Tips for Cooking With Kids

• Teach them about kitchen safety and food preparation. Inform them about the dangers of raw proteins and how to properly wash produce and kitchen counters.
• Exercise patience. More than likely, your child will complete tasks slowly at first. However, as they establish familiarity with the kitchen, they will dazzle you with their culinary prowess.
• Give them tasks that allow them to use their hands. For example, have your child tear the lettuce for a salad.
• Ask them for input. Let your child suggest items for dinner. If they feel included, they might be more inclined to eat their food rather than play with it.
•  Use scissors instead of knives. Need some chives for baked potatoes? Let your child cut the chives with kid-friendly scissors.
• Give positive encouragement. Children love feeling a sense of accomplishment. The self-esteem boost from learning new skills just might help them cope with that bully at school.

Bringing kids into the kitchen may seem like a nightmare for some parents. After all, there are sharp knives and time constraints.  However, with a little patience we can find some extra time to bond with our kids and stay tuned in to what’s going on in their lives. Do you have any fun tips for cooking with kids or some favorite kid-friendly recipes? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Prevalence of Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one fatal illness in the United States. Affecting both genders and people from all ethnic backgrounds, the sad reality is that heart-related illnesses are all too common. In Texas, one out of every four deaths is related to heart disease which cuts about 40,000 people’s lives short every year.

Heart Disease Risk Factors

• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Family history of heart disease
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Cigarette and cigar use

Tips for Reducing Your Risk

1. 1. Reduce your saturated fat intake – Saturated fats are fats that take solid form when left at room temperature. Butter, for example, is a saturated fat.
2. 2. Eat healthy fats in moderation – Healthy fats maintain a liquid form when left at room temperature. Olive oil is an excellent source of healthy fat.
3. 3. Exercise regularly – The most beneficial physical activity for your heart health is cardiovascular exercise. Swimming, cycling, jogging, and fitness walking are great for strengthening your heart. Strength training, yoga, and tai chi also present heart healthy benefits.
4. 4. Incorporate whole grains and fiber into your diet – Research indicates that people with diets high in whole grains and fiber have a lower risk of developing heart disease.

Luckily, our community has great options for living an active lifestyle. Aside from joining a gym, our area has a great selection of walking trails and parks to choose from. If you need to incorporate healthier food into your diet, North Texas also features many health food stores and farmer’s markets with locally grown, organic produce. Do you know of a great hiking trail? Do you have a favorite health food store? Feel free to share your favorites in the comments section below!

Plan Your Garden

This is the perfect time to decide what you want to plant this year. Perhaps you want to research which climbing vine would work best for your trellis in this climate? Or maybe you would like to try growing some exotic peppers for a salsa garden? If you’re stuck in the house on a cold, dreary day, snuggle up on the couch with the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens or peruse the internet to broaden your gardening knowledge.

Prepare Your Soil

Add organic material to your soil from your compost pile to improve its texture. All those dead leaves that have collected in your yard have a purpose! Mulch them and mix them into your flowerbeds and garden soil. Be sure to loosen your soil by overturning it with a shovel. Ideally, you want to dig six to eight inches deep.

Organize Your Gardening Tools

What’s a gardener to do without the right equipment? Be sure to organize your pruning shears, shovels, gloves, and spades. Make sure you have gathered them in a central location such as your tool shed or garage so that they will be easy to find when it’s time to use them.

We welcome gardening tips and ideas in the comments section below. Feel free to share how you find ways to ease the winter-time blues, too.

A Contractor With 30 Years’ Experience

When we bring a contractor into our homes, we need someone we can trust. Doug Smith has provided DFW residents with expertise and quality work for over three decades. His extensive experience with interior and exterior painting combined with his work ethic has satisfied happy clients throughout the area.

Doug Smith Contracting, directed by Doug and his son, offers free estimates to commercial and residential property owners looking to spruce up their décor. All work is guaranteed to meet or exceed client expectations.

If you’re struggling with choosing the right color palate for your home, Doug and his team can help with that too. With an eye for color, he will help you decide what best suits your tastes. Experienced with texturing, he can transform plain walls to artistic expressions. Do you want to bring in old world charm to a newly built house? For example, textured walls that emulate stone or stucco give your home a Mediterranean feel. Doug Smith and his team also incorporate glosses and other techniques to personalize your home into a work of art that you will love for years to come.

As proponents of small business, we favor family-run contractors to large, impersonal firms. Doug Smith is well known throughout the metroplex. He has been lauded by his clients for quality work and expertise. To learn more about Doug Smith Contracting and view examples of their work, click here. To request an estimate, fill out a form online or call Doug at (817) 305-1311.

Hiking and Wildlife Viewing

The Bob Jones Nature Center features three hiking trails. A welcoming escape from bustling DFW life, each trail affords hikers the luxury of taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. With abundant wildlife, children and parents can view birds and animals in their natural surroundings. This weekend, the Southlake Ornithological Society will host hikes geared toward bird watching. The hikes begin at 8:00 in the morning.

In 2009, the nature center was honored as the best place to view the Cross Timbers ecosystem. The nature preserve is home to over 300 resident and migratory birds, and patrons often spot Texas Spiny Lizards along with deer, turkey, and raccoon tracks. The wildflowers around the center also attract dragonflies and butterflies.

Education and Activities

The nature center boasts activities for adults and children. Workshops provide visitors with invaluable information on gardening and composting. If you have ever wondered how to incorporate native shrubs and flowers into your landscape at home, you will learn what types of plants are best for this climate with workshops hosted throughout the year.

Are you an avid picture taker? Join the Camera Club! They offer information and education on photography techniques for capturing nature in photos. The Camera Club welcomes photographers of all skill levels and meets on the third Saturday of most months.

The Bob Jones Nature Center is located at 355 E. Bob Jones Road in Southlake. To learn more about the nature center, click here to visit their website. Let’s enjoy this great weather while it lasts!

The Food

Are you in the mood for a rack of lamb? How about  fresh lobster and beef tenderloin? From perfectly seasoned tomato basil soup to tasty appetizers with exotic twists, The Classic Café has you covered. Chef Youts oversees every plated meal from start to finish. He also tries to incorporate fresh produce from the restaurant’s garden anytime he can. Vegetables are grown under organic conditions and the menu features proteins from free-range ranches. The Classic Café gives the health-conscious and environmentally-aware diner everything he or she could ask for.

The Atmosphere

Housed in a quaint-looking building with a lovely white wrap-around porch, the Classic Café attracts visitors by curb appeal alone. When you enter, expect to be treated like family. The wait staff is attentive, professional, and knowledgeable.  Outdoors, you will find a small patio where live music is featured on the weekends. Comfortable patio furniture and outdoor heaters presents a cozy environment for you to take in the sounds of gifted musicians.

Cooking Classes with Chef Youts

Have you watched Iron Chef and yearned to chop and sauté like a professional? Do you want to learn more about pairing herbs and spices that enhance your dish, not overpower it?  Chef Youts offers monthly cooking classes for patrons eager to cook like a rock star at home.

To learn more or view menus, visit www.theclassiccafe.com. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday. You may contact The Classic Café at (817) 430-8185. The restaurant is located at 504 N. Oak St, Roanoke, Texas 76262.

For those of us who are now parents, we try to recapture the magic and excitement we felt as children with our kids. In fact, crafting cards or personalized Valentine’s Day gifts with your child for his or her class is a fun bonding experience.

Ideas for Personalized Valentine’s Day Cards

• Customize homemade cards with your child’s picture.
• Write a short, personal note to each child in the class.
• Use traditional Valentine’s Day colors such as red, white, and pink.
• Place treats in cellophane bags and tie them with red ribbons.
• Make homemade candy with your child. Fudge or chocolate-covered cherries are always a classroom favorite.
• Attach notes to each treat with fun trivia about Valentine’s Day.

I have found that when I work with children on Valentine’s Day crafts, it brings back (in a small way) a piece of my childhood. Besides, how many times do adults get the opportunity to work with construction paper and glitter pens? I think it’s safe to say “not enough”.

Feel free to share your own Valentine’s Day tips in the comments section below. Happy Valentine’s Day—from my inner child to yours!

1. What state was Abraham Lincoln born in?

a. Illinois

b. Kentucky

c. Indiana

d. Virginia

2. How tall was President Lincoln?

a. 5’9

b. 6′

c. 6’4

d. No one knows

3. Which of the following diseases did George Washington have in his lifetime?

a.  Malaria

b. Small Pox

c. Dengue Fever

d. All of the above

4.  At what age did George Washington begin to lose his teeth?

a. 30

b. 48

c. 15

d. 22

5. How old was President Lincoln when he died?

a. 49

b. 56

c. 60

d. 65

6. How old was George Washington when he died?

a. 60

b. 62

c. 67

d. 76

Answers:

1. B – Contrary to popular belief, Abe Lincoln was born in Kentucky. However, he was raised in Illinois.
2. C – President Lincoln is the tallest president we have had so far. He stood at 6’4.
3. D – All of the above. Despite his effectiveness in military strategy and unwavering resolve, George Washington was plagued with health problems throughout his life. He even suffered from rheumatism as well.
4. D — Despite his best efforts to maintain proper oral hygiene, George Washington began losing his permanent teeth at the age of 22. Some historians blame his poor dental health on the medication he took for various ailments.
5. B – As we all know, President Lincoln’s life was cut short by assassination.
6. C—George Washington died at 67. Although this may seem young to us, considering George Washington’s poor health and the era he lived in, he actually lived a long life.

On Mondays, iLIVEcommunity focuses on health. Today, you and your family have access to healthcare unlike any other generation. Thankfully, Americans are enjoying much longer lifespans than their ancestors. We are blessed! If you haven’t received an annual medical checkup or scheduled semi-annual dental appointments, take time out of your day to make a commitment to you and your family’s health. Check back with us to learn more about health-related topics and enter your email address in the subscription box to receive notifications of new posts.

iLIVEcommunity is a local news resource for residents of Grapevine, Southlake, Trophy Club, Roanoke, Keller, and surrounding communities.

• Pansies
• Violas
• Ornamental Cabbage
• Swiss Chard
• Dianthus
• Geraniums
• Cyclamen
• Primrose

A Little Help from Your Friends: If you like using the computer, try out Better Homes and Garden’s Plan-a-Garden tool. This free software has some negative reviews, so test it out before investing a lot of time in it.

Don’t Forget the Bulbs

You’ve missed the cut-off for bulb planting. The best time to plant narcissus, tulips, daffodils, and other beautiful spring-blooming bulbs is actually December.  This video, taken at the Dallas Arboretum, explains the best practice for planting bulbs in the North Texas area. Planting and storing bulbs is a science!

If you don’t want to plant your own bulbs, but you want to soak in their amazing beauty, plan to visit the Dallas Arboretum in March and April. Southern Living Magazine touted the gorgeous display that draws over 150K visitors, so you know the show has to be magnificent.

Evergreen Shrubbery
A backdrop of evergreen foliage can keep a landscape lively, even in the dead of winter. Try these popular shrubs in the back of your beds:

• Berries
• Hollys
• Nandinas
• Pyracantha
• Purple Heart
• Dusty Miller
• Rosemary
• LaMarne
• Katy Road
• Belinda’s Dream
• Dame de Coeur
• Thrift
• Scabiosa
• Linten Rose
• Nana Coreopsis
• Hymenoxis

• 6 cans Campbell’s Cream of Potato Soup
• 6 cans of water
• 2 small bags of frozen yellow kernel corn
• 1 lb. bacon, chopped and fried, drained
• 2 blocks of Monterrey jack cheese, cubed
• 1 small jar of pimentos, strained
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped

This serves about 8 and is best with a side of potato rolls and a tall glass of ice-cold milk.