Another Birthday party for my granddaughter.

This year’s Birthday Party’s theme was Dora The Explorer, with her whole entourage, whom all the little girls totally adore.

My daughter, as always, went all out with her craft talent, imagination, and lots of planning effort, to prepare a wonderful and fun Birthday Party for her daughter.

I will share some pictures, for your pleasure, and some fresh ideas for your next party planning.

The invitations were handmade, to resemble a “Backpack”, one of the main characters in the Dora adventures.  The inside of the invitation was in a form of a map, also very fitting with the theme.  Very original and cute!

She made these out of construction paper, plus the use of her stamping tools, and with a helping hand from the Birthday Girl, who loves crafts, and helping her mom with all fun projects.

This is the inside of the invitation, resembling a map, which Dora always carries in her backpack to help her navigate her travels (for confidentiality and protection of identity, I blocked off the personal information about the party.  Basically, I do not trust cyberspace that much….and  recommend that you shouldn’t either!)

The “Birthday Princess” was helping her mom to color these giant pictures of the other significant characters in Dora the Explorer adventures, and used them to decorate the walls of the party rooms, in addition to the numerous balloons, including a giant balloon of Dora, of course.

The main snack table is ready for the party, and each food item is appropriately identified to go with the party theme.

“Swiper No Swiping” Cheese Doodles, Isa’s Cheese & Crackers

The Fiesta Trio’s Salsa & Chips

Tico’s Veggies

This was a very popular snack with the little ones.  Today’s Moms are doing a great job with introducing their children to not only steamed veggies, but also raw ones.

Jello Jigglers was another favorite snack with the Birthday Girl and all her guests.

These were cut out into star shape, once again, to match the Dora party theme, as well as an easy finger food for those little fingers.

There were also star-shaped, freshly made toasted Melted Cheese Sandwiches, totally enjoyed by the young birthday crowd, paired well with other snacks and veggies, plus individual ice cream cups. (Parents of course had their own “grown ups” food for their meal).

The party attendants also had lots of fun activities outdoors, as Mother Nature cooperated with gorgeous weather.

The whole back yard was  full of over a hundred of Easter Eggs filled with candy and small toys, strategically strewn all over the grassy area,  ready for a fun egg hunt.

Here is two more outdoor games set up for everyone’s enjoyment, as prerequisites to the egg hunt game.

These are: Dora’s Bean Bag Toss game, and Crossing The Tunnel under The River challenge.

Each party attendant was equipped with a specially made “Backpack” , and a map to follow to execute each consecutive event.

The Birthday Girl’s mom was also assisting with further instructions, to help the games move along in a fun way.

The parents had fun watching their little ones having fun, and capturing it all on their cameras and videos.

The first game was a Dora Bean Bag Toss.   Everyone received 4 bean- filled bags, which they needed to toss into the pockets of the Dora Target.

The youngest players needed to get a little closer than the older ones, and that was OK, as long as they had fun doing it.

According to the map, the next obstacle was to crawl through the tunnel, to cross under the river, to reach the egg hunt event.

The river was constructed out of a plastic slip-and-slide, positioned over a toy tube tunnel.

The kids had lots of fun playing these games, then running quickly to line up for the egg hunt.

Once all the eggs were collected into their backpacks, they still had energy to enjoy the activity gym in the back yard, before going back in for some cake and cupcakes.

Dora The Explorer chocolate flavored Birthday Cake, selected by the Birthday Girl, and prepared by a local bakery, was a dream come true for all Dora admirers.

There were some vanilla flavored rainbow cupcakes, available for those who did not care for a chocolate flavored cake.

Party time was almost over, as most of the party goers needed their nap by now (including their parents or grandparents…), but as always, everyone got to keep the special backpack full of fun stuff inside their Easter Eggs, and in addition they also were treated to additional party favors.

Each guest received a Dora coloring book, and a special 4-pack of multi-color playdough, to add to their backpack treasures.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and felt like you also attended the party (without feeling burned-out, or indulging in the additional calories of party food….)

Everyone loves jello, or at least most of us do.

Jello desserts can be plain and simple; prepared in a single serving dish, then served in chunks.

I love my jello served with whipped cream on top. How about you?

Jello can be mixed with other ingredients, such as cream cheese and fruits, and turned into a more festive dessert.

Jello can also be used as a top layer of a cake, and served as an elegant, after dinner  dessert.

Today’s jello recipe is somewhat plain, but at the same time, very creative.

It takes some prior planning, as you can see in the above picture, I used hulled out grapefruit shells, as individual vessels for the jello.

Directions:

• You simply cut your grapefruit, lemon, or orange, in half, consume the fruit, but save the shell.  You need to preserve the shell undamaged, or your jello will leak out.

• Orange shells do not need any additional preparation, as long as you remove the orange sections carefully, as not to damage the shell.

• Grapefruit however, requires additional careful removal of the remaining section fibers, after you scoop out most of the sections and the juice.

• I also peel out some of the white pulp attached to the section fibers, to leave a nice clean shell.

• If you need more than one day to save up enough shells, that is fine, as long as you keep them refrigerated , or leave them out in the open air, for a day or so.  They will begin to dry out slightly, but this will not affect their performance.

• Once you have enough shells, cook your jello per package directions, but use only HALF of the recommended amount of water, to make a firmer jello, thus easier to cut into serving portions.

• Position your fruit shells on a platter.

• Fill each shell all the way to the top, with cooked jello.  Hot will not hurt it, and warm will be fine as well.

• Cool completely. I cool mine at room temperature until mostly set, then I transfer them into the fridge, in a more convenient container.

• Before serving, use a sharp knife, and cut each shell into serving wedges.

• First, I cut each shell in half, as above.

• Then, I cut those halves, into three even sections.  Therefore, you will get 6 jello wedges from each 1/2 grapefruit shell.

This dessert was a huge hit with my four year old granddaughter.  She absolutely loved eating these jello wedges, as if they were orange sections.

This is a fun way to serve  jello at kid’s parties!!

I used Lime jello, for a more springy color for Easter Sunday, but any flavor is suitable.

The grapefruit aroma of the peel, does slightly permeate into the jello, but does not affect it adversely.

Using the fruit shells for serving jello, eliminates washing the serving dishes.  The leftover peel can be chopped up, and thrown into your garden to add acidity to your soil, or shredded in your garbage disposal, to freshen it up.

It is an all around winner!, no matter how you look at it.

Stay tuned, as my next post will also be dedicated to jello dessert;  European recipe shared by my sister-in-law.

This year’s mild winter weather is very favorable for my garden, and my spring flowers.

Isn’t this a gorgeous bloom of a Daffodil?

My mom’s garden used the have lots of White Daffodils with orange rimmed centers.  They were much more fragrant than these yellow ones.

Spring is my favorite season of the year.  I love the fresh air, after a long winter, the vibrant colors of new growth on plants and trees.

It looks like the earth is waking up from a deep sleep, getting ready to show off the beauty of nature.

I planted these hardy Pansies last Fall.  They stayed green and blooming throughout  winter (thus slightly weathered looking), and now are picking up new spring look.

Hardy Viola, also survived the winter with its original foliage and blooms.  Now changing to a more springy shade.

Today’s warmth of the spring sun, coaxed these Crocuses also open up nicely.

How is your flower garden doing in your area?  Any blooms yet, or maybe even more than here?  Please share with us.

This year’s winter, at least in my neck of woods, has been quite mild.

We are already into the second week of February, yet we only had about an inch of snow (a month ago), and the temperatures have been unseasonably warm (even in the 60’s).

This wonderfully warm weather, yet strange at the same time, fooled my spring flowers into coming out of the ground, and some are even blooming.

Here are some pictures of the early signs of spring 2012:

Can you believe all these blooms in February…..

Hyacinths are  poking through….

Isn’t it just amazing how the forming flower bud is so close to the ground?

Crocuses are also waking up….

Daffodils had even an earlier start….

Notice the Daffodil bloom budding already…..way to early…

New Year Resolutions do not usually make it to the top of my list, but I am keeping some ideas on the back of my mind.

For a while now, I have been contemplating  getting back in shape, and improving my energy level.

I am also having a guilty feeling about not sticking to my healthy eating habits, and really miss the great feeling I experienced three years ago, after completing Phase I of The Fat Smash Diet.

I finally decided to follow The Fat Smash Diet once again, so this Monday, January 9th, I am starting Phase I  – Detox.

It would be great to have some company, so please join me, and you will LOVE yourself for it.

If you never tried this diet before, please read my post about The Fat Smash Diet, to get an overview of what to expect.

This is the easiest diet for me to follow, since during Phase I, the Detox period, I am not overly concerned about giving up coffee or alcohol;  I do not care much for either one of them anyway.

This past weekend I ventured out to get my special food shopping done.  I stocked up on a lot of fruits, raw vegetables, veggie burgers, brown rice, oatmeal, plain yogurt, and new Brita filters for my tap water.

I used to purchase bottled water, but after finding out that bottled water is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, yet tap water MUST meet certain standards, I decided to go back to my Brita filter system.

The Fat Smash Diet regimen requires a lot of water consumption.  Probably as much as I normally should be drinking, so now I will be much more conscientious about it, and actually do it right.

What I love about this particular diet, is that all the ALLOWED foods, are my favorite any way, and even though I still love all the BAD ones, it is good for me to get away from them for a while, and cleanse my system.

It is an easy way to lose weight, and most of all, feel so much better.

I am hoping to lose at least 7 pounds, but 10 would be even better.

I know I can do it, since last time I lost 15 pounds without too much effort, and only gained back 7 lbs.

Please wish me luck, and tell me that you are joining me!

Another year is passing us by, and a new one is just around the corner.

There is no better way to farewell an old year, and welcome in the NEW YEAR, than to do it with food and friends.

If you are planning such a fun gathering, and searching for some tasty appetizers, you stumbled upon the perfect site to get this information.

Since I am still dealing with leftovers from Christmas, I will not be posting new recipes this week, but will provide you with links to yummy recipes already posted.

Selection A:

• Tzatziki Dip
• Rye Bread Dip
• Hummus
• Chick Peas Vinaigrette
• Veggie Platter
• Ham Canapes

Selection B:

• Jalapeno Corn Dip
• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Seven Layer Guacamole Dip
• Swedish Meatballs
• Texas Caviar
• Caramel Apple Dip
• Mrs. Z’s Deviled Eggs
• Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomatoe Cheese Spread
• Honey Apple Brie Bites
• Turkey Taco Ring

Selection C:

If you are looking for a more substantial food selection, in addition to the appetizers, you may want to check these out:

• City Chicken
• Chicken Paprikash
• Chicken/Turkey Tetrazzini
• Calico Beans
• Homemade varenyky/perogy
• Cabbage Rolls (vegetarian, or with meat)

I believe this list should be very helpful for you, and by next year, I should have more recipes for you to try.

Enjoy your party.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

While most children are awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, many others are expecting a visit from St. Nicholas.

My grandchildren are very excited about receiving  gifts from St. Nicholas, since they also get to participate in plays and poetry recitals at our local church, and youth organization.

It makes this holiday that much more special, feeling like a star, performing on a stage at such a young age of three.

This year, my granddaughter received a Gingerbread House kit from St. Nicholas, and could hardly wait to get home, to get the project started with her mom.

She was very patient, following all the instructions from her mom, and very meticulous about positioning all the candy in the proper places ( sampling few here and there…that’s part of the fun).

She was so proud of her completed project, and so were we, so I promised that I will post some pictures on my blog.

This is the front entry to the Gingerbread house.  She was deciding on the colors and type of candy to use, and the positioning of the figures. Her mom handled the icing part.  The white base was part of the kit.

She decided on a back entry as well, including additional windows. How cute is that.  Maybe that’s grandma’s private entrance?

A side view.  As you will see, she decided to decorate the house from all sides.  Good thing there was plenty of candy with this kit.

View of the other side, and top of the roof.  Not sure what all the gum drops represent on the roof top??

Close up view of the roof with a chimney.  She was very excited about the chimney, so I needed to point it out as well.

If you are looking for fun projects to do with your children, or grandchildren, putting together a Gingerbread House is a wonderful idea.

It lets you spend quality time with them, and makes their imagination run wild.

If your children, or grandchildren are older, you may want to make a Gingerbread House from scratch.

Are you stressing out because the gift giving holidays are closing in on you, yet you are still battling with a myriad of thoughts on the perfect gift for that someone special?

No worries!!!

Suburbangrandma is here to offer some simple advice.

Fist of all, you should try to make your purchases from your local businesses, small gift shops, craft shows, bazaars, farmer’s markets, hospital gift shops, etc. This way you will not only find fabulous gift, you will also support your local community, rather than some foreign countries which employ children in sweatshops, or do not follow any labor laws.

So, here we go with some gift ideas:

Gift Cards:

• Car wash – everyone loves to have their car cleaned
• Grocery Store - who wouldn’t love free grocery???
• Paying someone’s utility bill
• Movie Theater – include the popcorn and a drink, if possible
• Local Restaurants -  (kids might like fast food places, and some adults stay loyal to their favorite franchise coffee shops…)
• Beauty Salon – from a simple hair cut, to a total papering package
• Massage - foot massage, facial, body massage

If your budget is tight, you can do special things for your loved ones.

These  are the “Gifts from the heart” – as I call them.  They require some funds to start with, but mainly lots of TLC, and time, to complete.

Handmade gifts:

• Decorative ornaments - for any holiday theme
• Home baked goods – nicely packaged in tins, holiday bags, or a cup
• Homemade candy – also nicely packaged for a special touch
• Crochet gifts – scarfs, hats, blankets, pot holders, place mats, bookmarks
• Cross stitched items - bookmarks, ornaments, linen dinner napkins
• Cookies-in-the-Jar – all the dry ingredients for a cookie recipe, with directions
• Soup-in-the-Jar – same idea as for above cookies in the jar
• Hot cocoa – packaged creatively

There are also great ideas for teenagers, who are too young to have a job, but old enough to carry out these chores for their parents, grandparents, or any special person in their life.

Personalized Coupons:

• Home cooked meal - anytime, or for a special occasion
• Babysitting -  give the parents a break, and some time for themselves
• House cleaning – I bet everyone would love this one
• Gardening – weeding, planting bulbs, watering, lawn mowing
• Pet sitting, or pet walking – this one might eventually turn into a paying job later on

BEST GIFT OF ALL – Share your time with someone.

• Someone special
• Someone you do not get to see very often
• Friend, or neighbor, who does not have anyone to talk on regular basis
  
• Someone in a nursing home, retirement center, or a hospital

There are a lot of adults, and children, who do not have many visitors, yet long for someone to stop by and say hello, and to share a few precious moments together.

See, I told you not to worry.

Now you are ready to complete your list, and do the right thing.

As always, I like to engage my readers to share their gift giving ideas with all of us.

Thank you!

It is a proven fact that with weather changes, we also experience health related changes.

There are more people suffering from cold, flu, and other ailments, during Winter season, than any other time of the year.  Wouldn’t you agree?

Our healthcare providers do not encourage us to get flu shorts for the Summer, but as soon as Autumn approaches, flu shot requests are as popular as the gold rush.

During cold weather we tend to crave comfort foods, relax more, sleep longer, and stay warm.  Warm drinks, and hearty soups, also gain popularity.

I came across a very interesting article written by Dr. Mao, about longevity and Five Chinese secrets of maintaining health and energy during the Winter season.

Winter: the sleep of nature

The winter season is when nature sleeps, and everything experiences the slowing of natural processes — even our bodies. Humans stopped hibernating like their ancestral cousins long ago, but our bodies still experience the natural inclination to slow down in winter. The winter is a time to come back to quietness and rebuild your energy reserves.

I encourage you to read the complete article to be ideally informed, but I will post the headings of the Five Chinese Secrets to Winter Health:

1. Early to bed, rise when the sun is up

2. Be contented

3. Nurture energy storage

4. Eat for the season: no raw, cold foods

5. Avoid coldness and linger around warmth

So, what do you think?

Were you surprised by any of the items you read about?

How do you change your lifestyle during the cold winter season?

photo in this post was received via email – author unknown

Sauerkraut soup, also known as “Kapusnyak”- in Ukrainian, or “Kapusniak” – in Polish, is a very refreshing, zestful, and  nutritious soup.

I like making Kapusnyak for Easter late afternoon meal, since in Ukrainian Easter tradition, very special foods are served for brunch, so Kapusnyak is a wonderful addition to this menu for an early afternoon meal.

It also gives me a chance to use the leftover shank bone from the baked ham, and some of the pan juices, which add wonderful flavor to the Kapusnyak.

Ingredients:

• 1 ham shank bone, with some meat on it
• 8 cups of water
• 1 whole onion
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 carrots, cubed
• 2 stalk celery, cut to large pieces
• 2 cups sauerkraut (drained, and rinsed out)
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 Tbs. Canola oil
• 2 Tbs. flour
• Sour cream (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 Tbs dill weed, chopped
• 2 dry Porcine mushrooms (optional)

Directions:

1. Fill a 6 quarts (or larger) soup pot  with  cold water.
2. Add the shank bone, and bay leaves, and some of the pan juices (these may be quite salty), and bring to boil.
3. Cook for 30 minutes.
4. Add whole onion, chopped carrots, celery, and 2 dry Porcine mushrooms.
5. Cook for 20 minutes.
6. Remove the celery stalks, whole onion, and the bay leaves.
7. Drain the sauerkraut, place on a colander, and rinse under a running, cold water, for about 2 minutes, continuously mixing it, to remove most of the sour juices.
8. Squeeze out, to drain the water, add to the soup pot.
9. Bring to boil, and cook for additional 30 minutes, or until kraut is tender.
10. Remove the whole mushrooms, chopped them up, and add back to soup.
11. Remove the shank bone, cut away the remaining meat, and add the meat back to soup.
12. Heat Canola oil in a sauce pan, add the chopped onions, and saute until golden.
13. Mix in 2 Tbs of flour to the onions, and brown lightly.
14. Gradually add some soup stock to this mixture, and mix well to creamy consistency (not lumpy), while cooking it for a couple of minutes, so it thickens.
15. Add to soup, and bring to boil.
16. Season the soup with salt and pepper, to taste.
17. Add chopped dill.
18. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, and fresh rye bread.