Creative Cooking with Kids
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- Written by Judie Dweck
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Photo Credit: Together as Family Restaurant critic Judie Dweck taught cooking to kids in after school clubs for many years. With restaurants closed and children home from school, Dweck sent the following to keep kids engaged and create some tasty meals for the family to enjoy.
Here is what she shared:
Many of us are looking for projects that kids can do at home. Cooking with young children becomes a true kitchen adventure. With help from an adult, the hours at home will pass quickly and the results can be shared by the entire family. So, let your kitchen become your classroom.
Creating something original and tasty is a learning experience that encompasses many areas of development including small muscle skills, in tossing and mixing, and sensory learning from tasting and smelling, Math basics are reinforced with measuring and observing sizes and shapes and science comes into play by observing changes in ingredients from one stage to another. Language arts are stimulated by reading recipes together and following sequential directions. Art is involved in creating something original. Of course self-esteem is the result of accomplishing the goal of the finished dish for the family to enjoy. When working with young children, you will find that when they prepare a dish themselves, it always tastes better and encourages them to try new things. Often, “yucky” becomes “yummy”
Following are several recipes both savory and sweet , that work well as a joint venture between adults and young children.
Asian Chicken and Bowties (Serves 4)
We Need:
1 pound ground chicken
1 onion, chopped
2 Tbsps. hoisin sauce
2 Tbsps. honey
2 Tbsps. soy sauce
½ cup chicken broth
½ tsp. ground ginger
1 Tbsp. canola oil
2 drops sesame oil
1 pound bow tie pasta, cooked al dente and drained
We Do:
In a large pot, heat both oils. Saute onion and ground chicken until chicken is crumbly and cooked all the way through. Carefully with an adult remove the pan from the stove. Toss the mixture with hoisin sauce, honey, soy sauce, broth and ginger. Stir it well. Return pot to the heat and stir to mix well. Toss with the cooked pasta and serve.
Hide and Seek Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins (36)
We Need :
2 cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
4 Tbsps. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
½ stick sweet butter, melted
½ cup chocolate chips
1 cup diced banana
We Do:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease mini muffin tins. Put flour, sugar and baking powder into a bowl and mix it well. Add the beaten egg, milk and melted butter and mix until everything is moistened. Fold in the banana and chocolate chips. Spoon the mixture into the muffin tins about ¾ full. Bake until golden or about 12 to 15 minutes. Cool and carefully remove from pans.
Tortellini Salad (Serves 6)
We Need:
1 pound cheese tortellini , cooked and drained)
1 cup broccoli florets, lightly cooked or raw
1 cup carrots, shredded
1 cup green beans, in 1 inch pieces, lightly cooked or raw
1 cups cherry tomatos quartered
1 cup cheddar cheese cut into small cubes
……
For the dressing:
¼ cup olive oil
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Place the dressing ingredients into a jar with a tight lid. Shake it well until the ingredients are all blended together
We Do:
Place tortellini, vegetables and cheese in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over it and toss the mixture so the vegetables are covered with dressing.
Have fun with these creative cooking ideas in your kitchen classroom
Coyote Sightings Near Saxon Woods Road - What to Do if You See One
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Residents have reported several coyote sightings in recent weeks in the area of Mamaroneck and Saxon Woods Roads and in the area of Meadow Road, so we’d like to share some information from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation about what to do if you should come across a coyote.
According to NYS DEC, if you see a coyote:
-Be aggressive in your behavior – stand tall and hold arms out to look large. If a coyote lingers for too long, then make loud noises, wave your arms, throw sticks and stones.
-Contact your local police department and DEC regional office for assistance if you notice coyotes exhibiting "bold" behaviors and having little or no fear of people, or if you see them repeatedly during the daytime in a human-populated area or near residences. Seeing a coyote occasionally throughout the year is not evidence of bold behavior.
-Do not allow pets to run free. Supervise all outdoor pets to keep them safe from coyotes and other wildlife, especially at sunset and at night. Small dogs and cats are especially vulnerable.
-Teach children to appreciate coyotes from a distance.
Please check the DEC website below for further guidance and information.
Of course, if there is ever an emergency involving a coyote, please contact the Scarsdale Police Department at (914) 722-1200. A police officer will be dispatched. DEP Regional Office: 845-256-3000
District Provides Next Steps for those Who Came Into Contact with Infected Middle School Teacher and Guidance for the Community
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The streets of Scarsdale were quiet on Monday after a case of Coronavirus shuttered all seven schools.Scarsdale is eerily quiet on Monday March 9, after the district announced that all seven schools would be shuttered until March 18. The closure was sparked by a report that a teacher at Scarsdale Middle School had tested positive for the virus during the weekend.
An email sent to the community on the afternoon of March 9 provides more details about the closing of schools, instructions for students and families and next steps for those who came into contact with the afflicted faculty member.
According to the email, the district is working with the Department of Health on health and safety, deep cleaning and disinfection as well as plans for the “continuation of learning.”
Specifically, “All students and staff who had close contact with the affected faculty member have now been contacted by the District. Additionally, those names and their contact information have been provided to the Westchester County DoH, at their request.
The DoH is in the process of contacting those people. The District has advised them that they will likely be told to self-quarantine and provided them with guidance to follow until they are contacted by DoH.
In addition to those who came into close contact, the faculty member also attended a faculty meeting and spent a short time in the cafeteria during Butler 7 lunch. Out of an abundance of caution, the DoH has asked us to provide the names of all faculty in attendance at the meeting and all students in Butler 7. We ask that these groups maintain social distancing and avoid contact with vulnerable populations until told otherwise by the DoH.”
This is the second incident directly affecting the Scarsdale community. On March 7 it was confirmed that a student who plays on the Scarsdale Youth Hockey Association middle school team had also tested positive. This student does not live in Scarsdale or attend the Scarsdale Schools. However he was in contact with teammates.
As a result, those teammates – and perhaps their families – have been asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Here is the text of that e-mail:
“The team members who played on the same SYHA team as the student who tested positive will be asked to quarantine for 14 days from their last encounter with the player. At this time, there are no students or staff in the Scarsdale Schools who have tested positive for COVID-19. The School District will work with the families involved to support them in any way possible. The Department of Health has given the families specific guidance as to how to implement these quarantines and how the rest of the family should travel and participate in day-to-day activities. The families will need the support of our entire community to help them through this time. We ask that all members of our community respect these families' privacy and encourage their children to do the same.”
At this time it is unclear how many players and families are affected. We also don’t know how many students and faculty members came into contact with the Middle School Teacher. But given the facts above, we can assume that many will soon be told to stay behind closed doors for 14 days.
An email to the police chief and mayor about the extent of the virus in Scarsdale received no response.
The email also recommends that residents practice “social distancing,” asking parents to
-Limit playdates/get-togethers and certainly any larger gatherings of students or students and adults;
-Not have students provide babysitting services to other students; and
-Not schedule practices for sports teams or meetings for any clubs.
All schools and buses are being cleaned and disinfected and teachers are working on e-learning plans so that students can continue their education at home.
In the meantime, the Superintendent asks students “to spend time engaging in passion-driven learning activities and use the time to engage in reading for pleasure.”
The email also provides links to NYS Department of Health guidelines for quarantines and guidelines for virus testing.
Other Closings:
The closing of the Scarsdale Schools on March 9 has had a domino affect on other community organizations. Following the announcement, Westchester Reform Temple, which was closed during the weekend announced that they would also remain closed until March 18.
The nursery school, or Early Childhood Center, Jewish Learning Lab and Adult Education classes are cancelled. The Friday night Shabbat service will be available via livestream only.
However, bar and bat mitzvahs and funerals will be held. The synagogue will seat people farther away from one another and ask service goers to refrain from touching or kissing the Torah. Guests should be limited to close family.
The Reverend Pete Jones also announced that Hitchcock Church will be closed until March 18. This includes the office and all activities at Hitchcock are closed for the same time period.
They will wait to make a final announcement later in the week about Sunday morning worship.
Library Loft Closes Down Due to Concerns About Virus
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Yet another community institution has now shutdown as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. Scarsdale Library Director Elizabeth Bermel announced on March 13 that the Scarsdale Public Library will be closed to the public effective 6pm Friday, March 13, 2020. They hope to reopen on Monday, March 23rd, but will re-evaluate as new information becomes available.
Bermel’s email says, “This decision was not made easily or without great consideration as we know how important the Library and the services we provide are to our community. We have considered the fact that a significant portion of our patrons are especially vulnerable to this virus. Please note that no SPL employees have tested positive to COVID-19 and none are subject to any form of restrictions as a result of direct or indirect contact with a confirmed case.”
She noted that the frequency and cleaning of the Library’s temporary quarters, the Library Loft has increased. While closed, the Village of Scarsdale will hire a contractor to perform a complete and thorough cleaning of the Library Loft.
Here’s the status:
All scheduled programs and events are cancelled through March 31st.
Circulation of physical materials will be suspended.
Do not return borrowed materials at this time. The book drop is locked. Do not leave items outside. You will be charged for their replacement costs.
They are waiving all fines incurred through this period.
If you have questions, email the library's email account at [email protected] and they will attempt to respond.
Local Institutions Close to Slow Spread of Coronavirus
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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As of Thursday am, one Coronavirus case in lower Westchester has cascaded into an entire web of cases and closures. Testing concluded that the New Rochelle attorney who is infected, passed the virus to his family, friends of the family and a neighbor who drove him to the doctor. A total of eleven people connected to the Manhattan attorney were infected. Once experts traced all the places these people had visited, it caused a wide swath of closings.
It appears that the best way to control the virus is for people to self-quarantine if they believe they were exposed or are experiencing symptoms. Governor Cuomo is calling on people to police themselves and their families and to self-quarantine to stop the spread of the virus and further closings.
As of Thursday here are closings nearby:
SAR Academy and SAR High School in Riverdale
Young Israel in New Rochelle
The Windward School: Closed March 5 and 6 for cleaning
Bet Am Shalom is closed for the next 48 hours due to the presence of three students and two parents from the Westchester Torah Academy that rents space at Bet Am.
Hastings-on-Hudson School District closed March 5 and 6 to sanitize the building after they were notified that a parent whose children attend school in the district was physically present in a location that was closed due to contact with a person under quarantine.
Mt. Vernon Schools are closed March 5 and 6 because a doctor advised the school that two students have been quarantined for possible exposure to the virus.
Yeshiva University shut down their campus on Wednesday March 4 when they learned that the son of the New Rochelle man had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
