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From the moment a woman learns she is pregnant, she is bombarded with a litany of warnings, unsolicited advice and well-meaning recommendations on what she should and shouldn’t be doing, eating, etc. Make sure to take your prenatal vitamins! Don’t eat anything with nitrates! Register for a co-sleeper — it literally saved my life that first week! Don’t drink caffeine! Get all the sleep you can! The list goes on and on…..

Pregnancy, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. Once you give birth, as you cradle this innocent, helpless little being that relies COMPLETELY ON YOU, it’s hard not to feel a huge responsibility as a new parent. You want to protect this amazing bundle and do everything in your power to raise a happy, healthy child.

You have purchased The Ecologically Correct organic bedding, you have stocked up on The Obligatory Outlet Covers. You prepared the nursery with a coat of The Nontoxic Paint. You even have a full array of The Natural Skin Care Products.

Parentnoia. It is a strong force. Despite that nagging voice in the back of our heads that says “I did fine despite not having a sleep positioner”, we soldier on, purchasing products we may or may not need and agonizing over how we are doing as parents.

I’m not sure if this phenomenon is magnified for stay at home parents who have made a choice to put aside career to raise their little ones, or if it’s a function of all the information constantly coming at us from the news, friends, the Web or social media. Or, is it that we have more disposable income to put towards children, particularly as many of us have children when we are in our thirties?

Granted, as your child grows older and you see that she did survive despite watching more than the American Academy of Pediatrics-recommended allotment of TV a day, you learn to relax a little and adjust your expectations. But, there is always some worry lurking at every age.

As children start school, you want to discuss stranger danger with them. As Catherine’s post yesterday pointed out, you may worry about tweens and their internet use. Then of course, there will be dating as they get older.

How do you quiet the forces of parentnoia? Does it ever disappear?

* Kudos to LiveMom contributor Shannon for coining this term.

Written by: Nicole Basham

I’ve had a couple of requests from LiveMom readers to put on more content geared towards moms who have older kids. Seems like, having a three year old and an eleven year old, that more of my parenting questions would be about the three year old, right? Not always! Sure, the three year old has most of the typical challenges that we face with raising preschoolers, but, unfortunately, the questions and concerns don’t end there. Each stage of parenting has had it’s obstacles and certainly has led me to seek out other more experienced moms, or at least moms who are having to face some of the same decisions that I am having to make, for guidance and sometimes (alright, many times) sympathy!

So, dear LiveMom readers who have kids who are well past that potty training stage, this post is for you. And maybe also for those moms who will soon be heading into the elementary and middle school years who will soon be facing these same decisions. Thankfully, I still have a few more years until I can write about being the mother of a high schooler (driving, dating, parties, oy!). Here are some issues that may be on your mind, as they are on mine:

• What age is it legal to leave a child at home alone?

Apparently, Texas has no legal age that a child needs to be to stay home alone. Many other states have laws, some starting as young as 10, while others have to be at least 12 years old to stay at home alone. Here’s a handy website to check out if you happen to be traveling and want to know what laws you are dealing with in other states. My son is eleven and has been staying home for very short amounts of time for the past year or so. We started with leaving him home while running out on a short errand, 15-20minutes. Now, he has stayed home by himself for as long as an hour or so with no problems. We have strict rules: no one is allowed in the house while we are gone, he is not allowed to play outside of the house while we are gone, and he must have his phone on him at all times since we have no home phone. Here are some basics that you can use to judge if your child may be ready to stay home alone.

• What age is it legal to leave a child alone in the car?

Did you know that a child has to be seven years old to legally be left alone in a car? The penalty if you do and get busted: Class C Misdemeanor, punishable with up to two years in jail and up to a $10,000 fee. I have just recently started to allow my son to stay in the car while I run in to do an errand. It still freaks me out thinking that  if I leave the keys in the car, a bad guy could steal him and the car, or,  if I take the keys with me, it has to be nice, cool weather to allow him to roll down the windows to let air in. Still struggle with this one….

• How old do kids have to be to legally babysit other younger children?

There is no legal age limit for a teen (or a child for that matter) to be able to babysit. Of course, there are recommendations on things to look out for in a teenage babysitter: their maturity level, interest in the children, and the closeness of the age of the kids that are being watched. Also, being CPR Certified and having had some babysitting classes also makes it a little easier to leave young kids in the care of teens. Many community centers offer babysitting certificates for kids as young as eleven who are interested in babysitting.

• Do you allow your kids to walk home from school?

Again, there is no legal age to allow your kids to walk home from school alone. My son started to walk home (with a group of his friends) in the third grade. He was mature enough and I always made sure that he had one or more kids to walk with. Walking to school has always been a different story and only this past year have I allowed him to walk to school by himself. When school releases, there is a large group of kids in the neighborhood who walk together. Safety in numbers. But in the morning, all of the walkers leave at different times so he doesn’t always walk with other kids. He has a phone now and that makes it a little easier for me to deal with. But I still worry. I remind myself that independence is a good thing.

I’ve talked with our local police about this last year and they recommended setting up safe houses throughout the neighborhood. Still need to do that. But unless you really know the other people in the hood, how do you really know they are actually safe houses?

• How strict are you with allowing access to the internet? Do you have some type of parental control on the computer or do you use the trust system with your kids?

Does this come down to just trusting your kids or installing some sort of software that blocks out those bad sites? I don’t know! Right now, our computer that my son surfs on is downstairs in the family area of the house so that we can see what he’s looking at. We have also recently set up his own login so that we can easily see what he’s been looking at. I’ve considered the parental blocking thing, but I think so far, he can be trusted.

Any thoughts to share? How do you handle these situations with your kids? Any questions that you have about raising older kids?

With the weather warming up and Spring Break right  around the corner, I am feeling the urge to reconnect with nature. That’s right, I want to go camping! Ah, campsite coffee and pancakes cooked over a propane flame. The sound of mosquitoes buzzing in the air and the tossing and turning from the other non-sleeping campers helping to lull me into a peaceful sleep. Sounds delightful.

We’ve camped on the beach on the Oregon coast a few years back for several days (yes, they had showers- nice ones!) and also a couple of times here in the Austin area, but, since having my daughter three years ago, camping has been a bit off the radar for us. Just imagine lugging around all of the gear that goes along with a baby: the porta crib, bouncy seat, swing, a box of diapers. Scratch that last bit; I’d leave the diapers at home to teach the baby how it really is to be one with nature. Now that she’s older and needs way less equipment, I’d like to introduce her to this thing called outdoor living.

We’ve camped at Emma Long Park here in Austin a couple of times, and I’ve heard lots of nice things about McKinney ad Pedernales Falls. We’d be going with a group of kids, ages ranging from eleven to two years old. I’m inlcined to head back to Emma Long, but am hesitant about being that close to the water with all of the little ones running around. Are there any family-friendly camp sites for families with young children that you like? What is your favorite park to camp at within a 60 mile radius of Austin? Any tips you’d like to share with us before we head out into the wilderness?

Family Yoga with Cindy- Enjoy a FREE (with purchase from cafe) yoga session for the entire family! Saturday, 10:00-11:00am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Ave.

Celebration of Urban Birds- Learn all about urban birds and celebrate their presence in our city! Biodiversity survey of nature center grounds starts at 8:00am. Beginner bird walk at 9:00am. Birds of Prey exhibit tour and bird walk at 10:30am. Presentations with bird experts at 11:00am and 1:00pm. Many on-going fun, family activities throughout the event including citizen science bird counts, bird of prey demonstrations, kid bird drawing and more. FREE!! Saturday. Austin Nature and Science Center, 301Nature Center Dr.

Lake Pflugerville Park Celebration- The afternoon includes a grand opening dedication, a family kite flying contest, recreational activities including kayaking, fishing and washers, a visit from Ms. Poppy the Clown, a rock climbing wall and a G-rated family movie at dark, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America who celebrate 100 years. FREE!! Saturday beginning at 3:00pm. Lake Pflugerville, Weiss Lane and Pflugerville Parkway.

Explore UT- “The Biggest Open House in Texas!” Walk the campus, enjoy the Children’s International Festival, take a tour of the tower and see what it’s like to be a student at UT. FREE!! Saturday, 11:00am- 5:00pm. University of Texas Campus.

BookKids Storytime- Enjoy a FREE storytime every Saturday at 11:30am! BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.

Home Depot Kids Workshop- A hands-on workshop designed for kids ages 5-12 years old. This month’s project is building a rain gauge. FREE!! Saturday, between 9:00am and Noon. All participating Home Depot locations.

Book Box Storytime- Each Saturday, a guest will sing songs, read stories and then wrap it all up with a fun arts & craft project. FREE!! Saturday at Noon. Beth’s Book Box, 15803 Windermere Dr., Pflugerville.

Texas Independence Day Parade and 5K- Enjoy a FREE parade on Congress Avenue with a 5k to begin directly after the parade. Saturday, 9:30am. Congress Avenue Bridge.

Crafts for Kids- Brings the kids, ages 3 and up, to make a Krazy Kaleidoscope! Bookmark. FREE!! Saturday between 11:00am- 3:00pm. Lakeshore Learning Store, 9828 Great Hills Trail.

Flipnotics Kid’s Show- Enjoy a FREE performance by Laura Freeman and the Hey Lollies! Saturday, 10:00am. Flipnotics, 1601Barton Springs Rd.

Sherwood Forest Faire- Go back in time to the Renaissance period at the First Annual Sherwood Forest Faire! There is a special kid’s area, Once Upon a Time with faeries, dragons, elves, satyrs and wizards, special games and shows, and even kid-friendly food! Tickets: $15/adults, $8.50/kids at the gate. Kids under 5 are free. Tickets can be purchased online at a discounted price. Saturday and Sunday, 10:00am- Dusk. 41 miles from Austin off HWY 290. For directions, click here.

Alice in Wonderland- Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre presents a new version of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale about a little girl named Alice who tumbles down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar creatures including a habitually late rabbit! True to Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre form, the interactive show has a unique twist, and is perfect for young audiences ages 3-10. Saturday at 10:00am and Sunday at 2:00pm. Tickets: $10 adult, $8 child and $4 for infants. Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre, 207 W. 18th Street.

Zilker Park Kite Festival- Break out the kites and head on down to Zilker for some classic, family fun kite flying! This is a FREE event with concessions, booths and kid’s activities. Sunday, 10:00am- 5:00pm. Rain date is March 14, 2010. Zilker Park, Barton Springs Rd.

Storytime at the Library- Enjoy a FREE storytime. Sunday, 1:00pm. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe.

Sunday Morning Kid’s Show- Enjoy a FREE!! performance by the Greg Whitman as he performs AlphaSongs- 26 Songs for the Alphabet! Sunday, 10:30am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Avenue.

My husband’s birthday was this past weekend, so I made one of his favorite cakes, Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting. It’s a great cake, really moist inside like a carrot cake, and the combination is sort of old fashioned and unexpected at the same time.

The recipe is from the book Southern Cakes (Chronicle Books, 2007) by Nancie McDermott, who is more known for her Asian cookbooks but went back to her Southern roots for this one. I got to meet Nancie at a food writers’ conference. She’s a lovely, funny, generous person, and a mom to two teenage daughters. In the introduction to this book, she writes: “Since I have had my own children … I’ve been returning to the Southern foods of my childhood more often, partly to share my history with them, and partly because having a family at home means cooking every day, and usually more than once.” Amen, sister. This cake is great for making with kids, who can mash the bananas, measure ingredients or stir the frosting, depending on their ages.

The frosting recipe that comes with the cake is good, so I’m including it here, but I’m also adding another one from Nancie’s book, Blanche’s Never-Fail Chocolate Icing, which is EVEN BETTER and what I use when I make it.

Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Banana Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup buttermilk (see Note)

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas

To make the cake, heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, and stir with a fork to combine well.

In a large bowl, combine the butter and sugar, and beat well, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one by one, and then the vanilla. Beat well for 2 to 3 minutes more, scraping down the bowl occasionally, until you have a smooth batter.

Using a large spoon or spatula, stir in half the flour just until it disappears into the batter. Stir in the buttermilk, and then the remaining flour, the same way. Quickly and gently fold in the mashed bananas, and then divide the batter between 2 cake pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cakes are golden brown, spring back when touched lightly in the center, and begin to pull away from the sides of the pans.

Cool for 10 minutes in the pans on wire racks or folded kitchen towels. Then turn out onto wire racks or plates to cool completely, top side up.

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/3 cup cocoa

1/3 cup evaporated milk or half-and-half

4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

To make the frosting, in a medium saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa, and evaporated milk. Place over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, until the cocoa dissolves into a dark, shiny essence. Remove from the heat and stir in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Beat with a mixer at low speed until you have a smooth, thick frosting.

To complete the cake, place one layer, top side down, on a cake plat or serving plate, and spread about 1 cup of frosting evenly over the top. Cover with the second layer, placed top side up. Spread the frosting evenly, first over the sides and then covering the top of the cake.

Note: If you don’t have buttermilk, stir 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice into 1/2 cup milk, and let stand 10 minutes.

Blanche’s Never-Fail Chocolate Icing

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or chopped semisweet chocolate

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the sugar, evaporated milk, and butter. Cook slowly, stirring to dissolve the sugar and melt the butter. Increase the heat just enough to bring the mixture to a boil, and then let boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add the chocolate chips, and beat until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Spread over cake, or the layers you want to ice.

Written by: Shannon Oelrich

Have you ever wondered how the revelation of a family secret affects said family? I can’t say that I did…until I was the one being bonked on the head by the skeletons falling out of my family closet!

When I was in my early 20s, I found out that I have two bonus sisters; one was given up for adoption and no one knows anything about her. The other sister has been on the periphery of my extended family for her entire life. Everyone on one side of our extended family knew about her and kept up with her; it was only my siblings and I that didn’t know about her.

When I found out about these bonus sisters, I was initially shocked (to say the least), THRILLED, and then curious. Here I am 18 years later, and I am still all of those things. I will have the opportunity to meet one of my bonus sisters in less than a month. I will always wonder about my other sister; I often wonder if she’s happy, if she has a good family, and how she’d feel if she knew she had two more full sisters, a half sister, and a full brother. I often think that if I had the opportunity to meet this sister, I would find it difficult to watch her learn about all the other siblings she had. If I were her, I would wonder why we got to grow up together and she didn’t.

Initially, all of these skeletons falling out of the closet caused a HUGE amount of turmoil in my family. My parents were already in the middle of a divorce when all this came out, and it soon became clear that my sister that was given up for adoption was at the center of some really major life-long issues that my parents had had. It’s a long story, and it’s not mine to tell, but now that I know the story, I understand some previously undecipherable things about my family. There are days that I wish I didn’t know all that I do, and then there are days that I’m glad to.

I absolutely cannot wait to meet my half sister. I have gotten to talk to her on the phone and to correspond by email, but that’s just not the same as meeting her in person. I’m a little worried for her…I’m afraid that we will all be too much for her, and I am trying to teach myself to remember and to be cognizant of how it all will feel to her when we do meet. I can’t wait to see what she looks like – family resemblance runs really strong in our family…we are all basically cookie cutters of one another, and I have been told that this sister fits the mould, too. I can’t wait to find out who she is – what she likes and doesn’t like, what her dreams are, and what she wants out of life. We’ve had the opportunity to talk about some of the really hard stuff…the parent we share and that parent’s role in her life. I’m glad we have some of that out of the way, but I am sure that our meeting will still be emotionally charged and will leave all of us exhausted and a little bruised.

I have not talked to my other parent about this upcoming meeting because I believe it would cause them nothing but pain. I don’t like to hide what’s about to happen, but I do so for some semblance of family peace…well, what little bit of family peace is left after all those skeletons fell out of the closet!

In terms of Texas weather, we are squarely in that in between time. Some days are amazing. While other parts of the country were still covered in snow, just over a week ago we were sweating here in Austin. But of course yesterday, we had to get out jackets and sweaters and put the shorts back in the closet. And snow?

Despite our recent version of the Snowpocalypse, Spring will be here before we know it. Since sometimes Spring can be fleeting, it’s good to enjoy the warm (but not sweltering) weather while it lasts.

One nice way to enjoy Spring here in Austin is gardening. Instead of making it a solo enterprise, why not get your kids involved? Even the youngest of children loves to dig in the dirt, and as your kids get older they can have more and more responsibility in planning and tending to your garden. Here are some ideas to get you started:

It all begins with a seed

My son just finished a cool project in his preschool. The kids were each given three pinto beans (from a bag, not canned), a Ziploc bag and a paper towel. The kids passed around a spray bottle full of water and did a few squirts to dampen the paper towel. The paper towel was than folded around the seeds, placed in the Ziploc, and the baggies were hung in a sunny spot indoors. After a few days, one of the seeds sprouted! Ms. Lauren did mention that you don’t want to get the paper towel TOO wet, or otherwise mold might grow.

Great Sunflower Project

Our yard gets virtually no sun, so we don’t have many places to plant flowers, but we have a circle in front of our house in our cul de sac that has developed into a community gathering spot. Out of an interest in beautifying that space plus an interest on my part in learning more about the decline of pollinators, I thought it would be fun to participate in The Great Sunflower Project. The premise is pretty simple: the Project sends you seeds, you plant them, you observe them regularly (primarily to notice bees pollinating them) and you report the results, which get compiled into a large study on urban, suburban and rural bee populations. I did discover quickly that this became more MY project than my son’s (who, in his defense was 2.5 when I tried this out), so this would be better for school-aged children.

Visiting local nurseries

We are so lucky to have great nurseries here in town. Two that have great appeal for kids are Barton Springs Nursery on Bee Caves and The Natural Gardener in Southwest Austin. Barton Springs Nursery has several sandboxes, a huge bird house and lots of room to explore. The Natural Gardener also has a tipi, miniature donkeys, goats and other attractions for children. The staff are very helpful in suggesting plants for your house and your family. The folks at Barton Springs helped me choose seeds to use as favors at my son’s birthday: cherry tomatoes, because they grow quickly and are relatively forgiving. Several moms commented that the kids had fun growing them.

Gear

There is no need to have special gear, but kids love to have their own equipment to help in the garden. I found some gloves and a shovel on clearance at Jo-Ann Fabrics last year, and Ikea had some nice kid-sized watering cans. You can always use your own small hand tools with kids or get out the beach shovels.

Additional resources

Tips on gardening with children
Austin School Garden Network
GardenHeads – gardening classes for children in Central Austin

Do you have any grand plans for your outdoor space this year?

Written by: Nicole Basham

If you are in need of gently used kid’s clothing, maternity clothing, toys and gear for your little ones, mark your calendars for the Fairytale Threads Consignment Sale this upcoming weekend. All of the items on sale have been inspected for quality, and, to make shopping easier, all items are organized by size and gender. There are some real steals in there, ladies!

What: Fairytale Threads Consignment Sale

When: Friday, March 5, 2010 from 10:00am-5:00pm and on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 9:00am- 4:00pm. Many items will be marked down to half price on Saturday.

Where: Old Settlers Association, 3300 Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock

Now, here’s the really good part: we have passes for LiveMom readers to get in the doors early, before the sale is open to the public, to find those really good deals! Just leave a comment here for your chance to win a pass. The pre-sale begins on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 7:00pm. Children are not allowed at the pre-sales event for safety reasons. The giveaway closes on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at midnight.

Happy Shopping,

Catherine

Is it really already the end of February? Where has the time gone? This is just a little reminder to get some outdoor time in this weekend; it will be 110 degrees before we know it! Have a wonderful weekend.

Star Party Pajamarama- Bring the whole family to learn about stars and planets, make a planisphere (tool for locating constellations), and look at the stars. Friday, 6:00pm. FREE!! Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr.

Jugglefest 2010- As part of the three day Jugglefest event, Saturday features a FREE show with performers from Austin and all over the world as they demonstrate their skills in the circus arts. Unicycles, yo-yos, diabolos, poi, juggling – there’s no telling what’s going to happen next. Saturday, 7:30pm. Texas School for the Deaf, Davis Auditorium, 1102 South Congress Avenue.

Family Yoga with Cindy- Enjoy a FREE (with purchase from cafe) yoga session for the entire family! Saturday, 10:00-11:00am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Ave.

11th Annual African American Community Heritage Festival- Suitable for all ages, this festival is the pinnacle of Austin’s celebrations of Black History Month and the rich culture African Americans contribute to the Austin community every day. The festival will feature product vendors, a fully loaded Kids Zone, health fair, delicious food, and entertainment for the whole family. Saturday, 1:00- 5:00pm. FREE!! Huston-Tillotson University, 900 Chicon Street.

Literature Live! Presents “How the Kings Daughter Lost Her Hair” a puppet show- A folktalke from the Akamba people from East Africa, this is a story about a vain princess whose refusal to give even one strand of her beautiful hair to a bird building a nest costs her her hair and her kingdom its livelihood. Find out how the princess and the other characters in the story find common ground. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE!! Saturday, 2:00pm. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe.

Flipnotics Kid’s Show- Enjoy a FREE performance by Laura Freeman and the Hey Lollies! Saturday, 10:00am. Flipnotics, 1601Barton Springs Rd.

Book Box Storytime- Each Saturday, a guest will sing songs, read stories and then wrap it all up with a fun arts & craft project. FREE!! Saturday at Noon. Beth’s Book Box, 15803 Windermere Dr., Pflugerville.

Recycled Reads Rewind: One Year Anniversary Celebration- Singer, songwriter and guitarist Joe Blanda will provide entertainment. Vinyl, comic books and VHS items will be on sale. Additionally, browse thousands of books and assorted media priced to sell at $1 and $2. All proceeds directly benefits the Austin Public Library and will be used to supplement the Library’s operating budget. FREE and open to the public. Saturday, Noon- 6:00pm. Recycled Reads, 5335 Burnet Road.

Kite Making- Gets those kites ready to fly at the upcoming Zilker Kite Festival! FREE kite making that’s fun for the entire family. Saturday, 10:00am- 1:00pm. Gus Garcia Recreation Center, 1201 E. Rundberg Lane.

The Active Life Block Party- Come together with friends and family at The Active Life Block Party, a free event co-sponsored by Central Market and The Active Life Movement to promote healthy living among Austinites. Providing food, games and even exercise classes, the Block Party is about offering fun and interactive ways to stay fit and healthy in 2010. Kids are invited to play at Wii gaming stations, shake their hips in the hula-hoop contest, bounce in the Moon Walk, and race in a fun run around Central Park (for kids 6 years old and up). FREE!! Saturday, Noon- 4:00pm. Central Market, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd.

Crafts for Kids- Brings the kids, ages 3 and up, to make an I Love to Read! Bookmark. FREE!! Saturday between 11:00am- 3:00pm. Lakeshore Learning Store, 9828 Great Hills Trail.

Paper Mache Class- Artist Pilar Castrejón teaches you how to make paper maché figures using recycled materials and focuses on hand building and casting paper maché techniques. For all ages, $5 includes materials. Saturday, 2:00- 5:00pm. Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River Street.

Sherwood Forest Faire- Go back in time to the Renaissance period at the First Annual Sherwood Forest Faire! There is a special kid’s area, Once Upon a Time with faeries, dragons, elves, satyrs and wizards, special games and shows, and even kid-friendly food! Weekends beginning February 27th with a special gate opening ceremony this Saturday. Tickets: $15/adults, $8.50/kids at the gate. Kids under 5 are free. Tickets can be purchased online at a discounted price. Saturday and Sunday, 10:00am- Dusk. 41 miles from Austin off HWY 290. For directions, click here.

Alice in Wonderland- Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre presents a new version of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale about a little girl named Alice who tumbles down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar creatures including a habitually late rabbit! True to Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre form, the interactive show has a unique twist, and is perfect for young audiences ages 3-10. Saturday at 10:00am and Sunday at 2:00pm. Tickets: $10 adult, $8 child and $4 for infants. Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre, 207 W. 18th Street.

Storytime at the Library- Enjoy a FREE storytime. Sunday, 1:00pm. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe.

Science Sunday- St. Edward’s University Academy of Science. Sunday, 3:00- 5:00pm. $6.50- $4.50 (free from 4:00- 5:00pm). Austin Children’s Museum, 201 Colorado Ave.

Sunday Morning Kid’s Show- Enjoy a FREE!! performance by the Strollers, Rockabilly for kids! Sunday, 10:30am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Avenue.

I love my mandolin. No, I don’t play in a bluegrass band (although, damn, that would be cool); I mean one of these. A mandolin slicer is a tool that can cut fruits and veggies into slices that are much thinner and more uniform than I can make with my knife. (You can also use it if you need to slice a lot of anything that’s firm enough and fits, and depending on the slicer you get, you may be able to do fancy things like crinkle cuts, sticks and even waffle cuts.)

Tonight, I looked at the ingredients I wanted to use and decided to get down my mandolin. In just about a minute, I had the onion and fennel bulb needed for this dish cut into paper-thin slices. Sure makes prep easy, which is why I love it. I improvised this dish using those ingredients, and my family liked it well enough that I’ll add it to the “repeat” pile.

Using the mandolin and piling everything together in the dish made it quick for a weeknight meal, but if you want to make a more special dish and spend a little time over the stove, follow the alternate directions below the main recipe. (I would leave the skin on the chicken thighs for the alternate method.) I served this over whole-wheat couscous and with roasted asparagus. It would also be good with crusty bread to dip into the juices.

If you cook at home much at all, I urge you to get a mandolin. You’ll save time on recipes with tedious slicing and may find it kind of addicting. And, you can make homemade veggie chips with any “slice-able” vegetable by tossing the slices in a little olive oil, spreading them apart on a baking sheet, sprinkling with salt, baking at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, flipping them, and baking for another 10 minutes, give or take. Pass the parsnips, please!

Chicken Thighs with Tomato and Fennel
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 skinless chicken thighs
6 whole garlic cloves
Salt and pepper
1 large fennel bulb, washed, trimmed and thinly sliced
1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread olive oil in bottom of a deep baking dish. Place chicken thighs on top of olive oil and tuck garlic cloves around thighs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with all remaining ingredients. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 more minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked.

Alternate directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a Dutch oven or similar deep pan, heat olive oil over medium heat on the stove top. Sprinkle chicken thighs (skin on) with salt and pepper, and brown, skin side down, in the Dutch oven. Turn skin side up and cook 5 minutes more, then remove chicken and set aside. Sauté onions and fennel in the same pan you cooked the chicken in for 5-7 minutes, until onions are translucent, stirring often to prevent burning. Add tomatoes and vinegar and scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to dislodge all the browned goodness there. Place the chicken (skin side up) on top of all this, with garlic tucked around, and bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked. Other good additions to this would be thyme and sliced green olives.

Written by: Shannon Oelrich