School has started

 

I cannot believe that I have a child that is old enough to start school. I was going to wait till next year but he was ready and talked about it all the time. So, in September I ordered the four year old preschool curriculum from A Beka Book. Yes, we are homeschooling. Because of where we live homeschooling is really our only option. There isn't a good conservative Christian school here. For several reason's we do not want our children in public school. I prefer my children have as little worldly influence as possible. It's going so well. Luke loves it. He gets so excited when he gets the answer right or writes his letters correctly. Of course if Luke is doing something they all have to do it. Mac is learning from what I am teaching Luke and Rhiannon is catching all to a lot of it. But, she prefers to color in her Hello Kitty book. Every once in a while though she'll look up and surprise you with the right answer to a question that was given to Luke and Mac. There is defiently work involved, but it's extremely fun. We spend about an hour and half a day on school work. We have Phonics, Math, Geography and Writing. I love the products that A Beka Books produces. The Parent Kit comes with a lot of flashcards, games, and the curriculum books (which tells you exactly what to do and say).

 

We have to have the shield during schoolwork, you never know when
the bad guys will show up.

Mac does not like getting his picture taken.

This is gym time. Yes, they have boxing gloves. After several black eyes I
thought this would be a good investment. They need a punching bag. The
firelplace is the only thing they can hit and not leave a mark. For a 3 & 4 year
old, they hit really hard.

                           

Christine

Friday's Treat ~ Peanut Butter Blossoms

I love these cookies but for some reason only ever make them at Christmas....well,  not today:) They are super easy to mix up and other than un-wrapping the candy take very little time. 

Start with butter, peanut butter and sugar.

Add eggs and vanilla and then beat until fluffy...

Add flour, baking soda and salt

Mix until thoroughly combined....this dough is soo good. You will want to eat it all without baking it....I promise you will:)

Form into balls, roll in sugar and then place in a mini muffin pan. Bake and then fill with candy......I forgot to take some better pictures before my husband took them so these are all I have to show you but will post some better ones the next time I make these

Peanut  Butter Blossoms

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

 Mix this together and beat until light and fluffy. Then add:

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

 

 Mix well, then add:

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 3/4 cup flour

2 tbls milk

 Mix until everything comes together and is combined. Roll into balls, roll in sugar and then place in a mini muffin pan. Bake for 7-8 min at 375. Pull out of the oven and place Reese's of Kisses in the center. Let cool for a few minutes in pan and then remove and enjoy:)

Have a great weekend!!

Mary Elizabeth

Thanksgiving Printables

UPDATE: This is still free on the TomKat site. Go to the shop and enter givethanks in the discount code spot. She said in the post that she will keep it up (and free) though the season. She also said that thousands of people have ordered it so it may take a couple of days to receive it.

 

 

Don't you wish you had a buffet like this for your Thanksgiving dinner?  Well, you can (or at least come close), thanks to The TomKat Studio. They are giving the printables away for free.

 

 

 

Click here to get your free Thanksgiving printables. They also have alot of really cute products for parties. I can't wait to use my mine that I recieved last night.

Christine

Friday's Treat ~ Pumpkin Roll Cake

I am finally posting Friday's Treat!!! I can't believe it has been 2 weeks since my last post.....So, I have yet another pumpkin recipe. Can you tell it is fall?  This is my husbands favorite fall dessert. As soon as the leave start changing he starts talking about pumpkin roll....I'm not sure why he likes it so much, although the cream cheese filling may have something to do with it;) 

So, here is my recipe for Pumpkin Roll Cake. I have never been able to make one that doesn't crack as I roll it up....any suggestions on that? I read somewhere that the more cracks the better because it is supposed to look like a "log"...I suppose if you follow that rule mine looks pretty good then:)

the pumpkin mixture

I think it is impossible to make this cake without parchment paper......

...and powdered sugar!

There are those cracks I mentioned earlier.......uhhh....I will master the art of a seamless  ( non-cracked ) pumpkin roll cake!!

Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe

Batter ~
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup flour

Mix everything together and then spread in a jelly roll pan that has been lined with parchment paper and that has been buttered and floured. Bake at 375 for about 10~12 minutes. Remove from pan and turn out onto a board dusted with powdered sugar then cool slightly.

Filling ~
4 tbls butter
1 8oz package cream cheese
3/4 tsp vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Beat everything together until smooth. Spread onto cake and then gently roll the cake up into a log. Dust with powdered sugar.

Enjoy your weekend!!

Mary Elizabeth

Meatball Sandwiches

We love meatball sandwiches at our house. To have the best meatball sandwich you need to make the sauce and meatballs. This is the recipe that I use to make our meatballs.

Homemade Meatballs

1 pound of ground beef

2 slices of bread

2 cloves of garlic
fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons of milk

1 egg
salt & pepper 

 In the food processor (or you can do it by hand) : Tear up the bread into cubes. In the food processor, put garlic & parsley. Pulse until both are finely chopped. Add parmesan cheese cut into 1-inch cubes (if not already grated). Pulse until fine. Add bread in small batches and pulse. Add mixture to ground beef. Add eggs, milk, salt and pepper then mix with a fork, keeping the mixture light and fluffy. Make the balls into your desired size. Bake at 350 just till they are browned. Add to your sauce.

 

                                  

 

 

I usually let the meatballs cook in the sauce for at least 1/2 an hour (longer if you have the time). When the sauce and meatballs are almost done I make the bread. Smash a clove of garlic and spread over your bread. Sprinkle with italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper. Drizzle a little olive oil, and then top with provolone cheese. Place in the oven until the cheese is melted and the bread is lightly browned.

 

Top with the meatballs and a some sauce. I usually serve them chips and a salad.

 

 

Enjoy!!

 

Christine

 



 

A Little Bit of Fall

I've only set out a few fall decorations so far this year. Hopefully, today I will get to the store and get a few more gourds and pumpkins.


 

 

Fall has always been my favorite season. I miss all the fall festivals that I used to go to growing up. It's a little odd, but the first two or three years here I was fine with the winters. But, as the years go by the winters seem to get longer and longer. As I'm typing I glance out the window to see huge snowflakes falling for the second time so far.

 

Enjoy your fall!

Christine