumption and mostly untruth's that they are) being a dangerous breed. That evening, an overzealous animal control officer named Chuck comes by to warn Lucas that if he finds Bella on the street, he will impound her.

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

January/February 2019 - Family Life