Spin a Web

Starshine loves spiders—and their webs. Most spiders spin orb webs. Here’s how to make an orb web :

Attach one end of some thread, fishing line or yarn to a central point such as a bedpost. Run the thread out about one and a half feet (one-half metre), attach the other end to an outer point and cut the thread. Do the same thing seven more times, so you have eight strands radiating out from the central point. These are your anchor strands. Now, starting near the center, weave strands cross-wise across the anchor threads, knotting as you pass each anchor. Repeat every few inches, so you have a series of eight-sided circles spreading farther and farther out from the central point. When you finish your web, place a paper spider, prey and egg sacs in the web if you wish. Cut out green paper plants or place real plants around the web to make it look more realistic. [Top]

Bake a Bagel

Mr. Belinsky makes the best bagels in town. You can make bagels, too. 

Ingredients:

2 cups (500 ml) warm water

2 T. (30 ml) active dry yeast

1 tsp. (5 ml) brown sugar

1/4 (65 ml) cup oil

1 T. (15 ml) salt

5 or more cups (1 1/4 litres) flour (mixture of white and whole wheat)

4 quarts (4 litres) water

2 T. (30 ml) brown sugar

1 egg yolk beaten with 1 T. (15 ml) water

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 1 tsp. sugar, oil and salt. Stir in four cups of the flour. Add flour a little at a time until the dough is too stiff to beat. Knead the dough for 10 minutes, adding enough flour so that it is elastic but not too stiff. Let dough rise in a greased bowl in a warm place until doubled in bulk.

Punch down, knead for a few minutes and divide into 18 pieces. Roll each one into a rope 1 inch in diameter and 6 inches long. Form rings, pinching the ends together firmly.

Preheat oven to 375º.

For the next part, work carefully or have an adult help you.

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil, adding 2 T. brown sugar. Drop 4 or 5 bagels at a time into the boiling water. Turn them with a long-handled spoon after they rise to the surface and boil for an additional minute. Lift them out with a slotted spoon and let them rest on a greased cookie sheet while boiling the next 4 or 5 in the same manner. Brush with egg yolk. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Makes 18 bagels.  [Top]

Starshine’s dad invented health food teething cookies called "bricks."  Here’s how to make these hard-as-a-rock cookies that babies like to teethe on :

Ingredients

2 cups (500 ml) whole wheat flour

½ cup (125 ml) wheat germ

¼ (65 ml) cup soy flour

1 tsp. (5 ml) baking soda

1 T. (15 ml) brewers’ yeast

¼ cup (65 ml) molasses

¼ cup (65 ml) honey

¼ cup (65 ml) vegetable oil

Mix all ingredients together. The dough will be stiff and you may have to use your hands. Form into small rectangles and bake 325º for 20 minutes or until quite hard.

Note: Bricks aren’t very sweet—on purpose. You may want to tinker with the recipe to make it taste better!  [Top]