Fall Menu

Once I get the recipes typed up I'll link them to this post.

Fall Menu

Week One
Monday – Fish Tostadas, fruit
Tuesday – Biscuits and Gravy, fruit
Wednesday – Succotash, fruit
Thursday – Chicken Noodle Soup, Bread/Rolls, fruit
Friday – Roast, Potatoes, Green Beans, fruit
Saturday – Make Your Own Pizza, Salad, fruit
Sunday – Chili, Cornbread, Baby Carrots, fruit

Week Two
Monday – Breakfast Burritos, fruit
Tuesday – Pork Chops & Stuffing, Bacon Green Beans, fruit
Wednesday – Make Your Own Subs, fruit
Thursday – New Recipe
Friday – Clam Chowder, Bread/Rolls, fruit
Saturday – Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn on Cob, Salad, fruit
Sunday – Potato Curry, Rice, fruit

Week Three
Monday – Hamburgers, fruit
Tuesday – Lo Mein, fruit
Wednesday – Sausage Barley Soup, Bread/Rolls, fruit
Thursday –
Friday – Tortellini Toss, fruit
Saturday – Hash Browns, Eggs, etc., fruit
Sunday – Ham, Potatoes, Peas, fruit

Week Four
Monday – Chicken Curry (broccoli & cauliflower), Rice, fruit
Tuesday – Asian Pancakes, fruit
Wednesday – Baked Potatoes, Salad, fruit
Thursday – Swedish Meatballs, Rice, Mixed Veggies, fruit
Friday – Grandma Swain Soup, Bread/Rolls, fruit
Saturday – Beef Stroganoff, Bacon Green Beans, fruit
Sunday – New Recipe

Mother Tongue

Nicholeen, over at Teaching Self-Government shared this video today.  LOVED IT!!!  And wanted to share with you.

Like, enjoy, ya know!

The Tool Tradition

I have four boys.  Some day they will be men and fathers.  I feel that responsibility.  Heavily.  Last year, in order to prepare them for manhood, we started The Tool Tradition.  For Christmas they each got a quality toolbox and a hammer.  For their birthdays they will each get another tool, and for every Christmas going forward they will receive yet another tool.  Our hope is, that by the time they leave the house, they have a full collection of man-sized, man-quality tools with which to bless their families and those around them.

Our boys love it and look forward to adding to their toolbox.  They use them as tools, not toys.  My husband also gives them instructions on the proper use of said tools.  He is also trying to bring them along more often when he goes to provide service so that they may see charity in action and have a chance to learn new skills.  Last night we all learned how to drain a water heater and this morning how to install a new one.

Due to some comments I received, I'm updating this....we started when the boys were 8ish.   We did start the 6-yr-old at the same time because he's such a "buddy" with the older boys it would have been too hard for him to not get them.  And he's a little more mature about tools than other boys his age.  The 3-yr-old didn't/won't get anything until he's 8.

The toolboxes and tools are kept out in the garage and only accessed when appropriate (meaning when a parent says it's okay and they have work that needs to be done).

Make Your Own Rice Bowls

This is my latest brainstorm on fast, healthy meals.  And everyone gets to make it how they like.

Start with cooked rice - hot or room-temperature (I made brown rice).

Fill your bowl about half full, or scoop a good-sized amount on a plate.

Set out bowls containing various ingredients and let everyone put what they want on it.  The beauty of this is that you can just use what you have at the time and it only takes minutes to get everything on the table.  Some suggestions:

Cooked meat - beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, bacon, whatever.  Save leftovers from another meal so you don't have to cook it that night.
Shredded cheese
Soy sauce
Sweet Chili sauce
Italian salad dressing (yes, Italian.  One of my boys puts it on everything)
Avocado
Matchstick carrots, cooked or raw
Angel hair cabbage, cooked
Zucchini - grated or cubed, cooked
Sweet peppers
Jalapenos or serrano, diced small
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Cream cheese (sounds weird but it was great)
Sushi grade fish (like tuna or salmon)
Sushi ginger (oh, I love that stuff)
Mushrooms - cooked
Kale - diced into teeny, tiny pieces
Peas - cooked
Steamed asparagus
Green beans
Nuts - crushed, peanuts, almonds or cashews work best
Cilantro

Whole Wheat Brownies

As some of you may know, I have a son that loves brownies. I decided to give whole wheat brownies a whirl and the results were fantastic. I used my "mystery flour" with a bread grind. I think next time I'll try soft white wheat with a pastry grind. Nobody complained about the texture at all (you really could not tell it was wheat) but I just want to experiment.

2 sticks of butter, melted
2 c. rapadura or sucanat*
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 c. cup chocolate chips

Stir together butter, rapadura and cocoa. At this point you should start licking the spoon.  Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and mix until combined. Eat a couple handfuls of chocolate chips then throw the rest in.  Pour into a 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or so.  Then lick the spoon some more and get your face down into the bowl and lick that if you can.

Now comes the important part of eating brownies.  When your mom is using the restroom or is otherwise engaged, you should climb up on a stool and help yourself to as many brownies as you can.

*For those interested in rapadura or sucanat, here is an excellent link which discusses natural sweeteners.  Be sure to read the comments too as there is much information there as well.