Veggie Cornbread Muffins

On Monday we made some delicious cornbread muffins with fresh shucked corn and grated zucchini added for extra nutrition.  We served them with a mild pinto bean chili and a kale-sweet potato saute.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1/2 cup fresh shucked corn

Step 1

Grease muffin pan with melted butter







Step 2

Grate zucchini and shuck one ear of corn (the kids loved peeling off the corn stalks!)








Step 3

Combine dry ingredients then add eggs.






  
Step 4


Add corn







Step 5

Add grated zucchini (you could also substitute grated carrots, diced bell peppers, diced collards...)







Step 6

Add buttermilk








Step 7

Add melted butter







Step 8

Mix until well blended








Step 9

Spoon mix into prepared muffin pan and bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees






Step 10

Enjoy with your friends!

After lunch the kids help scrape the leftovers, wash the dishes, and feed the compost pile.  Then we checked out another baby rhino beetle!

We decided to celebrate corn all day and made some fun prints with corn on the cob and play with a tray of corn meal.

Yoga time!

The kids had fun building these ramps and exploring gravity and speed.  There's a great moment here when one friend sweetly shares this much beloved lego truck!  Later I discovered the ramps had been turned into a dining table!! 

Oh Yeah!

On Tuesday our group made modelling GOOP!  Mix 2 cups of salt, 1 cup of cornstarch, 1 cup of water, and a few drops of food coloring, then heat on the stove for a few minutes.  The kids made pretend 'ice cream cones', 'turtles', but their favorite invention was a 'glove'!  We also added lavender oil so our goop would smell nice.  It amazes me how much the kids love to help clean up!

And on Thursday we played with shaving cream and tempera paint!  I love how gentle the kids started out in their play and then got fully immersed into their experience.  Some of the benefits of working with shaving cream:

• Children can build fine motor skills by drawing and writing in shaving cream.
• It provides a tactile experience for children, introducing them to different textures.
• It’s so much fun to play with!  Easy to clean up too, as it's basically just foamy soap.

Sweet friends at circle time

Free play!

Mastering the rolling pin!