MOTHERS911 WISHES YOU A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

ARTICLE: Thanksgiving - Mom Sanity Savers!

Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow and whether you´re serving dinner at home or traveling somewhere with family, your children are bound to get restless. Here are some ideas to keep them entertained and out of the kitchen!

• Prepare a holiday movie. It´s the season to be jolly! An afternoon enjoying a holiday movie is quite all right. Depending on your children´s ages try: Home Alone, The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Nutcracker Ballet, The Santa Clause... Just make sure you have watched it before to make sure it´s "Safe" for them to see.
• Print out Thanksgiving Coloring Sheets from sites like : www.coloringpages.net/thanksgiving.html or www.holidays.kaboose.com/thanks-color.html Prepare colors, crayons and set up a table where they can color with you keeping an eye on them.
• Set up tasks for them to do: fold napkins, set up table, pick up coats and scarves...
• Older daughters will be glad to help out in the kitchen. Make sure you have something safe and easy they can do.
• Fill a bag with holiday books they can read or look at to get ready for Christmas.
• Pop in a CD of holiday music. They can dance to the rhythm and trust me: you´ll get into the spirit of things yourself!
• Pack small ziploc bags with cheerios, apple slices or other light healthy snacks for those: "Is it time to eat yet?
• Most of all, enjoy this holiday with your children. Remember, each holiday that passes by means your child is one year less far from becoming a grown up.

DAILY RECIPE: Thanksgiving Vegetables

This recipe can be prepared with vegetables of your choice, we suggest:

25 baby potatoes

8 carrots

1/2 bag of frozen broccoli florets

2 packets of asparagus

1/2 bag of frozen cauliflower florets

1 small can Campbell´s cream of mushroom soup

Parmesan cheese

Bread crumbs

Thaw broccoli and cauliflower according to bag directions. Wash potatoes, leave skin on. Wash and peel carrots, slice. Arrange vegetables in baking dish. Pour can of soup, making sure all vegetables are covered. Top with parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Place in oven for 30 minutes or until all vegetables are tender. Enjoy!

TIP OF THE DAY

Waiting a long time for soccer practice to be over? Always carry a book in your bag. If waiting around for your children is taking too long, read a bit until class or school is over.

ART ACTIVITY: Pine Cone Turkey

You will need:

Pine cone

Craft feathers

Wiggly eyes

Orange pipe cleaner

Yellow Construction paper

glue

Make a turkey head by cutting pipe cleaner in half, then folding it in half. Glue wiggly eyes and a yellow construction paper triangle for a beak. Glue feathers to the back of the pine cone. Glue turkey head to the front. Decorate your Thanksgiving table!

DAILY RECIPE: Meat Turkey Stuffing for Thanksgiving Dinner

3 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
salt, garlic powder, pepper
3 large potatoes, diced
2 green bell peppers, diced
1 1/2 cups raisins
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
oil

In a large pan heat oil. Season beef and pork and mix together. Add to pan and brown. Add vegetables and raisins and pecans. Cook a few minutes more. (Note: if you want stuffing with a touch of sweetness, cut each raisin in half). Make sure potatoes are still a bit raw when you´re done. They will finish cooking inside the turkey. Stuff turkey.

TIP OF THE DAY

When going to the grocery store to buy milk, grab the one at the far, deep end of the fridge, the last one in line. Usually it has a later expiration date, and is thus, fresher.

STORYTIME: The Turkey That Came for Thanksgiving Dinner -- Final Part

Oh, no! Grandma had seen Mr. Turkey! Mary and Scott did not know what to say. Their parents came to the front door, too. The secret was out. The whole family was now staring at Mr. Turkey! A few awkward seconds of silence passed, then Mr. Turkey cleared its throat: "Thank you, dear family, for receiving me on Thanksgiving Day! I am here for dinner, as I was told on the farm, and very excited to visit with you all." Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa did not speak for a while. Then Grandpa said, "Well, let´s sit down for dinner then, Mr. Turkey." And he called on to Mom, "Serve Mr. Turkey corn and apple pie, yams and cranberry sauce. We can all enjoy that food together." Scott pulled up an extra chair for Mr. Turkey and they all sat at the table. Mom and Dad passed the food around and Mr. Turkey told the funniest stories about life on the farm. Of course, Mom never brought the turkey out of the kitchen, and no one dared ask why they weren´t eating turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner. When everyone was done, Mr. Turkey watched the football game with Dad and Grandpa. Just before dark, Mr. Turkey said he had to leave. He grabbed his bag and hat and headed out the door. "Come back next year Mr. Turkey, " called out Grandma. But it replied, "Oh, no, I´ll try a different family next year. That´s the way it´s gotta be!" So, be ready. If this Thanksgiving you hear a knock at the door, maybe, just maybe Mr. Turkey is standing outside your door....

THE END

DAILY RECIPE: Stuffed Pasta Tomatoes

6 large, firm, red tomatoes

2 cups cooked short pasta

olive oil

2 garlic cloves, chopped

grated parmesan cheese

garlic salt

Slice the top off tomatoes and carefully scoop out the insides. Put the pulp you scooped out in the blender with a little water. Blend well. Heat oil and sauteé garlic. Add pasta and tomato paste. Season with garlic salt. Spoon into tomato shells and top with parmesan cheese. Bake for a few minutes and serve.

TIP OF THE DAY

Make sure your children are getting their share of fruits and vegetables by starting a table. Mark a dot next to their names when they have their daily intake. You´ll both easily notice if they´re not eating properly.