Let's all Become Paper Makers

The Next time your child needs to send a thank-you card to a special someone or you want to communicate with parents or a friend you spend time with, make your own paper to send your thoughts.

Kids love this especially Grade school age.  It's fun for everyone!.  Gather Paper-think Junk mail, envelopes, ad so on.  this will be recycled and processed into new paper.

Fall is in the air here in NH so give it a natural twist, gather a few items from nature,such as leaves or even grass.  Kids love to use this paper as card,invitations, or artwork, use your imagination and the possibilities are endless.

Materials
old paper
items from nature(dried leaves,grass,flower petals)
blender
water and a large bowl
a piece of window screen(one square foot or larger)
rolling pin (hands work as well)

How to Make Paper
1. Select a variety of colored paper you would like to recycle. Tear several piece into small strips and soak it in a cup or two of water until saturated and mushy.
2. Add a small Portion-just a few select pieces-of grasses,flower petal, and dried leaves to the mixture.
3. Blend the mixture in a blender to create a pulp.
4. Over a sink area with a drain, pour the blended pulp onto the screen so that water drains through, Spread the pulp out so it's not too thick.
5. Press the pulp onto the screen to remove any excess water, using your hands or a rolling pin.
6. Remove the pressed paper from the screen with a spatula.
7. Allow the paper pulp to dry for at least twenty four hours.
8. Once it is dry, use the newly created paper for crafts,letters, invitations, artwork.

Have Fun this is a Great Family Project.

Pork & Apple Meatballs

As a Nanny for the last 20 years I  have come across alot of picky eaters.  This Recipe is sure to please Everyone.

Pork & Apple Meatballs

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cooking time: 10 Minutes

Ingredients
9 oz ground pork
1 onion finely chopped
1tbsp chopped sage
1 apple,grated
1/2 tsp tomato ketcup or mild mustard (optional)
black pepper to season
2-3tbsp all purpose flour, to coat
Vegetable Oil, for frying

Method

1. Mix together the Ground Pork, onion, sage, apple,and tomato ketchup or Mustard, if using.  Season to 
    taste with a little black pepper. 
2. Roll the pork mixture into 12-16 small balls then dust with the flour to coat well. 
3. Heat the Vegetable Oil and fry the balls for about 10 minutes, turning regularly,until cooked and golden on
    the outside.

We Sure Hope Everyone Enjoys this Yummy Meatball Recipe!

"Apples Apples Everywhere" Stained Glass Project

Stained Glass Apple Craft


Use this as a craft you can hang in your window. There is an option at the bottom for younger kids, instead of melting crayons.

Materials:
waxed paper
wax crayons (Crayola don't work as well as the cheap kind for this project, though they do still work)
manual pencil sharpener (with a fairly large hole)
iron, ironing board and scrap paper (white computer paper or brown paper bag)
construction paper
scissors
glue stick or white glue

Directions:
ADULT: Plug in the iron and cover the ironing board with scrap paper. Set the iron to medium (no steam).
tear a piece of waxed paper that's square (or a bit longer than it is wide) and fold it in half. Then unfold.
Optional: Print the template at the bottom of this page and slide it under the waxed paper as a rough guide for filling the earth shape.
take the paper off some crayons and 'sharpen' them in the pencil sharpener. Let the shavings drop onto 1/2 the waxed paper.
when you have a few nice piles of yellow, green or red shavings refold the waxed paper. (or whatever color your child wants to use for their apple)
Fold about 1/2 inch around all the edges so none of the wax leaks out when you iron.



Iron for about 10 seconds. Peek and iron a bit more if necessary. All the wax should melt. The longer you iron, the more your colors will mix.

You'll find that nothing happens, nothing happens, nothing happens and then BAM it's totally melted, so just keep waiting 10 seconds and peeking so you don't burn anything

Let sit about 30 seconds to cool.


Alternate Method so your Younger Children can be involved in this project!

"I have done for this to make it more suitable for younger kids. Instead of using wax paper and melting crayons..."

Use clear Contact Paper and tissue paper pieces. You can use purchased contact paper or you can 'make your own' by spreading a thin layer of glue onto waxed paper.

Put Contact Paper piece sticky side up on the table (may need to tape it down).

Let kids stick tissue paper pieces to the sticky paper

Cover with another piece of Contact Paper sandwiching the tissue in between.

Kids Love handing these in their windows, so they can show off their works of art!