Week in Review--Week 8, in which we are in the vicinity of the track

Actually snapped a shot of a butterfly before it fluttered away!

I have really learned a lot about myself and homeschooling over the past 4 or 5 years.  More than anything, I'm learning to relax.  It is one of the first things I tell a new homeschooling mom.  RELAX.  And yes, sometimes I still need someone to say it to me.  But overall, I can see myself letting go of my over-controlling ways.  You know, those ways where if it isn't done according to The Plan, then it must be wrong.

I planned out my entire school year this year for the first time.  I'm not really following it.  I am so glad that I did the plan though!  I know what is in the books and I have a general idea of the flow for the year.  I would like to be back on track, but I'm not.  Not this week.  But I am getting closer.

In prior years, I may have just thrown up my hands and said, "That's it!" and given up.  For a time, anyway.  I would've calmed down and gathered myself and started again.  This year, when I am off track, I still make sure we do something--field trip, reading, just...something.  We don't get to just blow it off entirely.  And so even though it might be a baby step, it is in the right direction.  I'm learning to let go of what I think school looks like (clean, attentive kids at the table (or desks) listening to mom discuss fractions while they all smile).  I am moving into being comfortable with how school really works and looks.  It looks like life.  And it's good.

We covered some math, science and social studies.  We went on a cool field trip to a military history museum.  We went on a hike and looked at our gorgeous world.  We practiced some Spanish vocabulary.  We read and read and read.  We did laundry.  We cooked.  And we enjoyed being together.  So I am going to call it a good week.

Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall.

Funny and Silly with an example of a modern desert uniform.

Scrappy with Civil War-era cannon.

Goofy's been treed.

Looking up.

Beets can't be beat!

Okay, maybe beets can be beat.  I don't know.  Some people just really hate beets.  Which is sad.  Me, I'm actually not a lover nor a hater of the beet.  I'm open to beets.  Though, I fully admit that I ate way too many pickled beets as a child, and I no longer like those.

I saw this recipe in a Taste of Home magazine at a friend's house.  I've been collecting beet recipes to go with my collection of beets I've acquired through my CSA.  I already make bread, and it looked pretty simple, just with beets added.  Easy, peasy.



I employed the girls to help me make this.  They LOVE to make bread and I love that they help.  I definitely want them to be comfortable making homemade bread when they leave to start their own homes.  In fact, Funny said, "Mommy, I need to get good at this so I can teach my own kids."  This is something I just adore about cooking, how it's been passed down.  I know my grandma taught my mom to cook, and she taught me and my sister, and now I am teaching my kids.  I find great pleasure in knowing I am connected to my family through cooking.

Honey Beet Bread
adapted from Taste of Home

1 tbsp. regular or quick rise yeast (I used regular)
1 1/2 c. warm water (110-115 degrees)
2 tbsp. honey
1 1/2 c. peeled, grated fresh beets, squeezed dry (really squeeze them!)
1 c. warm milk (110-115 degrees)
2 tbsp. butter, softened
2 1/2 tsp. salt
6 1/2 - 7 c. all-purpose flour
1 egg white or a bit of milk, for brushing on the top
toasted sesame seeds (dry toast them quickly on the stove top)

In large bowl, dissolve yeast in water.  Add honey and let rest for 5 minutes.  Add beets (seriously, squeeze them dry), milk, butter, salt and 3 cups flour.  Beat until smooth.  Stir in enough remaining flour to form soft dough.  Knead by hand or by machine with dough hook for 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic.  Place in greased bowl and flip to grease both sides.  Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled, about 50 minutes.

Punch down dough.  Turn onto lightly floured surface and divide dough in half.  Shape into two loaves.  Place in two greased 9x5x3 loaf pans.  Cover and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes.

Brush with egg whites or milk.  Sprinkle with seeds.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until top begins to brown.  Remove from pans to cool.

Inside of the bread.  From my busted up loaf.  Pretty!!

Notes:
I immediately popped loaf #1 from the pan, and it stuck.  I let loaf #2 rest (like a quick bread) for about 5 minutes, then removed it with no problems.  I also forgot about the egg wash and so used milk during the last 5 minutes to just help with browning, and tossed the toasted seeds on top then, as well.
Also, the dough wasn't as dry as I am used to.  It was firmer than a quick bread, but not quite like a regular loaf of bread.  I suspect if I had squeezed the beets a second time, it may have helped with that.  But I did increase the flour as a result, and this recipe reflects that.  You may want to start with a quarter cup less.

I will make this again!

That's hot! Cauliflower gets Spicy

I found this recipe about a year ago on Not So Humble Pie's blog.  In the past couple of years I have grown to adore cauliflower.  As much as a cruciferious veggie can be adored, I guess.  I also like a meat-free meal now and again.  This one was just perfect!

I got a cauliflower in the CSA box yesterday, and immediately thought of this recipe.  I did not, however, think to locate it and review it in order to purchase any missing ingredients.  The recipe calls for three kinds of flour!  So I had to alter the recipe, and everyone here still thought it was delicious.  One day I would like to make it according to the recipe, if only to feel my tongue burst into flames.

Mine were good, but I wonder if they would've been crispier with the right flours.  It wasn't mushy though.  I would make this again, even with the substitutions I have made.

A gathering of ingredients.  Look at that gorgeous cauliflower.  *sigh*

Gobi Manchurian
Based on Not so Humble Gobi Manchurian

 1 head cauliflower, cut into medium florets
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. blended corn meal (I was supposed to use corn flour, but didn't have any.  So I blended my corn meal for a little while to grind it further.)
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. grated ginger
1 tsp. grated garlic
1 tsp. finely chopped jalapeño
warm water

vegetable oil

Sauce:
1 tbsp. sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 c. finely chopped sweet onion
1 inch ginger, minced
1 jalapeño, finely chopped (minus the bit for coating the cauliflower)
1/3 c. soy sauce
1 tbsp. sriracha sauce ("rooster" sauce)
3 tbsp. ketchup

couple sprinkles hot chili sesame oil
chopped cilantro

Core and cut cauliflower into medium florets.  Bring water with a pinch of salt to boil and add the florets.  Boil about 10 minutes or until tender.  Drain.

In large pan (I used a frying pan), heat a few inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees.  For batter, combine flours, garlic, ginger, and jalapeños; add enough water to make it smooth.  Toss the cooked florets in the batter to coat, then sprinkle with about 2-3 tbsp. all-purpose flour and toss gently.  Fry florets in small batches until deep golden brown and crispy.  I had to turn a couple of mine.  Drain on paper towels.

Sauté garlic in sesame oil over medium-high heat for 30 seconds.  Add onion, garlic, ginger, and jalapeños and sauté another minute.  Add soy sauce and ketchup and cook until thickened and bubbly (just a minute or two).

Put the hot, fried cauliflower in a large bowl.  Pour sauce over and toss to coat.  Garnish with cilantro and a couple sprinkles of hot chili sesame oil.

The finished product.  Yum!

Week in Review--Weeks 6 & 7, in which we get unschooly

These past two weeks have been really unschooly.  I tried to make plans.  Sometimes I even did make plans. But stuff kept happening.  You know, life.  Some days we were rained out.  Some days we were sick.  We also have been getting our bathroom remodeled.  And, best of all, Hub had two days off these past two weeks!

We did very little bookwork.  We did a little spelling, some science, art (blending colors), and read a few books.  Scrappy and Funny had some handwriting practice.  The kids finally finished their whales for their ocean boxes.  I don't know why that was such a project.  Funny, of course, took about 30 minutes to do her's, but the boys only needed about 5 minutes!  I read Capyboppy to the kids.  Now we all want a capybara for a pet.  But we know it wouldn't be a good idea.  Scrappy read The Cat in the Hat on his own.  I was so very proud of him.  He didn't complain or act like it was too hard.  And he laughed and laughed.  It was a wonderful mom/teacher/librarian moment for me!  (I used to be a librarian.)

Funny works on her weaving.  Yes, we do school in our pajamas.  Some stereotypes need perpetuating.

Silly coloring.  She thinks she's doing school.  That's fine with me.

Boys doing a puzzle.  So many puzzles and games these last two weeks.

We tried a new way to memorize verses for AWANA.  Puzzle verses!

For language arts, I read the kids the story "The Lion and the Fox" from Primary Language Lessons.  I asked them to act it out.

Scrappy acting the part of the lion.

Scrappy the lion tells Funny the fox to come into his den.  She knows better.

Funny built an elaborate den, then guarded it fiercely.

We went on a field trip to Phipps Conservatory.  It was free for RAD Days.  Taxes aren't all bad!  We were lucky enough to be joined by Hub for this trip.  He rarely gets a day off, and this was a fun outing.

Gorgeous glass sculpture.

My favorite photo from our trip.

Flour children grow in trees.

3/4 of the Flour Children next to a giant cactus.

Silly conducts a giant train (made of chairs) for some stuffed animals, Goofy, and Funny.  Funny looks to be working while commuting.

Make your own pizza night!

Silly and pizza.  Zucchini, mushroom & cheese.

See how other people are homeschooling on Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Making Your Home a Haven

 So I am doing this book challenge.  Let's face it, it's barely a challenge for me. It's more about finishing up some books I have been meaning to.  And that's fine.  I'm not knocking it!

But this is a real challenge for me!

Women Living Well is hosting a fall challenge to make your home a haven.  You mean, my home doesn't have to be full of chaos and yelling?  Who knew?  So I accept this challenge, and hope to report to you that I'm all peaceful at the end of October.  Or headed toward peace.

My MOPS Bible study is about contentment, so this challenge ties in nicely with some attitude changes I am looking to make, with God's help.