Sunday, May 31, 2015

Websites of Interest!

Zucchini Chips and Easy Peasy Soup!




While gardens provide a wonderful natural learning environment for language, i.e development of vocabulary, following of instructions, and solving of practical and social problems, the learning can continue once the produce is harvested, in the kitchen!
As Winter is here, why not try these recipes and enhance your child’s Mathematical skills as you count, measure and estimate, during the food preparation? It is also a good time to have a chat, as you cook and enjoy a meal together! 

Oven Baked Zucchini Chips
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Total time: 40 mins
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup dry whole wheat breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk (you could also use skim milk)
  • 2½ cups (1/4-inch-thick) slices zucchini
  • Cooking spray
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl stirring with a whisk.
  3. Place milk in a shallow bowl. Dip zucchini slices in milk and dredge in breadcrumb mixture.
  4. Place coated slices on an oven proof wire rack coated with cooking spray; place rack on a baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes or until browned and crisped.
Easy Peasy Soup
INGREDIENTS
● Olive oil
●1 onion – finely chopped
●1clove of garlic - crushed                                          
●1 medium potato – peeled and diced                                 
●3cups of chicken stock
●500g frozen peas
●Parsley for garnish
●Crusty bread
METHOD
Heat oil and cook onions until soft but not coloured
Add garlic and cook for 1 minute
Add potato and chicken stock. Cover saucepan and bring mixture to the boil
Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until potato is tender
Add peas, boil mixture for 5 minutes                                                     
Cool and puree in a food processor                                                        
Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with parsley  
Serve with slices of crusty bread
                                             







                                                                                                

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Let's Look at Earthworms!


Tristen Vella: Principal - Georges River Environmental Education Centre Chipping Norton, run by the Department of Education and Communities visited St Bernadette's Primary Lalor Park, to give advice on how to bring new life to the garden. Many good suggestions were noted and Tristen then restored and repositioned three of the Worm Farms, ready to receive scraps from ‘Crunch & Sip’ and the Canteen. Staff will also be able to feed scraps to the worms! No doubt the worms will soon find their way into their new homes and their juice and castings will be used as nutrients for the plants!


 
 
 
 

Thursday, May 14, 2015

It's Just the Beginning!


 


When Ros, from Bunnings at Seven Hills came to deliver a Dynamic Turn & Go Composter, to St Bernadette's Primary at Lalor Park, the Environment Team accepted the generous donation and were then keen to interview Ros.
Teegan, Chan, Zakiya, Ryan, Emma, Sandra and Shreeparna, now have the answers to their questions!  
1. “What are the best plants to grow all year round?”
2. “How does compost help the garden to grow?”
3. “What is your favourite thing to do in your garden and why?”

4. “What effect will the compost have on worms in the garden?’ 
5. “How will having a compost bin help our garden?”
6. “How does recycling help the environment?”
7. “What can we do to protect the environment?”

 
 
 
 
THANK YOU BUNNINGS - SEVEN HILLS ... let the composting begin!