2 in 1

The count down for Major Dad's return has begun...I cannot even say it is a matter of a few weeks anymore.  We are down to days...less than two weeks.  Excitement is in the air!  Literally, you could cut it if you so chose.  In preparation of the occasion I asked Big Brother and Ladybug to double up some of their subjects so we could focus on gussying up the place a bit.  They agreed and finished two weeks worth school in one week for many of their subjects...see the 2 in 1 title?  I am so proud of their determination to help the cause...willingly, I might add.  So in honor I made a special dinner. 

Big Brother LOVES jalapeno poppers.  So I made some for the first time.  They are truly a work of art!  I must give credit where it is due...Pioneer Woman. 

First, a picture study.

BBQ Jalapeno Poppers from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

18 fresh jalapenos
One 8-ounce package of cream cheese
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 green onion
18 slices thing bacon, cut into halves
Barbecue Sauce
Toothpicks
Rubber Gloves for working with jalapenos

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
1.  Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise.  You will need about 18.  Try to keep the stems intact.
2.  With a spoon, scrape out the seeds and the membranes.  Unless you like the heat.
3.  In a bowl combine one 8-ounce package of cream cheese, 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese and diced green onion.  Pioneer Woman recommends 1.  I used a bit more.  It is all a matter of your personal taste.  Mix gently.
4.  Stuff each hollowed jalapeno half with the cheese mixture.
5.  Wrap 1/2 slice of bacon around each stuffed jalapeno, covering as much of the surface as you can.  Just don't stretch the bacon too tightly because it will contract as it cooks. 
6.  Brush the surface with the bacon with your favorite barbecue sauce.
7.  Secure the jalapenos with toothpicks and pop into the oven for 1 hour, or the bacon is sizzling.
8.  Fight your crew off with a stick!

We found there was a wide range of how spicy these were.  I must have been more diligent in scrapping some than others.  They were enjoyed by all.  Wooly Sheep was worried about them being too spicy, but did pick the bacon and the filling out.  Big Brother stated that this recipe would have to be handed over to his future wife when the time came.  I guess that is a thumbs up!

Of course, that was not all I served.  We made pizza from scratch.  Yes, yes...inspired by Pioneer Woman.  We have been going through her cookbook and giving it our own personal critique. 

Here is your second picture study.

Tomato-Basil Pizza from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Crust
1 teaspoon or 1/2 packet active dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt (oops, i forgot and used regular table salt.  didn't hurt it a bit)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1.  Pour 1 1/2 cups of warm water into a bowl.  Sprinkle the yeast over the water.
2.  Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl.
3.  With an electric mixer on low speed, drizzle in the olive oil until just incorporated.
4.  Gently stir the yeast/water mixture...
5.  And drizzle it into the flour/oil mixture; mix until the dough forms a ball. (You will want to use a dough hook if you have one).
6.  Drizzle olive oil into a clean bowl.  Toss the ball of dough and turn over to coat in oil.
7.  Cover the bowl with a moist kitchen towel and set in warm place for 1 to 2 hours.  *I fill my sink with hot water, put a cooling rack that fits on top and place the covered bowl on that.  The steam from the hot water is your "warm" place.  Works beautifully!
8.  To prepare the pizza, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
9.  Divide the dough in half.  Lightly drizzle olive oil on a pizza pan or rimmed baking sheet. *I had only a flat baking sheet and we did not have any issues with oil running over.  But be watchful.
10.  Using your hands, stretch the dough to the desired shape, pressing the dough into the pan with your fingers.  The thinner the better.
11.  Lay the desired toppings over the dough.  See below what we used.  Yum!Yum!

Tomato-Basil Topping

Pesto
Sliced mozzarella
Roma tomatoes
Parmesan cheese
Salt

1.  Spread the prepared pesto over the crust.  Sprinkle lightly with salt.
2.  Place a layer of slice mozzarella over the pesto.  *We may skip this layer the next time.  It was a lot of cheese.
3.  Placed sliced Roma tomatoes on top of the cheese.  *These really are the best tomatoes for this recipe.
4.  Top with more mozzarella and sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 8 to 11 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown.
ENJOY!

jenny

Four Year Old's Bathroom Musing...

Necesito ir al banco.

Yes, you read that correctly.  This is what Wooly Sheep said while getting his teeth brush this evening.  I know what you are thinking...How wonderful, your children are bilingual.  Nope.  You let your kids pick up the language by letting them watch television in Spanish.  Again, nope.  No cable.  I know. I know.  You live in a mainly Spanish speaking community and your children have picked the language up.  Yes, we do.  And, don't I wish it were that easy.  After ten years we are far from speaking much.  I am sure the more important question you are wondering is...Why does a four year old feel the need to go to the bank at 7 p.m.?  I would answer that question for you if he had known exactly what he was saying. But, alas, he had no clue.  This is what happens when you homeschool and the little ones lurk around listen to their sibling's lessons.  Gotta LOVE it!

In case you are wondering...Wooly was informed on what his new found phrase meant.  Even better, he was taught a Spanish phrase that would be of more use to him presently.  Necesito ir al bano.  (Pretend you see the tilde above the n.  I have NO clue how to go about typing that).

                                     

jenny

The 'Pioneer Woman' in Me

I know. I know.  There has not been many "school" related posts lately.  It has been happening, really.  There has been quite a bit going on in this country home in the desert lately.  Migraines and sinus pain struck me down for about three weeks.  I kept the basics going so as not to get behind.  I am still suffering with sinus pain, but the thought of my soldier returning soon....very, very soon has nesting urges twirling about along with a good dose of cooking and baking to top it off.  My reading list has been occupied with cookbooks, gardening, and preserving.  Can you see a trend?!

Today I gave these a try....

Definitely not for the calorie faint of heart!



Can I just say, Yum! Yum!  And, Thank You Pioneer Woman for the absolutely fantastic recipes!  Although my man may be a soldier instead of cowboy, I think his stomach will approve. 

jenny

An Egg Dish by Many Names

I truly believe all women have at least once in their life day dreamed of themselves in the kitchen darned in an apron, feeding their man and brood.  Although, it may come more naturally to some than others.  Many may push those images back to the far reaches of their brain believing it is a chore to be dreaded.  I will admit that I do love to cook for my family.  It is a small way that I show my love for them.  The little ones giggle when I tell them the secret ingrediant in the meals they enjoy is the love.  Come Thankgiving, they will see me go to great lengths with the love.  I make a production of massaging the butter on the turkey, talking to it as I prepare it, and thanking God for His provision.  The kiddos get a kick at the full "salon" treatment this turkey gets.  Alright, enough of my jabbering and on to the recipe
I first saw this quick breakfast idea on PBS years ago.  A cute little boy came on between cartoons and demonstrated all the ins and outs.  He called it Toad-in-a-hole, but since then, I have heard it called all sorts of names.  Here are just a few: Bird's Nest Egg (Ladybug's personal favorite title), Egg-in-a-Basket, and Chicken-in-a-Basket.  At that time I didn't have an interest in trying it, but recently I came across it in The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook and decided it would be something the older kiddos could learn to make.  I gave it a go this morning and found it to be a raving success with 3 out 4 chickadees.  The fourth liked it, but was not head over heals.  What else did I like about this dish...it was Easy Peasy.  How can a busy homeschool momma not like that?

Ingredients
sliced bread
eggs (one for each piece of bread)
butter
salt
black pepper

A.  Using a round cookie cutter or buscuit cutter, cut a hole in the bread...preferably in the center.

B.  Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons butter in your pan over medium-low heat (Pioneer Woman suggests more, but I found this to be good for our family).  Place the bread in the pan and leave it alone for approximately 1 minute.

C.  Now crack your egg into the hole.  To give full disclosure here, I cracked mine in a dish first.  Just a precaution I take to make sure the egg is edible. 

D.  Sprinke salt and pepper to taste while remembering who likes pepper and who doesn't.  Not like that is from personal experience or anything.  I'm just saying.  Cook for another minute.  Add more butter if needed.
 

E.  Flip over with a spatula.  Move the bread around the pan to soak up some of the butter.

F.  Add salt and pepper to taste on the flipped side and cook until it is at the desired doneness.

Enjoy!










I know this may be a common recipe for many, but thought it would be nice to revive an old but goodie.

Math Scrap

My Jay Bird is not easily impressed.  You gotta really know him to understand.  He is not a warm fuzzy kind of kid...never has been.  He likes his space and gives everything a criticle eye.  To some he is stand offish, but to me he is endearing in his own way.  And, when he does give a hug or kiss it has real meaning.

Anywho, back to impressing this little man.  I have been praying for witty ideas that will engage him and keep up with his speed.  Enters....Math Scrap.  I created a math journal of sorts to work on different math concepts. 

This is very informal.  After Jay Bird reads the problem I allow him to find a way to figure it out on his own.  On the page below he decided to write the number of legs next to each sticker then add them together.  No, he does not know math families this high, but did know enough to count four more legs after the eight.  It has worked out just the way I wanted...for him to problem solve.  I also want Jay Bird to understand there are different ways to approach a problem.  This problem opened us up to tally marks. 

So, how do I know he was impressed with his new book.  Well, maybe it is the fact that he had to take it with him everywhere.  Or, that when told he could do one page a day he responded with, "or maybe two each day."  Then again, it could be the fact that while driving today I overheard him explaining problems to Wooly Sheep.  It is a good thing Wooly enjoyed the lesson because he was trapped with no where to go.  I must say that the smile, which is hard to pull out of this serious boy, gave it away.

Honestly, this was a simple project.  I purchased an inexpensive spiral sketch book.  Each page was written in marker with stickers to add character and more importantly give details to the problems for the beginner word problem solver.  Eventually, I will write the problem and allow him to draw the pictures in order to figure.

Below is an assortment of pages.  Just one final note...this is not all Jay Bird does for math.  I think my favorite math time is when we are living it.  It may be while buying groceries, reading a book, on field trips.  Also, he does LOVE flashcards.  I know that will horrify some, but he gets joy out of them so I go with the flow. 

Taking it Easy

It must have been the exhaustion causing delusions of...well, i don't know exactly what, but delusions never the less.  I rolled out of bed thinking this would be a good day to take it easy...and for some it was.  Next thing I know I am peeling apples for a crock pot granola apple crisp.  Sorry, no pictures today.  My hands seemed to be filled all day long.  I could not peel fast enough for my little chickadees.  Then, the real test came.  My mommy called.  Yes, you read that right.  I was the juggling act in our little circus...peeling apples, keeping little fingers (and noses that just had to sniff the apple air) far enough away so as not to get peeled along with the apples, and the cell phone held up to my ear by the handy shoulder.  Shoulders really are a mommas extra hand...you all did know that, right?  Crock pot filled and set, lovely conversation done.  I must add that great minds do think alike...daughter making a granola apple crisp and dear mother was in the process of making apple dumplings for her man...aka: daddy. 

So, now you are thinking it is time for the school bell to ring.  Well, it did...kind of, sort of.  Ladybug was set to work on some corrections and AWANAS, the two littlest men were set to play, and Big Brother and I set ourselves to some yard work.  Who am I kidding...a TON of yard work.  I won't give you a detailed list, but lets just say that each key I press causes pain for my fingers. 

If you are thinking school was a total bust today I would have to argue with you.  Ladybug completed all her corrections without needing to be monitored.  Jay Bird and Wooly Sheep did an excellent job entertaining each other and practicing the fine art of getting along.  This is a skill that is often hard for adults so I must commend them on a fine job because I did not have to referee one argument.  Although, there was Great Dane incident.  Imagine, will you, one Jay Bird who thinks mom is in the front yard, but who is really in the back.  He opens the door to call for her.  Here is where I will add that he has been given specific instructions not to open said door and there was a window opened next to that same said door he could have looked and even called out.  Now picture that aforementioned Great Dane spots door opened with just a wee bit of a blockade to get by.  The mom, who as we have previously concluded is in the backyard, hears a loud "NO OSCAR" and knows instantly she must give chase. 

We have had these bonding moments before.  There was the Great Thanksgiving Day Race.  This is the one where Major Dad had left early to help set up and serve soldiers on base, the grandparents were still snug in bed, mom is preparing the feast, in her pj's and flip flops I might add, and the kiddos were playing.  Well, all but one little Wooly Sheep who decided to open the front door and let Oscar out for a run.  I will leave the rest to your imagination.  And yes, we live in a suburban neighborhood.  I'm sure I gave some on our street a great story they share with their loved ones or anyone with a set of ears.

Are you all waiting for a better story than the Great Thanksgiving Day Race?  Well,  you are going to be greatly disappointed.  I grabbed the leash, gave the don't step out the door lecture to Jay Bird and found our neighbor, who was finishing up his front yard renovations, calling Oscar back...and he actually listened.  "Good Boy, Oscar!"

We also had an impromptu nature study.  Earlier, I had Big Brother hang a quilt I keep draped over an antique chair on the clothesline to air out.  Later, I rotated it lengthwise so it would not touch the ground.  Before going in for the night I had him help me fold in up.  As we were lifting it from the line Ladybug's eyes grew big as she tells us of a BIG spider on the back side.  Big Brother and I take a look and she was correct.  A huge Black Widow had been resting under there.  How Big Brother or I never found ourselves in a precarious position I will never question.  I just thank our Lord for protection.

I leave you again, blessedly exhausted and thankful.
jenny

Identity Crisis

Blessedly Exhausted or Ask and Ye Shall Receive?  Which one?  Which one?  I just cannot choose...maybe it is because I am "Blessedly Exhausted." 
It was not long ago that I wrote about Major Dad's and my desire to reach out more and boy did God provide for our wants..."Ask and Ye Shall Receive."  It has been an extended weekend of giving a hand to friends and strangers.  Our reward?  Besides knowing we are being the hands and feet of Christ; we were blessed with an afternoon of getting to know new friends.  It started out with an afternoon in the park...which believe it or not was rained out.  A bit humorous here in the desert.  The get together was moved to their house where the kiddos played together.  I love the fact that children ranging in ages from 4-16  can actually play together.  This is just one of the perks to homeschooling.  You will not see too much of that on your public school playground. 

Lord, thank you for allowing me to be your hands and feet.  I pray my eyes, ears, and heart are always open to hear your calling.

jenny