Community Magazine August 2006

 ”  40 Community Magazine There is plenty to do on the beach other than swim. Sweeten up the day with sand castles. The trick is to add some sugar to the water that you pour into the sand. This makes the sand stick when it dries. Have a seashell and colored glass hunt, and you can use the bounty for an art project the next day – to decorate a frame or box. Bring a picnic basket, frisbee, and ball, for a day of non-stop fun. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture it all. Get Busy If you prepare yourself with the right activities, you might not even realize that the kids are home (yeah, right). Some proj- ects, can keep the kids entranced for hours. You can order an arts and crafts catalog from Oriental Trading Co. (800-228-0475) that contains inexpensive projects to occu- py the kids. Projects like sand art, models, lanyard and beading are usually fun for everyone. You won’t believe it until you see it, but boys will sit and string beads if they’re cool enough (yes, the very same children you would like to tranquilize occasionally). Many stores sell fabulous art kits – for example, RoseArt brand. You can take a trip to the store in the morning and let each kid choose a set to play with later. If you’re brave you can also have the kids personalize t-shirts or caps with puff paints. If you buy an interesting jigsaw puzzle, you might not hear a peep from the kids for hours (except maybe – “Ma, the baby is wrecking our puzzle!”). Baking with the kids can get messy, but it can take oodles of time, and taste delicious. Use a basic sugar cookie or cupcake recipe, and when it’s baked, the real fun of decorating begins. Splurge on some fun decorating tidbits, like colored sparkles, sprinkles, candy toppings, and ready-made frost- ings in a squeezable can. Have fun with a make-your-own pizza party, by giving each child a piece of dough (Mazor’s large pizza dough works great) and an assort- ment of toppings, like olives and peppers, to decorate their own pizzas. The best part, of course, is eating them. But if your kids still complain of bore- dom this summer, just remind them that fortunately, school is just around the cor- ner, and their problem will soon be solved. CM Send your tips for the next edition : Managing Household Finances Community Magazine 1616 Ocean Pkwy Brooklyn, NY 11223 Fax: 718-504-4246 email: shaatra@communitym.com Flavor of the Month: Avocado-Feta Salsa Ingredients: 4 plum tomatoes, chopped 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 (4-ounce) package crumbled feta cheese 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 avocados, chopped Assorted tortilla chips • • • • • • • • • • • Stir together first 9 ingredients. Gently stir in avocado just before serving. Serve with assorted tortilla chips. Yield: Makes 8 appetizer servings Make this salsa shortly before serving for best results. Avoid refrigerating it -- the texture of the tomatoes will soften.