Day: September 1, 2020

Chickpea Caesar Wraps

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Chickpea Caesar Wraps (5)

Travis cracked open his Lunchtime Love kit from Raddish Kids today, just in time for the era of school lunches that’s about to dawn once more. The keepsake this month was his very own set of travel utensils, which he loved.

Chickpea Caesar Wraps (1)

For our first lunch, we put together this vegan spin on a chicken salad wrap recipe.

Chickpea Caesar Wraps (2)

Ingredients:

  • 1 (15-ounce) drained and rinsed can chickpeas
  • 2 tablespoons panko
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon + 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 2 tablespoons + 1/2 cup vegan Parmesan, divided
  • 1 tablespoon + 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
  • 1 minced garlic clove
  • 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon Annie’s Worcestershire sauce
  • 6 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
  • 6 (8-inch) flour tortillas
  1. To prepare the chickpeas, place in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher or fork. Add the panko, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon olive oil; set aside.
  2. To prepare the dressing, whisk together the garlic, lemon juice, mayo, mustard, Worcestershire, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil, then stir in the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.
  3. Add the romaine to the chickpea mixture. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss with tongs to coat.
  4. Spoon 1 cup salad into each of 6 warmed tortillas. Wrap up burrito style and serve!

Chickpea Caesar Wraps (3)

For a little history lesson with that “school” lunch, we read up about the Caesar whom the salad was named for on the recipe card: Caesar the restaurateur, that is, not the emperor!

Chickpea Caesar Wraps (4)

Fuzzy Book Covers

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Furry Book Covers (2)

With back-to-school just around the corner, I’m starting to put together fun supplies for Travis to help ease his transition. These fuzzy book covers, a cute idea from Highlights magazine, will make any textbook go from daunting to exciting.

Since Travis hasn’t actually received books from his new teacher yet, we practiced the craft with a favorite book from home: his nature field guide.

Furry Book Covers (1)

Cut a piece of green felt so it completely covers a textbook, leaving an extra 1/2-inch or so on the sides and top. Use hot glue (or tacky glue) to adhere the felt along the inside cover.

Furry Book Covers (3)

Cut an oval from brown felt, and glue in the center of the cover. Now you have an avocado… so we avocadon’t forget to study, as Highlights pointed out.

You can have fun with this and make lots of different fruits and veggies from different colors of felt. You could make them even fluffier with craft fur instead of felt, too!

Block Sorter

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Block Sorter (10)

Veronika loves her bus shape-sorter toy, with slots on top for squares, triangles, and circles, but with one caveat: she can’t open it back up to retrieve the shapes once they’re inside! I solved the problem for her today with this quick DIY version.

Block Sorter (1)

Use any shoebox with a lid (brother Travis’s old Kiwi Crate was perfect) and cut holes for each shape you’ll be using. Veronika loved watching me work: “Mommy’s cutting a triangle!” and the triangle had to go right in. “Mommy’s making a square!” She tested each hole as it was made.

Block Sorter (6)

Now all of the shapes were inside.

Block Sorter (9)

I showed her that she could open the lid… all by herself! She was thrilled. “Triangle is inside!” she said, but not for long. She took them out for a second round, now having to find and fill all three holes with the shapes in a jumble, which was a great challenge.

Block Sorter (7)

I loved that she could use this toy solo. She was evidently so proud of it that she wanted to pick it up and carry it around with her!

Block Sorter (11)

A definite hit, for almost no effort at all on my part.

Block Sorter (8)

Video Visits

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Video Visits (4)

We tend to take lots of photos in our current era, but less so home videos. Here’s a cute project to encourage home video memories, as well as to promote bonding between siblings.

The idea is to have an older sibling narrate a video about any favorite destinations for your younger tot. Our first stop was the playground and Travis described where we were (with a little bit of cheeky humor!), as well as Veronika’s favorite things on the playground, and what they were having for snack.

Video Visits (2)

I then filmed several fun clips as they played on the equipment together!

Once home, I played the video back. Both kids were so delighted to see themselves on screen, little mini celebrities!

Video Visits (5)

They loved it so much that we repeated the game the next day on a bike trail. Travis once more narrated the scene.

Out Doors (6)

And one more the kids were smitten as they watched themselves, after. I intend to keep up this activity, since it’s clear that the kids are going to treasure these clips for years to come.