Smag31

Bilingual families Children under the age of three who are raised in a bilingual environment are believed to learn both languages simultaneously, with no detriment to developing language skills. The easiest way to support language-learning is to be consistent in approach, perhaps by adopting a “one parent/one language” approach at home or by agreeing that … Read more

Your toddler needs to learn to communicate so that he can relate to other people and develop the social and inter-personal skills that are so important for building friendships and being understood. He relies on nonverbal, verbal, and listening skills and in many ways operates at an intuitive level. “Karl is a real chatter-box. His … Read more

1.6. Thermometers and timers Probe thermometers are awesome because they use a thermocouple attached to a long heat-safe lead, designed so that you can stick the probe into a piece of meat and set the controller to beep when it reaches the desired temperature. Timers are handy, and if you’ll be doing much baking, one … Read more

1.5. Spoons & co. Few things symbolize cooking more than a spoon, and for good reason: stirring, tasting, adjusting the seasoning, stirring some more, and tasting again would be virtually impossible without a good spoon! I prefer the wooden variety. In an age of technology and modern plastics, there’s just something comforting about a wooden … Read more

Lasagna Al Forno Nothing is more of a crowd-pleaser than a big dish of baked lasagna—at any age and any time of year! Mixing the meat and cheese sauces may sound odd, but it makes the sauce taste richer. 1 hour 35–40 minutes NOTE A family of 4–5 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for … Read more

Family meals offer a great opportunity to encourage your toddler to try new foods, and to experiment with new tastes. Too many people assume that babies and toddlers want bland, tasteless meals, when, in fact, most of them love to try new flavors, and have sensitive palates right from the word go. Q: My toddler’s … Read more

Boys seem to be a non-scandal choice to “chat” about your girlfriends and about the person who broke your heart. Then, why is everything so complicated? The kind of friendship you have with your closest male friend is quite amazing. He is the only person you can be yourself with, the one giving you the most sincere advice on your love life and who you can see on Friday evenings without having to buy a new … Read more

Whether it’s changing hair colour or switching faiths, sometimes truly amazing things come out of the most unexpected choices “Becoming a Muslim has made me a better person” Author and TV presenter Kristiane Backer, 46, lives in West London.  “I converted to Islam 16 years ago, after a relationship with the Pakistani former cricketer Imran … Read more

She had always longed for a mother that she could have a heart-to-heart talk. Instead, her mother kept her down. In the end, she had to make a choice. Growing up, my friends liked to stay the night at my house. My mother would bake crumpets and listen to their stories about the boys. My … Read more

1.4. Measuring cups and scales In addition to the common items used for measuring (e.g., measuring cups and spoons), I strongly recommend purchasing a kitchen scale.  You can pour ingredients directly into a mixing bowl by weight, skipping the need for measuring cups. You will obtain better accuracy when measuring by weight. Dry ingredients such … Read more

1.2. Cutting boards Most cutting boards are made of either hardwoods, such as maple or walnut, or plastics like nylon or polyethylene. Regardless of which type you get, look for ones that are at least 12″ × 18″ / 30 cm × 45 cm. Bigger is better, as long as the board fits in your … Read more

Q: Food seems to go flying everywhere when my daughter eats. Is this bad behavior? A: Your daughter is naturally curious about how food looks, tastes, and feels. She’s making a mess because it’s a hit-or-miss process figuring out how to feed herself, and she’s exploring the sensation of food in her hands and mouth. … Read more

Q: Our son keeps biting the other children at day care. Why is he doing this? A: Day care is a fun but challenging place. Your son is learning to master new skills, and he has to share toys, games, time, and attention from staff, all of which can lead to feelings of frustration. The … Read more

Cheese and Ham Pit-zas Pitas make a nice crisp base for pizzas—or pit-zas! Try my tomato sauce on page 183 or use a good-quality store-bought sauce. If you only have large pitas, then warm and split one as described in the recipe, and just use one half. Another good pizza base is a split toasted … Read more

Your toddler will be raring to go, and ready to try many new experiences. It isn’t always easy to keep up with an energetic toddler, and to ensure he’s getting all the nutrients he needs. But it’s not as hard as you may think to keep things going on the run, whether he’s in day … Read more

Finger foods aren’t just snacks or incidental additions to your toddler’s diet. You can supplement even the fussiest toddler’s menu with appealing goodies that will both add nutritional value and encourage her to learn the skills of independent eating. Q: How can I encourage my child to eat foods with different consistencies? A: Some little … Read more

If the Planner Isn’t Working Problem: The planner doesn’t provide enough room for all of the information you need to include. note The More Time Mom’s Family Organizer wall calendar features big squares to write in, along with reminder stickers for important events and a pocket to contain loose paperwork. Suggested retail: $17.75. Website: www.flylady.net … Read more

Adjusting for Body Clocks You’re probably familiar with the fact that some people are “night people,” whereas others are “morning people.” Actually, about 10 percent of the population are morning types, and 20 percent are nighttime types; the other 70 percent don’t tend to either extreme. You may already have a good idea of whether … Read more

3. Uniform Storage Containers There are several benefits to using food-grade storage containers for bulk items such as flours, sugars, salts, beans, rices, cereals, grains, pastas, lentils, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, etc. Using standard-sized containers makes optimal use of space, and using plastic containers for storage keeps pantry moths in check. Pantry moths (weevils) can … Read more

A kitchen that has been thoughtfully organized greatly helps in the process of preparing a meal. You will have a more relaxed time cooking if you are able to quickly find what you are looking for and have confidence that you have the right tool for the task at hand. 1.Retrieval Julia Child’s kitchen took … Read more