Mmmm Good Monday: Applesauce Muffins & Breakfast Bars

(served at the Oct 28 meeting)

Applesauce Muffins

What You Need

• 6 Tbsp. butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1.5 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 c. brown sugar
• 1.5 c. chunky applesauce

What You Do

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Line muffin tin with baking cups, or grease with no-stick cooking spray.
3. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into large mixing bowl.
4. In another large bowl, whisk together eggs and brown sugar. Stir in applesauce and melted butter until mixture is smooth.
5. Pour applesauce mixture over flour mixture. Mix with wooden spoon until combined.
6. Fill muffin tin cups about 2/3 full with batter.
7. Bake 20 minutes or until light brown.

Breakfast Bars

What You Need

• 2 c. granola
• 2 eggs beaten
• vanilla for sweetening

What You Do

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Combine granola and eggs in bowl.
3. Spread into 8" square baking dish.
4. Bake 15 minutes.
5. Cut into bars.

Playdate At Chic-Fil-A

Chic-Fil-A

near Mall at Robinson

121 Costco Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15205

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12:30-2:30pm

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This playdate was originally planned for the play place inside the mall, but the play area is under renovations November 9-20.

Problem Solving and the Preschooler

8 Ways To Help Preschoolers Develop Better Problem-Solving Skills

1. Provide a variety of open-ended toys that encourage creative thinking and experimentation.
2. Talk out loud while you solve problems to model effective problem-solving strategies.
3. Ask questions more often than you give answers. Get in the habit of saying, “What do you think we could do to solve this problem?”
4. When your child is trying to solve a problem, think of yourself as a coach. Guide your child through identifying the problem, brainstorming possible solutions, choosing a solution to try and trying it, and evaluating how the solution worked.
5. Help your child view mistakes as opportunities to learn.
6. Try puzzles, tangrams, various math manipulatives, etc.
7. Create your own scavenger hunt with clues – make them just tricky enough that your preschooler has to think without getting frustrated.
8. Do simple science experiments together – practice making predictions and seeing what happens. Start with a sink/float experiment or search for things that are magnetic.

To find these tips and more information on problem-solving visit the Let's Explore Blog.

4 Perspectives on H1N1 - the Virus & the Vaccine

Click here to read 4 perspectives on the H1N1 virus and whether or not you (or your children) should get the vaccine. You can also read the highlights of the article here.

Sound Familiar?