Parent's Time Out 
December 14, 2001

This weekly feature of the Online Exchange is committed to helping parents take back quality time and devote it more fully to spending it with their children. Here is where you can start to take a Time Out from the TV, computer, housework, and bills. It only takes a few minutes to do fun and memorable things with your children and we will lend a hand each week to get you started. Tune in here for encouragement, fun and easy things to do, and other tidbits, all geared just for you and your precious ones.

~ Time Out for the Week

Pinecone Bird Feeder

What you need:

• Pinecones
• Lard
• Birdseed
• Popcorn
• String

What you do:

1. Roll the pinecones in lard, then in birdseed or popcorn.
2. Attach a string long enough so that the pinecone can hang from a tree branch.
3. Find a tree that you can see easily; hang your feeder there and watch the birds come!

~ What's for Dinner?

4 Cheese Rigatoni Bake

What you need:

• 1 lb. rigatoni, penne, fusilli or bowties, cooked al dente (don't over cook because you are going to bake it too)
• 1 28 to 32 oz. jar/can of your favorite spaghetti sauce
• 1 7 oz can of mushroom slices or pieces, 2 if you really like mushrooms like I do. (optional if you don't. Sliced olives are good too!) additional tomato sauce or canned diced tomatoes if desired, (one 8 oz can of each or one 16 oz can of either)
• Filling:
• 1 lb. ricotta or cottage cheese
• 1 8 to 12 oz. ball of mozzarella cheese, grated.
• 4 to 6 oz of cheddar or provolone grated (or some of each)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  (all amounts of  the grated cheeses can be adjusted for the size of your family and your dietary needs. If you have a larger group or really like cheese use about 3 to 3 1/2 cups total, otherwise 2 1/2 cups total is good. I don't use the fat free cheeses because they don't melt well)
• 1 or 2 eggs beaten or equivalent egg substitute
• Minced garlic, salt, pepper, oregano and basil to your taste

What you do:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees, lightly oil or spray a 9" x 13" baking dish.
2. Cook pasta, drain don't rinse.  Return to the pan with heat on low, add the spaghetti sauce.  The pasta should be fairly saucy.  You can add the tomatoes or tomato sauce if desired or needed to make it saucier.  Add the mushrooms if you are using them.  You can also add about 8 oz of browned ground meat or sausage if you wish. Warm through.
3. While the rigatoni ( or pasta of choice) is cooking, make the filling using the cheeses, egg, and spices.
   
   a) Reserve some of the grated cheeses, except the parmesan, for the top, about half a cup.
   b) Mix the remaining with the ricotta or cottage cheese, parmesan and spices, adjust to taste before adding the egg.
   c) Add enough egg to make the filling soft but still hold it together.
4. Place about 2/3 of the pasta mixture in your pan, top with all of the cheese filling.
5. Top the cheese mixture with the remaining pasta and the reserved cheeses. Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese.
6. Cover with foil and bake in oven for approx. 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese melts and the sauce is bubbly.
   
   Yield: 8 to 12 servings.

~ Just for You

Kid's Room Clean-Up Tips

Not very many children take to keeping their room clean, but you can encourage them to pick up after themselves. You will need to apply different tactics as they grow.

Step 1-
You always hear from your child that they don't know where to start, or where to put things. Try regularly going through all of the toys and clothes, and let them help you decide what they do not play with any more or what they have grown out of. The goal is to minimize the junk so that it is manageable for them. Hopefully, they will start getting into that habit, and will be able to sort the stuff by themselves to bring to you. Now you are getting some where!

Step 2-
Take a look at what they do with the rest of the house. It is very important to teach them not to just drop their things wherever they are. Making them aware of this not only benefits you because you will not be constantly picking up after them all of the time, but also helps them learn how to put things away

Step 3-
You will also need to put some room rules in place. Here are a few you can start with.

1. No food in the bedroom. 

2. Keep CD's put away or no new CD's.

3. Keep dirty clothes in the hamper or they won't get washed. (Make it a goal to weed through your child's clothes and minimize them as well, so that they have little more then a week's worth of clothes. This makes it necessary for them to take care of their laundry, or else they will have nothing to wear!)

You will still need to help them clean their room once and a while. Don't overlook the precious gift of time spent together doing this. It may not be a trip to the park, but you both can still enjoy each other's company.

~ Recommended Site of the Week

Give Purple a Chance

That big, purple dino isn't so bad! At least he teaches values and lessons that matter. What other TV character can you really say that about? Give him a chance. This site is very well done and up-to-date. There is a LOT here.
http://www.barney.com

Thank you for joining us for this weeks Time Out! Now the rest is up to you. Take the time to do the things suggested, or think of your own ways to spend precious time with your family. But most importantly, HAVE FUN!!  

Be sure to tell your friends about us! Highlight the parts of the page you like the best and print it. Then keep a folder of ideas and recipes.

We would like to hear from you! If you have a favorite family site or craft, send it to us and we might share it with our readers. Or, just let us know what you think of our feature. 
Contact Sara.

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Giving Credit were Credit is Due...
We search all over for great tips, ideas and recipes and don't want to forget to let you know where it all comes from. This week we would like to thank the following:
www.homeschoolzone.com 
www.barneyonline.com