Happy Holiday Season!

Posted on: Wednesday December 12th, 2018

Posted by: Lisa Ruscica

The holiday season is upon us, and we cannot wait to celebrate together! All of our centres will be hosting a Holiday Party over the next few weeks for you and your kiddies to attend together and enjoy a yummy snack spread! We love our annual holiday parties because it’s a great way to spend quality time with your kiddies outside of the hustling and bustling of the holiday season!

December marks a time for celebration, and there are so many different festivities going on this time of year from a variety of different cultures. Celebrating diversity and inclusiveness is about using the holiday celebration time with friends and family to build understanding and awareness of others. A great way to create an inclusive holiday environment is by learning about other religious or holiday celebrations. By educating yourself and your kiddies on cultures you are not familiar with, you can share your knowledge with others and expand the conversation at parties and at the dinner table.

Your kiddies are learning about ethnic diversity this month through our nutrition curriculum in December. They are learning about multiculturalism while enhancing their creativity and fine motor skills while also exploring a variety of ethnic foods using all five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.

We incorporate ethnic diversity in our menus so that your kiddies are exposed to many different flavours and foods from all over the world.   This week on our menu is a Kids & Company favourite, Best Butter Chicken! Butter chicken is a dish that is a mildly spiced curry sauce that originated in India. To make this dish, the chicken is marinated for several hours in a cream and spice mixture. The spices traditionally may include garam masala, ginger, garlic, lemon or lime, pepper, coriander, cumin, turmeric and chili. The dish is customarily cooked in a tandoor (traditional clay oven), but may also be grilled, roasted, or pan fried. It is served in a mild curry sauce that includes butter, hence the name butter chicken. Try our Kidco Kitchen Best Butter Chicken recipe at your holiday party as a main dish, or place on skewers for a delicious passed appetizer!!!  Enjoy this holiday season with your family and friends with a focus on how lucky we are to live in a multicultural country respecting and celebrating one another’s differences.

Kidco Kitchen Best Butter Chicken

*Makes 6 portions

What you need:

• 2 lbs Diced Chicken
• ½ Cup Plain Yogurt
• 1 tsp Curry Powder
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Turmeric
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Garam Masala
• 2 Tbsp Garlic, Minced
• 1 Tbsp Veggie Oil
• ½ Cup Diced Onion
• 1 Cup Diced Tomato
• 1 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
• ¼ Cup Cream
• 1 Bay Leaf

What to do:

1. Make sure to wash your hands before you begin.
2. Combine dry spices together (curry powder, paprika, turmeric, chili powder, garam masala, and bay leaf).
3. Combine spices with garlic and use this mixture to marinade chicken in the refrigerator, overnight if possible.
4. Heat oil in a large skillet and cook onions until translucent. Add marinated chicken, diced tomatoes, butter, cream and yogurt.
5. Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce to medium heat and simmer until sauce thickens and the chicken is fully cooked, approximately 30 minutes.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @kidcochildcare and on Instagram @cheflisaruscica!

Cheers,

Chef Lisa Ruscica

Chief Food Ambassador