Top 5 Recipes For Fil-American Friendship Day

Top 5 Recipes For Fil-American Friendship Day

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International Kid-Friendly Food:

The Philippine Islands were originally a U.S. territory from 1898-1935 and a U.S. commonwealth from 1935-1941. The Japanese occupied the islands during the second World War, but General Douglas MacArthur took the land back in 1945. On year later, the Philippines were granted independence on July 4th. The holiday was first celebrated as “Republic Day,” but later celebrated the friendship between two peoples as “Philippine-American Friendship Day.”

As of 2014, the New York City / New Jersey / Long Island statistical area was home to 262,375 Filipino Americans. Woodside, Queens is known as one of America’s most prominent “Little Manilas,” but you don’t have to visit Papa’s Kitchen, Ihawan, Tito Rad’s Grill, or Maharlika to get a taste of authentic foods like chicken adobo, kare kare, or lechon. You can introduce your children to these traditional favorites right in your own kitchen.

Oxtail Stew in Peanut Sauce (Kare Kare)

From the “I Am A Filipino Cookbook” by Maharlika Owners Nicole Ponseca & Miguel Trinidad, Courtesy of NYT Cooking

This is a great dish to work on with older children who express an avid interest in cooking, as there is a lot of vegetable chopping and stock making. If your kids love vegetables and nutty sweetness, they will love this dish. Honestly, there are a few tricky ingredients in this recipe, but you can pick up oxtail from Esposito Meat Market or the International Meat Market in Astoria, and Whole Foods will have the achiote paste. Johnny Air Mart in the East Village will have a fish paste condiment called bagoong, “the secret stinky weapon of Philippine cuisine,” which adds depth to the flavor if you’re adventurous.

Get the recipe.

Chicken Adobo

From Amy Beso and Romy Dorotan, owners of The Purple Yam in Brooklyn, courtesy of NYT Cooking

We’d be remiss if our Fil-American recipe list didn’t include some form of chicken adobo! This version comes os part of what made The Purple Yam in Brooklyn so famous. The thick coconut milk tames the pepper’s spice and the tangy vinegar down a notch. With just eight ingredients, you’ll find a considerable depth of flavor here, though it’s oh-so-easy to make. Add fragrant jasmine rice for the perfect complement to the golden sauce.

Get the recipe.

Note: Every part of the Philippines has their own version. In the northern part of the Philippines, they omit the coconut milk and chilies in favor of ginger root, whole pepper corns, garlic, and bay. Get the recipe for that version done up in slow-cooker here.

Filipino Egg Rolls (Lumpia)

From Tomas & Yvonne De Los Reyes, owners of Jeepney in Brooklyn

Lumpia is a traditional “comfort food” appetizer served at house parties. Kids will enjoy wrapping up ground beef or pork, onion, carrots, sprouts, and green beans into an egg roll wrapper. Fry for five minutes into a crispy roll and serve with a vinegar dipping sauce. Joey Fatone, former singer with N’Sync, danced when he tasted this recipe and called it “a party in his mouth.”

Get the recipe.

Pancit Canton (Filipino-Style Lo Mein)

From Frances Tariga, Chef at MEGU at Dream Downtown

According to Pint-Size Gourmets, Pancit Canton is one of the 10 most kid-friendly Filipino dishes. Served at family gatherings as a symbol of health and longevity, this savory and satisfying dish wins for diversity of color and presentation, though it’s not exactly “health food.” Filipino Lo Mein noodles make the perfect quick dinner, says Chef Frances Tariga. “They’re simple, easy, and everyone will like them,” she explains. This recipe uses chicken marinated in corn starch, egg whites, and soybean oil, pan-fried with garlic and scallions, served over al-dente lo mein noodles with soy sauce and topped with bok choy, carrots, cabbage, green beans, lime, and fresh cilantro (if you please).

Get the recipe.

Mango Royale

From Los Angeles Chef Isa Fabro, Adapted by Ligaya Mishan for NYT Cooking

What could be easier to whip up with the little ones than a no-bake dessert? The deep honey flavor of mangoes naturally goes over well with the kids, as does the creamy texture. Add graham crackers, butter, and cream, and you’ve got one sweet summer treat. If you can’t get ahold of Manila mangoes, you’ll need to remove the excess fiber and add lime to Kent or Haden mangoes, but either way, your dessert will turn out delectable. Opt for over-ripe mangoes if you can find them. If not, try ripening the mangoes overnight in a brown paper bag, or you can even use defrosted frozen mango in a pinch.

Get the recipe.

Cooking is an ideal way to bond and share culture with your children. For other experiences: take a visit to the roving Filipino-American Museum (currently on display in Midtown’s Ace Hotel); check out the Fil-American Day Parade in Jersey City the last weekend of June; keep an eye on the Filipinos of NY events calendar; take a day trip to Seacaucus, NJ for the annual Fiesta in America in August, featuring Filipino dance, food, storytelling, and crafts; or contact Shine to learn about our multicultural programming and kids’ cooking classes.

 

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipinos_in_the_New_York_metropolitan_area

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Day_(Philippines)

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_loc=Queens,+NY&start=0&sortby=review_count&cflt=filipino

http://www.foodrepublic.com/2015/06/18/get-familiar-with-bagoong-the-stinky-secret-weapon-of-philippine-cuisine/

https://www.pintsizegourmets.com/10-kid-friendly-filipino-foods/

 

Benefits of Early Childhood Chess

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This year, the country of Armenia made chess compulsory in schools for all children over six years of age. American educators may not be as gung-ho about early childhood chess – but they should be. In an era where we’re all reasonably concerned about “screen time,” introducing chess to a young child is a gift beyond measure and a classic bonding activity to share with parents, siblings, and grandparents.

What Are The Benefits of Chess For Kids?

A growing body of research shows that learning chess:

  • Correlates with higher scores on mathematical and critical reasoning tests.
  • Improves reading test scores and proficiency among elementary school-aged children.
  • Increases brain activity in areas associated with calculation, concentration, and recognition.
  • Boosts IQ scores, overall intelligence, patience, perseverance, intuition, and creative thinking.
  • Teaches restraint, taking responsibility for one’s actions, and winning or losing graciously.

When To Start Chess For Kids

It’s understandable that any chess-loving parent would want to share their love of the game with a child as soon as possible, but push too hard too soon and you could spoil it. Surprisingly, educators say babies can begin learning the fundamentals of chess in diapers — as young as two – if taught the right way. Instruction should be fun and casual, with focus on identifying the different pieces and talking about how they move or capture. By age five, simply moving the pieces correctly would be a reasonable goal. By seven or eight, your child could be out-maneuvering you on the chess board!

Chess Sets For Beginners

While you can find Mario World and Star Wars themed chess sets, it’s best to start with a more basic looking set to teach the pieces and the moves without so much distraction. There are countless chess sets aimed at beginners, but we like this one from the MoMA. You may also choose a set like No Stress Chess, which includes activity cards to help young kids learn the game. The Chess Teacher is another large set that is easy for smaller hands to maneuver. For the next level, the Kids’ Book of Chess and Chess Set is geared toward ages 8 and up with colorful fantasy illustrations of beginning, middle, and end game offensive and defensive strategies.

Get Started: Chess Camps in NYC (Ages 3-12)

We’re pleased to announce Chess At 3 will be making regular appearances at Shine camps this summer. Their emphasis on teaching through storytelling helps kids win and lose graciously, and weaves history, math, and physical activity into every brain-building session. They’ve been equipping NYC kids as young as three with life skills and learning tools since 2006, so we’re excited to partner up with them to offer your child even more value. Contact us for details.

Why Tennis Lessons Are Great For Kids Under 10 — And How To Get Them Started

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Tennis is the perfect sport for young kids to learn. It’s safer than contact sports, and you can pick up all your supplies for under $10. You can play on a free public court, and you don’t need to assemble a team. Tennis is one of the few multigenerational sports that connects family members of all ages together. Youngsters begin with “Mommy and Me” classes, stay connected with parents through the teenage years, and play with their grandparents. That’s why tennis is “the sport for a lifetime.”

What Are The Benefits of Tennis For Kids?

Compared to other sports, tennis:

  • Improves grades, concentration, focus, independence, and ability to handle stress.
  • Boosts tactical thinking that generates nerve connections to promote lifelong brain development.
  • Develops hand-eye coordination, speed, balance, strength, fine motor control, and flexibility.
  • Burns more calories than aerobics, rollerblading, or cycling to foster healthy weight management.
  • Promotes “A” grades in school among 48% of players (compared to 25% of non-athletes.)
  • Provides a fun, social activity that people tend to stick with throughout the years.
  • Helps kids learn to win or lose gracefully, manage mistakes, develop perseverance, and recover from stress.
  • Yields higher scores in vigor, optimism, and self-esteem than other sports (according to SCSU research.)

Over the long-term, renowned epidemiologist Ralph Paffenbarger found that people who played singles tennis at moderate intensity for just two to three hours per week, cut the risk of death from any cause in half. Who wouldn’t want to give their children the gift of longevity if they could?

When To Start Tennis Lessons For Kids

Most experts agree that four is the earliest age you’d want to begin introducing tennis. The key to getting young kids interested in tennis is to keep it playful and fun, rather than competitive. Specialization can take as long as a decade to achieve, so there is much merit in getting kids onto the court with continuous movement and instruction to learn as they go through gameplay, rather than standing in line and doing drills. “You work on coordination games, movement games, and teaching them building blocks of playing the sport,” explains George Garland, director of Go! Tennis in Queens. For kids ages 4-7, 30 minutes of tennis instruction is plenty. Kids ages 8-12 may increase to 45 minutes.

Tennis Equipment For Beginners

The size tennis racquet you need depends upon the age of your child:

  • Ages 4-5: 21 inches
  • Ages 6-7: 23 inches
  • Ages 8-10: 25 inches

Look for red felt or foam balls, which weigh less and have a slower bounce than official regulation tennis balls. These balls may not last as long for the money, but they give children plenty of reaction time and are softer for safety sake.

Get Started: Arts & Tennis Afternoon Camp (Ages 4-12)

Join us at Hampton Racquet this summer on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from July 2nd – August 30th from 3:45 – 6 p.m. The brand-new “Creative Arts & Tennis Afternoon Camp” introduces children ages 4-12 to the love of learning tennis. We provide masterful instruction from John Graham, racquets, age-appropriate groups, healthy snacks, drinks, and art materials with guided instruction. Inspired by the East End, children are exposed to a variety of creative themes, from local flora and fauna, to architecture and history, explored through a variety of mediums. This unique opportunity engages children in sports, constructive arts, science, nature exploration, games, and books for $99/day, with discounts available for 10+ classes. For more information or to register, email rebecca@shinenyc.net.

Easy Spring Plants To Get Young Children Interested in Gardening

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A garden is one of the most beautiful gifts you can give your child. It’s a place of escape, where you can gaze upon the wonders of nature, and a method for demonstrating the positive benefits of hard work, patience, and tender loving care.

“Usually children spend more time in the garden than anybody else,” says Carol Williams in her book, Bringing a Garden to Life. “It is where they learn about the world, because they can be in it unsupervised, yet protected. Some gardeners will remember from their own earliest recollections that no one sees the garden as vividly, or cares about it as passionately, as the child who grows up in it.”

It’s never too early to expose your little ones to the joy of gardening, although there are certain obvious limitations. Prior to kindergarten, the wait can seem agonizing. The littlest ones are often appeased with rudimentary tools and the opportunity to get their hands dirty. Keep a watering, weeding, fertilizing, and projected growth date calendar for three and four-year-olds to maintain your child’s interest throughout the season.

Try the following plants to inspire your little “green thumb”:

Beans and Peas

Peas and beans sprout from seed within a week, making them the best beginner plants. Beans are so easy to grow, you can grab a few dried pinto, black, or kidney beans right from your cupboard, place them on a wet paper towel inside a plastic bag on a sunny windowsill, and watch them start to sprout before your very eyes. If you’d rather get your hands dirty outside, a bush bean variety like the “Purple Queen” is easy for kids to spot and pick. We also love this whimsical Bean and Morning Glory Teepee, which provides a fun outdoor playhouse for your child all summer long.

Plant: 1 inch deep, 3-4 inches apart

Sun: Full (about 8 hours/day)

Water: 1 inch per week

Herbs

Herbs like Mint or Basil are particularly hardy. They grow fast and furious in as little as four days, and can withstand a bit of stomping. Some toddlers will even pick and eat the fresh leaves. Chives and Cilantro take about 10 days to get going, but cilantro will require more careful care, as it has a tendency to bolt if it’s not cut back in time. Dill, Oregano, and Thyme can take two weeks to grow. Sage and Parsley are considerably slower with four weeks before germination. You can grow herbs in a pot, a windowsill box, or the ground.

Plant: Six to 10 inches down, 10-12 inches apart

Sun: Part Sun (about 4 hours/day)

Water: As needed – when soil feels dry to the touch

Sunflowers

Any kid who has ever read “Jack and the Beanstalk” will be astounded by a sunflower’s impressive growth. Dwarf varieties grow two or three feet tall, but Mammoth Russians, American Giants, and Giganteus sunflowers can reach 12 to 15 feet. The seeds begin to sprout in just seven to 10 days, with big bright flowers appearing in two months, and the first seeds developing three to four months later. To enjoy continuous blooms all the way until the first frost, sow a new row of seeds every two to three weeks.

Plant: Two feet down, two to three feet apart

Sun: Full (about 8 hours/day)

Water: Several gallons, once a week

Radishes

Radishes may not be your child’s favorite vegetable to eat, but they sure grow swiftly. The “Easter Egg” variety produces mature red, purple, and white vegetables in one month. The French enjoy radishes with butter and salt, the Koreans pickle them, Mexicans throw them into tacos, and the British put them on tea sandwiches. Here in America, we tend to chop them up into picnic salads with eggs and mayonnaise.

Plant: ½ inch deep, 12 inches apart

Sun: Full (at least 6 hours)

Water: 2-3 hours once the soil is dry four inches down

Cherry Tomatoes

Tiny tomatoes are the perfect fresh-off-the-vine food to snack on. Little hands can harvest ripened tomatoes planted from seedling in less than two months. Look for varieties like the Super Sweet 100, Sun Sugar, Black Cherry, and Husky Cherry Red for extra sweet flavor. If your child isn’t crazy about eating a raw tomato, you can turn them into tomato salsa, pasta sauce, soup, or bruschetta topping.

Plant: ¼ inch deep, 24 inches apart

Sun: Full (8 or more hours/day)

Water: 1.5 inches per week

Why Not Take A Class?

Shine’s “Garden Project” class, geared toward ages 3-5 or 5-7, is another ideal way to spark your child’s interest in gardening. Our projects combine art, science, and nature in highly engaging ways to foster lifelong learning, creativity, and Earth stewardship. Contact us for more details.

References:

http://www.gardendigest.com/family.htm

https://www.parenting.com/article/gardening-kids

https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/4056/

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/tall-can-sunflower-grow-year-70410.html

https://www.almanac.com/plant/sunflowers

https://www.epicurious.com/archive/blogs/editor/2014/04/the-tk-best-ways-to-eat-radishes.html

https://www.sciencekiddo.com/bean-seed-in-a-bag/

https://bonnieplants.com/library/the-basics-of-tomato-flavor/

Creative Twists on the Traditional Easter Egg Hunt

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The traditional egg hunt game may use dyed hardboiled eggs, plastic eggs filled with coins or candy, or foil-wrapped egg-shaped chocolates hidden around the yard for kids to find. The game may also be played indoors, with or without additional prizes awarded for finding the most eggs, the largest egg, eggs of specific colors, or the prize egg. The treasures are placed at varying levels with different degrees of concealment to accommodate kids of all ages. As parents and educators, we’re always striving to present new twists on tired old themes to spark the thrill of discovery. Try these Easter Egg Hunt ideas to spark young imaginations.

For Indoors: Balloon Egg Hunt

Floating obstacles make everything more fun! Hide all the Easter eggs in a small room of the house, filling it with colorful balloons for an exciting challenge. Clever variations for toddlers include putting balloons in a tent outside or tying balloons to each egg to make them easier to discover. Playing in the “balloon ball pit” is half the entertainment.

For A Brain Boost: Puzzle Pieces Egg Hunt

Hide a puzzle piece in each egg. The 36-piece Beatrix Potter jigsaw puzzles work nicely for an Easter theme or you could customize a blank puzzle with a special message. Once everyone assembles the puzzle together, kids can dip into their Easter baskets for a reward. If you have more than one older child with stamina, you can do multiple puzzles, separating the puzzles into different colored eggs to keep them straight. Another variation involves writing letters on the eggs so they spell out the alphabet (for younger children) or an Easter-related word (for older children) when they’re all assembled together.

For the Active: Obstacle Course Egg Hunt

Kindergartners with limitless energy will love overcoming physical feats to find their eggs. One tricky mom hid plastic eggs and balls inside a lady bug tunnel, tied balloons to hula hoops with eggs hidden beneath, and eggs obscured by Easter grass in a baby pool. Additional obstacles include sawhorses to climb under, construction cones to weave through, two shoeboxes to step into and shuffle along, a wood plank balance beam to walk across, slides, tumbling mats, wooden stumps or pails to step across, chairs to crawl under, and ladders to climb.

For the Problem Solver: Scavenger Hunt

As your kids get older, you’ll notice what used to take them a good half hour is now over in all of five minutes. A scavenger hunt is a great way to get growing minds engaged and to make the hunt seem less “babyish.” Start by handing each child an egg with a written clue as to the hiding spot of the next egg. The final clue should lead to the Easter basket or some other big prize like a book or chocolate bunny. Darling Doodles has a great set of clues or blank stationery you can use. Another twist on the Scavenger Hunt idea is to make it pirate-themed as a Treasure Hunt of sorts. If you’re stumped for clues and hiding spots, The Spruce has a good run-down. A Mom’s Take created a simple printable checklist of hidden items to find – different colored eggs, bunny tracks, flowers to smell, critters, and baskets. These activities encourage kids to slow down and enjoy the search.

For the Novelty: Glow-in-the-Dark Egg Hunt

Who says Easter Egg Hunts have to be in the morning? Place a glow bracelet and your favorite filler inside a plastic egg and tape it shut. The eggs are easy to find, but many little ones delight in carrying flashlights. Put your kids in reflective clothing or a glow necklace to keep track of them easily, and be sure to scout the area for potential hazards while it’s still light out. For older kids, hide the eggs under rocks and leaves, inside flower pots, and in other places where they’re slightly hidden from plain view.

One Final Word

Remember, your eggs don’t have to be packed full of candy. Some people use Monopoly Money that can be “cashed-in” for a special prize like a coloring book, stuffed animal, or gardening tool kit. You can put Legos, Mr. Potato Head pieces, miniature cars, coins, dollar bills, stickers, tattoos, Barbie accessories, or Safari Ltd animals. Gift young kids magnetic easels and hide the magnetic numbers and letters inside the eggs. Have the kids hunt for pieces of their lunch like sandwiches, goldfish crackers and grapes hidden in eggs. Some parents write up “Privilege Eggs,” where children receive handwritten tickets they can redeem for special allowances like an extra cookie, fifteen more minutes of play time before bed, or a special outing with mom and dad. For more ideas on creating an unforgettable Easter morning, contact the educators at Shine.

Additional Easter Egg Hunt Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_hunt

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/easter-ideas/g4151/easter-egg-hunt-ideas/

https://www.thedailymeal.com/holidays/10-best-easter-egg-hunts-all-ages

http://mommyuniversitynj.com/2015/03/23/10-brain-boosting-easter-egg-hunt-ideas-without-the-candy/

http://makethebestofeverything.com/2013/02/puzzle-easter-egg-hunt.html

https://surnamejames.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/easter-scavenger-hunt/

https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/backyard-fun-games/make-backyard-obstacle-course-kids1.htm

Top 5 Irish Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day

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International Kid-Friendly Food:

Top 5 Irish Recipes For St. Patrick’s Day

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held, not in Ireland, but here in New York City in 1762. Corned beef and cabbage is a culinary tradition started by Irish-American immigrants who were able to purchase expensive kosher meats from their Jewish neighbors. They threw the flavorful salted meat into a pot with beloved potatoes and affordable cabbage – and the rest is history. Contemporary St. Patrick’s Day menus in the homeland include dishes like fried lamb belly fingers, slow-poached organic chicken with tarragon, colcannon (mashed potatoes with kale), roasted carrots, and herbed Irish cheddar croquette.

Whether you’re in New York or Ireland, cooking a meal together as a family is a beautiful tradition. Your menu doesn’t have to be fancy. We’ve dug up five good old-fashioned Irish recipes to enjoy cooking and eating with your children this St. Paddy’s Day. Before you get started in the kitchen, take the kids down to The Butcher Block in Sunnyside, Queens for authentic Irish provisions, including back bacon, rashers, black pudding, Irish teas, Kerrygold cheese, sweets, sauces, spreads, and breads.

Irish Soda Bread

From Chef Darina Allen, courtesy of National Geographic

Homemade soda bread is a staple in any Irish pantry. White soda bread is made with white flour, while brown soda bread is made with buttermilk and whole-wheat flour. It’s traditionally fashioned into a round loaf with a cross etched in the middle – to keep out the fairies, naturally! Allen’s basic recipe takes just two minutes to put together and 40 minutes to bake. “Your soda bread is not a soda bread we would recognize,” she explains. Americans “gussy up” their soda breads with raisins and caraway seeds – which appeals to our youngsters, no doubt — but over in Ireland, they call that type of bread a “spotted dog.”

Get Chef Allen’s recipe or, if you prefer adding goodies, try this third-generation recipe from NYC Chef John Mooney.

The Full Irish Breakfast

From Chef Joe Mallol from the Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog in Manhattan

Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog won countless awards for their cocktails and was ranked “The World’s Best Bar” in 2016. Drinks aside, the restaurant’s weekend brunch became so popular, they offer it all week long to keep up with demand. The Irish Breakfast is designed to be comforting and filling. Chef Mallol’s take on the classic formula involves a few extra herbs and spices, but remains pretty true to what you would find in Ireland. Even the pickiest of eaters will find something to devour on this plate of eggs, Irish sausages (Bangers), back bacon (Rashers), blood and oatmeal sausages (Black and White Pudding), toast, sautéed mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, and baked beans. Adults can pair this meal equally well with Guinness or Irish coffee, while kids can enjoy a craft apple juice blended with strawberry, raspberry, or black currant.

Get the recipe.

A Proper Stew for St. Patrick’s Day

By David Tanis, NY food writer, former Chez Panisse chef, current chef at the Monkey Bar in Midtown

Rich, hearty Irish stew contains a handful of ingredients like mutton or young lamb, onions, and potatoes. The further south you go, the more vegetables you’ll see – like carrots or even turnips. Irish stews can be a broth served in a bowl or thickened with flour and served over mashed potatoes. Adorned with just a sprig of thyme, the natural food flavors take center stage in this recipe that is simple enough to cook with kids.

Get the recipe.

Smoky Cheese & Potato Soup with Pesto Shamrock Toast

From Better Homes and Gardens

You’ll need a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter for this fun-looking dish that combines the smokiness of gouda cheese and paprika with the creaminess of mashed potatoes and carrots. It’s an easy 25-minute dish that warms the heart in less than 400 calories. We’ve seen similar recipes with the addition of four ounces of finely chopped ham for added protein. The floating green pesto-topped shamrock toast will be the showstopper for the kids who may get a little messy figuring out how to best eat it. You can try Orwasher’s Bakery or Amy’s Bread for a great artisanal Irish sourdough worthy of your soup.

Get the recipe.

Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce

From Irish American Mom, Adapted by Kailey at The Kitchen McCabe

Finding an Irish dessert that doesn’t use Guinness, Bailey’s, or Irish whiskey can be a challenge, but the crunchy sugary crust and Grandma’s creamy custard sauce provide plenty of sweetness to this apple cake recipe — without the booze. You’ll need a round 8″ or 9″ pan, ideally a springform. You can use Golden Delicious apples if you find Granny Smiths too tart. While most cakes are spiced with cinnamon, this version borrows cloves and nutmeg for a European twist.

Get the recipe.

Additional Irish Recipe Resources:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-st-patricks-day-parade

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/is-corned-beef-really-irish-2839144/

http://www.thebutchersblock.com/

http://dish.allrecipes.com/irish-recipes-for-st-patricks-day/

https://www.deadrabbitnyc.com/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-06/the-dead-rabbit-grocery-grog-is-named-the-world-s-best-bar

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/ireland-food-and-drink/

http://www.grubstreet.com/2018/02/david-tanis-new-monkey-bar-chef.html

https://www.orwashers.com/

http://www.amysbread.com

 

8 Ways To Escape Your Winter Blues in NYC

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Whether you’ve been taking Vitamin D supplements or not, the extended cold, gray, blustery days gets to the best of us. Instead of sitting through another mind-numbing day of dishes, laundry, and toy pickup, grab your little besties and see what NYC has to offer in February.

1. Ice Skating – Four is about the best age to begin ice skating with your child. Grab a cup of hot cocoa after a free skate at Midtown West’s Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. Go on a weekend morning or before 5 pm on weekdays to beat the rush. Lasker Rink in Harlem is never terribly crowded. Central Park’s Wollman Rink has the most fabulous view of Midtown, especially by moonlight. Rockefeller Center is one of the pricier places to go, but it appeals with a charming setting in the heart of the city. Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers offers lessons and indoor skating.

2. Tubing – If you’re up for 90 minutes of driving, Mount Peter in Warwick offers adventure for kids big and small. Kids 42 inches and up can ride the conveyer up and tube down an exhilarating 600-foot hill. Smaller guests are treated to the Little Tikes tubing hill and a kids’ play area for $20. Tandem tubing is allowed for guests 36-48 inches, but prepared to supervise. Skiing and snowboarding are available on the mountain if you’re up for the exercise.

3. Hot Chocolate Date – Manhattan’s best cocoas are experiences in a cup. MarieBelle in Soho serves up batter-thick South American cacao blended with banana in Tea Party worthy china. Max Brenner is a whimsical place full of whirring machines spinning the chocolate alongside your table before it goes into a ceremonial mug alongside dessert pizza, sugar waffles, crepes, chocolate fondue, or whatever you fancy. The City Bakery in Flatiron is the home of an annual Hot Chocolate Festival and offers a new flavor each day, with 4-ounce shots and mini marshmallows available for the littlest cocoa lovers. Dylan’s Candy Bar is not only the sweets emporium of the celebrities, but a hotspot of mouth-watering chocolate.

4. Play Cafes – Indulge in a delicious espresso with your adult friends while the kids explore the play market, various vehicles, and walk-in dress-up closet of City Owlets in Long Island City. The Coop in Brooklyn is the perfect place to grab lunch and leave the mess in the gated kids’ play area, which includes a kitchen, soft blocks, bins of clean baby and toddler toys, rocking horses, shopping carts, and interactive playthings. Or you may sip on adult beverages at the classy Lark Café in Flatbush, which offers a spacious, bright playroom with drop-in hours and classes.

5. Indoor Water Park – Coco Key Water Resort in Mount Laurel, New Jersey is just under two hours from Manhattan, but it’s well worth the trip. If you’re zonked from all that swimming, you can always stay the night in the hotel. Facilities include a lazy river, aquatic jungle gym, activity pools, baby wading pools and slides, and 1,000 feet of water slides.

6. Butterfly Conservatory – The butterflies are on display on the second floor of the American Museum of Natural History from the beginning of October through the end of May. Mingle with over 500 majestic winged creatures, including Monarchs, Swallowtails, Blue Morphos, and Large Owls. In the wonderful 1,200-square-foot, 80-degree vivarium, surrounded by tropical flowers and lush vegetation, it’s easy to lose yourself and forget it’s still winter in New York.

Looking for more suggestions? Let Shine bring the party to you! Our creative custom programming includes holiday workshops, art classes, themed play dates, parties, and day trips. Contact us for details.

Resources for Winter Activities Near NYC:
• http://iceskatingworld.com/how-old-should-my-child-be-to-start-ice-skating-2/
• https://mommypoppins.com/kids/ice-skating-in-nyc-10-outdoor-ice-rinks-most-open-this-month
• https://mommypoppins.com/newyorkcitykids/ultimate-nyc-hot-chocolate-crawl
• https://mommypoppins.com/kids/snow-tubing-for-kids-near-nyc-best-tubing-spots-less-than-two-hours-from-new-york-city
• https://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/things-to-do/best-indoor-water-parks-near-nyc
• https://mommypoppins.com/new-york-city-kids/play-gyms-sports-centers/city-owlets-lics-newest-play-space-for-tots-and
• https://mommypoppins.com/new-york-city-kids/indoor-activities/the-coop-toddler-friendly-cafe-opens-in-bay-ridge
• https://www.amnh.org/calendar/the-butterfly-conservatory

New Crafting Ideas For Kids This Valentine’s Day

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While you may have a sitter booked for a romantic dinner date with your significant other, you can include your little ones in the celebration of love with a fun afternoon of crafting. The benefits of parent/child craft time are vast. Research shows crafting encourages visual-spatial information processing beneficial to math and reading, coordination of fine motor skills used sports, and improved executive functioning necessary to pay attention, focus, and remember. Of course, the benefits you both reap from the quality bonding time are immeasurable.

Need inspiration? Here are a few favorites.

Personalized Prints

Little hands and tiny feet capture the heart with fleeting adorability. Art using hand, finger, or footprints makes a wonderful keepsake to look back upon as your child grows, year after year. Capture the uniqueness of your child with these Fingerprint Heart Ornaments made from soda clay or homemade salt dough. You’ll just need to pick up heart-shaped cookie cutters, decorative ribbon, and an ink pad, then bake the craft in the oven for an hour. If you like salt dough, you can also try making a handprint picture frame using the same method.

 

Heart-Shaped Animals

Every kid remembers making heart-shaped animals in school to take home to doting parents. Older kids can practice wielding scissors themselves, while youngsters will enjoy watching how various shapes come together to form charming animal friends. We’ve seen every kind of animal imaginable, from heart lions and zebras, to heart bumblebees and snails. Perhaps our favorite is this Heart Jellyfish with the whimsical googly eyes.

 

Light-Catching Window Clings

By this time in winter, we could all use some extra color and sunshine. This Simple Heart Window Display is made using water-colored coffee filters cut into hearts and affixed to the window with washable glue stick, and outlined with Tempera paint. A similar craft can be made using construction paper cut into a heart with shapes cut out of the interior and filled in with tissue paper. Another easy variation is to make Tissue Paper Stained Glass using contact paper.

 

Framed Button Heart

There are many different looks for a Framed Button Heart, depending on your curation of buttons. Little ones love strategically placing the buttons inside the heart template, which makes for tasteful seasonal décor. Glue, buttons, cardstock – it doesn’t get much simpler than that. (Well, okay, you can use the template if you’re a perfectionist.)

 

Frozen Hearts

We always like art that seems part science. Why not give the right and the left brain a workout if we can? The look of awe on a child’s face is reward enough for your diligence in selecting just the right craft. Sadly, this art won’t last forever, but it’s worth making an Icy Heart Painting at least once, so the kids can see how salt burrows tunnels into a block of ice to create dazzling paint caves.

If you prefer, you can create a Valentine Craft Station for older kids to enjoy less structured crafting by filling a table with Valentine’s color construction paper, markers, glitter, crayons, felt, ribbon, wrapping paper, Bingo dabbers, heart stickers, and googly eyes. Or you can make a fun, simple Valentine’s Day sensory tub for toddlers using pom-poms, pipe cleaners, felt hearts, and other textured Dollar Store items that will keep the kids busy for hours. For more ideas, contact Shine NYC to see what we can bring to a fun Valentine’s themed Crafternoon.

Resources:

https://www.personalcreations.com/blog/valentines-day-crafts-for-kids

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/valentines-crafts-kids

https://teaching2and3yearolds.com/toddler-valentine-crafts/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/easy-valentines-day-crafts-for-kids_n_6518196.html

https://happyhooligans.ca/5-easy-valentine-crafts-for-toddlers/

https://www.redtedart.com/valentine-crafts-for-preschoolers/

https://www.popsugar.com/moms/Valentine-Day-Crafts-Toddlers-21553278?stream_view=1#photo-33536790

https://www.craftymorning.com/list-of-diy-valentines-day-crafts-for-kids/

https://lollyjane.com/valentines-day-crafts-for-kids/

https://www.craftymorning.com/valentines-day-heart-shaped-animal/

International Kid-Friendly Food: Top 5 Recipes For Chinese New Year

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With traditional lion dancers, festive floats, firecrackers, shopping discounts, arts and craft vendors, and Chinese folk music symphonies, New York City is a great place to be for Chinese New Year. Chinatown is a bustle of activity for the Lunar New Year. Behind all the pomp and circumstance, local Chinese families celebrate privately with their relatives, sharing the most important meal of the year. Whether near or far, reunions are a symbolic gesture to be thankful for the past year and hopeful in the new.

New Year’s Eve dinners vary by region, but typically include chicken, fish, or pork in the south of China and homemade dumplings in the north. Every Chinese New Year dish signifies something, whether it’s to wish for a year of completeness with a whole chicken, abundance with two whole fish, happiness and longevity with noodles, family togetherness with sweet rice balls, or wealth with dumplings.

Steamed Fish

A family recipe from Long Island Food Blogger Jessica Lee Binder, courtesy of NY Daily News

Fish represents an increase in prosperity and good luck. This recipe uses white fish like striped bass, which has a lighter flavor likely to appease kids. The sauce – made from seasoned soy sauce, thin-sliced fresh ginger, scallions, vegetable oil, and a pinch of sugar (the only other ingredients you’ll need) – is savory enough to make kids forget they’re eating from the sea. The food is ready in just 15 minutes, and goes great with sticky rice. You can get additional tips for steaming a whole fish from The Woks of Life if you’ve never done it before.

Get the recipe.

Rice Chicken Casserole

From Kei Lum Chan, co-author of China: The Cookbook, courtesy of MyDomaine.com

We can all appreciate the simplicity of a one-pot main course. Chicken is the heart of this dish, which signifies prosperity. Until recent times, the Chinese people only served chicken on festival days or birthdays. Chicken thighs – considered the best part of the bird – were reserved for the elders. This quick recipe requires 20 minutes of marinating and 20 minutes of cooking in a dutch oven. Chinese sausage is the one tricky ingredient that may require a separate trip to a Chinatown butcher shop. Trust us, it’s worth it! Lap Cheong is made from pork or liver, marinated, and smoked for a smoky, sweet, salty taste as sumptuous as candied bacon. Like many Asian dishes, additional flavors in this dish come from ginger, soy, garlic, and scallions.

Get the recipe.

Fast Pot Stickers

From Mark Bittman, NY Times Food Columnist

Pot stickers are sometimes called “Little Purses.” Fittingly, they symbolize prosperity and riches in the year to come. You can do them with homemade dough, but it can be tedious even with a food processor, as you’re kneading and rolling out dozens of two-inch circles before filling and cooking. One easy alternative is to use pre-made wrappers widely available in any supermarket. Folding is intuitive and sealing requires a little beaten egg. The dumplings are browned in oil, simmered in water, and browned again. You can fill the dumplings with whatever you prefer – ground pork, beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, shrimp, even shiitake mushrooms and tofu for a vegetarian twist. You can also freeze uncooked dumplings on a baking sheet, seal in a plastic bag, and keep them for up to two weeks to save time.

Get the recipe.

Niángāo

From Chef Mireille, Courtesy of The Schizo Chef

Niángāo is a steamed rice cake with a history dating back at least 1,000 years ago to the Liao Dynasty. The word loosely translates to “year rise,” symbolizing increased prosperity and higher status for adults, physical growth and better academic success for children. The round shape symbolizes family togetherness and completeness. If you love someone, you give them niángāo to wish them the best. This popular New Year dessert is popular at NYC bakeries like Wok Wok, Lung Moon Bakery, Shanghai Café, Tygershark, and Fay Da Bakery – but why not make it yourself in just 10 minutes? Traditionally, the cake — made of rice flour, brown sugar, coconut milk, almond extract and chopped nuts — is steamed in banana leaves, and then later cut up, coated in raw egg, and fried. This simplified recipe comes from Chef Florence Lin, the author of five Chinese cookbooks who is in her nineties, but still spry and cooking with her niece.

Get the recipe.

We hope you enjoy cooking with your children to celebrate Chinese New Year in 2018. Other fun activities include: making DIY Chinese drums, giving red envelopes containing money, creating DIY paper lanterns, and crafting soda bottle cherry blossoms to symbolize the beginning of spring. Be sure to check out the big parade and other local festivities. Also, don’t forget Shine offers additional party entertainment, workshops, classes, and cultural experiences to inspire young minds. Contact us to learn more!

Additional Reading:

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

Fantastically Fun Indoor Activities for NYC Kids When It’s Cold Outside

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Baby, it’s cold outside! Probably by now the kids are bouncing off the walls. Let the idle house sit clean for a day while you’re out making family memories. Here are some indoor escapes that will make you forget about sleet and snow, while encouraging the best in your little ones.

The New York Botanical Gardens 

The balmy temperature and fresh air of the New York Botanical Gardens is the perfect antidote to the blustery cold winter months. Not only will you enjoy festive seasonal decorations, but they also host a Holiday Train Show from November 22nd – January 15th. Model G-scale trains zip down half a mile of track, past 150 local landmarks from the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty to the Chrysler Building and the Rockefeller Center. This winter, kids can participate in a sing-a-long performance with Thomas the Train, ride on the Evergreen Express, craft a puppet or evergreen door swag, watch holiday films like “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” and “Shrek the Halls,” and tour the outdoor winter wonderland trees.

 

National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey

This new, immersive experience in Times Square features 60,000 square feet of groundbreaking advances in lighting, audio, and visual animation effects that make your family feel as though you’re exploring an undersea world. Sea turtles, dolphins, and fish swim above, below, and past you in the first exhibit, which shows you a coral reef during the day. Next, you’ll plunge into the coral reef at night to see bioluminescent sponges, coral, and eels, set to a symphony of sound. See Humboldt squids battle, move through a dreamlike kelp forest maze, and play “copycat” with adorable sea lions that look amazingly real, but respond to your every move. Older children will love the 3-D dome with sharks, stingrays, and humpback whales swimming by. More photo opps and learning experiences await in the National Geographic Exploration Hall. This amazing exhibit will enthrall kids and adults of all ages, but as an added bonus, the little ones under two are free!

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Kids ages 6 and under will find something to love about the five-story, 40,000 square-foot institution of learning and culture. From immersive dance studios and a crawl-through version of the digestive system, to Dora the Explorer play areas and collaborative workshops with local artists, there is much to do and see here. Kids are encouraged to consider cultures and traditions from around the world. S.T.E.A.M. learning activities take place daily. This time of year, “Hip-Hop Holidays” performances, Christmas Tree ornament making, and “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” are popular events.

The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater

If you haven’t seen it yet, the long-running production of “The Three Bears Holiday Bash” is on from November through December 30th in Central Park. Children ages 3-8 will revel in 45 minutes of comedy, song, dance, and puppetry that includes sing-a-longs for “I Have A Little Dreidel” and “Feliz Navidad.” Director Bruce Cannon pulls from the traditions of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and “The Night Before Christmas” to include everyone in the festivities. Critics called the songs “catchy,” the marionette bears “adorable,” and delighted in the surprise appearance from marionette Santa. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to get there early to get your little ones a spot in the front row. Shows generally take place at 10:30 and 11:30 am Monday through Friday, or 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. After being closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, performances are will briefly resume from December 26th-30th at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. before wrapping up. That’s not all the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater is up to this holiday season. They’re also hosting craft activities on December 11th (decorating dreidels); 15th (making elf stick puppets); and 29th (making kwanzaa stick puppets).

If you’re still at a loss for how to spend winter break in Manhattan with your children, contact us at Shine. We offer pop-up classes, workshops, city adventures, parties and events, and classes to keep kids (and sometimes parents!) wildly entertained. If you have an undefined yearning for substantial ways to enrich your children’s lives, we have the answer you’re seeking.

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

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