Night sky
A few years ago, a friend gave us a telescope. It’s not quite up there with Mount Palomar but it’s not a toy either. After dinner in Dorset, VT, I suggested to a seven-year-old granddaughter that we look at the stars. Fortunately, her father had an app showing that evening’s star positions because a) it was a little cloudy; b) our house has a lot of large trees near the deck so the view is obstructed and c) I’ve never had a clue as to which star is which.
Mount Palomar
Very much like our telescope
Even with glasses, as a kid I had terrible eyesight and someone was always showing me shooting stars or other astronomical wonders which I never really saw (but said I did since they so clearly wanted me to get with the program.) We used to go to NYC’s Hayden Planetarium (now the Rose Center), where the disembodied voice directed us to “see” Orion by pointing an arrow flashlight at a star for the left earlobe, one for the tip of a belt buckle and one for a right heel and intoning “And there’s Orion.” No, I thought, those are three stars that have nothing to do with one another. Clearly, I wasn’t cut out for a career with NASA.
Maddie (the granddaughter) and I looked through the telescope and saw a few stars but, in all honesty, we could also see them almost as clearly with our naked eyes. (The next day, my husband fiddled with the telescope and it now magnifies a great deal better.) Finally, I walked Maddie out the front door and into the middle of the road where there’s a break in the trees so I could show her what I think is the Big Dipper. She was very gracious about the whole thing.
My favorite aspects of astronomy are the Maria Mitchell Observatory at Vassar College, my alma mater, and the movie, Apollo Thirteen, when Tom Hanks says “Houston, we have a problem.” Anything more complex and I’m out of my league. Since NASA isn’t calling, we’ll stick to the kitchen. These star-shaped treats are easy enough to make with a seven year old.
Crispy Cheese Stars
Crispy Cheese Star
2 star-shaped cookie cutters, one slightly smaller than the other
Package of flour tortillas (two packages is probably a good idea to allow for messing up and needing more)
Sliced cheddar cheese (you can substitute provolone)
Chili powder (if you hate spice, use paprika)
Heat the oven to 350º.
With the larger cookie cutter cut out stars from flour tortillas (about 5 per 10-inch tortilla). Bake stars on a foil-covered cookie sheet for 5 minutes.
With smaller cookie cutter cut out an equal number of cheese stars from the sliced cheese and place slices atop tortilla stars. Bake stars for 2 more minutes or so until the cheese melts.
Sprinkle the stars with chili powder or paprika and let them cool before serving.
Go out and wish on the first star of the evening.