The fall is a wonderful time for comfort food, and this one-dish meal practically cooks itself (after you've thrown in the ingredients!). Most children will love this dish but it's still elegant enough for adults to enjoy. Baked Pumpkin Risotto takes about 40 minutes to prepare and only 35 or 40 minutes to bake. It will serve 4 to 6 people. If you don't like pumpkin, sustitute the same amount of butternut squash.
Ingredients
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 2 cups arborio rice (uncooked)
- 5 cups vegetable broth (chicken if you prefer)
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 cups diced pumpkin, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
- 1 cup crumbled feta (optional)
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped (optional)
Method
- Heat your oven to 375°F. Get out a large skillet and add the olive oil. Warm over medium heat and add onion and thyme, cooking about 5 minutes. Add rice and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly to ensure everything is evenly coated. Add half of the vegetable broth and all of the pumpkin. Allow this to come to a simmer.
- Pull out an ovenproof dish that holds at least 8 cups and transfer the mixture into this dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Take the dish out of the oven and add the rest of the vegetable broth. Stir in the peas, salt, and pepper. Cover once more and return to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the rice is tender-firm (al dente) and most of the liquid has been absorbed. The mixture should look creamy, so add a littel more broth if it seems a little dry and mix well. Return to the over for 5 minutes if necessary.
- Top with feta and basil, if desired and serve immediately.
As a mother, I've had to learn many skills. I can patch up a wound, soothe a cranky child, and I can tackle minor home improvement projects. With a little help and the proper motivation. And since October has obviously started and we recently got out first snowfall of the season, I figured now would be a good time to plug up those drafts, making the house more comfortable for my children and saving a few bucks on my heating bill.
Most mothers I know want to save a little money, and that means tackling minor things yourself. If your furnace needs servicing, you should definitely call a professional, but little things can be done all by yourself. A few inexpensive supplies from the local hardware store can help you keep your family warm and cut that home heating bill.
Leaks and Draft Have to Go
If you live in a house that is not Energy Star-rated, you almost certainly are losing some warm air through the gaps and cracks in your home. You might be losing as much as 35% of the precious heat your furnace is supplying. A lot of people blame their windows, especially if the windows are older, but unless the glass is cracked, it's probably not the windows. If you do replace your windows, invest in the double-glazed type, and hire a professional. Don't install windows yourself.
But, like I said, it's probably not the windows. One of the cheapest items in the hardware store is caulk. Buy some. Caulk baseboards and window trim on all exterior walls. Also caulk around light switches and electrical outlets on those same walls. Exterior walls is where you're losing your heat, so stop up those gaps.
Doors are another place where the heat slips out, so purchase (and actually install!) some high quality weatherstripping. This isn't hard to do and takes only a few minutes. Then train those kids to actually shut the door! Weatherstripping does nothing to help you if the doors aren't shut.
Insulating Makes the Difference
I know you probably can't insulate your entire house by yourself. But you can use some ready-to-purchase products from the hardware store to help. Do you have an electric water heater? Have you wrapped it in an insulating jacket or blanket? No? Then check the water heater's manual and go out and purchase an insulating jacket of the appropriate size. I got one for just under $50. Then actually put it on. Don't do this if you have an oil-powered heater and if you have a natural gas water heater, get the insulation installed by a professional.
You can also add some insulation to your heating system. Take a look at your ducting and you'll realize that you're losing a lot of heat to the basement before the heat even gets upstairs. Yes, you're heating the basement, but that heat can really be used elsewhere. You can wrap your ducting in a pretty silver insulation and secure it with duct tape to solve the problem, instantly saving yourself a good deal of money. Do you have radiators instead? Wrap insulation around the exposed heating pipes in the basement or crawlspace.
Lower the Thermostat
I know everyone says this, but few people actually do it. Turn your thermostat down by 3°C or even 6°C when you go out for the evening or when you go to bed. A thicker blanket can help offset the cooler temperature and make you feel cuddled at the same time. You can even get a programmable thermostat (mine cost about $40) and install it. I did this myself following the directions that came with the thermostat. It's not difficult and you can save yourself a significant amount of money.
It's true that the lower you turn your thermostat, the more money you'll save, but don't be extreme. 5°C is probably too cold for a house with children. Be reasonable. I turn mine down to 15°C every evening and get up a half hour before the kids to turn it back up to 19°C. They stay warm and I can wear a thicker sweater for 10 minutes while the house warms up.
It's cheap and easy to save yourself a few bucks in the cold winter months. But it does require some time, especially when you're insulating and caulking. So plan ahead and you'll be free of drafts this winter.
We love to read in our house. My two children have scores of books and they read everyday. And I read to them. They're not quite old enough to not want that bedtime story. But I'm very picky about the books I allow in my home, especially when it comes to book for my children. They have to engaged my children and either educate or expand their horizons. I spend a lot of time looking for books that suit my purposes, and here are four of my favorites, one for each age group from toddler to tweens and teens.
If You're a Monster and You Know It (Ages 3-5)
My toddler likes vibrant colors and sing-song rhythm, and If You're a Monster and You Know It delivers. My youngest son likes the blank background that makes the illustrations pop off the page and loves the chance to jump up and stomp along with the book. Written by Rebecca and Ed Emberley and published by Scholastic, this book is definately recommended for toddlers and even slightly older children.
Splinters (Ages 6-9)
Published by Tundra and written by Kevin Sylvester, Splinters is a great book for boys and girls that puts a twist on the classic Cinderella story. Instead of a fairy godmother, there's a fairy goaltender, and the coach is named Charmaine Prince. And the glass slippers? They've become a pair of hockey skates. Definately a lot of fun.
The Memory Bank (Ages 7-10)
Looking for something a little whimsical and even fantastical? The Memory Bank by Carolyn Coman may be the answer. Illustrated by Rob Shepperson, this book features a character who enters the World Wide Memory Bank in the hopes of finding a clue to lead her to her little sister. Dreams and memories guide the main character (her name is Hope) on her journey. My older son loves to read this book to himself, and my younger likes to have me read it to him.
The Clockwork Three (Ages 8-14)
And for those older kids? Well, they're probably choosing their own reading material, or at least expressing strong opinions about what they should and should not be reading. But if you can guide them toward The Clockwork Three, they would certainly benefit. Written by Matthew Kirby, this book takes place in a world that reminds me of something out of a Dickens novel. Hannah, Giuseppe, and Frederick each face hardships they cannot overcome until fate (or coincidence) brings them together so they might help each other. A charming tale defiantely worth the read.
These may not be the newest books (they're all at least 2 years old), but they're certainly good reads. Each book is strong on its own merits and contributes something to the imagination of your children. Take a look and see if they're worth adding to your own library.
I've finally come to the conclusion that I'm not going to get away from TV. Even if I don't let my children watch TV, they go to school and hear about television shows from their friends. Such is life, I guess. I don't have to be happy about it, but I do have to learn to adapt to it.
After I came to this realization, I decided to take a look and see what shows were out there that I felt were educational and entertaining for my children. So with their help, I've selected three shows, each aimed at a different age group, that I think children might actually get something out of. Beyond ridiculous entertainment, that is. Please note: channels indicated may be different in your region.
The Cat in the Hate Knows a Lot About That
I was browsing Treehouse for most of the day to find a show or two I wouldn't mind having my preschooler watch when I came upon this cute little show. Now, I'm a fan of Dr. Seuss, so I actually gave this show my undivided attention for a little while. I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. The first thing that caught my attention was the animation. It was very like watching the classic Dr. Seuss come to life. The rhymes were in keeping with The Cat in the Hat. And though I'm not a fan of Martin Short, his voice seemed to just fit the show and character. The best thing about this TV show? It actually engaged my 4-year-old.
Artzooka!
My 6-year-old isn't quite so easily entertained. I had to search a little harder for a program he enjoyed and that didn't drive me nuts. I finally found one on CBC. Artzooka! went beyond making crafts. It actually went into art theory and practice and encouraged my son to see the world from a new and artistic perspective. My 6-year-old actually paid attention and learned something, as evidenced by the craft projects that were quickly produced on the dining room table. I enjoyed his efforts and he stopped asking if he could go see the new Batman movie (which he was never going to be allowed to see). Sweet peace for both of us.
Big Time Rush
And what about older children? Those kids we call tweens? Let's face it. They don't want to watch what we want them to watch. And they figured out how to work the remote years ago. These kids want entertainment, not educational programming. So finding something that can be agreed upon by parent and child isn't always easy. Both parties will have to compromise just a little.
But I got lucky with YTV's Big Time Rush. I didn't hate it (and I really hate most children's programming these days). The tweens found it hilarious. It's just a show about a few goofs from Minnesota that run off to Los Angeles. Why do they run off to LA? They apparently want to make it as a boy band. And hilarity ensues. Slapstick stuff, mostly. But I didn't find the show offensive and the tweens loved it. Good enough in my books.
It's not always easy to find television programming that both parent and child can live with. But with a little exploration and some compromise, it is possible to let your children watch some television without turning into TV zombies. Just remember to always watch 2 or 3 episodes with your child so you know exactly what they're being exposed to.
