Why I Love Homeschooling- Reason #4

Inspiring Graduation AnnouncementsRead previous post.

This morning, as I was straightening my closet, I came across a graduation announcement from my daughters' friend, Becca. A quote on the back of her announcement was an inspiration to me for today.

~Rev. Peter Marshall

"The modern challenge to motherhood is the eternal challenge that of being a godly woman. The very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear of it now. We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But so seldom do we hear of a godly woman- or of a godly man either, for that matter. I believe women come nearer to fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old fashioned, than to be ultra-modern. The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct."

Show and Tell Friday

It's Show and Tell Friday at Kelli's blog

Today I am showing my honey dispenser. I bought it at our community co-op and I also got one at a gift shop. The reason we like this dispenser so much is because it is always sitting out on our tea table, ready for use. Since it is so readily available, we are more inclined to find more uses for honey. This particular dispenser is less likely to make a mess- although there are never any guarantees in that area!

The Fun Begins

The first born got her drivers permit today. Enough said.

You understand.

Pottery Barn Look Alikes

Frugal Hacks is discussing one of my favorite topics:

How to use the Pottery Barn catalog to spruce up your

house for a fraction of the price.

We also received the new Boden catalog and the girls will see how they can duplicate the lovely fashions using what is in their closets and what they can find at half price day at the Salvation Army. I am thankful they enjoy the challenge of creative frugality.

Why I Love Homeschooling- Reason #3

Playing Hooky to Go Letterboxing

80 degrees in October is not common in New York. Unfortunatedly, Hubby could not take the day off from work even though the Adironack Mountains were calling us to visit.

Instead, we decided to go letterboxing at a beautiful nature walk at a nearby college. We had not been letterboxing in 3 years, so this gave us a great reason in spend the afternoon out. To find out more about letterboxing go to http://www.letterboxing.org/ to learn it's history and find out where boxes may be planted near you.

We followed the clues to the box......

The box contained a rubber stamp which we used to stamp the scrapbook we had brought along. We then stamped the little book that was in the box with our own stamp, and left a note stating when we had been there and city and state we are from. It is fun to look at the notes left by others who have visited the box.

We also take a picture for our own scrapbook to remember the day.

We then carefully returned the letterbox to its hiding place.

I think we've been bit again by the letterboxing bug. It is a frugal, family friendly activity that takes you places you would not have necessarily visited. You can also plant your own box.

Peek Week in NY

We have been basking in the glory of billiant colored trees and warm weather. It has been a nearly perfect two days in New York

Friday Dinner- Beef Tortellini Soup

We had Beef Tortellini Soup and Oat Bran Bread (made in the bread machine) for dinner Friday night

Soup Ingredients:

Stew beef browned and cut into small pieces

Beef broth and some vegetable broth that was in the refrigerator

Carrots

Celery

Onions

1 package of cheese tortellinis

Basil, thyme, salt, pepper

Here are the directions: Add the ingredients to the pot until it looks right and tastes good. :)

You Can't Catch Me, I'm the Gingerbread Man

Today, in my homeschool co-op class, we did my favorite preschool activity. After reading the story The Gingerbread Man, our class ran all over the building following clues and trying to catch the gingerbread man. The final clue took us back to the classroom where gingerbread men cookies were waiting at the table. Five-year-olds are so much fun!

The house smells like Christmas. Carissa made dozens of gingerbread men. How did I get anything done before I had teenage girls?

Show and Tell Friday

It's Show and Tell Friday at Kelli's blog.



My show and tell is my special occasion silverware. Some friends bought 8 place settings at an auction and when they got home they realized it was monogrammed with a "P". They graciously gave it to us. But, we rarely used our "company" silverware because, with a family of 6, you usually don't invite just two more people over for dinner.



Then, one evening at the dinner table, one of the girls suggested we check ebay. There it was! It was reasonably priced and I had Christmas money burning in my pocket. It came with 8 more place settings, more serving pieces, and to our delight, little tiny tea spoons for tea parties. It is not monogrammed but we're not that particular.

The paperwork says it's from Oneida Silversmiths and was manufactured in 1948.



So there's my show and tell for the week!

Thursday Dinner- Fend for Yourself, It's Date Night

Hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls and macaroni and cheese (at least it's homemade and not from a box)

I'm off with hubby!

A late addition while I was gone: Apple Raisin Salad

Be Still My Culinary Heart

I do love to visit Martha, Martha, Martha (Martha Stewart Living). But I just can't get excited over all of the varieties of sea salt available in the outrageously priced gourmet shops of Connecticut. (Just one example of the many things Martha gets excited about) Then Jen at Mommy, What's for Dinner visited my blog. A real mom, using real food, to feed real people. Now that's real living.

Wednesday Dinner- That Good Salad

I think this salad is why we get invited to picnics and parties! It is my most requested dish. Mary Anne found this recipe and I am so glad it was passed on to me. That Good Salad

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 bunches (1lb. each) romaine, torn

2 cups chopped tomatoes

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

2/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

8 bacon strips, cooked, crumbled

1 cup Caesar salad croutons

In a jar with tight fitting lid, combine: oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cover and shake well; chill.

In a bowl toss romaine, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, almonds, Parmesan cheese, and bacon. Shake dressing; pour over salad and toss. Add croutons and serve immediately.

We are having hamburgers on the grill with this salad. There are not many days left before we start shoveling a path to the grill. We have been known to do this many times during the winter. Crazy New Yorkers!

Tuesday Dinner- Garlic Lime Chicken

Caroline cooked this up for me while I was out shopping. Unfortunately, it was eaten up before I could take a picture.

Garlic Lime Chicken

from Saving Dinner

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

1/4 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp dried parsley

6 boneless chicken breasts

2 Tbs butter

1 Tbs olive oil

2 tsp garlic powder

3 Tbs lime juice

In a small bowl, mix all seasonings, except for last measurement of garlic powder and lime juice. Season both sides of chicken breasts. Heat butter and oil in large skillet and saute chicken breasts, about 6 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with remaining garlic powder and lime juice and cook 5 minutes- stirring frequently to coat evenly with the sauce.

Note: I have doubled the seasonings in the first part of the recipe. I do not use the cayenne powder and do not use the last measurement of garlic.

Pumpkin Decorating

There is a pumpkin decorating contest going on at our local library. The library even provided the pumpkins. Who could resist such fun?- not my girls.

Pumpkin TIme

Everyone is carving and decorationg pumpkins for a contest at the local library. The library provided the pumpkins and girls provide the creativity.

Monday Dinner- Authentic Cannelloni

Cannelloni, Golden Delicious applesauce and French bread

Authentic Cannelloni

16-ounce package manicotti shells

16 ounces cottage cheese

1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken

2 large eggs

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

14-ounce jar spaghetti sauce

16-ounce jar Alfredo sauce

1/4 cups finely chopped fresh parsley, optional

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 13x9-inch baking dish. Cook pasta shells using package directions; drain. Combine cottage cheese, 1 cup Parmesan, chicken, eggs, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl and mix well. Fill pasta shells with the cottage cheese mixture.

Arrange pasta shells in a single layer in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the remaining Parmesan.

Pour Alfredo sauce crosswise over half of each pasta shell. Pour spaghetti sauce over the remaining half. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired.

This is a family favorite

Monday's Baking- To Die for Blueberry Muffins

These muffins are very good, although I don't think I would give my life for them.

To Die For Blueberry Muffins (from allrecipes.com)

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

1 cup fresh blueberries

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt, and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix with the flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.

To Make Crumb Topping

Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter and 1 1/2 cup teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

Bake for 17 to 25 minutes in preheated oven, or until done. Makes 10-12 muffins, depending on how full the muffin cups are.

NOTE: These were a success. The family loved them and I have regained some confidence in my baking skills.

I Hereby Resolve

Have you ever had one of those weeks where nothing turned out right? For me, this included almost everything I cooked and baked.

I hereby resolve to cook delicious, creative, unburnt meals this week. Details and recipes to follow throughout the week.

Nothing Too Exciting For Saturday

Since we spent most of Saturday morning and afternoon doing this.........

We spent most of Saturday evening doing this...........

October Heatwave

We have had an incredibly warm week in New York. Friday set a record high temperature of 82 degrees! The teenagers have been at a youth retreat, so Mom, Dad and Abby took off in our new kayak. Yes, we have a kayak! I am still in shock over the thrill of being given something that we did not need but really desired. It was so much fun. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It has been an unusual week of provision and blessing which I will fill you in on later. Like I said, I am still in shock... but rejoicing.

.

Show and Tell Friday- Recipe Books

It's Show and Tell Friday at Kelly's Blog.

This Friday I would like to show you the recipe books that my daughters made at our mother/daughter Bible study. We used 9''x7'' white notebooks with clear plastic sleeves on the front. Everyone practiced their scrapbooking skills to decorate the front covers and made recipe dividers. Clear plastic inserts (not easy to find) held the recipes. The ladies in our Bible study exchange recipes from time to time.

For Christmas of 2005, I sent letters to family members asking them to send me favorite family recipes in their own handwritting. The response was an overwhelming success! Some recipes came with explanations as to why it was a favorite. It made for a very special Christmas gift.

Suggestion: If you decide to do this for your children, make sure to make a copy of the recipes for yourself. I am always asking someone to bring me their book.

Brag Warning: Lydia's book won a blue ribbon at the New York State Fair!

London Broil on the Grill

My friend Mary gave this recipe to us over a year ago and I just used it this week. We don't often have a nice 4lb roast for grilling out, but sales at the grocery store this week gave us a reason to try the recipe. It was sooooo good, I'm going back to buy more roasts. Thanks Mary!

London Broil Marinade

* 1 clove garlic minced
* 1 tsp salt

*3 Tbsp. soy sauce
*1 Tbsp. ketchup
*1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
*1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
*1/2 tsp. dried oregano
*4lbs. flank steak or London Broil cut

In a small bowl mix together garlic, salt, soy sauce, ketchup, vegetable oil, black pepper and oregano. Score both sides of the meatm diamond cut, about 1/8 inch deep. Rub garlic mixture into both sides of the meat. Wrap tightly in foil, and refrigerate for 5-6 hours or overnight. Flip meat every few hours. Cook meat on grill to desired doneness.