May 21: Strawberries and Cream Day

image from runtvapor.com

Not only is today Strawberries and Cream Day, but May is Strawberry month. Here are some fun facts about strawberries, according to MacaroniKid.com:

• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• Each strawberry contains approximately 200 seeds.
• Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in spring.
• Strawberries are low fat, low calorie, high in Vitamin C, fiber, folic acid and potassium.
• There is a museum in Belgium just for strawberries.
• The average person in the United States eats 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries every year.
• 23,000 acres of strawberries are planted in California each year, which equals around 1 billion pounds!

You can make this dessert with strawberries and cream to celebrate the day:

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Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Materials:

• Crushed pretzels, 1 ½ cups
• Sugar, ½ cup
• Butter, 1/3 cup
• Microwave-safe 9” x 13” pan
• Cool Whip, 1 9-ounce package
• Cream cheese, 8 ounces
• Powdered sugar, ½ cup
• 8-cup microwave safe container
• Strawberry gelatin, two 3-ounce packages
• Frozen strawberries, one 16-ounce package (don’t drain)
• Crushed pineapple, 1 cup drained

Directions:

1. Melt butter at 100% power for 30 to 45 seconds.
2. Combine butter with sugar and pretzels and spread in pan.
3. Microwave uncovered at 70 to 80% power for 2 to 4 minutes. Set aside to cool.
4. Mix cream cheese, Cool Whip, and powdered sugar.
5. Spread over cooled crust s and place in fridge to partially set.
6. In container, heat 2 cups water and add gelatin; heat 1-2 more minutes at 100% power to dissolve gelatin.
7. Add strawberries and pineapple.
8. Pour on top of other 2 layers and refrigerate until set.

Source(s): cooks.com, adapted for the Toolbox Training book 100 Cooking Activities for Kids (activity H5).

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Check out the full May calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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May 4: Orange Juice Day

image from organicfacts.net

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Making Orange Juice

Materials:

• Oranges (two per 8-ounce serving)
• Strainers (to lessen the amount of pulp)
• Paring knives
• Pitcher
• Drinking glasses
• Spoon

Directions:

1. Squeeze oranges repeatedly to soften them.
2. Wash thoroughly.
3. Cut into halves and remove seeds.
4. Carefully cut circularly around the edge of an orange half, slightly separating the fruit and peel.
5. Grip the orange half tightly and squeeze into the pitcher.
6. Continue squeezing and periodically rotate the orange until liquid is no longer produced.
7. Scrape the orange with a spoon and add fruit directly to the juice for additional pulp.
8. Put the juice through a strainer for less pulp.
9. Repeat with the other orange halves.

Source(s): From ehow.com; featured in Toolbox Training book 100 Cooking Activities for Kids (activity A3).

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Check out the full May calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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October 20: Fruit Day

image from wakpaper.com

In honor of fruit day, the kids can make this easy no-bake fruit pizza!

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Fruit and Gelatin Pizza

Materials:

• Gelatin, any flavor - enough to cover 16 serving sizes
• Water
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Pizza pan
• Non-stick cooking spray
• Assorted fruits (strawberries, apples, bananas, oranges, pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon, kiwi fruit)
• Knife
• Whipped topping

Directions:

1. Boil 2 ½ cups water in microwave; add to gelatin and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved - about 2 minutes.
2. Spray pizza pan with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Put pan in fridge to chill until firm - about 3 hours.
4. Remove pan from fridge when ready to serve.
5. Fill sink with about 1 inch warm water; carefully dip just the bottom of the pan into water for about 15 seconds.
6. Spread whipped topping over gelatin just before serving, leaving about an inch all around for the “crust.”
7. Top with cut-up fruit.

Source(s): Adapted from familycorner.com and featured in Toolbox Training’s book 100 Cooking Activities for Kids (activity D7). Also check out activities D1, D7, D8, E7, and I7.

Also check out activity G4 in 100 Art Activities for Kids and activity E7 in 100 Game Activities for Kids.

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Check out the full October calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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