Episode #1,2,3: “Dogs of Destiny”

Facts

• Eastport is the most eastern city in the United States. The city is considered the first place in the United States to receive the rays of the morning sun.
• Maine is the only state in the United States whose name has one syllable. Maine is the only state that shares its border with only one other state.
• Bath is known as the City of Ships.
• The White Mountain National Forest covers nearly 800,000 acres, the forest covers a landscape ranging from hardwood forests to the largest alpine area east of the Rocky Mountains
• Approximately 40 millions pounds (nearly 90 percent) of the nation's lobster supply is caught off the coast of Maine.
• Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country making it the single largest producer of blueberries in the United States.
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• Maine's earliest inhabitants were descendants of Ice Age hunters.
• Acadia National Park is the second most visited national park in the United States.
• Mount Katahdin is the state's highest point at 5,268 feet above sea level.
• An unsuccessful attempt at establishing a permanent English settlement in the New World was at the location now known as Popham Beach. Sir George Popham led the expedition in 1607.
• 90% of the country's toothpick supply is produced in Maine.
• Portland is the birthplace of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
• The chickadee is the official state bird.

 

Games

Children in the New England States of Maine, New Hampshire, & Vermont have tons of fun when winter white snow hits the ground!  It's an American Tradition to build a snowman, have snowball fights and make snow angels impressions on newly fallen snow.

 

“Snow Ball Fort”

Players: 1 or more, any 4 and up

 

What you will need: Pair of gloves, shovel and plastic bins (these make the bricks for the fort)

 

How to play: Fill plastic tubs with snow and pack snow down tightly. (Shoebox size is perfect for making snow bricks) Gentle Turn tub upside down to "drop" the bricks into place.  Build your fort in the shape of a square or rectangle and leave an opening to crawl inside. - short on time, simply build a snow-brick wall:-)  Once your fort is built...... climb inside for a nice winter retreat....or build a second fort/wall  a short distance away.  Ready, set, snowball fight:  and your fortress is there to protect you!

 

 

“Winter Hide and Seek”

Players:  2 or more, ages 3 and up

 

What you will need: 6-10 items (toys)  to be hidden in the snow

How to play: One person goes outside and slightly buries 6-10 objects in the snow while other participants wait inside or cover their eyes while outside.  On the count of 3, participants are told to open their eyes and all race about the yard to unearth the hidden treasures! The one who finds the most treasures wins!

 

It's like an Easter Egg hunt, but if you want to be really tricky, toss your objects around the un-trampled snow so that you leave no foot trails to your hidden objects. 

 

 

“Shifty Shovel Race”

Players: 2 or more, ages 5 and up

 

What you will need: Gloves and shovels

 

How to play:  Kids get your digging tools out!!!  Split the snow-covered driveway or sidewalk in half.   One team shovels snow to the left and one team shovels snow to the right.   One person announces:  "Ready, Set, Go!"  Each person or team races to see who can uncover their half the fastest! First one done is the winner!  Now, you have the piles of snow to hide behind and have a snowball fight.

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Nourishment in New England

 

Doggone Good" Roasted Brussels Sprouts        

(B&W printable for kids to color)

 

        

 

These little green balls of nutrients are a fun fall & winter veggie - and if cooked properly, not the little stink bombs we used to think they were.

Brussels Sprouts are chocked full of iron, magnesium (which helps with brain & muscles), fiber, Vitamins A&C & folate ( for good bone development),  as well as potassium.   Check out the cool stalks they grown on....then, cut them off, toss them in your cast iron skillet or spread out on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven!  

 

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time:  15 minutes

Servings: 4

 

Ingredients:

20 Brussels Sprouts

Sea Salt

Flavored Oil - Coconut, Olive, Macadamia, Sesame Seed

 

Cooking Directions

Peel one layer of exterior leaves off the sprouts then wash and dry them.

Cut off the sprout ends, then slice each spout in half , coat in your favorite organic oil  and sprinkle with sea salt.

Option 1: Cast Iron Skillet - roast your Brussels Sprouts for 4-5 minutes, flat side down, until golden brown.  Add small amount of water to the skillet, cover tightly and steam for another 4-5 minutes.  Serve warm and enjoy.

Option 2:  Oven Baked - cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil, spread sprouts evenly on the cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until desired tender.

Creative Add-On:  Added toasted Pine Nuts, caramelized onion, crispy bacon, feta cheese

 

  "Bone" Appetite