The World is Their Toy, Beautiful Beet Soup, and Real Mini Snow People

Just as I have been racking my brain about what kind of gifts to get my almost 2 year old for Christmas, she began playing and loving the most unlikely thing: a binder clip. It started with a small clip—you know the ones with a black “mouth” and two metal arms to push it open. She called it baby. Then she wanted to know where mommy was. So I found a bigger clip on a package of opened raisins. Soon after she requested a daddy.

After she had the entire family she proceeded to spend the bulk of the day looking at them, saying their names, carrying them around, and asking me to make them talk (squeeze the arms so the mouth would open) so she could laugh. Yes, all this from a few binder clips. Go figure. Makes me wonder why I spend so much time trying to find the perfect gifts when just about anything can become a toy to a child. Hopefully, her family of clips will enjoy the new play kitchen.

Recipe:

Savory Beet Soup

A light, healthy, and beautiful colored soup with lots of antioxidants thanks to the beets. Make sure to use organic potatoes, since potatoes are number 9 on the dirty dozen.

Ingredients
1 tsp. olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
4 cups veggie broth
2 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
3 medium beets, peeled and halved
2 medium organic potatoes, peeled and halved crosswise
1 bay leaf
1-2 Tbs. lemon juice
sour cream to taste, if desired

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth, water, salt, pepper, beets, potatoes, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until beets and potatoes are tender, about 20-25 minutes. Discard bay leaf.

2. Purée with stick blender. Stir in lemon juice. Add sour cream when serving, if desired.

Project:

Making Mini Snow People

This is a fun activity for those of us that don’t live where it snows. Since it does take a certain amount of dexterity to decorate with small pieces I wouldn't try this with the younger ones.

What You Will Need:

Cookie or jellyroll pans
Shaved ice
Stuff to decorate like:

Little sticks/small branches for arms
Small strips of material for scarves
Cloves or candy for eyes
Carved carrots for nose
Real tiny buttons
Beet juice for rosy cheeks or red pants


1. Make sure you have all the decorations out on the table before you pull out the ice, so that you will have plenty of time to decorate before the ice turns to water.

2. Take the shaved ice from the freezer and place a small amount on your pan. Form two or three balls (your choice) of decreasing size with your hands, compacting the ice. The largest will go on the bottom. Put the second largest ball on top of the largest and press until enough melting occurs that they stay in place. If you made a third ball put that one on as well (having a flat bottom on that one will make it easier.) Then go at it, decorate your snowman or snowwoman to your heart’s desire.

3. When you are done you can freeze and keep for later, or watch it melt in all its glory for a study in science.


"I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included." -Bernard Manning