Buckets of summer fun

By Sandy Holthaus

Summer is almost here, so I think it’s time to work on a bucket list. As a kid, nothing was more important than summer break. It seemed like the entire school year revolved around how many days were left of school before the next break. My high school English teacher, Mr. O, kept a running total of the number of days until summer on the chalkboard. I think he was looking forward to it as much as we were. (Maybe more!)
These are my 10 favorite activities for summer fun. My kids and I have checked each of these off our list. (Yes, even the food fight.) So, believe me when I say they are tried and true.
Enjoy! Sandy
• Food fight party – Adventurous moms will allow this party once, and maybe only once, but it is fun. From experience, I suggest the following rules: Rule one: If you won’t eat it, don’t throw it! This prevents the neighborhood children from making disgusting concoctions of refrigerator leftovers and throwing them on my head. (Try to get old cottage cheese and gravy out of your hair; not easy!) Good ideas for ammo: Chocolate pudding, Hershey’s syrup, whipping cream in a can, Jell-O, cake, ice cream; you get the idea. Rule two: To play, you must be inside the circle. We used a garden hose to make the boundaries; that way, if you needed a break, you had a safe place to go: just step outside the circle. Rule three: No food can be thrown from outside the circle. Rule four: Don’t throw food at the cameraman. And Rule five: This is an outside game only!
• Powdered sugar fishing – Take powdered sugar doughnuts and tie them to a string. Attach the string to a pole and dangle the doughnut over someone lying on their back. The “fish” try to bite the doughnut. We use powdered sugar because they are the messiest.
• Blue food breakfast – Make everything blue using food coloring: blue pancakes, blue scrambled eggs, and blue milk. This comes from Zoë’s favorite book, No Blue Food. I think the milk is the hardest to get past the color; it just doesn’t seem right.
• Make a candy gram – Using candy bars and treats to make words on a poster board are really fun. The kids learn to be creative, too. The RIESEN for this greeting is to wish you a CAREFREE summer. Don’t go NUTS while you are fighting the MOUNDS of people at the park. Don’t worry about getting CHUNKY as there will be GOOD and PLENTY of time to worry about that next winter! HUGS and KISSES! Your, SWEETHEART.
• Whipped cream cars – A can of whipping cream and matchbox cars make for a fun afternoon game. Cover an outdoor picnic table with whipping cream and drive the vehicles through the “snow.” It will be good practice for next November driving.
• Jell-O shots – Settle down, this is for the kids. Try making your favorite flavor combinations of Jell-O and juice. Just replace the cold water with fruit juice and put the Jell-O into little cups. My favorite is peach Jell-O with orange juice. (I don’t know where I came up with this combination, but is to die for.)
• Goldfish trail – This is like Hansel and Gretel following bread crumbs into the forest, but I think the orange goldfish crackers show up better. Have one child start the trail and see if the rest can follow it. You might want to take the family dog along to pick up the crackers along the way.
• Sweet bubbles – Make homemade bubbles and use flyswatters over the outside air conditioning unit when it runs, and you will not believe the bubbles! Use two flyswatters as one is just not enough. Sweet bubbles: 1 tablespoon corn syrup, 2 tablespoons dish soap, and 1 cup water; mix well.
• Pick apples and make applesauce – There is nothing like homemade applesauce, and the kids will actually know that it doesn’t have to come from a jar. Peel, core and slice six cups of apples (try different varieties). Place in a pan and add two cups of water. Cook down to make the sauce; add more water if needed. Mash with a potato masher and add sugar to taste.
• Make celery roses – If you cut a stalk of celery about two inches from the bottom, you will see the part usually thrown out is a perfect rose. Dip in paint and press on paper. Pretty!
And, finally, try these delicious recipes for a fun Mexican-themed dinner that the kids can make with a little help from a grown-up! Have fun this summer!
Peace, Sandy
Homemade Flour Tortillas
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 teaspoons olive oil
2/3 cup warm milk (I used 1% milk with great success)
Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Add the olive oil and rub the flour and olive oil together between your fingers until the olive oil is broken down into small pieces, about 1/16” in size.
Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and pour the warm milk in. Using a fork, stir the flour into the well. Continue to stir until a giant ball of dough forms.
Lightly flour a work space and place the dough on it. If the dough is sticky, sprinkle a little flour on top. Knead until the dough is soft. It shouldn’t take more than 15–20 kneading motions.
Cover the dough with a sheet of plastic or a towel, and allow the dough to rest for at least 15 minutes.
Divide the dough into eight sections and roll each part into a small ball about the size of a medium egg. Open up the clamshell of the tortilla press; and place a small sheet of wax paper on the surface of the tortilla press, and place the ball of dough on top. Place another sheet of wax paper on top of the dough, and fold the clamshell of the tortilla press down, using the lever. Open up the clamshell and turn the flattened dough 180 degrees, and fold the clamshell over it again, pressing down. Repeat with the other seven balls of dough, and place flat in the freezer for one hour, or until the wax paper can be easily removed. If you don’t have a press, roll flat with rolling pin.
Heat up a griddle over medium-high heat. Pour a little olive oil on the griddle and spread it over the surface of the griddle with a paper towel. Place the tortillas on the griddle for 2–3 minutes, or until there are some lightly browned spots on the tortilla surface. It’s normal for the tortilla to bubble up a bit. Flip it over and cook for another minute.
Serve warm with some butter or olive oil for dipping.
These can also be baked for tortilla chips. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush each side of a tortilla with about 1/2 teaspoon oil or melted butter. Sprinkle one or both sides of tortilla with a seasoning of choice. Using a sharp knife or pizza wheel, cut the tortilla into
6 or 8 wedges, and place in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until light golden brown and crisp, 8-12 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Cool to room temperature. Baked chips keep well, stored in an airtight tin, for up to a week.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Combine chili powder, cumin, cornstarch, paprika, seasoned salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper together in an airtight container. Seal the container and shake to mix.
Can be used to season ground beef or chicken for homemade tacos.
Homemade Guacamole
3 avocados, ripe
1/2 small onion, finely diced
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
3 tablespoon, fresh cilantro, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lime, juiced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Slice the avocados in half, remove the pit and skin, and place in a mixing bowl. Mash the avocado with a fork and make it as chunky or smooth as you’d like. Add the remaining ingredients and stir together.