A is for Apple

Hope is turning 4 on Septmeber 15th.  For her to attend Kindergarten at HOPAC, she must be 5 years old by the start of the school year. Next year she will miss that cutoff by 2-3 weeks. Therefore, she not only has this year home with me, but next year also.

 

I want my daughter to love learning. I want her to be engaged. I want her to love books and being creative and enjoy music and activity. I am not naturally a 'pinterest' mom, nor am I a teacher. I don't love or have a passion for crafts and creating fun things for my kids. I used to adore when Hope's speech therapist came over with all kinds of fun activities and let all of my kids engage - at least my kids were getting it somewhere! :) So this is a bit of stretch for me, but I'm feeling called to attempt a little bit of "mommy school" with Hope this year. I'm trying to really be intentional in these precious years I have home with my kids.

 

I'll document a bit of what I do, hopefully regularly, on this blog. It's mainly a way to keep track of different links I use and if it goes well, to reference it if/when I need to for Geneva. Feel free to send me ideas, links, blogs, etc.

 

At this point I'll plan a 'theme' and just see how long it takes to get through it. We're not going to direct our lives around having a regular 'school time' so it may take a few weeks just to get through the letter A.

 

For our Bible stories, I'll be using the JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE

A is for Apple

 

Printable color page: HERE

 

Bible: Read the creation account "The Beginning: a perfect home" -  GOD AS CREATOR.

 

Craft: coffee filter apples: HERE

Activity: make applesauce (incorporate counting/measuring)

Counting: counting activity - we will probably use beans, as those are always in my pantry

Sensory: I think I'll attempt a sensory bin. It will likely include various dried beans as the base and perhaps small laminated apples and both upper and lower case "A"s. I don't have a great Hobby Lobby near by to pick up cute other apple accessories. I'll throw in a few small plastic cups for sorting and maybe a sand shovel. Hope's not ready to start identifying 'things that start with A", thought that would work in a sensory bin for older kids.

Outside Play: I'm going to write in sidewalk chalk all the letters of the alphabet, with multiples of  both lower and upper case A. We'll try different activities - have her find and circle all the A's, jump from one A to the next, and probably a connect - the - dot type activity (so when I space out the A's, I'll make them in the shape of an apple)

Book: Check out the HOPAC library for a book on apples!

The Story of the Apple Star: HERE

Music:

Sing to the tune: I'm a Little Teapot I'm a little apple, short and round, I make a munchy, crunchy sound, If you bite into me you will see - I'm delicious as can be!

Apples (sung to tune of "Are you Sleeping?") Picking apples picking apples one by one one by one Put them in a basket Put them in a basket Oh what fun! Oh what fun!


Apples, Apples 
(Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle") Apples juicy, apples round, On the tree or on the ground. Apples yellow, apples red, Apple pie and juice and bread! Apples crunchy, apples sweet, Apples are so good to eat!

http://www.alphabet-soup.net/dir2/applesong.html

Almond Poppeyseed Bread

Almond Poppyseed Bread

Bread:

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3 eggs

1 1/8 cups cooking oil

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 T. poppy seeds

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring extract (or 1 1/2 tsp melted butter can be substituted)

Glaze:

1/4 cup orange juice

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp butter flavor extract (or 1 1/2 tsp melted butter can be substituted)

Instructions:
For the bread: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients together. Pour into greased and floured baking pans. Makes 6 small loaves or 2 large loaves. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes for large pans and less for smaller pans. If you have a dark metal pan make sure to bake it for less time at a lower temperature. I overdid this batch a little bit because I used a dark pan. I like the disposable foil bread pans the best.

For the Glaze:

Pour all ingredients into a small saucepan and let cook on stove on medium heat until sugar dissolves. Remove bread from pans and pour glaze over warm bread. Use knife or spatula to bring the glaze that has run off up and over the warm bread until it stays on.

More recipes

Posting a few more recipes that are 'easy' to do here in TZ. Kind of for my own reference, but hope you'll enjoy them too! Let me know if you try any of them!

Chili Recipe that Marc really loved: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/simple-perfect-chili-recipe/index.html

Quinoa Cheddar Bake: A variation of the chicken/rice/broccoli bake. I left the chicken out & it was yummy: http://thescrumptiouspumpkin.com/2013/03/28/easy-quinoa-cheddar-bake-with-chicken-and-broccoli/

Tortillas. So many recipes. So many attempts at making them round. Here's Marc's fav from all I've tried so far: http://thehippyhome.blogspot.com/2012/06/homemade-flour-tortillas-without-lard.html

Making cakes from scratch. I've only tried a few recipes. This is good cake - didn't make the frosting listed, but will likely try it next cake baking time: http://sweetapolita.com/2011/07/fluffy-vanilla-cake-with-whipped-vanilla-bean-frosting/

Homemade Mac & Cheese. No Kraft around here - gotta make the real stuff: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/04/macaroni-cheese/

Meal Plan for this week

Wednesday, September 4

Sausage Smothered White Beans

1/2 lb. dry white beans, soaked overnight

1 T. oil

1 lb. smoked sausage, quartered and sliced

1 large yellow onion, diced

1/3 c. green pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 T. cumin

1 t. black pepper

1/4 t. cayenne pepper

1/4 c. green onion, sliced - haven't found yet!

1 1/2 t. salt

 

Heat oil in a large pot. Add sausage and cook 3 - 4 minutes. Add onion,

green pepper and garlic. Cook 5 more minutes.

Stir in beans, cumin, and peppers. Add water just to cover. Bring to a boil,

reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer for at least 2 to 3 hours, until

beans are tender and creamy.

Just before serving, stir in green onions and salt.

NOTE - If you want to make this a vegetarian meal, omit the sausage and

serve the beans over brown rice.

 

Thursday, September 5

Beef & Tomato Bake, Side: carrots & peas

1-lb. ground beef(or 1lb. cooked lentils)

1 lb. rotini

1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes, undrained

2 tsp. Italian seasonings

½ c. each Mozzarella and cheddar cheese for topping

¼ c. each Bread crumbs and grated Parmesan for topping

Brown ground beef with 2 tsp. Italian seasoning. Drain. Add can of diced

tomatoes, undrained, and 2 tsp. basil. Let simmer uncovered for about 20

minutes until liquid is evaporated.

Meanwhile cook pasta, drain, and set aside.

Mix together meat and pasta and spread in 9×13 baking dish. Top with

mozzarella and cheddar cheese, bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese.

Ground beef can be substituted with lentils.

Friday, September 6

Grilled Pork Chops, sides: mashed potatoes, roasted veggies

4 – 6 Pork chops

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 c. honey

½ c. soy sauce

Sprinkle salt and pepper on pork chops. Place in a glass dish. In a small

bowl, combine honey and soy sauce. Pour over pork chops and marinate at

least one hour. Grill about 5 minutes per side, or until done. Or bake at 350

degrees for 30-35 minutes.

For the barbecue sauce:

1 1/2 c. ketchup

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 t. each – allspice, crushed red pepper flakes, pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder

Add everything to a small bowl and stir until combined. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes

before using to allow the flavors to blend.

Saturday, September 7

BBQ Biscuit Cups, side: green beans

Yields: 1 dozen

1 ½ c. flour

2 t. salt

1 T. baking powder

¼ c. butter or margarine, cut into small pieces

¼ - ½ c. milk

1 lb. Ground beef, fully cooked and drained or 2 c. fully cooked kidney beans

or lentils

1 c. barbecue sauce

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

In a bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in butter or margarine

until crumbly. Slowly add milk, starting with just ¼ cup and adding more as

needed, to form a smooth but not sticky dough. Roll out dough and cut into

12 circles. Press into muffin tins.

Combine cooked ground beef with barbecue sauce. Scoop into biscuit lined

muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven,

cover each cup with some shredded cheese and return to oven until cheese

melts, about 3-5 minutes.

 

For the barbecue sauce:

1 1/2 c. ketchup

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 t. each – allspice, crushed red pepper flakes, pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder

Add everything to a small bowl and stir until combined. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes

before using to allow the flavors to blend.

 

KITCHEN TIP – These freeze really well. You can freeze any leftover or make

a double batch. Freeze in plastic freezer bags. To reheat, bake from frozen

at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, until heated through.

 

Recipes

I've had to try many new recipes here, as I'm cooking everything from scratch and there are different things available here than back home. I thought I'd post a few of my favorite new recipes here every so often!

Easy Foccacia Bread (Amy Medina, USA)

Mix:
* 2 cups flour
* 2 cups very warm water
* 2 t. yeast

Add:
* 2 cups flour
* 2 t. salt

Dough should still be sticky. Cover & let rise until double.

With fingers dipped in oil, spread dough onto an oiled cookie sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt, rosemary, garlic powder or Italian seasoning.

Bake at 450 F for 25-30 minutes. Cut or tear into strips and dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar or garlic butter.

Pizza Crust

Mix:
* 1 1/2 c tepid water
* 1 1/4 t yeast
* 1/2 t sugar
Leave for 10 minutes

Add:
* 1 t salt
* 2 T olive oil
* 2 1/2 c flour

Knead and continue to add one more cup of flour. Leave to rise for 1 hour. Hit it with your fist & push it down. Spread it on a greased pan. Cover with pizza sauce, cheese & toppings. Bake at 425 F for 25 minutes.

The cookbook doesn't say how much this makes, so the first time I used one batch for 1 pizza. It covered an ENTIRE cookie sheet and was probably 1-2 inches thick. It took much longer to bake, but was really yummy. The second time, after I realized how much it made, I split the batch & did two regular size circle pizzas. The crust was 'normal' thickness, and a little more crispy than the first batch. Make to your own liking!

Pizza Sauce
Fry half a chopped onion and a few cloves of garlic in 1 Tbsp of olive oil.

Add:
* 1/2 can tomato paste
* 1/2 cup water
* 1/2 t salt
* 1/4 t pepper
* 1 t oregano
* 1/4 t garlic powder
* 1/4 t thyme

Cook for about 10 minutes or more. Spread over pizza dough & top with cheese & other toppings!

Mirjam's Cappuchino Muffins (Mirjam Smits, The Netherlands)

Combine:
* 2 cups flour
* 3/4 cups sugar
* 2 1/2 t baking powder
* 1 Tbsp instand coffee powder
* 1/2 t salt
* 1 t cinnamon

Combine in another bowl:
* 1 cup milk
* 1/2 cup melted butter
* 1 egg
* 1 t vanilla

Combine all but do not over mix!

Bake in oven 10 - 15 minutes (pre-heated)

So, the cookbook says to bake 'gas over 4', which I don't know what that means. I think I had the oven between 350-400. I also added 1 Tbsp of cocoa powder, because I wasn't sure the kids would like just the coffee flavor. They turned out great and the kids (and Marc) liked them! It would be fun to add chocolate chips, but I can't find them here. :(