Let's get crackin'

 I really love cooking with the girls
their enthusiasm is a bit overwhelming

Cracking egg to put them in the cup.

their literal way of interpreting any type of instructions given.  One never knows what the outcome will really be, but lots of laughter was heard that day! 

Ewwww, followed by giggles

Telling Miss C that we were going to crack the eggs and put them in the cup was the wrong thing to do before turning my back on her.  Before I knew it, she tapped her egg hard on the counter, and it was dripping down her hand, until I shoved the cup under it. So there we had our egg in the cup - shell  and all.  :~) 

Stirring, smiling, and making a huge mess!

Oh can't you just hear the caption in your mind?

AGAIN

Let's face it, making muffins ishard work, so we must taste test,

AGAIN

AGAIN

and one last time...

One last time.....

oh, I'm sure I "missed" this spot as well

Um, didn't you say I could lick the spoon?

Well, all that muffin making is EXHAUSTING, so what's a girl to do?  Why eat vanilla wafers dipped in milk. 

While the blueberry muffins were a huge success and smell delicious, the most fun made was cooking with this sweet girl. That is absolutely my favorite thing about cooking with the girls. Making messes and memories and giggles .

Resident Chef in training

Thursday was Youngest's night to cook :  Steamed carrots, green beans, Italian seasoned chicken, and fettuccine from scratch.  I made the Peasant bread to help the process go along more quickly.  He said it was the first time he had fixed a fancy meal and he was pretty proud of it!  So we got out our nice dishes, wine glasses and beautiful bottle of Post Muscadine Grape Juice (It was gone in a matter of seconds!)  I think he did an awesome job fixing dinner and learning.

Silly Boy.  During each cooking lesson, we talk about handling chicken and meat and how to clean the counters they touched, and so on...  So so starts going on in this imaginary voice about the rule of cooking and about had me cracking up.  I was sure proud of him!  and he  lost his cockiness as well! 

Dinner with a smile

Youngest's Grilled bacon cheese sandwich

Tonight was Youngest's turn to fix dinner

His menu of choice? Grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches. It's hard to step back and let them create and learn, but he did well and his new wisdom was "making dinner tonight is like a vacation compared to homemade chicken nuggets! I can do this!"

We had a whole lesson on burns, cuts, safety, ecoli, staph, botulism, and other wonderful food things... He kept calling botulism "chewbotulism". This kid even had to insert his personality in it as well!

He makes me smile!


If you would like the read the story on how we have "guest chef's" four nights a week, click over here

Guest "chef"

One handed egg cracking

 Last week, Youngest and I were discussing skills he needs when he grows up, cooking being one of them, especially for a new Eagle required MB (merit badge) for Boy Scouts.

"Oh, I don't need to learn how to cook. When I go to college, I'll live at home and eat your food, like Oldest and Only do. Then I'll get married, and my wife will cook. If she is ever gone, I'll eat sandwiches, cereal, and microwaveable meals," he says with a smirk.  Note: Making Mac and Cheese in the microwave, fixing a bowl of cereal, and using an MRE while on a Boy Scout campout, does not count as cooking. 

Only's spaghetti

Youngest went on to dig himself a deeper hole and before he knew it, he was suddenly in charge of dinner: pancakes from scratch, bacon, making the buttermilk, making homemade maple syrup, and scrambled eggs. For his first REAL meal, he did okay. None of us died.  He learned how to crack eggs with one hand and admitted "It's really hard to multi-task when cooking!"

Youngest's Popcorn chicken

Before the end of the meal, each child picked a night they would cook for the family. They just have to get a list of their needs to me. Dave said he was going to get his mom to make his, but we told him that was illegal and against the "rules."  Ha!  So far, the kids have done well with minimal help (not counting cooking instructions with Youngest), but it's really hard to sit back, wait until they get home from work and start cooking, but they have met the challenge well.  Only made homemade spaghetti sauce  and Oldest did some searching on his own and came up with his own menu and found a recipe he wanted to use. Only protested he chose fish because she can't stand it, but I reminded her that if she refuses to eat what someone else has prepared, it can be offensive and rude.  All she has to do is try it, and she can always refuse seconds or request a small portion. She ate what he had prepared.

It has been rather interesting to see my boys in the kitchen.  Things I assumed they would know because they grew up here, they don't.  Makes me feel like I've really messed up because I've not done this sooner or required them in the kitchen more regularly. Only has been in the kitchen with me regularly, she usually comes in to see how she can help, so she knows what it really takes and I have much confidence and appreciation for her.

• Mom, we don't have any black pepper  (it's in the pepper grinder for fresh pepper, not in a McCormick jar).   
• Where do we keep the big flat cooking things?  You know, the things you put cookies and bread on.  (Oh, you mean a cookie sheet?).  
• How do I broil something.  Isn't it the same as baking? 
• Where is the salt container and how do I fix rice? 
•  There's a difference between dry and liquid measuring cups! 
• You mean I can't use the same cutting board for meat as I do for veggies?
•  How am I supposed to measure the pepper from the grinder (as he attempts to shake the pepper from the grinder into a measuring spoon)? 
• Oops!  Guess we're having really brown bread - wasn't thinking to check it.

 I have learned a few things: My family has much to learn, we hang out in the kitchen more while the guest chef prepares the evening meal, and they seem to actually look forward to when they cook!  If I do help, it is to as an assistant or to answer questions. I hope to move them into doing grocery planning and shopping on a budget.  I've clearly begun this a little too late in their lives, but it will be okay. 
 

Oldest Fish Dish

 I had to laugh when a friend of mine told me about her son who is in the Marines: 

 Sounds soooooo familiar! Then i got calls from my new Marine, Mom, how do you: cook tuna out of a can?, cook a precooked chicken breast, make mac-n-cheese....scramble eggs! I LOVED Laughing a full minute before I would tell him how!  Celeste

 

Did you teach your kids how to cook, do you feel they are prepared or on their way to being prepared to be on their own, and how did you do it?  What age were they when they joined you in the kitchen?  Is there anything you would have done differently?

Out of order

 Argh!  Someone forgot to start the dishwasher last night.  Trying to get it done before the girls arrived this morning, I finished loading the last few, put in the Cascade, locked it, and pushed start.  NOTHING!!!  No light, no beep, no "give me a minute, I'm thinking" kinda warning.  I'm a college graduate, daughter to a determined do-it-yourself kinda mom, and mom to three kids, so I do the logical thing and unplug and replug it in.  Granted my knees were screaming at me, and I discovered some creepy things under my sink, but that's another day. 

NOTHING!!!   So like an intelligent person, I stood there in the wee morning hours, and pushed the lifeless buttons again... I know, I know!  I can now assume it's dead for now. No big deal.  Remember I said I needed the dishes done before the girls got there.  Didn't happen.  It took me three sinkfuls of dishwater spread out over three different times during the day to completely empty the dishwasher  and hand wash all the dishes.  My sink was was shiny at the end of the day!  I would love to say I had a ton of time to pray while washing, but I had many little ones clamoring for my attention, and it took me a while.

Finally, during my last sink full of dishes, Youngest came over to rinse his cup out and get a drink. 

"Um, what do I do?" he inquires. 

I Took his cup, washed and rinsed it and gave it to him.

"Um, Mom? Is the dishwasher broke?"  he asks as he is inspecting and drying his clean cup.

"Yes, do you think I love hand washing dishes that were in the dishwasher?" (I wanted to flog him with the dishrag)
Youngest: "well, I just thought you were practicing for our next Boy Scout campout." 
Bwahahahahahaha!!!  I just about laid on the floor and laughed! Leave it to Youngest to find something funny in this.    

  I'm very thankful for hot water and a sink to wash them in. Thankful for dirty dishes - means my family has food to eat and dishes to eat on.Only gave me a sneaky look when she got out he plate for our evening meal, unlike my boys who had used regular dinner plate.  Also thankful I don't have to hand wash all the laundry!  


If you happen to read this post and see my husband, please don't mention it to him.  He doesn't know it's broke.  I mean, it's not an emergency - my hands can still wash dishes, and we have running hot water.  I swore Youngest and Only  to secrecy - just to see how long it will take for Oldest and Honey to figure out the Dishwasher has died.  Maybe I should get some of that yellow CAUTION strips and put across it? Thank they'd notice then? 

Quick Update

 

Only and Bandit

 Oldest's puppy, Bandit, is growing all too quickly and pouts each time Oldest walks out the door without him.  We actually don't allow him on the beds, but He was "bravely" trying to escape the cat.  Sissy! 

Sleeping easy!

After 21 yrs. of sleeping on the same mattress, I got found a treasure - a brand new, Sterns and Foster 5 Star Ultra Firm Mattress.  Want to take a guess what I paid??? Lower...  Lower... Lower!  Yes, this $3,500 mattress cost us a whopping $290!!!  I was downright giddy and now happily sleeping without waking up with aches and pains, and no more sleeping in the recliner!
                     

Fried Mozzarella from Pioneer Woman

 I love reading Ree Drummond (aka Pioneer Woman)'s blog when I get the chance - always so when I bought a signed copy copy of her latest book  makes me want to dig out my worn out cowboy boots, saddle up my horse, and move to a more rural way of life. Now if you think I'm losing it, growing up I really had cowboy boots (and used t
hem), milked a cow, had a few horses, helped plant more veggies than I like (okra and squash), and scooped more poop than I care to remember.  and bookmarked several to try. Watch out Family!

Oldest  is finishing up his first year as a Biology/Zoology major - hard stuff.  He confessed that he's been thinking of switching to youth ministry, but I told him the two choices are all related.  He continues to work at a Doggy Day Care, and recently started an internship at our church working with the youth.  It will be an interesting summer to see where God leads this young warrior. 

Potatoes are just tired!

Honey was so sweet two weeks ago and pulled the massive weeds in our flower beds.  I happily replaced those weeds with tomatoes, rosemary, parsley, and basil.  Our soil has so much clay, rocks, and and junk, that our only option for planting has been raised beds.  We've used the obvious space next to our house, but when I heard about using tires, I was game.  Jury is still out on if we'll get some potatoes this fall, but we're hopeful!  I plan on doing the same thing with my blueberry plants as well. I tried to talk him out of those two NASCAR truck tires sitting in our garage, but that was a NO! 

my aching knee

Long story short - April 5 was carrying and talking to baby (she's a cutie), didn't see the dog.  Dog now banned from kitchen, baby was unharmed.  Today is first day without crutches, but feel like I've been in a car wreck. Still horribly sore.  Doctor said today still much fluid in there, and was "thrilled" to hear I have arthritis in my knee.  I suspected this as it hurts each time there is a weather change.  He also said I have a cyst in there and sent the x-ray off for evaluation.  If swelling is still there next week, I'll have an MRI.  Thankful for all of Only's help with the little ones!

Photo by Adams Photography

Only graduates from high school later this month.  Not sure where time has gone, but she's amazing, just the way she is.  Planning on attending the university this fall with a focus on Psychology/Sociology.  She's had enough practice around here!  Sheesh!   So excited to see where God is going to take here in her Beautiful Life! 

Well, I need to head off to bed before I type something I have to blame my Ambien on.  Nite all!

Menu Board and Menu Planning

It seems that Pinterest is all the "rage" at this time, and I must say I like being able to keep my ideas in one specific organized place. I've used a few of the recipes I've found, made several things I've "pinned", but I wanted to share the latest project, a menu board! I've wanted one for years - an easier way to make better use of our meal choices and stop having the same thing ALL the time.

I found my inspiration here and was super inexpensive, about $6 when I used a 40% coupon at Michaels for the frame.  Meal planning is a little easier these days.  I like it because all of my menu choices are kept in the red Menu Bank and once are used I place them in the smaller pocket above. Each menu card has the needed ingredients listed on the back, so I can just look there and see what I need for my shopping list! We're finding we're having a bigger variety of meals and the family has more input. I think the kids really like being able to walk over to the board, at any given time and know what we're having and can even get started on cooking if I'm not home.

Later in the month...
I've been working on our menu for the week, and trying to add a few more items to our "myriad"of choices. Usually I'll narrow it down to about 10-15 menu choices, ask each family member to pick their favorite and then narrow down to five, put them in order of days of the week (because some nights we're just not all here, literally, and then it's 'O.Y.O.' (On Your Own)), and make my grocery list from that. Each menu card choice has the list of ingredients listed on the back for easy reference. One reason I love Leftovers card is not simply that with menu planning, we frequently have leftovers, but I live with three males...  They are not known for being the most aware of food they can eat and would pick cereal or something else.  This way, they know they have "permission" to eat the food in the fridge ("Oh, we didn't know if we could eat that or if you planned to use it for something else." no longer cuts it!)  Most of the time it is a cinch to get this done, but for some reason, the thought of cooking this week doesn't excite me. I'm thankful for the menu board at this time, because though I don't want to cook, the Board sure helps to make planning so much smoother.  Love it when the kids walk by and arrange it for me!  Sometimes they rearrange things or try to add their favorite meal back into the mix just to see if anyone is paying attention.

So, with my menu in front of me, I sit alone with my jar of WowButter (like peanut butter), a spoon, and a small handful of dark chocolate chips... Not my finest moment of indulgence, but it is mine...

We had company on the 14th and the husband looked at it and said they got "jipped" because they didn't get all the items listed! We had a good laugh over that.

Have you ever made something from an idea you've found on line, Pinterest, or a magazine?  I'd love to hear about what you created.

Lynnet

Easting Frosty

My kids are to the age that I can't easily "Wow" them at meal time,but I keep trying to make them smile.

 Tonight I used:

• pancake batter
• cookie cutters
• cooking spray
• chocolate chips
• tongs

To put a smile on your family members face, dig out your cookie cutters, and find some with a nice shape or two.  Remember, you want it big enough to make it worth while to spread some butter on it!

Pour in some batter

1. You MUST spray the cookie cutter inside with cooking spray or the batter will cook and stick to the cutter.  You'll be left with a huge mess and yucky looking "fun" shape.
   
2. Put the cookie cutter in your heated skillet and pour enough batter to cover the bottom part of the cutter. Sometimes I like to add a variety: pour batter in part of it, wait a few seconds for that to set, and pour the rest of the batter in. 
   
3. Let it cook until the batter is set.  I use tongs to pull the hot cookie cutter off the batter and flip your pancake over.  The batter should not run when you pull the cutter off.
   
4. Take your hot fresh pancake from the skillet, add what ever toppings make you happy!

   

   Remove the cutter

 Sometimes I like to add a variety:

• Pour batter in part of it, wait a few seconds for that to set, and pour the rest of the batter in. 
• add a few chocolate chips, blueberries, sprinkles, etc

  

  Stacked men

 That's how we ate "Frosty" tonight, what different ways do you try to put a smile on the faces your love at meal time?  I'd love to hear how you do it!

Little Miss Muffet - Making Cottage Cheese

Little Miss Muffet, sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider, who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

 I'm not a fan of spiders, though we once had a pet tarantula, but I'll fancy to say that, after my cooking adventure tonight, it wasn't the spider that scared Miss Muffet away. It was the part of the process to get the curds that must have scared her.  


There was something just not right with breakfast of milk and Grapenuts. The milk was clumpy and smelled funny so  I double checked the expiration and I still had 5 days! I was little upset to think that lost close to $6 of milk because both gallons were soured.  I could have put two gallons of gas in the car!

There had to be a way to use all this milk without pouring it down the drain. I research revealed I could make cottage cheese with it.  I really was not wanting to take up my whole day doing this, so I was thrilled to find it would take very little of my day.

What I found was a simple process that yielded a surprising yummy result.  I now know why the spider scared Miss Muffet.  Her mother must have made her some homemade cottage cheese!  If you'd like to see the recipe and result, head over to my cooking blog, try it, and either leave me a note there or come back here to tell me how it turned out.  Me?  I'll certainly make cottage cheese again!