Winter Warmer Recipes
Father’s Day Ideas Issue 33 | Johannesburg - East Rand | June 2020
From The Editor’s Desk... I
was going to write about all the positive things that I’ve taken from this lockdown period, but as I was writing I realised how immensely privileged I am, and I can’t bring myself to write about all the positives, when there are millions of families in South Africa who have seen no positive side to this pandemic. People are unable to work and can’t even feed their families. This is devastating, and I can’t begin to imagine how it feels and what these families are going through. I am incredibly grateful that
I have a job and that I was able to work through the entire lockdown, safe at home with my family. So instead I would like to encourage you to help someone in need, if you have the means. If you know of a family in need, a great option is to buy a virtual Checkers vouchers online. You can buy them via Computicket.com, and you can send the voucher directly to a cell phone number. You could also contact your local baby home/ orphanage to find out what they need. If you don’t have
CONTENTS
Everyday Life/HOME LIFE
4 5 6 8 9
Meet the Cover Stars Mum’s Mail Ladies Breakfast Finding Joy in the Simple, Everyday Tasks Balancing and Stretching your Budget During Tough Economic Times Steps4Hope Challenge
DELICIOUS LIFE/Healthy Life 10 11 12 13
Winter Warmer Recipes Your Blood Saves Lives International Cancer Survivors’ Day Dr Megan @ Home: Men’s Health Awareness
money to give, you could consider donating your time to an organisation or feeding scheme, or donating your pre-loved clothes and blankets to a local church for distribution to the needy. You can also donate blood read more about the SANBS and Blood Donor Month in this edition. I hope you enjoy this June edition, and all the wonderful content and ideas we’ve put together for you. Find Father’s Day ideas, recipes, competitions and more! Until next time, Sarah
EDUCATED LIFE/kidS’ LIFE
14 Disciplining with Heart 16 Managing the Remote Learning Challenge 17 Keeping Education on Track in the Disruptive School Year 18 Make it From Scratch 20 Ideas to celebrate Father’s Day at Home 21 Father’s Day Recipe 22 Make your Lockdown Exercise Outing a Family Affair 23 Book Reviews by Bargain Books 24 Rustle Up a Bird Feast 25 Level Your Little Green Thumbs
The Mum’s Mail Team
Editor: Sarah Mackintosh • sarah@mumsmail.com • Enquiries: 031 - 714 4700 Accounts: meghan@mumsmail.com • Designer: Wendy Offer Advertising Sales: Bev Delew • bev@mumsmail.com | Anisha Singh • anisha@mumsmail.com Cover Photographer: Shoot the Moon, shootthemoonza@gmail.com, 078 099 4372 DISCLAIMER: Neither the Publisher, Printer or Editor can be held responsible for damages or consequences of any omissions or errors, as every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in Mum’s Mail. We do not guarantee the performance or quality of service of any of the advertisers in this magazine. No part of Mum’s Mail magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor.
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Meet the Cover Stars In honour of Father’s Day, this month we feature Claudio del Gallo and his three gorgeous daughters, Daniela (11), Giulia (10) and Alessia (6).
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laudio and his wife Louise live in Pretoria with their three girls. They own Gallo Precast – manufacturing of specialised precast concrete. The girls enjoy outdoor activities with their dad such as quad biking, hunting, fishing and water sports. “There’s no greater bond than a dad and daughter bond,” says Claudio. “Enjoy every moment while they are little as they grow up so fast!” “We’ve really enjoyed the quality family time together during lockdown, as we live in such a fast-paced world these days,” says the proud dad. Each of the the del Gallo girls has a special message for their dad this Father’s Day. “I love my dad because he makes me laugh and he spoils me. He is very kind and loving. My dad loves to spend time with me my sisters. He is the best dad ever and loves to play with us. He works extremely hard for us. My dad is my superhero,” says Giulia. Daniela had this to say; “I love my dad - he is the best. My dad works extremely hard for my sisters and I, and he helps us with everything - no matter what it is. My dad is my
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superhero, he is the best! My dad helps me get through everything and I love spending time with him. Even though my dad works a lot, I make memories with every second with him. I love him with all my heart, I don’t know what I would do without my dad. He is the reason I am the person I am today. From when I was born to where I am now.” And last but not least, Alessia wrote a poem about her dad: “Dear Daddy, Do you remember the first time you laid eyes on me? On that day God chose you to be my dad. You’ve held my hand, showed me love and for you I am glad. There is no one else I would rather climb on and share jelly tots with. Thank you for providing, protecting, teaching and nurturing me. You are my first love and I’ll always be daddy’s little girl. From you I’ve inherited strength, wisdom and of course my fabulous hair. All my love, Alessia.” Happy Father’s Day to all the specials dads out there! By Sarah Mackintosh.
Mum’s Mail Ladies Breakfast The 7th Annual Mum’s Mail Ladies Breakfast in support of The Sunflower Fund and sponsored by Maritzburg Arch Lifestyle Centre, is approaching.
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he theme this year is Flower Power - think 60s, bellbottoms, peace signs and hippie. This fun virtual event is taking place on Wednesday 24 June 2020 via Zoom from 9am to 10.30am. Booking is essential and tickets cost R100 per person and includes two raffle tickets. Ladies are encouraged to dress to theme, make their favourite breakfast and sign on for a morning of inspirational guest speakers and fun. Basic requirements for successful participation
include a stable internet connection and a computer or smartphone device with a camera. There will be an enviable raffle prize up for grabs at only R10 a ticket and a few prizes will be awarded to the bestdressed guests. This year’s line-up include a presentation by Peach Piche from Fresh Eyes who will be speaking on ‘How to BLOSSOM despite the challenges’ as well as a presentation by Estelle van Gelder from DandyLine Organisers who will be speaking on ‘A mediocre
life post lockdown’. Guests can expect a full how-to guide before the event to familiarise themselves with what to expect. Funds raised from the event will enable The Sunflower Fund to create awareness as well as educate and recruit more blood stem cell donors.
To book tickets or expose your brand through prize sponsorship, please contact Stephanie Berry on 078 207 9041 or email steph@sunflowerfund.org. For more information about The Sunflower Fund, visit www.sunflowerfund.org or call 0800 12 10 82.
WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM EVERYDAY LIFE
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Finding Joy in the Simple, Everyday Tasks N
Getting your kids to help around the house aids in childhood development
ow that families are spending their time working, learning and playing from home, parents are juggling an overwhelming amount of responsibility, and finding time to engage in structured playtime with the kids is more challenging than ever. But, while playtime as a family is crucial for building strong family ties and developing a variety of important skills in children, there are other ways that parents can achieve all of this without adding any more stress to their day. Carryn Martin, an occupational therapist with a special interest in sensory integration and child development, says that involving children in everyday tasks, such as household chores, meal preps and taking on more responsibility with the family pet, can be just as beneficial as playing together. “From an occupational therapy perspective, involving children in a variety of household domestic tasks has huge benefits for skills development in children,” says Martin. “A child engaged in a variety of short, manageable and fun everyday tasks – independently and with parents – is able to grow cognitively, physically and emotionally.” Bring back chore wheels – your kids will thank you for it. In a Braun Research poll of over 1 000 parents, when asked whether they assign household chores to their kids, just 28% of today’s parents said they did, even though 82% said they had grown up doing chores themselves when they were young. It’s not difficult to imagine why there’s such a discrepancy – kids’ schedules are busier than they used to be, parents may have negative associations to “chores”, and on the other hand, it could be easier for parents to just do the chores themselves instead of nagging their kids.
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However, kids who learn how to fit tasks into their days are more likely to improve their time management skills. It also teaches kids a measure of independence as they take pride in being able to accomplish various ‘grown-up’ activities by themselves, not to mention the likelihood that kids who learn to pitch in at home are more likely to develop that mind-set later on in life – like in the workplace. Doing every day activities together is important, too. While chores are helpful in teaching children independence, participating in everyday tasks with your child is just as important. Not only does it instil a sense of teamwork, but is also a great way to spend time together bonding as a family. This also teaches children social skills, like how to work together to accomplish a goal. Martin says that children develop fine motor and bilateral skills by spending time in the kitchen – mixing cake batter, for instance, involves using both hands in a functional manner (one hand stabilizes the bowl while the other mixes). “Mental and emotional care is just as important as physical care for children, especially during these times of uncertainty,” says Kristian Imhoff, Country Manager for LEGO South Africa. “Playing together builds healthier, happier families, but the simple act of making a meal or folding laundry together has an impact on child and family wellbeing too.” Parents are trying their best under the circumstances, and while they can’t add more hours to the day to spend exclusively on playtime with the kids, getting the whole family to roll up their sleeves and dive into everyday tasks at home has just as much of an impact on childhood development and bonding as a family.
WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM HEALTHY LIFE
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Balancing and Stretching your Budget During Tough Economic Times
There’s no doubt that we’re going through tough economic times as a country at the moment; and the family budget will probably be the hardest hit during this time.
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t’s therefore important that we take careful steps in managing our expenses. The good news is that it’s possible to find some breathing space by putting a few variable expenses under the microscope. Save on groceries Now, we’re not suggesting that you take a militant approach to your family’s meals and start serving up plain crackers for dinner. Draw up a shopping list and do the following: • Consider using online grocery shopping apps. Yes, they charge a small delivery fee, but you will stick to your shopping list and not be tempted to add any extras to your shopping cart. • Put off buying luxuries and personal indulgences until things improve. Reduce your entertainment budget Having fun as a family is important in building a family identity and creating memories. We can build a family bond without breaking the bank by following the tips below: • DSTV, Netflix, Showmax
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and the rest. Review the number of entertainment services your family subscribe to and the data it uses. Agree with them to keep the one or two you all use most frequently. • Focus on spending meaningful and fun times together by playing board games like Monopoly, 30Seconds, etc. They are great for teaching important skills such as verbal communications, interacting with others, learning to
share and waiting your turn. Once you have started following these tips, track your savings and stay on course. Most importantly speak to a financial adviser about the best ways to save for the things that really matter to your family. Go to www.oldmutual.co.za to speak to an accredited Old Mutual financial adviser today.
Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Limited is a Licensed Financial Services Provider
Steps4Hope Challenge The ngo sector is particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic asmany organisations have had to cancel fundraising events.
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he Sunflower Fund is calling on your support to join the Steps4Hope challenge to help them raise funds. You can make a difference from the comfort of your home by joining the Steps4Hope challenge. Steps4Hope is modelled off the idea of The Everest Challenge, which aims to replicate the distance from the base to the summit by climbing stairs in a team relay totalling 8 848m. The Sunflower Fund is bringing the challenge to your home. It is much easier than climbing Everest, but fun all the same. Get the family involved and get moving. You need to complete roughly 12 000 steps to cover the distance. How to get involved: Visit www.givengain.com/c/sunflower-
fund and sign up as a fundraiser to show your support and involvement. Share the link with your friends and family and get them to support The Sunflower Fund for every step you complete towards the challenge. Share photos and videos of your family’s efforts as you tackle your 12 000 steps and add obstacles to make it more challenging for yourself. Post your videos on Social Media, tag @ SunflowerFund and use #Steps4Hope in your post.
For more information about becoming a donor or how to support financially visit www.sunflowerfund.org, WhatsApp 074 715 0212 or call 0800 12 10 82.
Through all of life’s ups and downs, you want to know that you and your family are prepared and able to realise your dreams and goals. With 175 years of wisdom, we understand the challenges that families face. Our financial advisers can work with you to create a financial action plan that meets your demands for today, and maps the success for your future.
YOUR FAMILY’S JOURNEY TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS STARTS NOW
Talk to us about financial success for your family. Call us on 0860 60 60 60 or visit www.oldmutual.co.za to speak to a financial adviser.
175 YEARS OF DOING GREAT THINGS Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (SA) Ltd is a licensed FSP.
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2020/05/18 16:35
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Winter Warmer Recipes
Crock Pot Beef Stew Ingredients: • 2 pounds beef chuck or stewing beef • 3 tablespoons flour • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 3 tablespoons olive oil Rich and Simple French Onion Soup • 1 onion chopped • 1 cup vegetable juice/stock Ingredients: • 4 cups beef broth (you can substitute one • 1/2 cup unsalted butter of these cups with red wine if you prefer) • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce • 4 cups sliced onions • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or 2 sprigs fresh • 4 (10.5 ounce) cans beef broth • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 1 sprig fresh • 2 tablespoons dry sherry (optional) • 3 cups potatoes peeled and cubed • 1 teaspoon dried thyme • 2 cups carrots cut into 1 inch pieces • salt and pepper to taste • 1 cup celery stalks cut into 1 inch pieces • 4 slices French bread • 3/4 cup peas • 4 slices provolone cheese • 2 tablespoons corn starch • 2 slices Swiss cheese, diced • 2 tablespoons water • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Method: Melt butter with olive oil in a stock Instructions: Combine flour, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste. Toss beef in pot on medium heat. Add onions and conflour mixture. Brown the beef and onions in tinually stir until tender and translucent. Do not brown the onions. Add beef broth, sherry olive oil in small batches. Add some of the broth/wine to the pan and scrape up any and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, brown bits. Add all ingredients except peas and simmer for 30 minutes. Heat the oven and corn starch to a slow cooker. Cook on broiler. Ladle soup into oven safe serving bowls and place one slice of bread on top of high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 8 to 9 each (bread may be broken into pieces if you hours or until beef is tender. Mix corn starch prefer). Layer each slice of bread with a slice with 2 tablespoons of water. Stir into the of provolone, 1/2 slice diced Swiss and 1 ta- stew a little bit at a time to thicken (you may blespoon Parmesan cheese. Place bowls on not need all of the mixture). Add peas. Cover cookie sheet and broil in the preheated oven and cook 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve. until cheese bubbles and browns slightly. Source: www.spendwithpennies.com. Source: www.allrecipes.com.
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Your Blood Saves Lives June is dedicated to blood donors. Without them and their dedication to blood donation, lives would be lost.
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orld Blood Donor Day is commemorated annually on 14 June in a global celebration of the millions of people throughout the world who give their blood on a voluntary, basis to save the lives of those in need. Less than 1% of South Africans are active blood donors. A unit of blood only lasts 42 days after donation and, for this reason, it is important for blood donors to donate regularly. Donors can give blood as often as every eight weeks.
Every unit of blood can save a minimum of three lives as blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets. The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) aims to collect 3000 units of blood per day to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply in the health care system. Donating a unit of this “precious gift of life� saves the lives of those in dire need of blood. Thousands of patients
would die daily if there was insufficient quality blood in stock. When one donates blood, they give patients the gift that money cannot buy or science cannot create.
To find out where and how you can donate blood, visit the SANBS website at www. sanbs.org.za.
WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM HEALTHY LIFE
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International Cancer Survivors’ Day In South Africa alone, one out of four people will be affected by cancer in their lifetime through diagnosis of family, friends, colleagues or self.
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he increase in the number of people diagnosed with cancer leads to an increased number of people living with many kinds of consequences. The first Sunday in June is set aside for celebrating hope and life with survivors and their families with a special day of hope, support and nurturing. The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a survivor as anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life. Although CANSA supports Survivors throughout the year, International Cancer Survivors’ Day remains a special opportunity to acknowledge cancer patients, whether newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment or in remission, and the courage and determination it takes to fight the disease. It’s also an occasion to inspire hope, that cancer can be beaten, and to remind survivors that they are not alone. You are not alone and CANSA would like to support you and your loved ones. As you face your cancer diagnosis, learn to live with and through this disease and even beyond it, they would like to inspire hope and courage
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in you and empower you with the information you need to take control of your life. CANSA is committed to connecting people facing cancer with information, day-to-day help as well as the emotional support they need in the communities where they live. Their aim is to ensure that cancer survivors and their loved ones don’t have to face cancer alone - CANSA is here to support them through every step of their cancer journey. The responsibility rests with patients to contact CANSA for assistance. CANSA is not informed of any diagnoses or of patients being treated at medical centres. Family need to obtain permission from patients, before CANSA may contact them. You can sign up for CANSA’s iSurvivor email-based support programme and Aunt Sophia will send you weekly emails to inspire and encourage you – at no charge. She’s a cancer survivor herself, so she knows what a rollercoaster ride this cancer journey can be! Visit www.isurvivor.org.za or www.cansa.org.za for more information on CANSA and how they can help you or your loved one.
Dr Megan @ Home: Men’s Health Awareness Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is all we can think about, it is important for us to remember our general health concerns too.
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s we celebrate Father’s Day this month, our focus is on Men’s Health Awareness Month this June. We recommend a medical check-up every six months - this includes a blood pressure check, glucose and cholesterol blood tests, as well as a general medical examination From the age of 40, we should add a PSA to the blood tests which is the Prostate Specific Antigen. Many middle-aged men will develop an enlarged prostate at some stage. This causes various symptoms including needing to pass urine more often during the night, a reduced urinary stream or only droplets, difficulty passing urine or the urge to go more frequently. Obviously, prostate cancer must always be excluded, but very often the cause is a benign overgrowth of the prostate which is easily managed with medication. Mental health is a tricky subject with many men, who feel the pressure to be the provider and the backbone of their families. It is important for us all to be taking care of
each other through these trying times. As stress levels have risen in the past few weeks, so have the physical symptoms of anxiety. These include poor sleep, palpitations, increased sweating, headaches, nausea, chest pain or breathlessness. Link this with poor concentration, agitation, uncontrollable worry, or a short temper and feelings of hopelessness, it is a slippery slope down to depression. Acute stress and anxiety can be managed with non-medical treatments such as exercise, or meditation and rest... but often this isn’t enough and that is where your doctor can assist you with medical treatment to manage the symptoms of acute stress and get you over this hurdle. Our rooms are open and taking every precaution to keep you and ourselves safe from COVID-19. We are also offering telephonic/virtual consultations if you would prefer. Please do not hesitate to contact our rooms for any guidance. By Dr Megan Broughton, 031 582 5303, www.umhlangagp.net.
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Disciplining with Heart Carol Surya, psychologist and author, writes about a kind and loving approach to disciplining our children, and the rewards thereof.
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ouldn’t it be great to shout at our kids less, while actually getting them to co-operate more? Instead of constantly nagging and feeling frustrated, when we discipline with heart, something magical happens With less effort, we achieve more! It’s an approach that relates to your child’s (as well as your own) feelings, while speaking clearly and firmly about what’s expected at the same time. It starts with training ourselves not to lose our cool and lash out with punishment. Instead, focus on taking three deep breaths and remembering that when we’re disciplining our kids, we’re actually teaching them what’s expected. Seen this way, we can easily understand why shouting, threats and smacks aren’t good ways to discipline, because they don’t teach anything of value. In fact, our kids are actually learning that it’s okay to shout, threaten, or smack others, because that’s how we’re handling them. Whether we like it or not, our children learn everything from us. How we discipline affects what our kids learn about
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controlling feelings, handling arguments and difficult situations. So it’s really worthwhile to take a moment to calm down first and to think about what we’d like to them to learn when we discipline them. For example, if Jo keeps leaving his shoes on the floor, our discipline comment could teach (remind) him that “shoes aren’t for the floor, shoes are for wearing or keeping in the cupboard”. If we’re harsh, threatening and overly demanding, getting their cooperation is less likely.
Top tips for disciplining with heart:
• Focus on the relationship - speak in ways that maintain your connection (not worsening it) • Keep calm - take deep breaths before you speak; the way you say things is key • Speak softer and move closer - this grabs attention, gains co-operation and helps sensitive ones • Guide instead of forcing - manipulation isn’t needed Rather state clearly what’s expected. • Be respectful and encouraging - by viewing them as worthy and deserving • Be consistent - explaining what’s expected and
maintaining it this way all the time • Be fair, logical and simple - so there’s no need for them to back chat or to try to get out of it • Be both kind and firm acknowledge their feelings, give consequences AND follow through • Offer choices - let them decide the way in which they get it done, which teaches responsibility • Encourage capacity building - teach them to use their personal power in constructive ways • Build them up - using words like “nice listening”, “thanks for helping” which acknowledges efforts. Last but not least, remember that discipline is a learning process (for us and our children), involving plenty of showing, explaining, attempts, corrections and practice before anyone really learns anything. So be patient with yourself (and them) and watch how disciplining with heart can transform your home and your family life.
Visit www.raisingkidspositively.com or Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: @raisingkidspositively for more information and to find out about Carol’s free parenting webinars.
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Managing the Remote Learning Challenge Bellavista School has solutions for parents battling the challenges of remote schooling.
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he number of memes joking about parents’ new-found appreciation for teachers disguises a real truth: already facing the challenge of their own anxieties in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, many mothers and fathers are battling with the juggle between maintaining their own deadlines and ensuring their children don’t fall behind with schoolwork. Bellavista School’s team of psychologists, therapists and teachers offer this expert advice to help you stay on track. • Keep a routine as far as possible. We often undervalue the structure and calm that routine brings our lives – so, tempting though it may be to sleep in, you’ll all feel far less anxious if you set a regular wakeup time, shower, dress and brush teeth. Children thrive on routine, and with all the uncertainty and anxiety that surrounds us at the moment, all the more reason to keep a routine. • Create a conducive workspace for your child. Ideally, this should be in a quiet space
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in the house free from distractions like the TV, with good light and fresh air, and it should be reserved for homework. If you can set this up alongside your own workspace, so much the better – this will allow you to check in on how your child is progressing from time to time. • Make use of the online resources at your disposal. After all, you’re not a teacher and don’t, therefore, have the requisite skills. Luckily for you, the people who do are just a phone call away – most teachers have made themselves available via Zoom or WhatsApp. And if they haven’t, a YouTube tutorial is just a click away. • Accept that some rules may have to be relaxed. This isn’t the time to be draconian about screen time, for example – when you’re doing your best to juggle your own work responsibilities with housework and homework, a little extra time on a device may give you an extra hour. What you can do, though, is make your children ‘earn’ those hours; for example, by completing chores or an hour of schooling. And, as always, make sure that the platforms your children are accessing are appropriate. • Address anxiety. You can be sure that your children have picked up on the stress you’re experiencing, but try to minimise this by limiting their exposure to TV and social media content they won’t understand. Encourage them to voice their concerns so that you can talk through them, and be open and honest about what’s happening, but keep these explanations age appropriate. Bellavista School is a private remedial school in Johannesburg. For more information and to access support tools, visit www. bellavistashare.org.za.
Keeping Education on Track in the Disruptive School Year After a school shutdown of more than two months, teachers, parents and students are all gearing up to save the 2020 academic year.
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owever, as Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and the Department of Basic Education kick start their phased approach, there are still many questions about how parents and teachers can help limit the effects of this disruptive year on our children. Keep the momentum going as far as possible Recent data shows that the quality of learning has steadily been improving over the past 20 years and we must try our best not to lose this momentum. While the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has advised on how to transition to technology-based distance learning, collaborations with the SABC, radio channels, E-Portals and NGOs have proved vital in helping students to stay on track. Paper Video is a one such platform that is helping high school students improve their Maths, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Accounting from home. This has been achieved by creating exam revision resources with video lessons embedded directly into the resources themselves. Students have access to thousands of past exam questions and step-by-step video guides that take learners through each question. Children forget One recent study conducted in Malawi by Dr Shrochis Karki and David Jeffery, both Senior Education Consultants at Oxford Policy Management, found a significant decline in students’ reading ability when they returned from their school holidays. Parents, guardians and teachers need to be prepared for the fact that students will forget a lot of what they’ve learned and need to get creative when it comes to revision work.
Connecting to education While Minister Motshekga has made it very clear that no child will be forced to go to school and that parents have a right to choose, it’s still vital for children to feel “connected to education”. Maintaining some kind of educational programme, benefits children’s mental health and it will make it easier for them to transition back into some form of normality. Accelerated learning While children will have fallen behind, hope is not lost. Well-designed “accelerated learning programmes” have shown some success in helping to reintegrate children even in under-resourced environments. It’s important that these programmes focus on the work that kids would have missed during their curriculum and adapt their lessons. Catch up and keep learning with Paper Video While the restart button for the school year certainly poses some difficulties, Paper Video is aiming to partner with parents and high school learners not only as the ultimate revision resource, but as an excellent way to track progress. Learners have access to some of the best teachers in South Africa and to an unmatched collection of over 11000 video lessons. Lessons provide complete curriculum coverage and are suitable for both CAPS and IEB where learners can brush up and learn everything from individual exam questions to entire topics. Students can choose to access Paper Video online which includes all resources, keyword searching and progress tracking. Their offline packages each include a book of 10 past exam papers and a 32GB microSD card for data-free video access. Visit www.papervideo.co.za or contact 061 357 2304 for more information on how to get started. WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM EDUCATED LIFE
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Make it From Scratch MUM’S MAIL EDITOR, SARAH MACKINTOSH, SHARES HER FAVOURITE RECIPES FROM THE LOCKDOWN PERIOD.
Homemade Pizza Crust Follow these basic instructions for a thick, crisp, and chewy pizza crust at home. The recipe yields enough pizza dough for two 12-inch pizzas and you can freeze half of the dough for later. Ingredients: • 320ml warm water (between 38°C and 43°C) • 2 ¼ teaspoons Red Star Platinum instant yeast (1 standard packet)* • 1 Tablespoon (13g) granulated sugar • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) olive oil • ¾ teaspoon salt • 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour, plus more for hands and surface • A sprinkle of cornmeal for dusting the pan Instructions: Prepare the dough: Whisk the warm water, yeast, and granulated sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment. Cover and allow to rest for 5 minutes. If you don’t have a
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stand mixer, simply use a large mixing bowl and mix the dough by hand with a wooden spoon in the next step. Add the olive oil, salt, and flour. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. With lightly floured hands, knead the dough for three to four minutes. The dough can be a little too heavy for a mixer to knead it, but you can certainly use the mixer on low speed instead. After kneading, the dough should still feel a little soft. Poke it with your finger – if it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready to rise. If not, keep kneading. Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or non-stick spray – just use the same bowl you used for the dough. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with aluminium foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 60 to 90 minutes or until double in size. Preheat oven to 240°C. Allow it to heat for at least 15 to 20 minutes as you shape the pizza. Lightly grease baking sheet or pizza pan with non-stick spray or olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with cornmeal, which gives the crust extra crunch and flavour. Shape the dough: When the dough is ready, punch it down to release any air bubbles. Divide the dough in half. (If not making two pizzas, freeze half of the dough for another time– see freezing instructions below.) On a lightly floured work surface using lightly floured hands or rolling pin, gently flatten the dough into a disc. Place on prepared pan and, using lightly floured hands, stretch and flatten the disc into a 12-inch circle. Lift the edge of the dough up to create a lip around the edges. Cover the dough lightly with plastic wrap
or a clean kitchen towel and allow it to rest for a few minutes while you prepare your pizza toppings. Top & bake the pizza: To prevent the filling from making your pizza crust soggy, brush the top lightly with olive oil. Using your fingers, push dents into the surface of the dough to prevent bubbling. Top with your favourite toppings and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Slice hot pizza and serve immediately. Cover leftover pizza tightly and store in the refrigerator. Reheat as you prefer. Baked pizza slices can be frozen up to 3 months. Source: www.sallysbakingaddiction.com.
Sweetcorn Bread
Three-Ingredient Condensed Milk Ice Cream Ingredients: • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract • 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk (395 Grams) • 500ml tub of whipping cream Method: Beat the cream with an electric mixer until it begins to thicken. Add the vanilla and beat until a light whipped cream forms. Gradually add the condensed milk and fold it into the cream. Pour into a container and freeze until hard. Delicious things to add to add to your ice cream include (but are not limited to): fresh strawberries, Crunchie Bar, M & Ms, crushed nuts and blueberries. We decided to add crushed tennis biscuits and Milo! Yummy! Source: www.stayathomemum.com.au
This delicious bread from Pheka makes delicious toast and goes so well with a stew style meal - and nothing beats freshly baked bread hot out the oven! Ingredients: • 4 cups self -raising flour • 2 Tbsp sugar • 1/2 tsp salt • 2 eggs • 2 Tbsp sunflower oil • 3/4 cup (180ml) milk • 1 tin cream style sweetcorn Method: Preheat the oven to 170°C and place oven shelf in the middle. Mix the self-raising flour, sugar, salt and eggs together using a wooden spoon. Then add the oil, milk and sweetcorn. Add the grated cheese (keep a little aside to sprinkle on the top) and add the chopped parsley. Mix all together with the wooden spoon. Prepare a loaf tin with non-stick spray and place bread mixture into the tin. Sprinkle some grated cheese on the top. Bake at 170°C for about one hour, or until a skewer comes out clean. Let the loaf rest in the tin for 10 minutes then loosen and turn out to cool slightly before slicing. Best eaten fresh out the oven with butter! Source: www.pheka.co.za. WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM RECIPE FEATURE
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Ideas to celebrate Father’s Day at Home Usually on Father’s Day, dads are showered with cards and presents and treated to a day out with the family – but this Father’s Day is a bit different.
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lthough you can’t take dad to his favourite restaurant for lunch (oh how I wish we could) – you can still make his day special in other ways… It just requires a bit more creativity! Make breakfast in bed Show your dad just how much he means to you by making him breakfast in bed! Start his day off perfectly with his favourite breakfast – be it poached eggs, cereal, toast or even pancakes or flapjacks with syrup – even a cake! Get creative in the kitchen! Have a picnic in the garden Winter in Durban and KZN is just the best – the days are sunny and warm, but not too hot! Prepare Dad’s favourite snacks and meal, and take some blankets and pillows in to the garden for a relaxed outdoor lunch. You will even be able to treat him with his favourite wine or beer, which I’m sure he will really appreciate! Play some party games Play some old-fashioned games or board games at home with Dad! From Simon Says to a good ‘ol egg and spoon race or musical chairs - there’s plenty
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of games you can play at home as a family. It’s sure to tap into his competitive side and it’s a great way to get active. Make some Father’s Day crafts Homemade presents can’t be beaten so why not get crafty with the kids this year? Save yourself some pennies (and a trip to the shop) and let the kids channel their inner artist and create an easy keep-themquiet Father’s Day card. The whole family — including Dad — can explore their
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creative sides with these fun family crafts. Put on a puppet show The kids will love to put on a puppet show – it’s a favourite in our house! We make simple paper figures, colour then in and stick them to wooden skewers. My son then hides behind the couch and puts on his puppet show. It’s simple and fun and you don’t need any special equipment. This is sure to keep dad entertained and give the family a good laugh. By Sarah Mackintosh.
Father’s Day Recipe Here’s an easy and hearty meal to make for the family this Father’s Day, from local chef, Shikaar Yadh. Roast Chicken and Butternut Gallitien with Butter Cream Pepper Sauce Ingredients: • 1 large chicken, deboned, whole (ask your butcher to do this for you if you don’t know how) • 750ml cubed butternut, steamed • 15ml chopped fresh thyme • 20 sage leaves • 50ml chopped garlic cloves • Fresh Ground Pepper • Salt to taste • 125g butter
For the sauce: • 125g butter • 250ml fresh cream • 60ml chooped red peppers • Salt and black pepper • 5ml chopped parsley Method: On a sheet of foil, lie chicken (skin down) and rub chicken with half the amount of butter. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with garlic and thyme. Now down the centre of the chicken, over the breast, place all the sage leaves and place the butternut over this, place the remainder of the butter
on top of butternut, then roll the chicken up into a log, using foil to help hold its shape, twisting the ends up. Heat the oven to 190C and roast in foilfor 90 minutes. Once cooked, allow to rest before serving. Sauce: In 50g butter, suate peppers, add the rest of the butter an cream and allow to b oil until it thickens. Season, before mixing in parsley. Cut chicken into slices and serve with the sauce on the side. Serve with garlic rolls and enjoy with your favourite side.
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Make your Lockdown Exercise Outing a Family Affair Your marathons have been cancelled, your cycling group is in lockdown and you now have a classroom in your lounge.
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ut all is not lost, you can still get out for some much needed exercise on level 3, so why not bring the family along too?Julia Downey, Brand Manager for Thule SA’s Active with Kids category, suggests the following options to consider when enjoying the outdoors with your little ones: Running • Opt for a 3-wheeler stroller when running with your child. Their unique designs include suspension for comfort and control and they are also easy to manoeuver with various intelligent features, designed specifically for active parents. • If your stroller has the option to fix the front wheel then ensure it’s in the fixed position when jogging. • Ensure that wheels are pumped and hard prior to your run and add slime in the tyres to avoid any punctures along the way. • Use a strap from your wrist to the strollers handle on hilly terrain. • If your child is a little older, ensure that their shoelaces are tied and nothing is hanging near the wheels to prevent accidents.
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Cycling If you prefer to let the ‘wheels do the walking’ for you, then a child bike seat will allow you and your most treasured possessions, to enjoy everyday bike rides, safely, easily and in style. It’s also an opportunity to introduce children to the joys of biking. • Make sure your little one has a helmet that fits him or her correctly • Ensure you have the correct bike and determine if a front or rear bike seat suits your needs more. • When you get the bike seat, have some practice rides without your most precious cargo and make sure you are comfortable and confident on the bike (add a sack of potatoes or some shopping for some weight to get a feel for it) • Always read the manufacturer’s instructions for fitting and using your bike seat and make sure your child is properly strapped in. • And finally, enjoy the ride! Your child will love taking in the sights and sounds of the outdoors as you ride, and you’ll be able to enjoy every squeal, smile and giggle along the way.
Walking If the family prefers a slow and steady walk, then a child carrier backpack is another option and great for a low impact and steady exercise. Choose a carrier that’s comfortable for both you and your little. Here are a few tips to consider before making a purchase: An adjustable back panel and hip belt that provides a perfect fit and comfortable carry and a carrier that can also make the transition between parents easy. A carrier with stirrups let your little one rest their legs and readjust themselves. A breathable back panel provides padding and support at critical contact points, allowing air to circulate around your back, keeping you cool. Visit www.thulestore.co.za for a range of these products that are all available for purchase and delivery during lockdown.
WIN! WIN! WIN! Mum’s Mail has one Yepp Nexxt Child Bike seat (valued at R2499) to give away. Visit www.mumsmail.com to enter.
Book Reviews by Bargain Books Mum’s Mail has a R2000 Bargain Books vouchers to give away. For children ZACK IS BACK by Jaco Jacobs. Zack Berry returns with three more fantastic adventures: The Masked Green Mamba (translation of Zackie Mostert en die Gemaskerde Groen Gevaar)… in which Zack and sidekick become superheroes in order to wipe out crime and save lives on Zucchini Street, only to find that there isn’t so much evil to take down – until they stumble upon an actual case. The Spooky Story (translation of Zackie Mostert en die Spokerige Storie)… in which Zack and his friend decide to have a super-spooky ghost story night. Unfortunately, the two of them are not as brave as they thought, and something happens that could make school unbearable forever. The Miserable Match (translation of Zackie Mostert Druk ‘n Drie), in which Zack’s sparkling rugby career never really gets off the ground. GRANDPA ZOMBIE by Jaco Jacobs. There are all sorts of reasons to set off on a trans-African adventure but, chances are, the imminent zombification of your grandfather is not among the more common ones. Alex’s grandpa is quite like most other grandpas in many respects. He has grey hair, he has the false teeth going on, he’s not the snappiest dresser and he loves travel programmes. But when he suddenly develops a ravenous taste for brains, he becomes a less typical grandpa. Alex is going to have to find a way to save his grandpa before the Zombie Squad shows up with their own ideas about how to handle the situation… and his plan involves heaps of broccoli. Racing from Zimbabwe all the way to Egypt, Alex and the various colourful companions he picks up along the way have no time to waste as they hunt down the cure. Funny and action-packed, Grandpa Zombie also features all the compassion and family-and-friends-understanding that makes Jacobs’s books so undeniably appealing. STARFELL 01: WILLOW MOSS AND THE LOST DAY by Dominique Valente. Starfell 01: Willow Moss and the Lost Day is the first book in a fantastic new series of magical middle-grade novels ideal for fans of Cressida Cowell. So, what are you waiting for? The magic is waiting… Let your child step into a world like no other… and find out if Willow can find the day to save the day.
Reviews by Bianca Noel-Barham, Bargain Books on 021 706 1461, bianca@bargainbooks.co.za or visit www.bargainbooks.co.za. Follow them on Instagram & Facebook: @bargainbookssa.
WIN WIN WIN Mum’s Mail has a R2000 Bargain Books vouchers to give away. Visit www.mumsmail.com to enter. WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM KIDS’ LIFE
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Rustle Up a Bird Feast You might not envy their diet of insects, nuts and seeds, but I’m sure you can sympathise with a rumbling tummy.
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es, birds can get very peckish, so why not help by setting up your own “all you can eat” snack bar? If you don’t have a handy tree from which to hang your gourmet delights, you can even make your own from some cut-off branches. You will need: Cut-off branches, large plant pot, bricks or stones, soil or sand, garden wire, unsalted and unbuttered popcorn, apples, orange halves, lard, flour, oats and birdseed. A large plant pot is a great place to house your fake tree. As they don’t have roots to anchor them, you will need to wedge your branches between bricks or stones to stop them from flopping over. You can then fill around them with soil or sand, before adding some pretty stones to decorate around the base. You can then make it look rather beautiful at the same time as laying out some tasty treats for the birds. Use unsalted and unbuttered popcorn threaded onto garden
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wire to make nibble rings. You can also add a loop to the end of some of the wire before threading on some sliced apples. And, unlike you, the birds won’t turn up their noses when the apple looks a bit brown (yeah, you might want to learn something from this). For a really nutritious treat, get some old orange halves (just the empty peels) and thread them through some more wire to hang them from the tree. You can then use one part lard (at room temperature), squished with one part flour, two parts oats and one part bird seed to make the filling. The mixture can also be smeared and pressed into old pine cones which can then be hung from the branches with some twine. And don’t pull that face – I’m not asking you to eat it! Tip: Birds come to rely on their regular snack bars, so make sure you keep yours topped up, especially from late autumn to spring when they need it most. Source: 101 Things For Kids To Do Outside by Dawn Isaac.
Level Your Little Green Thumbs In celebration of Youth Day on June 16, Life is a Garden is on a mission to get kids dabbing for dirt!
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his month is all about enticing little green thumbs to get their nature on by integrating familiar gaming concepts into the world of gardening. We’re talking all about inspiring kids to see gardening as a real-life gaming opportunity, where they select the players, choose their weapons, and use that thirst for adventure to their advantage by creating themed worlds. Selecting possible players By this, we mean choosing the best-suited crop for your kid. A visit to your local GCA Garden Centre easily becomes an exciting morning outing when the kids get to select the players for their gardening game-play. Here’s a list of a few worthy contenders, which are relatively easy to grow and fun to harvest: Namaqualand daisies (Dimorphotheca sinuata): This colourful and quirky
sun lover attracts butterflies and bees, and flowers during autumn, winter, and early spring-time. Iceland poppies (Papaver naudicaule): A wow factor flora that is available in many shades and bicoloured varieties, easy to grow in full sun, flowers in winter and spring, makes for a great cut flower. Wild mint (Mentha longifolia): Smells amazing and has many uses, a fast grower in semi-shade or full sun, the more you harvest, the more they grow! Sugar snap peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon): And easy, great tasting vegetable for winter growing in full sun. It’s frost hardy, likes to climb and loves to be picked. Creating a world of wonder Give your child some gardening tools and it’s time to create their world! Encourage them to think about a
theme for their gardening adventure. Give them a large pot or a designated area in the garden. Invite their imaginations to run wild at the possibility of a zombie, troll, mermaid, or fairy garden! Once you’ve planted your seeds, it’s all about patience. While you wait, start a growing chart with your child to document the growth of their game players. Whether they are into fantasy or fighting, racing or resurrection, bringing the virtual world of gaming into real-life gardening can be an exciting and engaging project for every child. Not only will it get them outdoors and promote a healthy lifestyle, but it also offers opportunities for quality time, sharing of knowledge, and a whole new appreciation for the many wonders of Mother Nature! Visit www.lifeisagarden.co.za for more ideas. Small Busine Franch ss is info@li es FOR SAL E ttleact ors.co : .za
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