The Mystical Cauldron
Midsummer Edition - June 2010
Summertime... the word alone evokes pleasant memories for me. As a child, summer was carefree and joyous. I was out of school and had no responsibilities for 3 whole months. My folks would take my brothers and I camping for 5 weeks during the summer because Dad saved up all his vacation for then. We would swim and boat and cook over the campfire, tell ghost stories, eat watermelon and just in general have the time of our lives. Now as an adult, I find that I do not have the luxury of taking 3 months off, nor do I have 5 weeks of vacation... but that’s okay because my weekends are still mini-vacations for me. I love the summer sunshine and the outdoor activities and the fact that people in general seem happier in the summertime.
Of course, Summer has also a bit of an enigma for me because while I know that Summer is a time for celebration and I enjoy all the outdoor activity and the sunshine, the heat is frequently more than I can handle. So, I find myself indoors looking through glass at a beautiful sunshiny day. I have often tried to resolve the opposing forces in my mind (heat vs. fun) for years to no avail. It just strikes me that since Midsummer is the longest day and Summer is the “outdoor season”, I should be outdoors. I think I finally have it though. You see, I realized that even good things must be undertaken with balance. It has finally soaked into my brain that it’s okay for me to spend some time outside and some time inside and not feel as though I have cheated myself out of some of my Summer. It can’t be daylight all year long but it won’t stay nighttime forever either. So, I will continue to enjoy the beautiful weather as much as I am able and I will remember to rest when I am tired and go indoors when I am too warm.
May your Midsummer remind you about balance... in all facets of your life, even as you bask in its light and warmth. I wish you a joyous and safe Summer season.
Midsummer Crafts
Ball Catcher
You Need:
2 Plastic milk cartons or laundry detergent bottles
Sharp scissors
Colored electrical tape or "Painters" paint markers
Ball to play with
PREPARATION:
1. Wash and let dry the milk cartons well before starting. Note: It may be easier to cut the bottom off of the containers first.
2. Use the sharp scissors to cut the milk carton or detergent bottle. First cut off the bottom, then cut a U shape under the handle. Make sure you don't cut into the handle so you can hold on the ball catch. (see photo)
3. Use the colored electrical tape or "Painters" paint markers to decorate the milk cartons.
Have fun playing catch and toss with these fun toys.
Fork & Spoon Wind Chimes
You Need:
Old forks and/or spoons
Hammer
Awl
Fishing line
Beads
PREPARATION:
1. Flatten out the forks and spoons with the hammer (this helps make the sound better)
2. Using the awl and hammer, punch a hole in the handle of each utensil.
3. Bend the tines of one of the forks out flat like a fan and punch a hole in eack tine.
4. Thread a length of fishing lines through each handle, and tie a knot to keep it in.
5. Thread beads as desired onto the thread.
6. Attach each beaded thread to a different tine of the flattened fork.
7. Continue until all tines of the flattened fork have a beaded utensil hanging from them.
Hang outside and enjoy the lovely music!
Pet Rocks
You Need:
Rocks of any size or shape
Acrylic paint
Glue
Paint Brushes
PREPARATION:
1. Collect a lot of rocks. Be sure there are different sizes and shapes.
2. From your collection, choose the rocks that will make up the pet (head, ears, maybe a nose, body, arms and legs).
3. Paint the entire rock, top and bottom in one color.
4. When the first coat of paint dries, paint on the details (eyes, whiskers, fur).
5. When everything is dry, glue the pieces together.
If the kids get tired of the pet, it can become a door stop, book end, garden ornament, or paper weight.
Bubbles
For Basic Bubbles You Need:
2 tblsp dish soap
1 cup water
For Magic Bubbles You Need:
1 tblsp glycerine
2 tblsp dish soap
9 oz water
Glycerine is inexpensive and can be found in most drug stores. The children think that the bubbles are so much better that it is worth keeping a small bottle on hand.
For Color Bubbles You Need:
1 cup liquid tempra paints
2 tblsp dish detergent
1 tblsp liquid starch
Color Bubbles are messy. Be sure to use paint that can wash out and let your children wear old clothes when playing with them!! You can add a little water if the mix is too thick.
PREPARATION FOR ALL MIXTURES: Mix all ingredients together. Mix up the recipes the day before for best results.
Silly Slime
Note: This recipe is extremely messy. Be careful around furniture and carpets!
You Need:
White Glue (like Elmer's)
Liquid Laundry Starch
PREPARATION:
1. Start with about 1/2 cup of each.
2. Measure equal portions of glue and starch into a bowl
3. Stir thoroughly.
4. Let rest 5 minutes.
5. Knead it with your hands, until it comes together. Just when you think it is ruined, it suddenly turns into a wonderful long-stranded glob!
The longer you play with it, the more fun it gets! It stays fresh in a baby food jar for weeks. Try blowing bubbles with it, by stretching a blob over your lips and gently blowing.
Note: As in all recipes, results can vary depending on humidity, conditions, etc.
Kids love adding food color or (washable) paint to make the slime. They have fun making it resemble different icky substances and their imagination is more vivid then most parents want to hear described in detail!
Meat Roll-ups
1 package flour tortillas
Your favorite deli meat, sliced thin
Your favorite deli cheese, sliced thin
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1-2 Tbl Mayonnaise
1 Tbl fresh chives, chopped small
Your favorite tiny pickles (sweet or dill)
Directions...
1. Mix cream cheese, chives, and mayonnaise together until blended well
2. Spread a small amount of the mixture onto a tortilla
3. Place 1 slice deli meat onto one side of the tortilla (cover one entire side)
4. Place 1 slice of the deli cheese on top of the meat (cover the entire side)
5. Place 1 or 2 tiny pickles along the edge of the tortilla end-to-end.
6. Roll up tortilla, beginning where the pickles are.
7. Repeat with all tortillas, cover and chill for about an hour.
8. Slice each tortilla into pinwheels (1/2 - 1 inch thick) and serve.
Chicken Avocado Salad
For the Salad:
3 cups cooked, diced chicken
3 cups cooked white rice
2 avocados, peeled, diced, and tossed with 1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup mayonnaise
1 to 2 teaspoons pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
For the Avocado Dressing:
1 large avocado, peeled and mashed with 2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
Dash cayenne pepper
Thick, crusty bread, multi-grain or sourdough, for serving
Directions...
Salad:
1. Mix all ingredients for salad together and chill.
Dressing:
2. Place all ingredients for dressing in a food processor and blend until smooth.
Chill and serve alongside chicken salad.
Lemon-Berry Cooler
1 cup lemonade
1/2 cup cold milk
1/2 cup strawberry sorbet (or your favorite flavor)
1/2 cup ice cubes
Directions...
1. PLACE all ingredients in blender container; cover.
2. Blend on high speed 30 seconds or until thickened and smooth.
3. Serve immediately.
Strawberry Sunshine
2 (3-ounce) packages strawberry gelatin
1 cup boiling water
2 (10-ounce) cartons frozen strawberries
1 cup chopped pecans
3 medium bananas, sliced
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup sour cream
1 strawberry, sliced, for garnish
4 slices fresh pineapple, for garnish
Directions...
1. Dissolve the gelatin the boiling water.
2. Add the remaining ingredients except the sour cream.
3. Pour half of the mixture in a salad mold; let chill until firm.
4. Cover with a layer of sour cream, then top with the remaining half of the mixture.
5. Refrigerate until firm.
6. Garnish with fresh strawberry and pineapple.
Sectioned Melon with Berries and Sorbet
1 cantaloupe, quartered and seeded
1 pint mango or strawberry sorbet
1/2 pint raspberries
1/2 pint strawberries, sliced
2 teaspoons sugar
Directions...
1.Clean, peel and slice melon. Clean and slice strawberries.
1.Cut a thin piece of the skin off of the back of each wedge of melon to give the melon sections stability.
1.Top each melon boat with a scoop of mango or strawberry sorbet.
1.Toss berries with a little sugar and spill them down and over the sorbet and melon.
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