Thursday, September 6, 2012

Ready to Eat? Bubble and Squeak!

recipe found at allrecipes.com

Are you looking for a different, but not too scary, casserole-style family dinner that offers veggies, protein and a starch? Do you need one or more portions to be gfcfsf? This could work for everyone at the table tonight. Try this recipe:

Bubble 'n' Squeak

Rated:

Submitted By: DOREENF

Photo By: mommyluvs2cook

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Ready In: 30 Minutes

Servings: 6

"Cabbage, bacon, ham, onion and leftover potatoes make up this tasty, easy dish. This is a great way to get the kids to eat cabbage. Using leftovers makes this main dish especially quick to make. I recommend using a good nonstick pan. Serve with ketchup, if desired."

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 medium head cabbage, sliced

3 slices bacon, diced

1 onion, thinly sliced

1 cup cubed cooked ham

1 tablespoon butter*

*(try olive oil or a dairy free spread)

3 cups potatoes - baked, cooled and

thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon paprika

salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a medium saucepan, cook cabbage in a small amount of water for about 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and set aside.
2.	In a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, cook bacon and onion until onion is soft and bacon is cooked. Add ham, and cook until heated through. Add butter, then mix in the cooked cabbage and potatoes. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned on bottom, turn, and brown again.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Cirkus Imaginaria

Ikea products. From the top:
Circus-themed play hats and hand puppets $3.99 each
baby gym $19.99 soft book $7.99
playmat $24.99 rattles $3.99 each
mobile $9.99 musical rabbit toy $7.99
circus block set, finger puppet set $4.99
soft toys $1.99 each

Clown 'Rounds for Kid Stuff

These little dots can be a life saver! A great idea for back to school!

$34 for bundle (saves you $10) PLUS free shipping
use coupon code: FREESHIP8

Click HERE for lots of great bundle deals on kid labels!

Orientation Pack includes:

25 iron-on clothing labels
25 name dots
10 shoe dots
1 bag tag

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Fast, firm face paint

This week: Get 40% off paint pouncers! Click HERE for coupon

Lisa Joy Young is a great artist out of California

with a number of great kid-friendly faces on YouTube.

See more of her tutorials in our side bar---->

Using pouncers is a great alternative to ticklish, delicate paint brushes for kids that seek firmness!

I used this pouncer technique in the following pics:

more of my portfolio at flutterbyfacepaint.blogspot.com

Read rest of post for more pics of pounce paint!

Subject: How to Save and Transition Back to School

PLUS 10% off for ASD Alley from Fun and Function

continue to post for coupon code------>

Dueling Big Tops: Boys Vs. Girls

This girlie version was found at: sweetestlittles.blogspot.com.

This post was found at obsessivelystitching.blogspot.com. A million amazing, fresh FREE tutorials! Thank You, Obsessively Stitching!

Hula Hoop Dome Tent!

This adorable kid-size dome tent was made from hula hoops and bed sheets.

The whole project cost less than $10!

Materials:
* 5 large hula hoops (84" - 90" circumference)
* King size flat or fitted sheet or a twin sheet set. I recommend that you use fabric without a directional pattern.
* Pattern (see end of post)

Cream Pie with Sprinklers on Top

My lil clowns absolutely love shaving cream. We regularly add 'cream pie fight' to 'running through the sprinklers.' Its texture-tastic and can help a lil one get used to 'goo' hands and face...a little kid life skill if there every was one! Also, great for a class, party, or crowd-- super fun and super affordable, this activity can go for hours!

Stuck indoors today? There's a million and one art projects involving shaving cream.

The Art of Shaving Cream Pie Play

Biggest Cream Pie Fight on Record

Mommy and Me Vest Patterns

25+ FREE VEST PATTERNS

Vests are a clown get-up go-to...adding channels for weight makes it an affordable weighted vest. Things to consider: beans, rice, lentils, etc., are not washable! Try aquarium pebbles instead.

Or, make pockets for removable beanbags (again, not stuffed with foodstuffs.) The latter option means your lil clownie can adjust the weight of their vest or even go without weights during dress-up.

Image from sunshineandcompany.com

no sew tutu

This no sew tutu tutorial was written by skiptomylou.org:

A no sew tutu couldn’t be more simple to make for little ones and it is a great handmade gift that encourages imaginative play.

You will need 5 yards of tulle which can be found at a local fabric store and 1 elastic headband. I found the elastic headband at the dollar store.

Mad Hatter " Eat Me's"

Alice in Wonderland or Mad Hatter's Tea Party can be great themes for a spectrum saavy kid party. Treats labled 'eat me' and 'drink me' really speak to spectrum guests that value instruction and labels, such as kids that have participated in discreit trials, ABA therapy, or use PECS. Treats like these, plated with like-items in repetitive, clean lines are visually appealling, less confusing/intimidating, and easier to visually navigate, which will encourage kids to try new items and feel more apt at serving themselves, a life skill AND social skill.

PECS or ASL images can also be added to labels or tables as needed.

Drinks can be labeled "drink me." Take homes can be labeled "take me." You can even set up stations like "play me," "make me," "try me," "use me," etc. For a lot of children with Autism, its much easier to get started if the objects comes with its own precision command!

Mad Hatter: Pleated Paper Party Hats

My daughter (my lil preschool clown, soon to be a kinderclown) and I participated in a Mommy and Me Mad Hatter Tea Party for preschoolies with Autism last year. Theses wearable craft hats were a great, easy sensory/fine motor activity that presented the kids with visually and texturally stimulating "take homes" that required no glue, paint or mess-- meaning less tactile discomfort for the kids and less clean up for the host. Moms and kids just loved theses!

Imagine it in a million colors, wide ribbon sashes, feathers, flowers... We also made cards that said '10/6' to tuck in the sash. The tuck card is a little thing, but it takes this craft from "oh, a hat" to "Oh! A Mad Hatter!"

Click Here for the full tuitorial with lots of detailed photos. Thanks Ecouterre!

Bubble Ruffle Tutu

If your child would like a tutu for play, dance, or clowning, but the sensory experience of toule against their skin or grabbing at their tights (if they are even up for wearing tights. So many of us at ASD Alley aren't big fans of the fit or feel of tights) this lined tutu could be a good option! Thanks Alicia, The Created Vault and U-Create for this tutorial.