How you can make great ribs in the crock pot!!!

We wanted to share one of our favorite crock pot recipes. After searching for a way to make barbecue ribs with little mess -- we came across a simple solution in the crock pot.

1 slab of pork or beef ribs (cut into 3 or 4 sections)

Put salt, pepper, season salt on both sides of the ribs

Place the ribs in the crock pot

Pour a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce over the ribs

Cook on high 4 to 6 hours or low 6 to 8 hours...

They are tender and delicious!!! Enjoy.

Little Gardener

It's Hip Hop, Baby! is so happy see more people following our blog and we especially love the great comments we've been getting! Thanks again for the support!

We received a comment from Shirley who would love to see us post an article about kids growing their own food. As environmental appreciation is gaining more power around the world, we can't leave the little ones out of the movement!

Check out this really cool article about vegetables that children would have a blast growing in their own garden! 

Not only does this fun activity get your kids more interested in fresh foods (and eating their veggies*) but it gets them started early with healthy eating habits! They'll appreciate what they grew in turn will love eating their own vegetables!

 

P.S. Look at these super cute names for these fun vegetables!

Bean, Green Snap ‘Asparagus Bean’ is an extremely prolific climbing vine. The common name, yard long bean comes from bean pods which reach an amazing yard in length. Beans are best picked when smaller but allowing several to grow to their full length will give children something to talk about with their friends as well as a lesson in saving seeds for the following season.

Lettuce ‘Tom Thumb’ is a miniature butter-head type lettuce. The flavor is very sweet and buttery. The plant produces a head that is perfect for a single salad so grow enough for each child to have their own bowl.

Onions ‘Pearl’ also known as pickling onions. These small onions can be harvested when they are the size of a marble. Children will get a kick out of tossing these into a salad bowl at lunchtime or adding them to pickled cucumber mixes.

Pumpkin ‘Baby Boo’ This small pumpkin has edible white flesh. It reaches maturity at 2 to 4 inches wide. Baby Boo sometimes produces odd shaped fruits which are a lot of fun to add to the Thanksgiving centerpiece along with ‘Little-Jack’ pumpkins.

Radish ‘Easter Egg’ This radish is a great mix of colors including white, red, pink and purple. Pull them when they are as small as marbles for colorful additions to salads. They may also be allowed to grow a bit larger. These radishes do not have the ‘bite’ that others typically have and so children are more apt to try them.

Squash ‘Sweet Dumpling’ has a sweet orange flesh surrounded by ribbed, creamy skin with green stripes. The fruit matures at about 4 inches wide and makes an excellent stuffing squash.

Tomatoes ‘Tommy Toe’ is an old favorite which is always loaded with tiny grape to quarter-sized fruits. This is a true anyone can grow tomato plant. Grow in a hanging basket or patio pot and pick often to encourage more fruit. 

Get out there with them and start digging!

ECO-FRIENDLY FROM DAY ONE!

With our society becoming more aware of how important Mother Nature truly is, "Eco-Friendly" is a phrase that has definitely been used more than once in recent years!

From diapers and certain foods to teething toys, the green movement has swept over the Mom world, as well.

It's Hip Hop, Baby found the cutest article at www.parenting.com on eco-friendly baby names! 

Now your baby can be in tune with Earth from their first day on Earth!

Check 'em out!

Acadia French, Place name.	Ansel French, Follower of a nobleman.
Birch English, Birch tree.	Branch Latin, Tree branch.
Canyon Latin, Deep ravine.	Cedar Latin, Tree.
Cliff English, Short for Clifford.	Denali Native American, The great one.
Forrest English, Woods.	Lake English, Body of water.
Leaf Latin, Tree/flower leaf.	Meadow English, Meadow.
Nature Latin, Nature, life.	Ocean English, The ocean.
Petal English, Flower petal.	Prairie English, Prairie.
Ranger French, English, Gamekeeper.	Ridge English, Ridge of a cliff.
River English, River.	Scout English, Observer, explorer.
Sea English, Body of water.	Sequoia Cherokee, Giant tree.
Spruce English, Evergreen tree.	Tide Latin, Fluctuations of the ocean.
Timber English, Wood.	Willow English, Willow tree.
Wisteria English, Flowers.	Woody English, Short for Woodrow, Woodruff.

Plan A Family Fun Night!

As the summer winds down, busy Fall schedules are right around the corner!

With a few weeks left of the relaxing season, why not spend time with those who matter the most? Family!

After work or summer camp or even a slow day at the pool, come home and plan a Family Fun Night! Remember those?

Here are some great ideas to really get in some family bonding time!

- Plan a party! Who needs an occassion?

- Game Night! Board games, dominoes, UNO!

- Watch a movie together! Pick a family favorite!

- Make something together! (Family meal, arts and crafts)

- Pick something you know your family loves!

Check out the full article at www.kaboose.com! 

http://family-fun.kaboose.com/plan-a-fun-family-night.html

Need Quiet? 15 Ways to Soothe A Crying Baby!

Here at It's Hip Hop, Baby!, we all know how frusterating it can be when our beautiful little baby's lungs can seem as loud as the ambulance wailing by the house!



You've tried cuddling, bottles, music and nothing seems to help. A headache may be lurking near, but don't worry!

At www.parenting.com, we found 15 clever ways to help soothe a crying baby! Try a few of these tips and in no time, you'll become a pro at putting that smile you love so much right back on your precious infant!

1. Run the shower
2. Rub their belly
3. Sing the chorus of "Umbrella"
4. Walk through your garden
5. Bark, burp (or make another suprising noise!)
6. Stroke their hair
7. Turn on your hair dryer
8. Hand them to someone else
9. Stroll over gravel or a bumpy lawn
10.Massage their feet
11.Make a funny face
12.Put a warm bottle of formula on their belly
13.Switch on the vacuum
14.Sing "Silent Night"
15.Find a cute dog you can sit and watch

Do you hear that? Sounds like quiet to me!