Fall Stove Top Potpourri

Can we share our latest obsession?

Stove top potpourri is something that will make your house smell like one of those fantastic holiday commercials where everything is warm, cozy and stress free (read: two kids enjoying each other's company, aka not fighting, while a gorgeously put together mom drinks a hot cider on a couch in front of the fire).  Last year we were urged, urged by the wonderful guys at Crafty Lumberjacks to make this stuff and we never did.  Shame on us!



What you need, and it's probably already in your home!

This is a great 'kids in the kitchen' activity and perfect fall craft.  The uncooked ingredients in a glass jar make beautiful inexpensive gifts for teachers and neighbors this holiday season.  So get those adorable kitchen helpers ready!

Give it as a gift in a beautiful Mason jar!

If you have never made stove top potpourri before, it's simple.  Just grab aromatic ingredients in your home, set them on the stove in a pot with water and let them simmer.  Your house will smell like fall and bring you a bit of extra relaxation which always brings on a bit of patience.  Who out there can't use more of that?

You can use anything but for our recipe all you need are apples, orange rinds, cinnamon sticks and water.

Peel the orange, chop the apple, and place them in a mason jar if you are going to give it as a gift or for it to be cooked later.  If you want to cook it now then pour the ingredients straight into a pot.

After adding all ingredients, add water.

If you are interested in enjoying your potpourri immediately, then simmer the ingredients on the lowest setting of your stove top (or in the slow cooker) all day and enjoy the glorious smells!  When the water begins to evaporate you can simply add more.

This is a great sensory activity for younger kids.  Encourage them to smell, touch and describe the ingredients they are adding.

To find more stove top potpourri recipes, visit the Crafty Lumberjacks, they have several sweet smelling ideas that will make your holiday season warm and cozy.  This link has a recipe that includes cranberries and sage (squeal).

Fall at the Farm- Creating Lil Foodies

Even if you have to travel a great distance to get to your nearest farm – we promise that a trip this fall will not disappoint.  Whether your little ones are into picking apples, getting lost in a corn maze, or guessing the pumpkin’s weight - your family will have a blast!  Let your kids explore, get a little dirty and pick out a vegetable or two to bring home and taste. We're always looking for opportunities to remind kids that food doesn't come from a store or factory. And let's face it, nothing beats farm life in the fall!

These are some pics from this weekend that are from our local farm which hosted a fantastic harvest festival and really got us in the 'October' spirit. All the produce looked amazing and we can't wait to start celebrating the fall season with our new pumpkins!

Local Farms Create Little Foodies

Going to a local farm to pick produce is a fantastic way to get your kids interested in fresh produce. Children are more likely to eat food that they have a hand in making or prepping, so picking food will help your kids get excited to try ingredients that may be unfamiliar. Talk about how fruits and veggies grow, whether on trees or in the ground. Do they taste sweet? Crunchy? Crispy? Juicy? How do they feel? Smooth? Waxy? Squishy? What color are they? Encourage your little ones to use all their senses to get the full experience. Oh and take lots of pics and have a blast!

Botanical Gardens- Creative Ways to Create Little Foodies

There are hundreds of Botanical Gardens across North America, and if you are lucky enough to live near one, you've most likely already experienced this dreamlike escape into nature. Aside from their exotic flowers, majestic trees and whimsical canopied pathways, many of these botanical gardens have herb and vegetable gardens. This makes for the perfect trip for your budding little foodies! Encourage your kids to talk about the vegetables, how they grow and what they smell like. Allow for lots of gentle touching and observing. If real food is what your kids know, it'll be what they love!





These photos were taken in the veggie and herb garden at the Descanso Gardens in Southern California.

We'd love to hear about your botanical garden experience!

Farmers Market + Kid= Little Foodie

Want to encourage your kids to be adventurous eaters?  Farmers markets are the perfect family outing for just that!  With loads of free samples and gorgeous displays of colorful fruits and veggies, your kids will be tempted to touch, smell and taste.  Encourage them to use all their senses and find something new.

This little guy picked out some bok choy to try for the first time.

Little foodie tips for the farmers market:

-Go with a recipe in mind that you can make later with your child.

-Have your child help choose the produce, encourage them to smell and hold it.  Talk about the colors and the texture.

-Encourage kids to ask the vendors questions about their produce.   Find out where the produce is from, how it grows, what are recommended ways to prepare it, etc.

-Take advantage of free samples that are offered.   Set a good example by being willing to try something new.

-Make the recipe together as a family.  Kids love to help out in the kitchen, it gives them purpose and confidence. Plus they are more likely to eat what they've had a hand in making.

 

He LOVED IT!  Couldn't stop smelling and tasting while saying "Yummy!"

For Roasted Bok Choy Recipe, click here.

We'd love to hear about your family trips to the farmer's market!

Little Helper Shopping Lists

The more they help the more likely they are to try new foods.

Most of us experience the super market as a chaotic and stressful trip, often with children in tow.  On those glorious days where there's a bit of extra time and life seems to slow down just a tad, why not have your little kitchen helpers give you a hand?  In other words, time for a quick art project!

Have your little ones create a list in picture form that they can use to check off items as you shop.  While creating the list you can ask them thought pondering questions like where do tomatoes come from?  Do they grow in the ground or on trees?  Is this bread whole wheat? Where does wheat come from?  What does spinach do for your body?  Makes you strong, of course!

Obviously this can't happen on every trip, but it sure is a fun activity for every once in a while and will remind your children to think a bit more about the food they eat. Just like with cooking, children are more prone to trying food that they've had a hand in selecting.  

Fruit Sculptures

 

Looking for something fun and creative to do? How about making some of these! Time in the kitchen together doesn't have to mean cooking. This may even get your kiddos to not only eat fruit but to try new varieties they've never tasted. Get creative with after school snacks!