This post is sponsored by Nuffnang for Disney Junior.

Stories are wonderful imaginative gifts; food for our souls. We inhale characters as they are groomed. Stories feed us and our children. Stories teach us about kindness, joy, strength and sacrifice.

During October, Disney Junior is celebrating the magical art of storytelling told through its loveable character, Doc McStuffins.

Doc McStuffins is a six year old little girl who wants to be a doctor just like her mum, treating and caring for her toys out of her backyard ‘clinic’. Her magical stethoscope brings her toys to life when no one else is around. One of her toys, Hallie, becomes her medical assistant.

The Doc McStuffins TV series highlights the importance of taking care of yourself and others.

Doc-Tober: More Fun with Doc McStuffins

New Doc McStuffins games and activities have been launched this month on DisneyJunior.com.au to celebrate Doc-Tober. All these new fun activities are free and easy to access – just click here.

Here are some of our favourite new Doc McStuffins activities:

• Well Being Chart. Kids colour a heart when they have done a healthy activity, e.g. washed their hands, brushed their teeth, etc.
• Help Doc Dress for the Weather. A fun paper doll of Doc McStuffins.
• Doc’s Tools. DIY stethoscope, otoscope and reflex hammer.

Doc McStuffins Inspired Tomato & Cheese Heart Tarts

Inspired by Doc McStuffins and her heart for caring for those around her, we made some Doc McStuffins Inspired Tomato & Cheese Heart Tarts.

Ingredients:

• Puff pastry
• Tomatoes, cut into slices.
• Grated cheese.

You will also need two different sized heart-shaped pastry cutters.

 

Method:

 

Line an oven tray with baking paper.

 

 

To make a pastry case:

• Cut out two hearts using the larger heart shaped pastry cutter.
• With a fork, prick the base of the one of the hearts. Set aside.
• Then using the smaller cutter, cut a heart from the centre of the remaining heart.
• Brush a little water on the edges of the large heart before placing the heart cutout on top.

Use the smaller heart-shaped pastry cutter to make a heart shaped tomato slice.

 

Sprinkle a little bit of grated cheese into the middle of the heart pastry case.

 

Place the heart-shaped tomato slice on top of the cheese.

 

Bake your cheesy tomato tarts in the oven at 200C for 8 minutes, or until the pastry is lightly risen and golden brown.

I remember growing up with Disney stories as a child. I can still remember those characters to this day. It’s wonderful that Disney still creates endearing stories and characters for my children. 

 

Happy Doc-Tober!

K: 2 years, 10 months

E: 4 years 3 months

N&M: 6 years 4 months

October 2014

The post Doc McStuffins Inspired Tomato & Cheese Heart Tarts by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

Mr E and Miss K made these for their morning tea. A note of warning for children with nut allergies as this activity uses peanut butter. Although we didn’t try it, I think you could easily substitute the peanut butter with jam or another spread of your choice.

Ingredients:

• Apples
• Peanut Butter
• Mini Marshmallows

Method:

1. Cut an apple into eight slices.
2. Spread peanut butter onto one side of each slice.
3. Place some mini marshmallows on top of the peanut butter.
4. Sandwich it with another apple slice.

So simple, silly and yummy!

We talked about the letter shape for a, and the short vowel sound “a”.

Here’s a free handwriting printable of lower case letters of the alphabet, including the letter a.

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You say Autumn, I say crisp cool breeze, hot cross buns, warm slippers and a season of wonderful easy slow cooker recipes. I love easy recipes, but I have a very soft spot for easy slow cooker recipes; the whole concept of putting stuff in a pot, letting it cook itself, and ending a day with a delicious, no fuss, comforting meal – just bliss!

With ever growing kidlets running around these school holidays, I was glad to take my slow cooker out from storage. This easy slow cooker recipe for honey soy lamb chops has once again reminded me what Autumn feels, smells and tastes like; lamb, rosemary, gravy, on a bed of the sweet steamed veggies and a side of potatoes (in chip form, because I have a soft spot for that crunch factor).

Honey Soy Lamb Chops

Ingredients
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup honey
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 large red onions, peeled and cut into thick wedges
6 lamb forequarter chops
handful of fresh rosemary sprigs
1 tablespoon cornflour
1/2 cup water

Method

1. In a bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, garlic and sesame oil.

2. Place the onions in the slow cooker.

3. Put the lamb chops on top of the bed of onions.

4. Pour the sauce over the lamb chops.

5. Place the rosemary sprigs on top of the lamb chops.

6. Cook, covered, on low for 6 hours.

7. Throw away the rosemary sprigs.

8. Remove the lamb chops and cover with foil to keep warm.

9. Mix the cornflour with cold water. Pour this into the slow cooker and stir.

10. Place the cover back on and cook on high for half an hour, stirring every now and then.

11. Strain the gravy. Season to taste.

12. Serve the lamb chops drizzled the gravy. Some possible accompaniments include sweet steamed veggies and a side of potatoes.

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The time has come. Miss K will begin daycare this week. Mr E will head back to preschool this week. Mr M and Mr N will be starting Kindergarten next week. I will be heading back to school as a Kindergarten classroom teacher this week. The thought of a strong cup of coffee has planted itself in my mind as I just typed all of that. There are uniforms to be washed, bags to be packed, kisses to given and lunches to be packed…. (for the next 15 years). Lunch ideas for the next 15 years. Again – a strong cup of coffee, please.

To start us off, here are 38 everyday snacks, tried, tested and loved by my brood of four.

These 38 everyday snacks are easy, quick, no cooking/baking required healthy snacks. Perfect lunch ideas to help fill those lunch boxes and tummies. Yummy goodness to keep those bodies and minds happy.

Most schools / preschools / daycares in Australia promote a nut-free environment. As such, I have not included nuts on our list, (even though Mr E loves them to no end). Some of the items below may contain nuts (e.g. muesli bars), but I have found nut-free versions of these items at the grocery store, and as such have included them on the list.

Fruit

1. Apples
2. Bananas
3. Combination Fruit Cups
4. Dried Apricots
5. Fruit Puree
6. Fresh Fruit Salad
7. Kiwifruit
8. Mandarines
9. Mangoes
10. Nectarines
11. Pears
12. Prunes
13. Strawberries
14. Sultanas
15. Watermelon
16. Rockmelon
17. Blueberries
18. Raspberries

Dairy

19. Yoghurt
20. Cheese
21. Custard

Biscuits

22. Crisp bread
23. Crackers
24. Rice Sticks
25. Fruit Slice Biscuits
26. Oatmeal Biscuits
27. Rice Crackers

Misc

28. Fruit Bars
29. Muesli Bars
30. Fruity Bites
31. Popcorn
32. Fruit Juice
33. Carrot & Celery Sticks
34. Hummus Dip (for carrot & celery sticks)
35. Beetroot Dip (for carrot & celery sticks)
36. Toast with vegemite
37. Raisin toast with jam
38. Cereal (eg cheerios, weetbix honey bites)

I’m sure this list will grow over the next 15 years. I’ve been having so much fun sharing our lunch ideas on Instagram and Facebook. Thank you to all of you who have commented or liked our lunch ideas. I would love to see your lunch ideas too. Please tag me on Instagram (@pauline_lessonslearntjournal) – 15 years worth of lunch ideas is a very long time and I can use all the help I can get. What other everyday snacks should I add to this list?

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