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Showing posts with label kids in the kitchen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids in the kitchen. Show all posts
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
Fairy Girl just baked all by herself for the first time.
I was upstairs the whole time.
These are seriously the best darn chocolate chip walnut cookies I ever had! I'm not just saying that. (Brown sugar was replaced with coconut sugar, as that's all we had:). When I asked her what the secret was, she replied: I chopped up the walnuts really well so there would be lots...oh, and I accidentally put a tablespoon of vanilla in, instead of a teaspoon:)
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
House Warming Cookies
And Little Angel made Grandma and Grandpa House-Warming Cookies!
And then the girls ate them.
It's the thought that counts, right?:)
Monday, April 7, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Fairy Girl in the Kitchen: Pumpkin Poppers
Pumpkin Poppers
recipe from Domestically Speaking
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. allspice
- 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup pumpkin
- 1/2 cup milk
For Coating
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp. cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 F and spray mini muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine flour, baking powder ,salt, and spices in a bowl and whisk until combine.
In another bowl, mix oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin, and milk. Pour in flour mixture and mix until just combined. Fill mini muffin tins until almost full and bake 10-12 minutes.
Melt butter in small bowl. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a separate small bowl. After poppers cool for a few minutes, LIGHTLY coat them in butter (I prefer to brush on the butter) and roll them in the sugar mixture. Enjoy. :)
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
dragonflies and butterflies are free to fly
that's what we decided to call our homeschool two years ago.
Somedays I incorporate a light curriculum; somedays are pure unschooling. You'd be (ok maybe not, but I am;) amazed at the amount of creativity that comes out of these (and I'm sure any child) girls who are free to be and create. When left on their own to choose, you will see them go about their day, something like this: wake up, somewhere around 8-ish (sometimes earlier). Usually Angel Girl will lie in bed for quite awhile reading (sounds like her grandma;), and Fairy Girl will come downstairs and wake up to a cartoon or netflix show (we only have Netflix and an antenna, and we LOVE it!). Then after I make my way downstairs, she willingly gives up the tv so I can do my Kundalini yoga (which I'm now doing four days a week, Monday-Thursday) instead of the seven that I had started out doing the first month. It does take up at least 1-1.5 hours, and well, I'm just NOT an early person....I tried for awhile there; I really did;) (you know, for about a week:D) At that point Fairy Girl heads over to the computer, or just yesterday decided to pick up the first book in the "Harry Potter" series (seriously, just a few months ago she was still reading "CAT" from her basic phonics series! How did this happen!!? These girls love to read! Probably because I've always surrounded our house with books, taken them to thrift shops or Half Price Books to pick out their own books, and I've NEVER "scheduled" reading time (other than sitting with them to help them learn to read..and that was kept to a minimum and stopped the second they weren't enjoying it). And just like that...age 7 for both of them, the reading clicked. Reading is freedom....freedom to create even further...freedom to bake in the kitchen (Angel Girl started reading recipes and baking from scratch just after she turned 8....she got bored with the box mix stuff very quickly, like after the first week, which is a good thing:) (I started her out with box mixes, only to help her feel more comfortable in the kitchen...she LOVES to bake!) I also had put a "meal ideas" list on the fridge for the girls to draw from, you know, when they want to work in the kitchen! (i.e. mommy hasn't gotten around to feeding them yet;). Seriously though, it's not a bad thing....I can literally lock myself in a room all day (no worries, I don't), and know that my girls can completely occupy themselves, feed themselves, and are safe. I KNOW this because I am with them all the time (and know they will almost always make good decisions), but still give them their freedom to think and create and choose.
And today, while I was sitting outside in the most perfect weather in the world, really NOT wanting to come in....dragonflies and butterflies were everywhere, and a beautiful doe even hopped the fence to my side, while I was there, and she stood there looking at me...it was such a beautiful moment...until Piper (who was otherwise occupied elsewhere in the backyard on the lizard hunt), discovered the visitor and chased her right out;).....anyway, while I was doing "my thing," the girls took it upon themselves to start creating a website. Fairy Girl came out with paper and pen, looking for ideas (I googled free kids' websites from my iphone and wrote ideas for them to try)...and they found one that they are working with. And they are even creating business cards:) I think they have some sort of princess fashion line in the works.
Finally, after being driven in by the out of control mosquito population (they are worse at night, not so bad during the day), I fed them a noon breakfast of scrambled eggs and fruit, proceeded to make banana nut bread (because those over ripe bananas were just begging me to;), and assemble and half bake a black bean lasagna for dinner. Soon, I will get dressed (really, I am in yoga clothing, NOT jammies...I'm not THAT bad;) and work on some bracelet orders. The girls continue to sit pleasantly together, working on their website, they are SO excited about their newest project!
Does this sound like school? The way most of us have been conditioned to believe school should look like? probably not? Are they learning, absolutely! Are they on the same time-table as their traditionally-schooled peers? In some areas yes, in many areas no. Am I concerned about this....I probably was a few years ago, but now, absolutely not! Can they read, write, articulate, multiply by hundreds and even thousands? Yes! Do they have all of their multiplcation facts memorized, NO...do I care, no...that will come in time, as needed, when they are ready, as they choose. Those are just examples, but my point is.....yes, we have a "schedule".....mostly for the sake of giving them time to create, or time for us to work together some days.....our "schedule" is year round....other days we just go on our girls' day outings.....hit the beach or pool, go on a field trip....and some days we stay home and create!
I do have to set some "boundaries" during traditionally schooled days off....they are in a much better rhythm and flow if they have these times to BE and CREATE, (or the days we choose to work together with our "curriculum.")......it's hard for others to understand, who aren't in a "homeschool" situation, that homeschooling/unschooling just doesn't look the same as traditional schooling....but believe me, it is working, it is REALLY REALLY working (thank goodness, these girls are learning despite their mama;)
Anyway, this whole post was inspired by something I saw this morning on a blog called "Time to Wake Up":
"I see the current public school system as one of cultures most effective programming stations. They sit you down, tell you whats what, and if you don't memorize it and regurgitate it, you fail and you are told that you are wrong. You feel stupid and this makes you think that the better you are at memorizing what they tell you is true, the smarter you are. It creates silent, hard working conformists. And try getting a decent job without passing these tests.
If the public school system really was designed to create critical thinkers, the teachers would tell you everyday "Question everything, especially authority." (from the blog, these are not my words).
But I can't say I disagree either; at least not when it comes to my own kiddos. We choose the homeschool/unschool route, because it's the right fit for our family. It is NOT the right fit for everybody...I'm a FIRM believer in respecting one-anothers' choices. But, one of the top reasons why I believe in homeschooling for my family, is summarized very nicely in the quote above...for me it's all about giving them the best chance possible in keeping their natural creative drive, so they can truly have the opportunity to discover themselves and their own passions and interests; and family closeness! I am certainly not saying that homeschooling is the only way to achieve this, or that traditional schooling will somehow impede the progress of this....I personally LOVED my school experience and thrived throughout school; and am very close to my family; and I like to think I'm still creative;) But, this is the right choice for MY family and my girls, and my girls are having a REALLY good time along the way! I'm very grateful we have the opportunity!
Somedays I incorporate a light curriculum; somedays are pure unschooling. You'd be (ok maybe not, but I am;) amazed at the amount of creativity that comes out of these (and I'm sure any child) girls who are free to be and create. When left on their own to choose, you will see them go about their day, something like this: wake up, somewhere around 8-ish (sometimes earlier). Usually Angel Girl will lie in bed for quite awhile reading (sounds like her grandma;), and Fairy Girl will come downstairs and wake up to a cartoon or netflix show (we only have Netflix and an antenna, and we LOVE it!). Then after I make my way downstairs, she willingly gives up the tv so I can do my Kundalini yoga (which I'm now doing four days a week, Monday-Thursday) instead of the seven that I had started out doing the first month. It does take up at least 1-1.5 hours, and well, I'm just NOT an early person....I tried for awhile there; I really did;) (you know, for about a week:D) At that point Fairy Girl heads over to the computer, or just yesterday decided to pick up the first book in the "Harry Potter" series (seriously, just a few months ago she was still reading "CAT" from her basic phonics series! How did this happen!!? These girls love to read! Probably because I've always surrounded our house with books, taken them to thrift shops or Half Price Books to pick out their own books, and I've NEVER "scheduled" reading time (other than sitting with them to help them learn to read..and that was kept to a minimum and stopped the second they weren't enjoying it). And just like that...age 7 for both of them, the reading clicked. Reading is freedom....freedom to create even further...freedom to bake in the kitchen (Angel Girl started reading recipes and baking from scratch just after she turned 8....she got bored with the box mix stuff very quickly, like after the first week, which is a good thing:) (I started her out with box mixes, only to help her feel more comfortable in the kitchen...she LOVES to bake!) I also had put a "meal ideas" list on the fridge for the girls to draw from, you know, when they want to work in the kitchen! (i.e. mommy hasn't gotten around to feeding them yet;). Seriously though, it's not a bad thing....I can literally lock myself in a room all day (no worries, I don't), and know that my girls can completely occupy themselves, feed themselves, and are safe. I KNOW this because I am with them all the time (and know they will almost always make good decisions), but still give them their freedom to think and create and choose.
And today, while I was sitting outside in the most perfect weather in the world, really NOT wanting to come in....dragonflies and butterflies were everywhere, and a beautiful doe even hopped the fence to my side, while I was there, and she stood there looking at me...it was such a beautiful moment...until Piper (who was otherwise occupied elsewhere in the backyard on the lizard hunt), discovered the visitor and chased her right out;).....anyway, while I was doing "my thing," the girls took it upon themselves to start creating a website. Fairy Girl came out with paper and pen, looking for ideas (I googled free kids' websites from my iphone and wrote ideas for them to try)...and they found one that they are working with. And they are even creating business cards:) I think they have some sort of princess fashion line in the works.
Finally, after being driven in by the out of control mosquito population (they are worse at night, not so bad during the day), I fed them a noon breakfast of scrambled eggs and fruit, proceeded to make banana nut bread (because those over ripe bananas were just begging me to;), and assemble and half bake a black bean lasagna for dinner. Soon, I will get dressed (really, I am in yoga clothing, NOT jammies...I'm not THAT bad;) and work on some bracelet orders. The girls continue to sit pleasantly together, working on their website, they are SO excited about their newest project!
Does this sound like school? The way most of us have been conditioned to believe school should look like? probably not? Are they learning, absolutely! Are they on the same time-table as their traditionally-schooled peers? In some areas yes, in many areas no. Am I concerned about this....I probably was a few years ago, but now, absolutely not! Can they read, write, articulate, multiply by hundreds and even thousands? Yes! Do they have all of their multiplcation facts memorized, NO...do I care, no...that will come in time, as needed, when they are ready, as they choose. Those are just examples, but my point is.....yes, we have a "schedule".....mostly for the sake of giving them time to create, or time for us to work together some days.....our "schedule" is year round....other days we just go on our girls' day outings.....hit the beach or pool, go on a field trip....and some days we stay home and create!
I do have to set some "boundaries" during traditionally schooled days off....they are in a much better rhythm and flow if they have these times to BE and CREATE, (or the days we choose to work together with our "curriculum.")......it's hard for others to understand, who aren't in a "homeschool" situation, that homeschooling/unschooling just doesn't look the same as traditional schooling....but believe me, it is working, it is REALLY REALLY working (thank goodness, these girls are learning despite their mama;)
Anyway, this whole post was inspired by something I saw this morning on a blog called "Time to Wake Up":
"I see the current public school system as one of cultures most effective programming stations. They sit you down, tell you whats what, and if you don't memorize it and regurgitate it, you fail and you are told that you are wrong. You feel stupid and this makes you think that the better you are at memorizing what they tell you is true, the smarter you are. It creates silent, hard working conformists. And try getting a decent job without passing these tests.
If the public school system really was designed to create critical thinkers, the teachers would tell you everyday "Question everything, especially authority." (from the blog, these are not my words).
But I can't say I disagree either; at least not when it comes to my own kiddos. We choose the homeschool/unschool route, because it's the right fit for our family. It is NOT the right fit for everybody...I'm a FIRM believer in respecting one-anothers' choices. But, one of the top reasons why I believe in homeschooling for my family, is summarized very nicely in the quote above...for me it's all about giving them the best chance possible in keeping their natural creative drive, so they can truly have the opportunity to discover themselves and their own passions and interests; and family closeness! I am certainly not saying that homeschooling is the only way to achieve this, or that traditional schooling will somehow impede the progress of this....I personally LOVED my school experience and thrived throughout school; and am very close to my family; and I like to think I'm still creative;) But, this is the right choice for MY family and my girls, and my girls are having a REALLY good time along the way! I'm very grateful we have the opportunity!
Friday, May 17, 2013
friday fun day
random moments
Tiger beetles are a large group of beetles known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest species of tiger beetle can run at a speed of 9 km/h (5.6 mph), which, relative to its body length, is about 22 times the speed of former Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson,[1] the equivalent of a human running at 480 miles per hour (770 km/h). As of 2005, about 2,600 species and subspecies were known, with the richest diversity in the Oriental (Indo-Malayan) region, followed by the Neotropics.[2] Tiger beetles often have large bulging eyes, long, slender legs and large curved mandibles. All are predatory, both as adults and as larvae. The genus Cicindela has a cosmopolitan distribution. Other well-known genera include Tetracha, Omus, Amblycheila and Manticora. While members of the genus Cicindela are usually diurnal and may be out on the hottest days, Tetracha, Omus, Amblycheila and Manticora are all nocturnal. Both Cicindela and Tetracha are often brightly colored, while the other genera mentioned are usually uniform black in color.
Tiger beetles in the genus Manticora are the largest in size of the subfamily. These live primarily in the deserts of South Africa.
The larvae of tiger beetles live in cylindrical burrows as much as a meter deep. They are large-headed, hump-backed grubs that flip backwards to capture prey insects that wander over the ground. The fast-moving adults run down their prey and are extremely fast on the wing, their reaction times being of the same order as that of common houseflies. Some tiger beetles in the tropics are arboreal, but most run on the surface of the ground. They live along sea and lake shores, on sand dunes, around playa lakebeds and on clay banks or woodland paths, being particularly fond of sandy surfaces. (from Wikpedia)
Tiger beetles are a large group of beetles known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest species of tiger beetle can run at a speed of 9 km/h (5.6 mph), which, relative to its body length, is about 22 times the speed of former Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson,[1] the equivalent of a human running at 480 miles per hour (770 km/h). As of 2005, about 2,600 species and subspecies were known, with the richest diversity in the Oriental (Indo-Malayan) region, followed by the Neotropics.[2] Tiger beetles often have large bulging eyes, long, slender legs and large curved mandibles. All are predatory, both as adults and as larvae. The genus Cicindela has a cosmopolitan distribution. Other well-known genera include Tetracha, Omus, Amblycheila and Manticora. While members of the genus Cicindela are usually diurnal and may be out on the hottest days, Tetracha, Omus, Amblycheila and Manticora are all nocturnal. Both Cicindela and Tetracha are often brightly colored, while the other genera mentioned are usually uniform black in color.
Tiger beetles in the genus Manticora are the largest in size of the subfamily. These live primarily in the deserts of South Africa.
The larvae of tiger beetles live in cylindrical burrows as much as a meter deep. They are large-headed, hump-backed grubs that flip backwards to capture prey insects that wander over the ground. The fast-moving adults run down their prey and are extremely fast on the wing, their reaction times being of the same order as that of common houseflies. Some tiger beetles in the tropics are arboreal, but most run on the surface of the ground. They live along sea and lake shores, on sand dunes, around playa lakebeds and on clay banks or woodland paths, being particularly fond of sandy surfaces. (from Wikpedia)
Friday, March 1, 2013
lots of creating happened in my house today
I created a bracelet for a custom request (Iowa Hawkeyes); I created two bracelets in preparation for my first upcoming craft fair (the craft fair is at a church, so I thought I should get some religious bracelets on the table;):
the girls did some painting:
Fairy Girl's masterpiece:
and while I read a book by the crackling fire, J made homemade broccoli cheese soup (his 10 months of unemployment were REALLY good for me;) and Little Angel created these yummilicious choco chip cookies!
ya, I'm pretty darned spoiled :D
the girls did some painting:
Fairy Girl's masterpiece:
and while I read a book by the crackling fire, J made homemade broccoli cheese soup (his 10 months of unemployment were REALLY good for me;) and Little Angel created these yummilicious choco chip cookies!
ya, I'm pretty darned spoiled :D
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Valentine's Day Treat
Little Angel made these sugar cookie bars, for her daddy to bring to his coworker's today :)
DEEEEEELISH (shhhhhh, don't tell her I snuck a taste when I cut them ;)
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Snapshots and Giggles: Merry Christmas Eve Eve, and a VERY Happy 46th Anniversary to My Parents!
And I cannot stop laughing as my neighbor was "screaming": "monkey down, MONKEY DOWN!"
Asian Golden? Laughing Pooch? Hard to tell with Mr. Pooooo
I was the orange car;)
Panera's and Palms!
Had to run down to a shop by the beach yesterday, so of course I HAD to stop at the beach:D
While I was out shopping yesterday, J and the girls made his mother's infamous Christmas cutouts!
Merry Christmas Eve Eve!!!
Friday, December 21, 2012
I'm Proud of My Little Angel
This girl is a VERY strong reader! And she LOVES to read! She also loves ballet, and she LOVES to work in the kitchen...who am I to stop her???!!! Her specialty is baking. I started out by purchasing packaged cake or muffin mixes...but she was bored with that within about a week. She's been baking from scratch ever since. This all started when she first turned eight. For Thanksgiving, we were responsible for bringing a pumpkin pie to Florida with us. She (did use a premade crust), but baked the pie. And it was delish! Now we were asked to bring Christmas cookies to Florida with us for Christmas. I picked out four recipes......and told Little Angel that it was her job to read through all four recipes, and figure out what we don't have in the kitchen, and make a grocery list....which she did....and then today, it was her job to bake/make all the goodies....which she did...and DANG, this girl can seriously bake!
ok, so yes, this picture is a repeat...but so what...aren't they cute?
She reported that after creating the chocolate crinkles, jelly tots, and fudge, that she was tired...so I let the chocolate peppermint bark pass for now;) (Hey, I'm not a total slave driver? :) This weekend J and the girls plan on making Grandma Jeanne's infamous Christmas cutouts....they are very excited:) And I am more than willing to let them work, as for some reason, I do not enjoy making cutouts (though I have fond memories of decorating them with my Grandma:)
So, I just wanted to report that it is an hour past midnight of the winter solstice of 2012.....aka, December 21, 2012....so far so good...which is good, because we need to eat Little Angel's yummy treats!
THE END (well, I hope it's not;)
ok, so yes, this picture is a repeat...but so what...aren't they cute?
She reported that after creating the chocolate crinkles, jelly tots, and fudge, that she was tired...so I let the chocolate peppermint bark pass for now;) (Hey, I'm not a total slave driver? :) This weekend J and the girls plan on making Grandma Jeanne's infamous Christmas cutouts....they are very excited:) And I am more than willing to let them work, as for some reason, I do not enjoy making cutouts (though I have fond memories of decorating them with my Grandma:)
So, I just wanted to report that it is an hour past midnight of the winter solstice of 2012.....aka, December 21, 2012....so far so good...which is good, because we need to eat Little Angel's yummy treats!
THE END (well, I hope it's not;)
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