Easy and Beautiful Ice Cream Pie

Tonight we celebrated my son's birthday with a family dinner.  For dessert, I made a chocolate ice cream pie (his request).   I modified a recipe I found over on Fine Cooking's website HERE.  Here's a picture of the pie I made (although I think it looked better in person!).

I discovered recently that you can melt creamy peanut butter and it will turn to liquid pretty quickly (30 seconds in the microwave).   It will also reharden quickly.  You don't need to buy peanut butter topping for ice cream.

So, after following the steps on Fine Cooking for the crust.  I let it cool and then filled the bottom with a layer of chocolate ice cream.  Then, I spread the hot fudge sauce on top and melted 1/3 cup of peanut butter.  I drizzled that over top of the hot fudge sauce and put the pie in the freezer.  Later in the afternoon, I made the small scoops of ice cream and layered them on top.  I chopped up some mini reese's cups and sprinkled them over top.  Then, I drizzled 1/4 cup hot fudge sauce like the recipe recommended plus another 1/4 cup of melted peanut butter.

It really was a yummy pie.

Most of the time I bake pies, but this one was nice and easy to make!

Annoying phone calls...

95% of the phone calls we get on our landline are junk calls.  It is very, very annoying.  Yesterday, I called our phone provider to inquire about breaking the contract for our phone line.  The fee was more than I was ready for (of course), so I asked what I could do about these annoying phone calls.  Here's what I learned...

#1  You have to re-register on the Do Not Call list every year.  EVERY YEAR!  Here's a link to the site: https://www.donotcall.gov/

#2  That list is updated quarterly.  QUARTERLY!  So, if you register in January, your number won't be on the list until the end of March :(  Better late than never...

#3  I could change our phone number... but that invites other kinds of issues.  Who knows?  The person who had that number previously might have been getting even more junk calls than I do now!
#4  Verizon has a Call Block Feature on their app/website.  I need to write down the frequently calling wrong numbers and simply go into the site/app and record them.

#5  My phone has a call block feature.  I've been lazy and haven't used it.  Today I started using it.  I looked up the directions online and it was simpler than I had realized.

Basically, I learned that if I want to get rid of these calls I will need to be proactive in blocking them.

When our current contract is up, I can switch the physical phone I use, discontinue our landline, and get a link2cell phone which will allow my kids to talk on the phone via my cell phone line.

Any other ideas about how I can get rid of these nuisance calls???


Post script... The phone just rang.   Then, I saw the screen.  Call blocked.  CALL BLOCKED!  Yippee!  One down, many more to go... he he he.  But, I have hope!

Some of my favorite kitchen utensils...

Today a friend of mine and I went for a walk and she asked me about parchment paper.  I love parchment paper.  I purchase a 1000 sheet box from the webstaurant store.com every 2-3 years.  The paper doesn't curl like it does if you buy it on the roll and it's astronomically cheaper than buying it in small quantities.  My mom bakes a lot and so do I, so we go through it at a good pace.  After we talked about parchment paper, my friend asked me if I have any other favorite gadgets.  I told her about the treat I found yesterday at Ollies, a bargain store near where I live.

The set I bought only had the purple, orange, and green models, but it was only $4 instead of the $12 that Amazon wants for this set of five mini spatulas.  I hesitated when I picked them up at the store.  I had seen them in the weekly ad, but I had been given a much shorter mini spatula several years ago that was quite frustrating to use.  So, of course I hesitated.  But, I love them!

I have already used them 3 times in 2 days!  I used the spoon spatula twice to get mayonnaise out of the bottom of the jar and didn't end up with a messy hand!  Happy day!  Then, I used the orange spatula to scrape the peanut butter jar clean.  I was able to get enough out for 2 extra sandwiches!  Wow!  

Now, there's one caveat about this set.  When I brought them home, one of the handles was a little rough in a few spots.  So, I grabbed a piece of 220 sand paper from my kitchen junk drawer and sanded all three handles down for a minute.  Then, I took out the jar of mineral oil in my kitchen, which is a foodsafe way of finishing wood, and poured a little on a piece of paper towel and rubbed the handles down.  I could have skipped doing this, but it made me happy to improve the handles.  

Then, tonight at dinner I used another of my favorite utensils--my flat metal whisk.  

This is a 12 inch Best Manufacturers Flat Roux/Gravy Whip.  I have two whisks.  One is a rounded model with silicone on the wires so I can use it in nonstick pans.  This whisk, though, is my favorite.  I've had it for twenty years or so (I'm not sure what brand mine is).  I use it for gravys and... for frying!  It works so much better than using tongs to lift oysters, chicken, and fish out of oil after being fried.  (Tonight we had fried oysters for dinner.)  

I do have lots of kitchen utensils I love, but I am very thankful for these spatulas and whisk!  

Beware of Return Shipping

Buyer beware.  Isn't that what we're supposed to remember?!  I appreciate that Amazon is so easy to work with when it comes to returns.  But, when it comes to third party sellers who offer free shipping, I'm discovering that it is a different matter.

My girls are in a gym class and I wanted to get them some biketards--leotards with legs for class.  I went online and found one that I liked the look of.  The picture and the leotards we received were slightly different.  The arm holes didn't fit securely, but stretched lower, showing their bras.  There was no picture of the backs of the leotards, so I assumed, it would be modest like the front.  Nope!  They were very low (mid-back) so that their bras completely showed (not just a little).  I was so disappointed.

But, that was where the disappointment began.  I discovered that in order to return them, I had to pay the return shipping--$8.  Then, when the credit finally showed up, a $6 restocking fee was deducted though nothing was wrong with the leotards.  Basically, when all is said and done, I had to pay for a leotard that I returned and can't use.  I contacted the seller and they informed me about the restocking fee.

Okay.  That's my mistake.  But, their mistake was not showing a picture of the back of the leotard.

In the future, I'm going to try and stay away from "free shipping" sellers on Amazon, unless I'm absolutely certain I'm not going to have to return the product!

Just to let you know, the seller was Miss Belly Dance--in case you ever consider purchasing from them on Amazon.  Purchasing is fine--as long as you do not think there is a chance you will need to return your item.  Then, financially I've learned it isn't a good choice.

Wood Pulp = Cellulose, More about Parmesan Cheese

Like most things, the matter of the cellulose in parmesan cheese is actually a little more complicated. On my last post, a friend commented and explained that wood pulp is cellulose. (Thanks my friend!)  I looked it up and it is!  It acts as fiber in our digestive system that moves things a lot because it isn't digestible by human bodies.  Hmm...  I gathered from what I read online that it hasn't been determined whether it is dangerous for human consumption.  The FDA has approved it as a food additive.  That's why the article is funny to me.  I suspect there are probably limits of how much cellulose is added (though I'm not sure) and it is very important that food is correctly labeled.  I suspect that is one of the larger issues.  The article makes it seem like the wood pulp is dangerous.

Sifting through what I read a little more from the article I linked to and other sources I found online, I believe the issue is more with false labeling.  A cheese seems like it couldn't be 100% Parmesan Cheese if 3-4% of it is cellulose, aka wood pulp.  It is also disconcerting that Target's store brand grated Parmesan isn't at all parmesan.  The cellulose does keep it from clumping and sticking together.

Here's a link to a second article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cheese-wood-pulp-cellulose-parmesan_us_56c491c2e4b08ffac1271f1e

This article explains that 2-4% is allowed.  The cheese in question was tested at 7.8%, far higher than the allowable limit.  Kraft's cheese is within that limit.

Here's the FDA's statement about cellulose on their website: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/SCOGS/ucm261248.htm

I still think it's funny.  "Wood Pulp" is used to alarm us.  "Cellulose" is used to make us think it's just something else added to food.  It's all about the spin!

Parmesan Cheese: Beware!

In the Baltimore Sun this morning, there was an article about Parmesan Cheese that has been making the rounds the past few days.  Here's a LINK to it.  I thought it was very interesting and helpful. Basically, the grated Parmesan Cheese that we buy in the store has varying degrees of fillers in it. It's pretty horrifying to think that there might be wood pulp in some of the cheese we've eaten.  It's also sad to think that Target's store brand of Parmesan cheese didn't even have any parmesan cheese in it (it was a combination of other cheeses)!

Every once in a while I find a grocery item that I'm willing to spend more money on because it really matters (like real butter instead of margarine).  Parmesan cheese just moved onto that list this morning.  I'm sure the companies that sell grated parmesan are now going to scramble to decrease the percentage of their fillers and show that they're doing so--or at least I hope so.  But, until I'm sure, I think I'm going to get the shredded parmesan at Aldi from the refrigerated section instead of the grated parmesan that I've been buying for a while.

No longer free...

For several years now, I've traveled over to Donna Young's website for various calendars and organization forms.  But, today I discovered that none of the forms are free on her site anymore.  She has switched to subscription based access which costs $25 or $40 per year.

If you're interested in calendar forms of this type, I'd recommend Mom's Tool Belt instead, though. What I like about her site better is that it's a lifetime membership.  She adds new yearly calendars each year.  I've always been able to find the organization forms that I need.  This doesn't give you access to the notebooking pages she has done which are on notebookingpages.com (lifetime membership on that site is $97).   So far, I've always been able to find free notebooking pages for what I need on other sites. Notebooking isn't our primary approach to homeschooling, so I only use pages like these on rare occasions.

I have to admit that I'm bummed Donna Young's site isn't free at all anymore...

Making Soap

I enjoy crafting.  Lately, I've been getting into hand lettering and decorative knots.  They've been fun for me because I can pick up whatever I'm working on for five minutes and get something done.  But, I'm always intrigued by other crafts I hear about.  Two that I've always wondered about picking up are candle making and soap making.  If I ever were to try soap making, I found the book I'd use.

Pure Soapmaking by Anne-Marie Faiola

The author of this book put everything you need to know in one book.  This book is an awesome resource because she explains to the crafter how to be safe and emphasizes the importance of this safety!  I would not have realized how important safety would be in the craft of making soap.  The author begins by describing the soapmaking process, equipment needed, how to make soap, about oils/additives/scent, and designing recipes.  She then includes a wide variety of recipes.

I learned several things from this book.
#1  You must have separate equipment for making soap.  So, this craft requires a significant investment up front.  You CANNOT use your own kitchen equipment to make soap.  She explains the specific dangers of doing so.
#2  The interaction of the ingredients combined to make soap is very complex.  I had mistakenly thought before reading this book that soap was a very simple thing.  Not so!
#3  Read the bulk of this book thoroughly before starting out.  There's a lot to understand before one can start the journey of making soap.  This is not a hobby that someone can pick up for a half hour and then put down.  Rather, it is a hobby for people that have half a day to spend on it, or at least a few uninterrupted hours until they get the hang of making soap.

I have a new respect for people who make homemade soap after reading this book.  If you've ever seriously considered making soap, I'd highly recommend this book!  It's a great all-in-one resource!

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Storey Books.

Dishwasher Soap

For years, I've bought dishwasher soap at Costco.  But, I realized earlier this year that the Costco near me stopped carrying the Kirkland brand of dishwasher soap.  I had two choices:  buy the more expensive bottle of Cascade or find another alternative...  I was concerned about 2 things-- price and how well they the soap would clean my dishes!

So, I started trying to figure out the best deal.  I watched the target ads and local grocery store ads.  I checked Wegman's store brand and Aldi's.  I didn't want to deal with coupons if I could help it.  I discovered as I searched that Wegman's store brand cost $3.50 for 75 oz. and Aldi cost $2.50 for 75 oz.

I started by using the Aldi bottle and it has worked great.  I wish I had switched a long time ago!  I do use Finish rinse with the soap, but I always had to use it with the Kirkland brand in order for my dishes to get cleaned without spots.

Comparative savings:
Costco brand:  2 bottles of 116 oz. each
I remember paying $11 or $12 for the 2 bottles.

Aldi:  $2.50 for 75 oz.
Smaller bottle, easier to store under the sink

For $10, I could purchase 300 oz. Aldi dishwasher soap or 232 oz. Costco brand.

I'm so thankful to have found a solution that cleans my dishes that is less expensive--without coupons!

Girls Jeans

I think that children can be as hard to shop for as adults!  Neither of my girls liked to wear jeans when they were younger, but somewhere in the last two years they made the switch.  They both now wear jeans most of the time.  My middle daughter fits into skinny style jeans and loves them.  My older daughter on the other hand likes a bootcut jean.  

A few weeks ago, we headed into Old Navy and took a look at their jeans.  Autumn found a pair for $20 (of course the ones that actually fit her weren't on sale!) and they felt so thin.  I've noticed that Old Navy's quality has steadily declined over the past ten years.  

So, we headed to Target next.  I found a pair of bootcut jeans that fit her great for $12.99--not on sale.

Lastly, we checked out the jeans at Walmart.  For $6.97, Autumn found a second pair of jeans that fit her just as well.  

I've already washed both pairs and they both still fit her (minimal shrinkage it seems when washed on cold and put in the dryer).  Yay!  

It was surprising to me that the jeans at both Walmart and Target felt the same.  Neither were what I'd call a heavy jean.  They were both mid-weight.  But, neither of them felt like they would rip the first time she falls.  

When I need to buy clothes for my kids, convenience wins out and Target is my store of choice.  I'm thankful that the quality of their clothes is as good as it is!

Decaf Chai Tea Latte Mix

I finally found a decaf Chai Tea Latte mix that I like.  For years, I had loved Trader Joe's decaf Chai tea latte mix.  But, the Trader Joe's near us hasn't carried it in at least a year.  This made me sad.  I prefer not to drink caffeine in the afternoon.  So, I've been searching...

I tried a few different Chai teas.  I tried the liquid mix from Oregon Chai.  But, nothing was what I was looking for.  I wanted a mild Chai Tea latte that wasn't heavy on the cardamom the way Starbuck's Chai tea latte is.

I finally found one at The Webstaurant Store.  It's called Big Train Decaf Spiced Chai Latte.

It is sold on Amazon, but I found the best price on WebstaurantStore.com. $17.50 for 3 1/2 pounds (equivalent to seven 8 oz. containers from Trader Joe's) I purchase parchment paper on this site, spices, and muffin papers.  The shipping seems high at first, but if you add a few things in, it's much more justifiable.  You can also get credit for reviews of products you've previously purchased from them--which can whittle away at the shipping costs.  

Good, Strong Coffee

A few coffee notes...

My husband and I love coffee.  I make STRONG coffee.  It's not thick like mud, but it's definitely strong.  I do this because I like to put half and half and sugar in my coffee and I prefer for it not to taste watery.  My husband and inlaws all like it this way (and they don't put any cream in it it) too.

Here's my ratio:  2/3 cup whole beans (before grinding) to 28 oz. water

It's funny to think back over our coffee journey.  I've discovered that me, along with every other coffee lover I know, likes to have a consistent cup of coffee.  This is a valuable thing.

There are some folks who say you must use a burr grinder--that it's the only way to go.

I'll respectfully disagree.  A blade grinder costs only about $15 ($1 at a garage sale) and will last you longer than a burr grinder.  When using a blade grinder, I hold down the button for a count of 15.  (not 1 one thousandth--just one two three...)

Last week, my husband picked up a bag of casi cielo for me from Starbucks.  Casi Cielo is one of Starbucks less bitter roasts and we have enjoyed it in the past.  It usually sells for $14.95 a pound.  I was curious to see how it compared to our regular coffee.

As I settled into my first cup, I discovered that it wasn't any better than our regular coffee!  I was surprised, but not really.  Starbucks overprices its goods and sells an experience/habit as much as it sells a product.

Our current coffee mix is a half caf mix from World Market.  I like it.  A lot.  I mix the medium roast caf whole bean Tarrazu with the decaf dark roast Italian Blend.  I use the coupons and then purchase it on Wednesdays (when you get double coffee credits) and usually end up paying a little over $6 per pound--which is the best price I've found over the years for half caf.  I order it online and it gets shipped very quickly to my doorstep.  I do pay for shipping, but I find that the coupons and coffee credits offset this.  Make sure to sign up for their World Market Explorer program and input your number on each purchase to get credit for your coffee purchases.

Thinking back, we started out with coffee from Costco.  Their house blend is roasted by Starbucks and some clubs carry a decaf version.  I always mixed the decaf house coffee with a different medium roast from Costco.  This worked out to be about $6.50 a pound, I think.

But, Costco is far, so I switched several years ago to BJ's because it was closer to us.  Unfortunately, the discontinued their whole bean decaf coffee and again I had to go searching for a good whole bean decaf coffee.  That was how I ended up at World Market.  We don't have a World Market store near us (though I wish we did!) and I began to purchase the coffee online.  We do have to buy 4 1/2 pounds at once, but I store it in a sealed tupperware bin and have yet to be disappointed in it.  I make about 40-50 oz. of coffee in the morning each day to give you an idea of how fast we go through it.

One of my brother in laws asked me this weekend what I would buy if I had to go to the grocery store for cheap coffee.  My answer was 8 o'clock Columbian whole bean.  It's a solid, consistent bean.  My husband likes it more than I do, though.

Chocolate

Tomorrow I'm having dental surgery.  Ugh.  Double Ugh--if there is such a thing.  My mom called yesterday and encouraged me to eat what I wanted today.  So, I did.  Sort of.  I had apple waldorf salad while on the run during a busy day.  We went to Mexican food for dinner.  And then I came home to have some chocolates for dessert.  But, I didn't have just any chocolates.  They were special.

I found a treasure today when I was shopping at Aldi.  As I was walking down the aisle between the produce and leftover Christmas candy, I paused.  My oldest daughter had seen something that caught her eye.  And then my eye caught something as well....

A few years ago, a friend of my husband's gave him two chocolates that she'd brought home with her from a recent vacation to Italy.  They were called Witor's Noir.  I loved them!  So, I looked all over the internet to try and find them, but I couldn't find anywhere that I could order them.  World Market had them--I even went to a store an hour and a half away (when I was in the area) to try and find them!  Then, a friend gave my mom a few chocolates and she shared one with me.  I was so shocked to discover that the chocolate she gave me was the same brand that I'd been looking for.  I called the woman who gave her the chocolates and she explained that she had found them at BJ's.  So, a week later, I headed over to the store and tried--in vain--to find them.  No luck.  I asked at the front counter and was informed by a clerk that they'd been out of them for several weeks.  I was so disappointed!  At that point, I gave up.  I searched online a little bit more and discovered that these chocolates had also been sold at Costco, so of course I checked there as well.  Again, none were to be found.

But, today, in the middle of the Christmas candy display at Aldi, there they were!  I was shocked with disbelief!  On my cell phone, I called the woman who gave them to my mom long ago to alert her--and she was thankful for my call.  Then, I bought three packages and brought them home.  

I opened one up tonight and they were very good, just as I had hoped.  I know it may sound crazy to go to such lengths to find something and then not find it.  But, it's fun to go looking for something.  Finding the chocolates today was such an unexpected blessing from the Lord amidst the stress of anticipating my surgery tomorrow!  

So, just in case you ever happen to come across these chocolates in your corner of the world and you wonder if they are any good...

They are!

On one final note, I found this picture on Amazon.  It turns out that you can now buy them there--for $25 for 2 packages.  When I was at Aldi this afternoon, one package only cost $3 (regularly $4).  I'm not quite sure that one package would be worth $12.50, but I think I probably would have paid $8 for a package because they are 12 oz. packages.

...

Knights and Castles

A few weeks ago, my kids and I had the chance to attempt to put together a paper castle, complete with knights and catapult.  Our attempt, was... well, unsuccessful.  I had high hopes starting in, but those hopes were quickly dashed when I realized how much patience it would take to put it all together.

The castle was a part of a book, Build! a Knight's Castle:  A Paper Toy Archaeology by Annalie Seamon, published by Storey Publishing.  Earlier in the fall, I reviewed Storey's book for children wanting to be a pet doctor.  That book was very easy for my kids to use and assemble.  But, a castle is obviously much more complicated...

The book is rated for ages 8 and up.  My 7 1/2 year old gave up very quickly.  My 10 year old successfully pushed in the tabs on several pieces--and I actually learned a thing or two from her.  But, she didn't have the patience to see it through.  So, I helped my 7 1/2 year old to put together parts of it.  I think the book would be best for a 9 or 10 year old with help as needed.

For the boy who loves David Macaulay's book Castle and other detailed books about medieval times, this would be a fun book.  The book comes from a different point of view since it is looking at the castle from an archaeologist's perspective.  My son read the information about the castle with great interest.  I liked that the author explains the conclusions and gives the support for the archaelogical conclusions you can make about the past based on what remains.

The pieces of the castle all punch out very easily.  With this, I was very pleased.  What I wished for, though was a clearer list of how to fit the pieces together.  I think it was the author's intention that kids would work as an archaeologist might and figure out how the pieces fit together.  But, it would have been nice to have a cheat sheet for parents to give the child clues or an inserted sheet in the back with a decoder or something like that for when the child needs help.

If you have a child who regularly likes to put together paper projects like this or loves castles, then I can imagine he/she would enjoy this book.  My children are unfortunately not as patient as I thought they were.  My son can build enormous lego sets, but paper is a different matter.  I learned that from this book.

Please note that I did receive a complimentary copy of this book for review from Storey Publishing.

Hamburgers!

Yippee!  We just finished dinner and it was a success!  When I was growing up, my mom often made hamburgers for dinner and I loved them.  But, I've never been able to make hamburgers as an adult that I just loved--until tonight.

My husband and I were talking the other day about how I should try and figure out how to make them well at home because I've been very disappointed with the hamburgers that we've had out lately (except for 5 Guys Burgers and Fries).  So, tonight I set out to do that.  I looked up "how to make great hamburgers on the stove" and found several great tips on a few sites.  Here's the sum of those directions that worked for me.

#1  Use a cast iron pan and heat it up first.  Cast iron can heat up dry, so it's okay to turn on the pan before you start cooking.  Then, put a tablespoon or two in the pan and let it heat until it shimmers.

#2  Form your patties loosely.  I'd always formed them pretty tightly before. 3/4" thick was what I read was best.  Season lightly with salt and pepper or we use Montreal Steak/Hamburger seasoning.

#3  Cook the patties for 4 minutes on a side.  Don't flip.  Don't check.  4 minutes on the first side, then flip over.  After 3 minutes, put a small pad of butter on the burgers and put a piece of cheese on top.  Cover for the last minute with a lid.  If you aren't putting cheese on them, just let them cook for 4 minutes without covering and then remove from the pan to serve.

#4  Don't cook more than 2 or 3 burgers at a time in your pan.  I know I used to crowd the pan with 4 or 5 burgers at one time.  Not any more!

I only used 80/20 hamburger, not even sirloin or 90/10.  My family loved them!  I loved them, too.  I also loved that it only took me 30 minutes to get dinner on the table--which is a record for me.  I served the burgers with lettuce, buns, pickles, and condiments.  On the side, I served steamed asparagus drizzled with olive oil and sea salt.

I'm so excited to have actually made dinner in 30 minutes tonight and that my family loved it!

Additional notes:
1.  Using the Hamburger Montreal Seasoning helps a lot.
2.  DON'T use preformed patties.  They won't cook through in time.  In fact, they'll be totally red in side!  One of the keys is to have a loosely formed patty from fully defrosted ground beef.

Pumpkin Soup Recipe

When I made my menu for the month on Sunday, I decided that every Wednesday would be "Soup Day".  I didn't decide what soups I was going to make, though.  Tonight, I looked on my counter and saw a cooking pumpkin and decided I would make a pumpkin soup.  I looked through my cookbooks for ideas and found one in a Moosewood cookbook.  I started from there and then made my own.  I changed it so much that the method and ingredients are very different.  Here's the recipe I came up with (my whole family really liked it--even my pickiest eater):

Middle Eastern Pumpkin Soup

2 cups diced onions

2 Tbsp. Olive oil

1 cup peeled and sliced carrots

2 ½ cups chopped pumpkin (½” chunks)

1 ½ tsp salt

2 ½ cups chicken broth

1 ¼ cups apple juice

¼ cup tomato sauce

¼ cup water

1 tsp cumin

½ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp paprika

1-2 cups diced cooked chicken (I used some from 2 leftover chicken thighs that I cooked on Sunday)

Directions:

1. Dice onions and saute in olive oil.
2. Begin chopping carrots. When they are chopped, add to the onions. Then, peel and cut the fresh pumpkin (or butternut squash) into small cubes (1/2”) and add to the onions. Saute for a few more minutes.
3. Add liquids and spices.  Cook over medium heat.  
4. Simmer for 15 minutes and then check vegetables for softness. Continue cooking until vegetables are soft, but not mushy.  Then, put 2 cups of soup in blender and puree. Return pureed mixture to pot and mix in.
5. Add chicken and stir till chicken is heated.
6. Optional: You can serve sour cream on the side to dollop onto the soup.

Lunch

One thing my family jokes about regularly are my forms.  There is a sense that they simultaneously chuckle about them, are thankful for them, and wonder about them!  I have forms we use for holidays, vacations, setting the table, planning birthday parties, cleaning the house, and even a form to help the kids know what to put in their lunches when they pack them.

This year we joined a homeschool co-op, so once a week my kids and I pack up our lunches and head to "school".  I'm teaching a middle school writing class and tutoring reading.  My Thursday mornings are filled with preparations to teach.  It's been interesting to watch my kids and I get used to this new part of our routine.  My kids are responsible for packing their backpacks and getting their lunches made.

A normal part of our routine at home is for the kids to make their own lunches.  When I ran out of time the first week before class, I asked my kids to make their own lunches and--one for me.  I quickly wrote down on a piece of paper what to put in each lunch.  They did just what I asked.  The next week I typed up what I'd written the week before and laminated it.  Now, they pull out the list each week to make their lunches.

Here's the list I typed up...

Making Lunches:

1. Juice Box or Capri Sun
2. Sandwich
3. Fruit
4. 2 cookies
5. Napkin
6. Snack: string cheese, granola bar, pretzels, etc....

I know it probably seems funny to have such a simple list typed up, but lists do help me and my kids. I'm thankful for them.  My forms and lists will probably be one of those things that my kids laugh and smile about when they are grown adults raising their own kids!

Fun and Artistic Cookbook

Every once in a while, I come across a cookbook that is unique.  That's the case of a new cookbook Storey is publishing by Lauren K Stein, illustrated by Katie Eberts.  Fresh Made Simple is actually full of simple recipes.  Most "simple" recipe cookbooks aren't actually simple.  But, this one is.

Lauren and Katie worked together to create a fun and artistic cookbook.  Each recipe uses five ingredients or less.  Directions are as simple as can be.  The only direction I actually disagreed with was the one for carmelized onions.  The authors wrote that you should cook them low and slow--they didn't happen to mention that you have to cook them low and slow for a very long time.  But, other than that, I agreed with the recipes and thought they were all well written and drawn.

The recipes cover breakfast, lunch, salads, spreads, simple dress-ups for desserts, and drinks.  I loved the two cheese plate pairings!  I never know what fruits and accompaniments to put with cheeses.  What I loved most, though, about this cookbook is that it straddles a tricky line.  Most gourmet cookbooks that are appealing use expensive ingredients.  This cookbook, on the other hand, used a lot of normal ingredients and just a few unusual cheeses for some of the recipes.  Most of these ingredients regularly inhabit space in my kitchen.  

On Amazon, you can see a preview of this cookbook and I'd recommend you go check it out.  It's fun to look at it.  Katie Eberts' artwork is creative, energetic, and visually appealing.

In honor of their cookbook, I made an attempt (see below) to illustrate my favorite avocado sandwich.  I find that trying to imitate art is one of the best way to appreciate art more and my attempt definitely made me appreciate this cookbook!  

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook for review from Storey Publishing.

Tackling my house... and my life.

This school year has been full of adjustments for my kids and for me.  We joined a homeschool co-op for the first time in five years and so we go one day a week to meet with other parents and students for classes.  I'm teaching a class to middle schoolers on writing.  On another day of the week, my kids and I head over to a friend's house for French lessons and then to another mom's house for flute lessons.

One of the things that has complicated our co-op day is getting home, getting food into stomachs, heading to Violin lessons, then back home to pick up more children, and then on to soccer practice.  But, this past week, my son asked to quit violin and just keep up with piano lessons.  My husband agreed and so I get to return his violin today to where we have been renting it from.

Amidst getting used to a new school schedule and roster of activities, I decided to clean my house.  When my kids were little, I used to do this every year and go room by room.  I haven't done the deep cleaning in my house for two to three years.  I felt it was time.  So, three weeks ago, I started cleaning, going room by room.  The smaller rooms were easier to tackle.  Many years ago, I had a friend tell me about how Larry Burkett advised paying off debt--to start with the smallest debts first so that you would feel as if you'd accomplished something.  This is the same way I start tackling my house--by starting with the smallest bathroom.

Last week it was time to clean my kitchen.  It took me a whole week.  I have open cupboards.  Many people comment about them when they come to visit and ask if I like them.  In truth, I do.  I love them.  But, there is a downside to having open cupboards.  They get very dusty over time and everything has to be taken out once a year, shelves have to be dusted and cleaned, and then everything is reorganized and put back in place.  Amidst tackling school and normal life, my kitchen took me a whole week to clean.  I wasn't finished until Saturday morning when I tackled my range hood and stove.  Every time I clean out my kitchen I ask myself what I need and don't need.  Then, I purge and pass things on.  It helps.  This time I finally moved the spice rack from one wall to the opposite long wall and swapped it with our wall clock.  My whole family is thrilled with the results.  After almost 4 years in this house, my kids can finally sit down at the kitchen table without knocking their heads on the rack.

Cleaning tips from my kitchen that have helped me...
+ I have organized my pantry with many shoebox sized plastic bins to help keep things in place.  When I need cake decorations or snacks or trail mix, I can go to the right box, instead of having things falling all over the shelves.  I like the shoebox sized bins because they're cheap at around a $1 each.
+ We have a stainless hood and stove.  I use baking soda and a damp rag (a regular dishrag) to clean the inside and outside of the hood.  Baking Soda is the only thing I've found that can easily cut through the grease.  Once all the grease is gone, I can use my Norwex green and purple cloths to clean and polish it.
+ Going through my pantry is helpful because it reminds me of what I really use and don't use.  I find each time I purge, I have to throw away a few food items that I thought I would use, but never did.  This time I was very thankful for the reminder and kept it on the forefront of my mind when I went to the grocery store the next day.

This week, my homeschool room and the basement remain.  A friend once told me about the Fly Lady.  The advice she took from the site was to start with her kitchen counters.  The Fly Lady advises to declutter for 15 minutes a day.  That's how I am with cleaning my hardest rooms.  Every day, I do something.  This morning, I swept the basement.  Later this morning, I'm going to begin tackling the clothes area and sorting the homeschool books I banished to the basement a month ago.

But, before I can tackle more of my basement, I need to head to the dreaded dentist and get some schooling done ;)  Little by little, I'll get there... the blessing is that my house feels more organized again and it feels a little lighter!

The List for the Day

One of my struggles with my family is getting them to put things away.  I'm one of those people who picks things up and then puts them away in their spot--most of the time.  I think I have to go through my kitchen corner and school desk every other week or so and regroup, sort, and take care of what's there.  But, I put my shoes away and hang up my coats.  

My family, though, often doesn't.  I do a lot of reminding and asking for children to come put their things away.  Every trip from the car to the house involves bringing something back.  I realize that somewhere along the way, I learned to do this.  I'm not sure exactly when.  As I stood near some moms during VBS this summer, one mom was talking with another about her son never remembers to put anything away.  So, I knew it wasn't just my kids with this struggle.  

In her new book, Taming the To-Do List: How to Choose Your Best Work Every Day, Glynnis Whitwer talks about this struggle to take 3 more steps to put something away.  She goes into detail about talking one thing at a time.  For her, it started with her bathrobe.  She goes on to explain how that applies to us and how to tackle the things we don't have the energy for.  I liked Ms. Whitwer's tone in her book.  It wasn't critical or harsh like one book I read about organization a few years ago.

There are many things that I agree with in this new book from Bethany House Publishing.  For example, on pg. 69, she says, "A wise and loving parent trains children to do things they don't feel like doing, such as get along with siblings, clean up after themselves, and do their homework.  Very few children are born with the motivation to act in selfless ways...By teaching them responsibility, we raise children to be mature adults.  We train them to do the right thing, and hopefully the benefits are positive enough to reinforce the behavior.  Perhaps we need to return to this model of training for ourselves in order to do what's right in spite of how we feel."  It's hard to choose to do what we don't want to do in a culture that constantly tells us that we should always be able to do what we want to do.  

This quote brings to mind the Life is Good shirts in my drawer.  I like the clothing of this company because of the optimistic and fun sayings on the shirts, but I've always twisted the company's slogan in my mind.  The slogan is: "Do what you love.  Love what you do."  Instead of focusing on the idea that we should all do what we love to do and then you'll love what you do, I've always taken this to remind me of Ecclesiastes 3:13: "also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."   To enjoy our work and food is a gift from God.  I think it isn't so much about getting to do what we want to do--but enjoying what God gives us to do.  

Ms. Whitwer's book is for someone who really wants to dig in and focus in on getting their to do lists done, but is struggling to get them done.  Her book is very matter of fact, yet not condemning or critical.  She speaks from her own experience (which I think is always important in this type of book).  If you're looking for a book on this subject, this might be one that would encourage you.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Bethany House Publishers.