2012 Christmas Ornaments

Every year the kids get to both make an ornament to gift to family and friends and buy an ornament.  When they are on their own, I'll give them all the ones they picked out to buy plus one of each that they made to decorate their first trees.

In 2011, Jasper made a Golden Snitch Ornament and Risa made a Glitter / Handprint Snowman Ornament.

In 2012, we are still sparkly.  Jasper selected a penguin / snowglobe ornament inspired by a Parent's.com craft.

You can follow directions for how to make the pipe cleaner penguin on their site... though those instructions aren't perfectly clear.  I may do a step-by-step pictorial of how to make them.  Jasper went with one penguin, a tree and a cupcake pick that says "Merry Christmas".  I couldn't find clear sided cups but Jasper actually likes the looks of the rippled sides better.  I used old Christmas cards to cut out the bottom piece so the ornament is fancy on the bottom too.  And I hot glued the hanger to the top.  I was afraid the cup would break if I tried to poke a hole through it.  

Risa went with a lovely peacock / pine cone ornament inspired by a craft from The Kids Fun Review.  

We used craft foam for the body and Risa added lots of peacock blue glitter paint to the pine cone.  

Comfort Food on the Fly

This is the time of year for comfort food... in my book anyway. Everyone has a different definition of comfort food but some pretty common ones include meatloaf, chicken-fried steak, fried chicken, beef stew. A common denominator with all of these is TIME. They all take time to prepare... whether it's actual prep time or just hours to cook.

I'm all about 30-minute (or less) meals. When it's cold outside and I'm a bit winter grumpy, I'm also all about comfort food. But how to accomplish both? Hash with Fried Eggs. Yum. Fast, easy, only a few ingredients and warm, yummy, comforting goodness in a bowl.

Hash with Fried Eggs

Olive oil
1.5 pounds Russett potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-1/2 inch cubes
1 medium onion, diced in 1/4 inch pieces
1 green bell pepper, diced in 1/4 inch pieces
1 tsp cumin
Kosher salt & pepper to taste
Eggs

 Heat oil in skillet. Add potatoes, onion, bell pepper, cumin, salt & pepper. Cook over medium-high heat 10 to 15 minutes until potatoes are tender. Once the hash is close to done, fry up your eggs in another skillet. Serve in a bowl with the egg over the hash. Kids like a touch of ketchup and grownups can add some hot sauce if so inclined.

You can easily adjust for family size. I serve 3 adults, 1 9yo (athletic) boy and 1 5yo (athletic) girl with 1 1/2 pounds of potatoes.  And eggs are easy enough to cook however many you need. My daughter eats one. Everyone else two. I served this last night with a bacon spinach salad.... also a supremely fast and easy thing to throw together.

Gotta pay the Blog Bills. ;-)

Day 4 - Gratitude Project

I was about to shut off my computer and head to bed.  I ran down my task list one more time before hitting the Shut Down button... and was reminded I needed to do this!

Today I am thankful for my electronics.  As a busy homeschooling mom, they make my life easier in many ways.  And less cluttered as I just got rid of several LARGE craft books, knowing I'd have an easier time finding what I wanted on Pinterest.  I guess I'm thankful for Pinterest too.

Day Three - Gratitude Project

1) I am thankful for Lee's Summit - I love my little town in the 'burbs.  We live in the Downtown area... where you know your neighbor and the business owners and the civic leaders.

Day Two - Gratitude Project

1) My health - I may have a bad back and hips... but I can mitigate a lot of that with the choices I make.  Working out and staying strong keeps them strong and me pain-free.  I have low blood pressure, low cholesterol and other ideal internal health.

2) My family's health - My husband and kids are all very healthy.... especially when the cow-intolerant of them remember to not contaminate themselves.  My mother-in-law and in-laws are all doing well. My own parents struggle a bit with their health but they are managing and my mom still has a happy, active social life with all her friends.

3) My friends' health - By my age, my mom had already lost many friends (to polio and cancer to name a few). While illness has come and gone, my friends are all a fairly hale and hearty lot.

Day One - Gratitude Project

I may add some craft project(s) to my gratitude project, but in the meantime, I'm going to try to share three things I'm grateful for each day.

1) Warm chocolate chip cookies (they are SO good for the soul... my soul anyway)

2) 13 years with an amazing, loving husband, who actually listens to me even when he doesn't want to.  ;-)

3) My sweet, adorable children.

Happy November!

Happy November and welcome to my favorite month.  It's ushered in by the fun of Halloween, contains my birthday and my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.  Plus, every where you look, the trees are turning to one of my favorite colors, orange.  And it's ushered out by a season of generosity and goodwill.

I've decided to challenge myself a bit this month... you know... because I didn't already have enough to do.  I decided I am going to create a 30 Days of Gratitude Project.  As this idea just came to me tonight, inspired by other friend's gratitude posts, I haven't entirely decided how I'm going to do that yet.  It will probably be me posting here in a gratitude-journal sort of way but maybe I'll get crafty with it too.

The other challenge I gave myself is to participate in NaNoWriMo (how do you pronounce that?).  I'm blaming all 3 of the Three Blind Wives, not just Lara, the author of the "offending" blog post.  I have never really written fiction.  I am inspired to write the occasional poem or song... usually dark, angry and cathartic. But a NOVEL?!  Never.  It was a dark and stormy night... or an unseasonable warm and sunny autumn day... when I decided to stretch my brain a bit and try my hand at writing fiction.  I've already named by two main characters!  I'm also dragging my 9 year old homeschooled son along for the ride.  He tells me the most entertaining, extravagant stories, but it's like trying to pull teeth to get him to write them down. NaNoWriMo has fantastic workbooks to help kids (and adults like me who have no idea where to start).  I printed the book for elementary school for Jasper (all 126 pages) and the high school workbook for myself (91 pages).  I figure it's been at least high school since I wrote any fiction that ran over one page in length.

Asian-style Tofu, Greens & Mushrooms

Tofu
8 oz. Firm tofu; drained, cut into 8 slices
1/4 cornstarch
1 tsp garlic salt
Greens
1 c vegetable or chicken stock
Fresh ginger root, 6 slices
4 baby bok choy, sliced vertically*
1 small head collards (about 10 leaves), rib removed and sliced into 1" strips*
Mushrooms & Sauce
1/2 lb button mushrooms, sliced
1 Tbl butter
1 Tbl light olive oil
Sauce
1/2 c vegetable or chicken stock
1/4 c oyster sauce
2 Tbl soy sauce
2 tsp cornstarch
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 tbl sesame seeds
Brown rice, cooked

I used a hot plate griddle, a 10" skillet with lid and a saucier pan to cook the tofu, greens and mushrooms all at once. You could also do each item one at a time in a large skillet or wok if you are limited on space or dishes.

If you don't already have brown rice cooked (you should... cook it ahead and keep in the freezer), you'll need to start it early.  The bulk of the dinner takes 15 minutes to prep, but brown rice takes about 45.

1) Heat the electric griddle on high (or skillet, medium-high) . Put cornstarch on a plate and stir in the garlic salt.  Dip the tofu in the cornstarch and place on the hot griddle.  Cook on each side 5 to 7 minutes until browned.

2) Put the stock and ginger into a skillet.  Bring to a boil.  Add the sliced greens, turn down heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 5 minutes.  Remove the lid and allow any remaining stock to cook off.  Remove and discard the ginger slices.

3) Heat butter and oil in a saucier (or saucepan)over medium heat.  Add mushrooms.  While the mushrooms cook, make the sauce.  Whisk together the stock, oyster sauce, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, and toasted sesame oil.






*NOTE: Most greens are interchangeable.  This is what I had in my refrigerator.  I liked the flavor combination of the bok choy and collards but feel free to use what you have or what your family likes.  You need a sturdier green.  I think spinach would wilt too quickly and not hold up.

Homeschooling

We decided to homeschool this year... a decision long overdue, I'm finding, as I try to undo some very bad habits my gifted son developed while not being adequately challenged.  (sigh)  Now that I feel like I've found SOME balance, I'm looking forward to getting back to my blog.  Still foofy... yet not foofy.  :-D

Here's a cute picture of a sweet big brother sewing a Build-a-Bear from a kit he won for his sister.  More soon...

Back among the blogging...

I am back among the blogging again.  About the time of my last post, we got an offer on the sale of my grandmother's house.  She passed away last summer and had lived in the house since 1953.  We'd long since had the estate sale but there was still a LOT of stuff in that house. As the only local family member, it was on me to get it ready to close.  Boy, what a job!  But we closed on Tuesday, May 1st... with the house being the emptiest it has been probably since it was built in 1910.  Only three families have lived in it.

Goodbye 5700!  I know the new family already loves you and will fill you with new memories.

Rest in Peace, Old Friend

The first clue something was wrong was when I walked in the door and didn't smell dinner...  Soy Balsamic Chicken.  The second clue was when I went to stir and the chicken was still raw!  Twelve plus long years our 6 quart slow cooker has served us well.  A sad day. 

Coconut Pork

I apologize for the lack of a picture. This wasn't a really pretty dish anyway... just super simple and very tasty. Many thanks to my friend, Jerritt, for the inspiration.

Coconut Pork - slow cooker recipe

1 pork shoulder roast (pick the right size for your family... ours was about 2 1/2 lbs)
1 can coconut milk
1 can crushed tomatoes (I used a half quart of home canned tomatoes)
1/2 recipe of garam masala (use the whole recipe for 4+ lbs of roast)
Brown rice, cooked

Place the pork roast in the crock pot.  Stir the remaining ingredients together and pour over the pork.  Cook on low 6-8 hours.  Serve over brown rice.

We cut up the pork (once cooked) and ate it with a spoon more like a stew.  Very yummy.

30 Day Book Meme - Day Thirty

Yay! Finally to the end of the list.  Maybe I'll do a photo day-of meme next.  


Day 30 - Your favourite book of all time

Easy... To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.


The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Nine

Day 29 - A book everyone hated but you liked


Twilight, et al by Stephenie Meyer.  I'm not a TwiFan or a Twilighter or whatever the heck the rabid fans call themselves.  It was a fun read though... angst and all.  I've actually listened to all the books while working out at the gym.  They are perfect for that... slightly engrossing but not so much I forget what I'm doing, funny, compelling characters, even if not always likable.  The only thing I don't like is the character Jasper... not the character but that my son will run into WAY more Jaspers in his life now than he would've otherwise.  At least they are all much younger. 


The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Eight

Day 28 - Favourite Title


I haven't read it but I love the title - A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers.




The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I adapted these cookies from Smitten Kitchen who adapted it from The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup chunky peanut butter at room temperature

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 large egg, at room temperature

1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl or the bowl of your Kitchenaid / mixer, beat butter and peanut butter together until fluffy.

Add sugars and beat until smooth. Add egg and mix well. Add milk and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and beat thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips.

Place 1/2 cup of sugar in a small bowl.  Using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, scoop rounded bits of cookie dough and roll into a ball in your hand. This is crumbly dough so work over the bowl. Drop the ball into the sugar and coat.  Place on a cookie sheet, leaving room for expansion.  I put 12 to a half sheet pan.  Using a fork, lightly flatten the ball. 

Bake 10 to 12 minutes.  I baked two trays at a time.  I rotated the trays at 7 minutes then baked for 5 more minutes.  Oven temps vary though.  The cookies won’t look 100% done but don’t overcook. They’ll firm up a bit as they cool. 

Ingredient Notes

I used sweet cream butter because that’s what I had in the house.  I usually use unsalted for recipes.  These cookies were delish… I doubt the type of butter would make a huge difference either way. 

I used Skippy Natural peanut butter… half chunky and half smooth because we were almost out of chunky. 

Tip

Warm your measuring cup up with hot water and don’t dry it before measuring your peanut butter.  Most of it will fall right back out after measuring rather than having to scrape it all out with a rubber spatula. 

Cooking with Kids

Risa and Jasper both wanted to help.  I usually let them help with measuring but they came in late to help.  Risa cracked the egg and measured the chocolate chips (sampling a few as she measured, of course).  They both helped get the cookies on the sheet, assembly-line fashion.  We each took turns doing different jobs... scooping & rolling, coating in sugar, and flattening with a fork.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Six

Day 26 - A book that changed your opinion about something

Diet for a New America  by John Robbins. This was the first book on our food system and on nutrition I ever read and it made me really start to pay attention to the foods I ate.  I'm now more of a Michael Pollan / Arthur Agatston "all things in moderation" person... not as extreme as Robbins still seems to me... but it definitely changed my opinion on food and most especially on the "food" machine.  Yes, I'm quoting food and not machine there because a lot of what runs through the US food industry is barely food.

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Five

Day 25 - A character who you can relate to the most


Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series.

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Four

Day 24 - A Book that you wish more people would've read


In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan.  "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."  How much healthier would humans be and the planet be if we all understood food a little better and understood how commercial food and chemical companies manipulate our food supply?  You don't have to be a vigilante about healthy foods... but being informed helps everyone make better choices.  I still choose the chocolate chip cookie sometimes, but I do it from a place of knowledge about what I'm putting into my body.

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Three

Day 23 - A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven't


Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.  It's been recommended to me by several people and I do like vampire books, but somehow I haven't picked it up yet.

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Two

Day 22 - Favorite Book You Own


I own many of the favorite books I've already listed... To Kill a Mockingbird, Hitchhiker's series, Harry Potter series.

 The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time