Archive for June, 2008

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Persuasion

Monday, June 30th, 2008

Persuading your children to eat fruits and vegetables may be easier than you think.  I have found that it is all in the presentation.  Children, as well as adults, enjoy beautifully arranged fare.

If I instruct my sons and daughters to serve themselves a snack,  they might choose an apple out of the refrigerator.  However, the likely scenario is that they will choose something altogether less healthful.  I can guarantee that they will not cut up and serve a cantaloupe or trim and steam broccoli.  I could instruct them to help themselves to carrots in the vegetable bin and they probably would comply before moving on to something they deem more interesting.  If, I instead, serve them a bowl of carrots accompanied with a terrific dip,  they will be far more enthusiastic about enjoying this snack.

Now, if I arrange fresh fruit or vegetables in a lovely manner on a platter,  my children will enthusiastically relish this treat. Fresh strawberries washed and trimmed can be placed in the center of a round platter.  Then encircle the strawberries with cantaloupe cut up into bite-size pieces.  This is a simple, beautiful and tasty arrangement.  You might tuck in mint leaves for extra color and texture.

Carrots, celery, and peppers in variety of colors can be a terrific treat when they are washed, cut-up and artfully displayed on a tray.  Serve them with a light dressing and they will always be a hit.

One of my children’s favorite vegetable dishes is a broccoli pepper medley.  My seven year-old daughter does not particularly like broccoli.  However, when I serve her this lovely mixture she always savors it.

So, aim for beauty  when you are preparing and serving fruits and vegetables to your family.

Broccoli and Pepper Medley

3 pounds broccoli, washed and trimmed into 1- to 2- inch pieces

4 peppers, preferably red, yellow, green and orange

1 medium onion, sliced very thin

red pepper flakes

1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Butter a 4 quart casserole dish.  Steam the broccoli for 1 to 2 minutes.  The broccoli is best when it is still firm.  Overcooking will harm the integrity of this dish.  Wash and slice the peppers into thin strips.  Place the broccoli in the bottom of the casserole, covering it completely.  Toss the peppers and onions over the broccoli.  Now, sprinkle the red pepper flakes over the vegetables.  Finally, cover the dish with the grated cheese.  Broil for 1 – 2 minutes.  The cheese should be golden brown but not burned so watch it carefully.

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” -J. R. R. Tolkien

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20,000 Leagues Under Boxes

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

Now that summer is upon us, many find themselves either planning or in the midst of a move.  As disconcerting and disruptive as this may be, moving can be an uplifting experience.  The act of moving your household has obvious and hidden benefits: a change of scenery, a new home,  new relationships, and a fresh start.

First, you must overcome the mental obstacle of packing every material possession you and your family have collected for the last umpteen years.  This is where you must make the decision to “clean house”.  Do not miss this fabulous opportunity to pare down your possessions.  Relentlessly attack every room, closet, cupboard and garage.  Make an effort to  rid your family of items that you know you will never miss (and even a few that you might miss momentarily!).  This should be a family project.  It will be painful and yet, in the end,  quite beneficial.

Now, you can begin the packing process.

Gather the nescessary materials:

  • Boxes – I  prefer to use actual packing boxes as opposed to banana boxes from the grocery store.  They seal appropriately and stack in an efficient manner.  Moving companies sell used boxes at a  discount.  Check with friends;  they just might be storing boxes in their atic.
  • Packing material - I do not like to use printed newspaper, as the print has a messy component to it.  You can purchase used packing materials at moving companies.  I utilize towels and sheets to wrap and cushion large breakable items such as lamps, pictures and mirrors.
  • Tape – Utilize high-quality tape and a tape runner, both of which can be purchased at Sam’s Club.  Do not over-tape your boxes.  This is wasteful and unnecessary if you are using proper packaging tape.
  • Pad of paper – You need to maintain a list of the boxes’ items.  This is a little time consuming on the packing end, but it will save you time when you are unpacking or when you need something that you packed too early.
  • Permanent Marker – Number your boxes and label each box with a short description of its contents.  You may simply note the room it came from, i.e. “kitchen”.

Once you actually begin to pack your belongings, try to stay focused and organized.  Pack those rooms and items that are least necessary for your immediate needs first.

Use an efficient labeling system.  As you number your boxes, immediately write the number on a tablet.  Then, keep a list of the contents of each box (next to each box number) on the tablet as well.  You can not be too detailed here. Note specific items, i.e., “knife sharpener,” “measuring cups,” “mixer parts,” “children’s markers,” etc.  In the end, you will have a wonderful account of the contents of your house.  The time you spend here will be saved many times over when you unpack.

Clean the home you are leaving as you pack.   Remember, as you do this,  your home is a reflection of your family.  The new owners/tenents will experience you and your family through your home.  Take a little extra time and effort to leave a clean and lovely home for the new residents.  This is a great example for your children.

This can be a stressful period in your family’s lives.  Remember to keep everything in perspective.  It is only temporary.  There are many blessings to be found in adversity.  Memories will be made and you will look upon this time fondly at some point. Also, keep in mind that your children mirror your behavior and attitudes.  If you have a positive and thankful outlook on your situation, so will your children.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ” – II Corinthians 4:16-17

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Color My World

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

Children enjoy painting.  They love paint brushes and painting accessories.   My little ones look forward to donning aprons or large t-shirts (which we have always used to protect clothes during their painting activities). They relish blending the colors and the final transfer of the paint to their paper as their imaginations run wild.  Children even savor the feel of the paint all over their hands while finger-painting.

In order to make this activity more convenient, you need to keep the proper tools on hand.  I am not a fan of the small tins of paints.  Yes, they usually do contain a nice variety of colors all packaged together in a convenient container.  However, the quality of the paint is poor and is difficult to use.  The water children use to wet their paint usually muddies easily and then the paint colors run together in the tin.

I prefer to purchase large bottles of washable tempera paint in a variety of colors.  When my children are ready to paint,  I pour reasonable amounts of the individual colors into small containers (such as empty egg cartons) and I assign a paint brush to each color.  The only catch is that a child might have to wait a moment for a particular color.  This is a nice lesson in sharing!

Keep high-quality, heavy duty brushes on hand.  50-pound paper is also a great product for your children to work with.  Utilizing quality products will certainly enhance your children’s painting experience.  Lakeshore Learning offers all of these products at reasonable prices.  You can order equipment from their website or find a store near you.

Children love to paint.  Yes, it’s a little messy. However, the experience is worth it!

“There is no royal road to learning; no short cut to the acquirement of any art.” -Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers

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As American As Apple Pie

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

Today  is the first day of  summer bringing thoughts of picnics, boating, biking….days filled with sunshine.  Preparations are underway for state and county fairs.  Families are gathering for reunions and everyone is ready for our Independence Day celebrations on the Fourth of July.

It is a terrific time to share pie recipes.  One of my family’s favorites is traditional apple pie with a crumb topping.  I hope you enjoy it!

Apple Pie

Filling:

8 cups apples peeled and sliced very thin

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 tbl flour

Lemon juice

Place apples in large bowl. Toss with lemon juice. Mix sugar and flour together and sprinkle apples with mixture. Toss until covered. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Cover with crumb topping. Bake at 375 for 55-60 minute until golden brown. (Confirm that oven registers correctly.) Cover edges of pastry with foil to prevent overbrowning.  I usually bake  the pie on a foil covered cookie sheet.

Crumb topping:

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

4 tbsp butter

Cut butter into small cubes. Mix sugar and flour. Cut butter into sugar and flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (I suggest using a pastry cutter).

“A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril.” -Winston Churchill

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Fair Vanity

Friday, June 20th, 2008

Girls love to accessorize.   From an early age you can see that they are hard-wired to enjoy jewelry, shoes, purses, and makeup.  What little girl doesn’t enjoy playing dress-up to some degree?  As they get a little older, they become more concerned with what they are wearing.  Then, as they move into the double digit years, they begin to take interest in lip-gloss and powder.  It just progresses from there.

We are blessed with four daughters.  They enjoy accessories, clothes and makeup.  One is so young that she is just in the playing stage.  I think it is delightful that they are concerned about their appearance.   I have used this as a spring board to train our daughters about proper hygiene and manners.  After all, how can one begin to wear makeup and beautiful jewelry if they do not understand the importance and function  of soap, water, shampoo and toothpaste?

I have found that girls need training in the area of personal hygiene up into their early teen years.  Girls between the ages of 9 and 13 really struggle in this area.  They are beginning to care for their own personal needs. However, they often require more specific instructions and follow-up than one might think.

Make certain your daughter is washing her hair correctly.  Does her hair shine and look healthy?  I have washed my daughter’s hair in the sink when I found that she needed additional instruction in this area.  It was fun.  She felt like she was at a salon as well as having a lesson.  Consider similar situations that would allow you to encourage and train your daughter.

More importantly,  we have instilled in our daughters the importance of outward beauty and accessories being a reflection of their heart.  If one is sullen, angry, unhappy or bitter, there isn’t any amount of makeup or jewelry that will cover up these attitudes.  Whatever is on the outside must be an indication of what is on the inside.  Teach your daughters to accessorize their hearts first.

“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” – Prov. 31:30

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My Rembrandts

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

I thoroughly enjoy visiting art museums.  My children have been towed along since their earliest days as I trekked through the latest exhibit.  This usually occurs while my husband is attending a meeting or, possibly, participating in a recreational activity.  He does not share this passion of mine but he kindly tolerates it.

The interesting point of all this is that I know little, if anything, about art.  Oh, I had the typical art appreciation course in college.  I can tell an Impressionist painting from the work during the Renaissance.  But that is about it.  I just happen to love looking at lovely works of art.

The walls of our home are also graced by beautiful pictures and paintings.  The artists and subjects, however, are usually family members.

I have framed and matted my children’s art work; family photos, including ancestors; photographs of  meaningful objects, scenery and vistas; textiles created by my husband’s grandmother;  pressed flowers that my children gathered in our fields; and objects with a personal history.

The key to tastefully displaying your personal works of art lies in the framing.  It is important to consider dimensions as well as color when choosing your frames and mats.  I utilize online sources such as Snapfish (http://www2.snapfish.com/) to help me enlarge photos beyond what my printer will do.  These sources also have terrific cropping and editing features.  Their services are reasonably priced and their turn-around time is fast.

I have been seeking assistance from Hobby Lobby’s framing department for years.   Their framing experts are always helpful with the color choices of frames and mats.  They will patiently assist you as you try out various combinations.  I recently framed two needlepoint chaircovers that my husband’s grandmother created.  The customer service representative at Hobby Lobby not only helped me with my frame choice but gave me advice on the preservation of these lovely pieces.

The custom framing service they offer is reasonable and timely.  Hobby Lobby offers frequent sales on frames and custom matting services.  I usually purchase my frames when they are on sale and then wait until they have a sale on their framing services before I have my pieces framed.  In this way I can save on all ends and enjoy beautiful art for a reasonable cost.

Encourage your children by displaying their art work and preserve your family’s history while also adding beauty to your home.

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Say “Cheese”!

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

Cheesecake is a rich, sumptuous dessert created from cheese (usually cream, ricotta or cottage), sugar and eggs. It is found on the menus of the best restaurants.  This scrumptious treat is certain to be a favorite when served at any event, formal or informal.

It is a serious dessert with a history. Cheesecake is thought to have been served to the athletes at the first Olympic games in 776 B.C.  So, the Greeks enjoyed it and by 1000 A.D. the Romans had broadcast it throughout Europe.  Before anyone could say ”cheese”, it  was being enjoyed in North America.  Cheesecake was here to stay.

Today, one can find hundreds of terrific recipes for cheesecake: traditional, chocolate, pumpkin praline, raspberry swirl . . . the list goes on and on.  It is such an adventure to create one of these fabulous desserts.  I enjoy every inch of it:  working with the different crusts in the spring form pan;  the mixing of the eggs, cheese and special flavors; watching it bake in the water bath; and, of course,  anticipating a beautiful cake without flaws.

Cheesecake can be time-consuming to make.  This can be a road-block to making and serving a fabulous treat.  I am going to share a recipe with you for a quick, easy and delicious version of a traditional cheesecake.  It is made in a pie pan and includes a topping so you do not have to worry about the top cracking. This recipe takes less than 20 minutes to prepare, under 1 hour to bake,  and it can be served after 2 hours of chilling.  You can customize it by serving it with additional toppings like chocolate sauce or fresh strawberries.   It is a fun recipe to prepare with your children.

Express Cheesecake

3 8 oz. packages cream cheese

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 prepared crusts

Graham Cracker Crust

3 1/2 cups finely ground graham crackers

1/3 cup finely chopped nuts, preferably almond or hazelnut

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/4 cup melted butter

Mix the crackers, nuts and cinnamon together.  Blend the butter into the mixture until it is evenly incorporated.  Press into 2 glass pie dishes.  Set aside.  You can also utilize a pre-made crust if you are pressed for time.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Cream the sugar and the cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Now add the vanilla and the lemon juice, blending on medium-high speed until incorporated.  The mixture should be smooth and resemble pudding.  Pour the mixture into a prepared crust.  Bake for 40 minutes.  Remove the cheesecakes from the oven and  place immediately in the refrigerator to cool slightly while you prepare the topping.

Topping

2 cups sour cream

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and stir until well blended.  Spread the topping evenly over each cheesecake and bake for 5 additional minutes.  Now, chill the cakes for at least 2 hours.  Serve these cheesecakes alone or with your favorite garnish.

“The discovery of a new dish does more for human happiness than the discovery of a new star.” –Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

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Father’s Day

Friday, June 13th, 2008

Honor your husband Sunday as the father of your children.  Bless him with gifts.  Cook his favorite meal.  Allow him to enjoy your home and children in a peaceful setting.  Or, perhaps, send him off to enjoy his favorite sport.

Include in your gift-giving a promise to read Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s book The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands.  In my 26 years as a wife, I have read a number of both Christian and secular books on marriage.  None has so profoundly affected my personal views on this subject as Dr. Laura’s book.

This book offers wonderful suggestions and practical techniques for improving your marriage and family life. However, much more importantly,  it transformed my mindset and spirit concerning marriage, husbands and men.  She took the biblical principals that I have known for years and drove them home with vivid dialogue and real-life examples.  I laughed.  I cried.  I was convicted.

Our Fearless Leader with his crew

Now, I would like to share with you a delicious chicken recipe that I have been tweaking for years.  It is my husband’s favorite dish.  Of course, I will be serving it on Father’s Day.

Parmesan Encrusted Stuffed Chicken Breast

16 boneless, skinless trimmed chicken breasts

8 oz. butter plus16 small (1×1/2 inch)  pieces

20 oz. Italian seasoned breadcrumbs ( if you make your own generously season with garlic and oregano)

1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.  Melt 8 oz. of butter in a small skillet over low to medium heat.  Do not let the butter brown.  On a large plate, combine the breadcrumbs and the parmesan cheese.  Meanwhile, place the chicken breasts between wax paper and gently pound with a kitchen mallet until each breast is about 1/4  to 1/2 inch thick.

Now, place a piece of butter on each breast and roll up the chicken breast, tucking in the ends.  Dip the chicken in the melted butter covering it completely.  Dredge the breast in the breadcrumb mixture.  Make sure each chicken breast is generously coated with breadcrumbs.  Place each piece of chicken, side-by-side, in a large glass baking dish.

Drizzle the remaining butter over the chicken breasts, making certain to completely cover all of the chicken.  You may have to melt additional butter at this point.  Cover the chicken with foil.  Chill for at least 1/2 of an hour.  Bake for 45 minutes.  The chicken should be golden brown. Serve with  White Rice with Chardonnay and Herbs. Serves…many.

“Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!” – Lydia Maria Child

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Home On The Range

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

Children’s education is always on my heart.  We have been homeschooling our children for about 15 years now.  More than ever, I realize that most mothers play a vital role in their children’s education.  Many homeschool their children full-time as I do.  Even more spend countless hours with their children in the evenings after they return home from their public or private schools.

Home education begins by maintaining terrific reading material for all ages.  Tap into your local library.  Take advantage of the available resources that list age-appropriate books.  I will begin to share my favorite children’s books as time goes on.

If you choose to formally educate your children at home, you must decide how to tackle the subject matter.  The curriculum choices are wide and varied.  It is necessary to plan ahead in order to not become overwhelmed with your options.

Plan your course of action and then choose your curriculum to match your needs.  I cannot stress enough the importance of this point.  Your family is unique and has special needs and desires concerning the education of your children.  Discuss these with your husband.  Write down your educational plans and goals for your family. Then, choose your curriculum.

The unpleasant alternative to this is perusing and purchasing wild amounts of curriculum and subject matter, much of which you will never actually utilize.  I have experienced this first-hand on a small scale and I have witnessed it countless times.  The available curriculum choices can actually paralyze your ability to homeschool.  Be wise, be thoughtful, be careful, be selective.

I customize my curriculum every year to  match my child’s academic, social and emotional needs. I also take into account my husband’s and family’s general schedule and needs for the upcoming year.  If I find myself looking forward to a stressful year full of time constraints etc., I will streamline my curriculum accordingly.  I have even  taken this step mid-year.

I will now share the subjects, by grade level, and some of the accompanying texts that I utilized for the 2007-2008 school year.  By no means is this list exhaustive, my favorites, nor a panacea for homeschooling success.  It just happened to work for us this past year.

Pre-K:

  1. Circle Time:  Including games, songs and stories
  2. Math prep
  3. Reading prep
  4. Penmanship
  5. Music prep
  6. Art (lots of art!)

Kindergarten

  1. Circle Time
  2. Math
  3. Phonics
  4. Reading
  5. Spelling
  6. Penmanship
  7. Piano
  8. Physical Education
  9. Art

1st Grade

  1. Circle Time
  2. Math
  3. Phonics
  4. Language
  5. Reading
  6. Spelling
  7. Penmanship
  8. Piano
  9. Physical Education
  10. Art

In the lower elementary grades I may not cover every subject every day.  Our children do begin formal piano  studies in Kindergarten or 1st grade.  My primary textbooks in these early years are from Abeka.  I prefer A Reason For Handwriting for penmanship. We love circle time and art.  We leave plenty of time in our day for just playing.

5th Grade

  1. Math – Abeka
  2. Language – Abeka
  3. History – Christian Liberty
  4. Science – Abeka
  5. Spelling – Christian Liberty
  6. Writing -Alethea Academy (on-line)
  7. Literature -Alethea Academy (on-line)
  8. Penmanship – A Reason For Handwriting
  9. Piano
  10. Reading Comprehension – Abeka
  11. Physical Education – Tennis and Golf
  12. Bible

8th Grade

  1. Math – Saxon 1/2 Pre-Algebra
  2. Language – Abeka
  3. History – Sonlight
  4. Science – Abeka
  5. Spelling – Christian Liberty
  6. Writing -Alethea Academy (on-line)
  7. Literature -Alethea Academy (on-line) and Sonlight
  8. Piano
  9. Latin – Schola Tutorials (on-line)
  10. Physical Education – Tennis and Golf
  11. Bible

9th Grade

  1. Math – Saxon Algebra 1
  2. Language – Abeka
  3. History -World Geography - Abeka (began Bob Jones World History)
  4. Latin-Schola Tutorials (on-line)
  5. Biology – Abeka
  6. Writing -Alethea Academy (on-line)
  7. Literature -Alethea Academy (on-line) and Abeka
  8. Piano
  9. Physical Education – Tennis and Golf
  10. Bible

11th Grade

  1. Math – Teaching Textbooks Algebra II
  2. Language and Writing included in English Literature
  3. History -World History, Bob Jones
  4. Latin- Scholars OnLine Academy (on-line)
  5. Chemistry - Apologia
  6. Literature - English Literature (prepares  student for the AP English Literature exam)
  7. Physical Education – Tennis and Golf
  8. Piano
  9. Bible

I hope this is helpful.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I would love to hear how you all work with your children.

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” – Prov. 1:8

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Woof And Warp

Monday, June 9th, 2008

I enjoy painting the interior of my home.  I have frequently painted my walls  in order to create a fresh, clean environment.  I don’t actually decorate with  paint colors.  Instead,  I utilize a neutral palette of colors ranging from white to taupe to create a backdrop for decorating.  Yellow, in certain shades, can work as a neutral starting point as well.   This can even be accomplished with a faux finish. Then, once I have an achromatic environment, I can begin to decorate.

Fabric is my favorite decorating medium.  It quickly takes the neutral room you created and adds color, warmth and character.  First, choose two or three coordinating fabrics.  Then, cover a few pillows and chair seats, adding trims and embellishments.  Make tablecloths, runners and napkins. Put together some very simple window valances. Before the morning is over, you will have transformed a room.

Tablecloths and napkins are easily made by simply hemming the appropriate sized fabric.  A napkin should be a minimum of 18″x18″ when finished.  Calculate the size of the tablecloth that you need and add the appropriate allowance for hemming.

Runners allow for creativity in mixing coordinating fabrics and trims.  They can be used with an existing tablecloth or stand alone on a buffet to add color and texture.

Pillow covers are a terrific way to brighten up a room.  In order to make the simplest 18″x18″ pillow cover, begin with two 19″x19″ pieces of fabric.  With the right sides together, sew the sides closed, leaving 2/3 of one side open.  Use the opening to turn the pillow cover right side out.  Insert an 18″x18″ pillow form into the opening and sew it closed.

Once you have the simplest pillow cover mastered, you can begin to embellish your creations with cording and beading.  Mix your fabrics on one pillow.  Add envelope closures, ties and tassels.  I collect trims  when I find sales on these items.  These embellishments help to create lovely home decorating items.  However, they can be pricey so stock up when you find a great buy.

Small projects are easily tackled. Take one room at a time and make your home beautiful.

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;  through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” — Proverbs 24:3-4

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