Where In The World Postcard Swap

Rightie, who is up for another swap?

When I organise swaps I always get about 70% of people from the USA sign up and then a mix for the rest, so to try and mix it up a bit and to get some of the more obscure and small countries included I have come up with a plan..... now, I know this isn't authentic and isn't as good as the real thing but it might be the spark that leads to something bigger, plus you can get the kids involved with the research....

Each person will be in a group of five so you will need to prepare 4 cards (and one for yourself if you like).
When you sign up I will mail you with the name of a country, you then have to make your own postcard to represent that country, so some research will possibly be needed and remember to put the name of the country on the front. 'Greetings from ... ' or the such like. The internet is a wonderful resource for images but I do request that you ask permission before using some one's image or at the very least give credit on the card with the web address where you found it.
How you actually make the postcard is up to you.

On the back you need to write 2 facts about the country - anything you like and a short message, remember to sign it so your swap partners know who sent it.
For the stamp you will obviously need to add a stamp from your own country but it you wanted to paste a copy of a stamp from the country you represent that would be cool too.

That is all. I will mail you back with your designated country within a couple of days. You can start making your cards straight away.

When the sign up date is closed I will send you your swap group, keep your designated country a secret but exchange mailing addresses. If, you sign up and you are from a country that doesn't usually get much representation then I will give you the option of making a card from a different country or using the real thing from where you live.

Sign up date closes September 25th. you will get your assigned country by Sept. 30th.

I will send out your swap group the first week of Oct.

Your cards must be mailed by Oct. 15th

This bit is important - if you wish to join a bigger stake swap in the future, such a culture swap, you must sign up and complete this one. The only people who don't have to follow this rule are those who have already done 2 or more swaps that I have organised. Anyone who doesn't stick to their end of the deal doesn't get to participate in bigger swaps.

any questions, pop them in the comments section, don't try and sign up in the comments, it won't work!
and please spread the word!

Homemade peanut butter #5

We picked up a bag of cheap peanuts the other day and decided to try our hand at making peanut butter.

Homemade peanut butter:

you will need

1 cup of shelled peanuts

1 tsp of peanut oil (or olive oil)

1/2 tsp salt

First, shell the peanuts, Ebi-kun couldn't break the shell himself so I broke, he picked out the peanuts.

Put the peanuts on a baking tray and bake at 180 deg C for about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Remove the red skin from the peanuts, it comes off easily once the have been baked.

Put everything in a blender and whizz until it becomes creamy, it took quite a while for us.

spread on freshly baked bread and enjoy.
Testers comments: it was fun but took a long time, it doesn't taste like out usual (store bought) peanut butter.

Assistants Comments: It was easier than I thought it was going to be, luckily we had the distraction of dinner in the middle so the peanuts could cool down, we actually ate the peanut butter the next day. It may separate as it stands, just give it a stir before using.

Apple Cupcakes #4

I saw this idea ages ago on Melissa's blog, she did it as her postcard snack recipe. At the time the only apples we could buy were your standard massive Japanese sized one but when we went camping I spotted a bag of 'English' sized apples (by that I mean apples that are the right size for one person to eat, not a massive one that has to be shared between the family!).

Apple Cup Cakes

you will need:

an apple

peanut butter

something to decorate - sprinkles, raisins etc.

I cut the apple in half and removed the pips.

Ebi-kun spread peanut butter on the top of one of the apple halves

Then added some sprinkles
here is the compulsory cup cake close up (come on, you know what I mean!)
then eat!
Testers comments: spreading the peanut butter is difficult, it keeps sliding. tastes good, can we make it again tomorrow?

Assistants comments: Ebi-kun wasn't happy about eating the skin, usually people peel apples in Japan. Personally, I wasn't fussed on the apple/peanut butter combo but I would like to try cream cheese and pineapple next time.

I have been slacking off with the snack time posts, since getting back from the UK, yes, that was the end of June, I have found it hard to get back into the swing of things, I am going to try harder, promise! We haven't even tried out all the recipes yet, tut tut tut.

Pina Colada Yoghurt #3

This postcard snack came all the way from the Bahamas, thank you!

Pina Colada Yoghurt

You will need:

1 cup of vanilla yoghurt

1Tbsp flaked coconut (we used shredded)

1 Tbsp crushed pineapple, well drained.

1. Pour yoghurt into a bowl.

2. Add coconut.
3. Add pineapple.
4. Mix well together.
5. Eat.
Testers comments: yummy and sweet

Assistants notes : I cheated somewhat with this and pre-measured everything, just because I was short of time, next time he can do it himself. It was really tasty and we had it again with our breakfast the nest day. The recipe also suggested toasting the coconut. Spread the coconut evenly on an un-greased baking sheet and toast at 300F oven until golden brown. I would like to try it like this, I think it would give a more nutty taste.

Healthy Sorbet - recipe #2

This postcard snack recipe came from the Great Smoky Mountains in the USA, sent by the clan from The Forest Room, thank you!

Healthy Sorbet

You will need:

1 cup of fresh fruit (we used kiwi and banana)

1/4 cup juice (we used cashew juice - goes with the Brazil theme)

1 tsp honey

1. Chop up and measure the fruit. Ebi-kun scooped the kiwi out with a spoon then chopped it.
2. One kiwi wasn't enough fruit so we added a small banana too. Tip the fruit into a jug (or blender)
3. Measure the juice and add to the jug/blender and then add the honey.
4. Use a blender to mix it all together.
5. The recipe says to pour into 3 small bowls but my freezer space is very limited so we poured into a tupperwear box instead. Pop into the freezer for 30 minutes - if you are using the 3 small bowls, if you put it into a larger container then it needs longer. 
6. While it is freezing, clean up. When it is ready, remove from the freezer and give it a good stir.
7. Eat!

Testers comments: hmmmm yummy but brrrrrr cold. I want to try with melon and strawberries next time.

Assistants notes : we both loves this, I recommend having an activity lined up ready to distract the little chef, Ebi-kun was getting impatient waiting for it to freeze. I only helped with the honey, he did everything else.

Sarah is also sharing her recipe ideas, this is her version of the sorbet, here.

Moroccan Cinnamon Oranges - recipe # 1

To start the Postcard Snacks we will share one of the recipes we sent.

Moroccan Cinnamon Oranges

You will need

2 oranges

2 tbsps honey

2 tsp cinnamon

fresh mint leaves -torn

1. Peel the oranges and remove the pith. Pull apart, into segments.

2. Chop into bite sized pieces and place in a bowl.

3. Measure out the honey and cinnamon into a bowl and mix together.

4. Spoon over the oranges.

5. Decorate with the fresh mint leaves (we didn't have any so use your imagination) and enjoy.

Testers comments : hmm sweet and cinnamonny

Assistants notes : 2 oranges makes enough for 4-6 people. We halved the recipe and had 3 small servings, it is really nice but I wouldn't be able to eat a big bowl of it. Good child sized snack or to end a meal with a bit of something sweet.

The only help I gave was measuring the honey.

Postcard Swap Snacks

I am going to start a new section (label) called Postcard Snacks because we have had a load of great new recipes to try from the swap. We have been trying out the recipes we sent too, we will also redo some of the snack recipes we received in last years swap. As I post about them I will link them back to this post, so this will be like an anchor post in case you are looking for a specific recipe.

So far this year we have received...

Healthy Sorbet - USA

Bhel Puri - India

Cheddar Cheese balls - USA

Apple banana smoothy - USA

Piparkakut - Finland

Mousetraps - New Zealand

Pikelets - New Zealand

Paari chaat - India

Kesaekeitto -Finland

Quick chewy pina colada yoghurt - Bahamas

I am still expecting a couple more, I will add them to the list as I get them. I couldn't decide on a single recipe so  I found 4, all from Africa

Mango salad - Niger

Cinnamon oranges - Morocco

Fruity Mint Kababs - South Africa

Avocados with Honey - Cape Verde Islands

The rules were

• has to be healthy
• has to be easy to prepare - a child can do alone or with a little assistance
• has to use ingredients that are widely available

If you joined the swap and would like to do a 'guest post' with your recipe making please let me know. I am going to try and do a recipe a week, but don't hold me to it :o)

Montessori children are encouraged to be independent and so from when ebi-kun was only about 14 months old I started showing him how to prepare his own snack. This meant getting out the things he needed from his shelf, a small plate, chopping board, wooden knife and cloth. Washing his hands before he started and putting on his apron is also part of the routine. he started off my peeling and chopping soft fruit such as a banana and then onto spreading cream cheese or similar n bread or crackers. now we have got to the stage where he enjoys cooking and making his own snacks from scratch, we were running low on ideas, hence the postcard swap.