Spring is (Almost) in the Air

Thank goodness February is almost over. It is by FAR my least favorite month of the year and this year it's torturing me by being one day longer than usual. I mean, do we really need a February 29? 28 days of cold and misery is plenty, thank you very much. The fabulous news is that my favorite month of the year is March and it's mere days away. March has always meant the promise of better weather (well, outside of the Pacific Northwest anyway), spring break (yes, I'm 33 without a child in school and I still anticipate spring break), and my birthday! Ok, so the birthday part gets a little less exciting each year but it's still something special to look forward to. In honor of my anticipation of all good things that March can bring, here are some Spring teasers from Pinterest to get you through the last lame days of February.



Fresh fruit will be out in stores more and more as Spring arrives and what better way to ruin its nutritional content than to add Nutella?!

1/2 cup Nutella + 1 cup nonfat, plain Greek yogurt = amazing fruit dip.

Such a sweet Spring arrangement using sliced limes as a filler. Instead of Roses try using Tulips, Hydrangea, or Rhinoculous that will all soon be in season.

Whether it's a birthday party, baby shower, or Easter lunch, this is a creative and easy way to serve ice cream to a group. Scoop the ice cream into lined cupcake pans and put them in the freezer. Pull them out when you cut the cake and serve!

Bobbi Brown Nude Rose Rich Lip Color- finally the lipstick that doesn't look like a lipstick! A great subtle change to make from heavier winter make up.

Break out the rainbows (almost) and put away those boots (soon)!

So are you looking forward to March as much as I am?! The icing on the cake is that Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 11- less than 2 weeks away! So embrace these last days of darkness and get ready for the Spring tease that is known as March. Most of all, happy Pinning!

New Ingredient::New Recipe - Kale...

I keep hearing about kale; kale chips, kale smoothies, kale everything so I decided to try..what else KALE!  One of my favorite blogging girls shared a recipe for a kale soup and being the soup lover that I am, I immediately got excited to try this new ingredient.  I love Heather's blog because she lays out each new recipe like this:

Can you tell she is a school teacher??  

The only change I made was that I didn't use sausage.  Instead I used my leftover meatballs from this recipe.  Hopefully you tried the chicken meatball recipe so you will see how two meals can come from that first recipe.  I simply put my meatballs in a ziploc bag and and squeezed and squished the meat until it was nicely crumbled. (Very technical cooking instructions right there!!).  Then I followed the rest of these instructions (skipping the sausage cooking parts):


1. Brown 1 pound of Italian pork sausage over medium heat. Drain excess fat and set the meat aside for later.

2. Mince one shallot and finely chop three carrots. Saute both in olive or grape seed oil over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of dried winter savory (or your favorite herb). Rough chop one bunch of kale and set aside. (* I used a mix of thyme, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper).

3. Add 1 cup of cream and 3 cups of water to the carrot and onion mixture in a large pot.  Bring to a boil over medium high heat and add three chicken or vegetable bullion cubes. Stir until dissolved.

4. Add meat and  simmer on low, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes.


5. Add the kale and one can of cannellini beans (drained and rinsed). Continue to simmer on low for 10 minutes. Serve with a salad (and maybe your carb of choice.)


For illustrated directions head over to this post.

The verdict...SCRUMPTIOUS!!  I cannot explain how much I love this soup.  My husband loved it too and the kids did actually try it and not complain too much.  My kids are just beginning to eat what we eat for dinner so baby steps for them.  If your kids are experienced with eating more than grilled cheese and hot dogs they will probably lap it up!  My only tweak for the future would be to make double because the leftovers were gone in a day!

   

New Ingredients::New Recipe - Chicken Meatballs...

Okay, so it is time for a new series here on the ole blog.  If you follow Momsie on Facebook then you know I have been bragging about trying some new ingredients and I promised to share my new recipes here.  We talk a lot about how to get your kids to eat a variety of things but how many of you are trying new things??  I don't try new things very often.  Maybe at a restaurant but rarely at home.

Luckily Oprah has pulled me out of my rut!  The March issue of O arrived and it is full of new tasty recipes.  O readers submitted their go-to recipes and I can tell you they are all very different from my go-to recipes (no spaghetti or chicken pot pie!!).  I decided to start with this meatball recipe:

{I chose the chicken meatball}

*I left out the fennel seed

I love any type of vinaigrette and I have never tried making my own with apple cider.  The verdict...this dish was delicious!  I made it for my hubby for Valentine's Day and he loved it.  The meatballs are filling enough for a man's meal but leave you feeling much lighter than a traditional meatball and marinara version.  Arugula is also not an ingredient that I use often and it was a great addition to the meal.  It had a great peppery taste to go with the sweet apple slices.

As for the verdict with my kids...they didn't eat this meal with us.  Since it was Valentine's Day we fed them ahead of time so we could eat in peace.  I think that most kids would go for it though because the meatballs do not have any overwhelming flavors and the apples and vinaigrette have a great sweet flavor.  And we all know kids like sweet!

So there you go....a new recipe and some new ingredients.  Check in Wednesday for a recipe that uses the leftover meatballs from this meal!! (Set aside 3-4 meatballs in the fridge).

Lots Going on Around Charlotte....

  

HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING!

February 2012 Event Listing

Discovery Place

Mummies of the World
With its astounding collection of 150 specimens, including real human and animal mummies and related artifacts, Mummies of the World is the largest exhibition of real human and animal mummies and related artifacts ever assembled. Through modern science and engaging interactive and multi-media exhibits, the exhibition reveals how the scientific study of mummies provides a window into the lives of ancient people, offering unprecedented insights into past cultures and civilizations. It also demonstrates that mummification – both through natural processes and intentional practices – has taken place all over the globe, from the hot desert sands of South America to remote European moors and bogs.

·         Now through April 8, 2012

·         See website for ticket prices and more information

·         704.372.6261 x300; http://mummies.discoveryplace.org/

Featured in Discovery 3D Theatre

Hold on to your seat and your senses and get ready to experience Discovery 3D Theatre, the Museum’s digital movie experience.  With the help of 3D glasses, movies leap from the screen.  Featured films are 15 – 20 minutes in length and are free with Museum admission.  Discovery 3D Theatre is currently showing:

Dolphins 3D: Tribes of the Ocean

This awe-inspiring underwater documentary by Jean-Michel Costeau will take visitors to the coral reefs of the Bahamas for a close encounter with the surviving dolphin tribes of the ocean. Explore many little-known aspects of these fascinating and fragile creatures capable of sophisticated communication and social interaction.

·         Now through November 30, 2012

·         Free with Museum admission

·         Shows throughout the day

Bugs!

Explore the extraordinary world of insects including the life cycles of a praying mantis and a butterfly, and watch their evolution from birth to the inevitable meeting of predator meets prey. Southeast Asia sets the scene for this entertaining film where scorpions, tarantulas, frogs, lizards and other creatures cavort in a rainforest jungle, some magnified 250,000 times their normal size.

·         Now through May 31, 2012

·         Free with Museum admission

·         Shows throughout the day

Explore More Stuff Lab
What is "stuff" and how does it change? Discover the secrets of stuff in Explore More Stuff, a lab environment where matter and energy are explored and tested. Themes change monthly.
February 2012: Robotics – Experience the sophistication of technology while tinkering with electrical and mechanical automatons.

Explore More Life Lab

Explore More Life is Discovery Place’s one-of-a-kind hands-on lab featuring aquatic life and activities that focus on living species and organisms. Themes change monthly.  Explore More Life is presented by Carolinas Medical Center.

February 2012: Human Body: How do we keep our bodies moving? Learn about different body systems and how they function. In partnership with Carolinas Medical Center

Fetal Pig Dissections:  On weekends throughout February visitors can observe fetal pig dissections that help illustrate how human bodies function. These educational demonstrations take place:

·         Saturdays; 11:00 a.m.

·         Sundays; 2:00 p.m.

February 12 - Darwin Day (all day)
Celebrate science and humanity during this worldwide day commemorating the birthday and work of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin. Fly to theExplore More Life lab to discover how different types of beaks enable birds to eat certain foods, a concept first theorized by Darwin while studying avian species on the Galapagos Islands.

Explore More Collections Lab

Explore Discovery Place’s extensive collection and the process of finding, identifying and connecting objects with the natural world.

February will feature a special focus on fossils, with daily hands-on activities at 2:00 p.m. that include fossil digs, making dinosaur hats, imprints and rubbings, and more.

Around the World -- Go international with global items from Discovery Place’s collections. Guests can match stamps, coins, sand, dolls, minerals and other items to their place of origin while getting up close to elephant tusks, textiles, dinosaur footprints, a rhinoceros head, fossils and more. Make sure to check out a new collection of masks from locations around the world including Africa, Alaska, Mexico, South America and India.

Science Café

Explore the tasty science behind some of the most common foods you consume at this month’s Science Café, Fun with Fungus! Science of Bread, Wine and Mushrooms. Featured presenter: Cassie Parsons, Owner and Chef, Harvest Moon Grille (Charlotte Magazine’s 2011 Restaurateur of the Year)

·         Free event

·         February 7; 6:30-8:30 p.m. (meet by the bar at 6:30)

·         Takes place at Harvest Moon Grille/Dunhill Hotel

·         Call 704.372.6261 x300 or email douglasc@discoveryplace.org for information/reservations

Science Cafés are monthly events featuring innovative topics and lively discussions. All that's required to attend is a sense of curiosity and passion for connecting with the amazing world around us.

The Charlotte Observer IMAX® Dome Theatre

The Charlotte Observer IMAX^® Dome Theatre is the largest screen in the Carolinas, spanning five stories high and 80 feet wide.  The unique curvature of the IMAX Dome surrounds movie viewers with 15,000 watts of sound and light, creating the effect of being in the film! 

Born To Be Wild
This family-friendly documentary will transport moviegoers around the world to the far stretches of Kenya and Borneo, inspiring them to take action and save Earth’s precious creatures. Narrated by Academy-Award® winner Morgan Freeman, Born to be Wild is an inspiring story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals.  This film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them—saving endangered species one life at a time. 

·         Now through May 31, 2012

·         See website for ticket prices and showtimes

·         704.372.6261 x300; discoveryplace.org

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs

The fascinating civilization of Egypt paired with the spellbinding intrigue of mummies and the secrets they hold offer an irresistible glimpse into the mummy-making culture of ancient Egyptians. Join researchers and explorers as they piece together archeological and genetic clues to create a window into the fascinating and mysterious world of the pharaohs.

·         Now through April 8

·         See website for ticket prices and showtimes

·         704.372.6261 x300; discoveryplace.org

Tornado Alley
Tornado Alley follows daring large-format filmmaker Sean Casey and the researchers of the VORTEX2 initiative on a thrilling quest to witness the birth of a tornado from its very heart. Casey and his team take audiences on a heart-pounding mission to experience a tornado's destructive power while gathering the most comprehensive extreme weather data ever collected.   

·         Now through May 31, 2012

·         See website for ticket prices and showtimes

·         704.372.6261 x300; discoveryplace.org

Charlotte Nature Museum

Animal Feedings & Encounters:  Meet and greet live animal ambassador species and observe feedings while learning more about the species and their habitats.

·         Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

·         2:00 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Puppet Show:  The Shadow Knows

·         Wednesdays, 4:00 p.m.; Fridays, 3:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 11:00 p.m.; Sundays, 2:00 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Nature Dome Experience:  Woods in Winter Grandpa Tree Story Time

·         Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m.; Thursdays, 4:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 3:00 p.m.; Sundays, 4:00 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Turtles on the Twos:  Get up close to different turtles, and learn what you can do to protect this 'backyard beauty'.

·         February 11

·         2:22 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

CMS Teacher Work Day – Special Events All Day

·         February 21

·         Animal Encounter – 10:00 a.m.

·         The Shadow Knows Puppet Show – 11:00 a.m.                

·         Animal Encounter – 11:30 a.m.

·         Animal Feeding – 12:30p.m. 

·         Nature Walk – 1:30 p.m.

·         Animal Feeding – 2:00 p.m.

·         Woods in Winter Grandpa Tree – 3:00 p.m.

Creature Features: Join the Museum for monthly special events that include crafts, puppet shows and storytelling and are free with Museum admission.  Creature Features for February include:

 Great Backyard Bird Count
Lots of avian activities and feathered fun: participate in a Citizen Science study and identify different bird species migrating or overwintering in our area. Our data helps scientists learn more about winter bird habits. 

·         Saturday, February 18

·         10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

·         Interpretive bird hikes at 10:15, 11:15 and 12:15 on the Paw Paw Nature Trail and Little Sugar Creek Greenway

·         Free with Museum admission

·         704.372.6261 x300; charlottenaturemuseum.org

Charlotte Nature Museum offers a full schedule of interactive live shows and programming throughout the day from Tuesday-Sunday that includes special shows, story time, close-up animal encounters and more.   Call 704.372.6261 x300 or visit charlottenaturemuseum.org for additional information.

Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville

February:  Healthy Heart Month

We got the beat! Your heart and your heartbeat enable you to be able to run, jump and play.  Learn how the strongest muscle in your body pumps blood from your head to your toes and back again.  

Groundhog Day - Make shadow puppets and silhouettes to celebrate one of nature’s most famous forecasting creatures.

·         February 2

·         11:15-11:45 a.m.; 1:15-1:45 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Super Bowl Saturday and Sunday – Support your favorite Super Bowl team by team by wearing their logo or colors.

·         February 4 and 5

·         All Day

Pinch Pots - Lean the basics of clay pottery and try your hand at making a clay pinch pot.

·         February 7

·         11:15-11:45 a.m.; 1:15-1:45 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Fitness Fun- Get your heart beating as we test your fitness skills. Lean some fun ways to exercise every day to keep your heart strong.

·         February 9

·         11:15-11:45 a.m.; 1:15-1:45 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Valentine’s Day Celebration - Create something sweet for the one you love.

·         February 14

·         11:15-11:45 a.m.; 1:15-1:45 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Vegetable Art - Vegetables are not just for eating! Dig up fun art projects with our vegetable stamps.

·         February 16

·         11:15-11:45 a.m.; 1:15-1:45 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Leap Frog Day - February 2012 is a leap year and we are celebrating leap frog style with frog fun and games.

·         February 21

·         11:15-11:45 a.m.; 1:15-1:45 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Pet Day - Make animal treats and toys to take home for your pet or leave them with us to donate to a local animal shelter.

·         February 23

·         11:15-11:45 a.m.; 1:15-1:45 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Tooth Fairy Day - Make a special pouch to keep your tooth in for the tooth fairy and learn about the tooth fairy in other countries.

·         February 28

·         11:15-11:45 a.m.; 1:15-1:45 p.m.

·         Free with Museum admission

Workshop Wednesdays

Become a musician, act on the stage, dive deep under the ocean…there's so much to explore and learn during the Museum's Workshops. Different themes allow young minds the chance to learn about what they CAN do.

·         February 1: Pump It Up

·         February 9:  Heart Art

·         February 15: Move It

·         February 22: Eating the Rainbow

·         February 29: Fun with Food

Workshops are $5 per child (caregivers admitted free).  Register in advance by calling 704.372.6261 x300.  Walk-up registration allowed as space permits.

Fun Fridays Join us each Friday for fun, themed activities throughout the Museum. Fun Fridays at Discovery Place KIDS during February 2012 include:

·         February 3 – Hat Day: Wear your favorite hat to the Museum or create one in the I CAN Create Studio.

·         February 10 – Happy Hearts Day - Come in to create a valentine for someone special. Lean how to fill your plate with heart healthy foods and bring a non perishable food item to share with the Ada Jenkins Food Pantry in Davidson.

·         February 17 - Mardi Gras - Dance to jazz and make noise makers, bead necklaces and masks to celebrate Mardi Gras. Parades take place at 11:45 and 4:45.

·         February 24 - Backwards Day – We’re all turned around! Join us for drawing under the tables instead of on top, wear your clothes backwards and practice walking backwards.