EBs Started Today!

The second round of Exploration Blocks (or EBs) started today. There will be six sessions in all, from 12:30 - 1:30 on Mondays and from 2 - 3 on Wednesdays. Every child got their first or second choice, and all seemed extremely happy after their first session.

The EB that I am doing is called Everyone Shares Soup. Today, we read a very sweet story called Grandpa's Soup. In it, a grandpa is very sad and lonely, having just lost his wife. After a while, he decides that he will make some of her delicious meatball soup, in order to cherish her memory. He ends up with visitors (3 mice), so he shares all but a drop. The next day, he remembers another ingredient, and makes a slightly larger batch. This time, a cat joins the mice, so he again ends up with just a drop for himself. On it goes, each batch getting bigger, and with more ingredients remembered and added. Grandpa gets visibly happier and less lonely looking as the story progresses, and loves having lots of friends to share soup with. This seemed like a perfect story to start our EB.

The finished product. Looks good, doesn't it?

8 out of 8 super soupers deem this "thumbs up!"

Our version of Grandpa's meatball soup is as follows. This simple soup had some shortcuts, but it didn't make it any less delicious. It would be perfect to throw together on a cold and wintery day when time is short:

Ingredients:

1 large can diced tomatoes, 28 ounces
1 large container beef broth, 32 ounces
2 cups water
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
8 oz frozen mini meatballs
1 bag frozen mixed vegetables - carrots, beens, corn
2/3 cup orzo or other small shaped pasta, uncooked

Directions:

Combine tomatoes with their juice, the broth, water, and seasoning in large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.

Stir in meatballs, vegetables, and orzo. Return to a boil; cover. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes, or until pasta and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.