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- Cheesy Stuffed Shells, Easy Ricotta Spread, Cherry Blintzes and More—RECIPES INSIDE!
Cheesy Stuffed Shells, Easy Ricotta Spread, Cherry Blintzes and More—RECIPES INSIDE!
Plus, a new (screen-free!) activity to try with your kids.
THE RECIPES
5 Recipes to Prove You Should Add Ricotta to Your Shopping List
Okay, here’s the thing: We all get kinda bored with the same old meals our kids request, but making something new is also a bit of a gamble. You know there’s a chance you’ll put in the effort only to be greeted with scrunched-up noses at the dinner table. So, hear us out: What if you tried variations of things your kids already like, with a twist? And that twist is ricotta cheese. Read on for five kid-approved recipes featuring this mealtime superhero.
If your kids like mac and cheese, try…
Roasted Squash and Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Alfredo Sauce
If your kids like crepes or French toast, try…
Cherry Cheese Blintzes
If your kids like pancakes, try…
Ricotta Cheese Pancakes
If your kids like pasta, try…
Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi
If your kids like toast and jam or peanut butter, try…
Easy Ricotta Spread with 5 Flavour Variations
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THE LIST
4 Tips for Soothing a Teething Baby
Teething can turn your baby’s world upside down, leaving them in pain while you search for relief. Explore these practical tips to soothe your little one’s teething discomfort and make the process a bit easier for you both.
THE POLL
Do You Listen to Audiobooks or Podcasts with Your Kids?
Our tech editor, Marc Saltzman, introduced us to the coolest thing recently—old-time radio (OTR) shows.
A quick history lesson: Back before TV was the behemoth it is today, listening to radio dramas was a fun family activity. Everyone gathered around the radio to catch the latest episode of their favourite shows, from Dragnet to The Lone Ranger. The production value was incredible—actors were hired to play different parts, and foley artists provided sound effects—and people returned week after week to follow the story. But as the technology of the entertainment industry improved, radio dramas became a thing of the past.
But here's some exciting news: Marc did us all a favour and rounded up the different ways you can access vintage OTRs to enjoy in present day. No joke—you can actually listen to some of the best old-time radio shows, the same way you’d listen to a podcast or audiobook (and many of them are free!). And the best part? They were often written for families, so they’re perfect for kids.
With old-time radio on our minds, we started to wonder about the listening habits of Canadian families. So, tell us…
TODAY’S POLL
Do you listen to podcasts or audiobooks with your kids? |
Results From Our Last Poll
Are you joining the Buy Canadian movement?
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 100% yes. We’re not buying anything American. (20.7%)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 As much as possible. We’re buying Canadian wherever we can. (72.2%)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No. It takes too much time and effort to research Canadian alternatives. (4.8%)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Other (4.8%)
From our readers:
“I’ve always loved to buy Canadian and now it’s extra important!”
“We were already on a buy local track, but we are now ruthless in our habits. Some things have been hard to swallow (for our kids, ha!) like cancelling Netflix and Disney+, and we are still looking for substitutes for certain items that we just don’t purchase at the moment. Grocery stores and stores in general are finally starting to better identify Canadian made or produced options, and easy apps have been created, which helps.”
“Not purchasing anything solely American unless no other options and the product is truly needed. If strawberries are solely American, I will go without buying them and buy another type of fruit or buy Canadian frozen strawberries. [I’m] also purchasing certain items second hand.”
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THE RESOURCE
Clever Cooking: 6 Meal Planning Hacks You Need Right Now
Easy meal planning hacks can save you time and reduce stress in the kitchen. Tap the button below for smart strategies from our friends at Canada Beef, including bulk buying, repurposing leftovers, make-ahead meals and more.
THE QUESTION BOX
I’ve Heard the Term Ableism a Lot Lately—What Is It?
Here’s the concise answer: Ableism is discrimination, prejudice or mistreatment of individuals based on their disabilities. It involves attitudes, actions or systemic barriers that limit opportunities and access to equal treatment or resources for people with disabilities.
But it’s also such an important topic that it’s hard to capture in a definition, and it can be difficult for people to identify and address their own inherent ableism.
In advance of World Down Syndrome Day this Friday, March 21, bestselling author Adelle Purdham wrote an article for parentscanada.com about confronting her own ableism upon the birth of her daughter, Elyse, who has Down Syndrome. (She also provided an excerpt from her new book, I Don’t Do Disability and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself.) Here’s what Adelle asked herself about her feelings towards disability, while holding her new baby in her arms:
“During my pregnancy with Elyse, I went through a range of emotions. I was grieving the loss of the typical baby I was expecting.
But once I held newborn Elyse in my arms, her tiny finger curled around my pinkie finger and I inhaled her milky scent, I saw she was everything a baby should be. Her adorableness contrasted with the negative images I held in my head about disability. And two things could not be true at once: I couldn’t both love my daughter and be sad that she was here. So, I chose love. I began to interrogate all the negative feelings I’d been wrestling with after conceiving a child with Down syndrome. Where did those feelings come from?”