Peanut Butter & Honey... Celery?

My brother wasn't feeling well this last week, out with some kind of stomach BuG. In any case, I saw him prepare a celery stick with peanut butter... YUM, a good snack. Then he pulled out the honey and started to drizzle it on top as if it was a PB+H sandwich. I asked him if it tasted good. He said he didn't know. Then he took a big bite. "YEP" it tasted good. I haven't tried it yet, maybe when I get home (I didn't want to catch his germs), but it seems like a good alternative to a Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich.

Orange Julius

My kids love orange julius for breakfast. It is fast and easy to make, and if you add a peice of toast you have breakfast that you can take on the go.

Orange Julius
2 C water
1-2 C ice
1/3 to 1/2 can orange juice concentrate
1/3 C powdered milk (or decrease water by 1 C and use 1 C milk)
squirt of vanilla

Combine all in blender and blend on high till smooth. Adjust ingredients to your taste.

Southwest chicken salad

I am now feeling better but not soon enough to plan something for dinner. So at 6:30 I was still wondering what to fix that would be super fast. I found a bag of salsa chicken in the freezer (more on that later), and plenty of salad in the fridge. So I took the salad including baby greens, spinach, and romaine, added the bag of chicken, a bag of frozen corn(thawed), and a can of black beans. Top with dressing of your choice, I used ranch and added some chipotle seasoning. It was yummy and a whole meal. Who needs more than one course?

Braille Month

It Braille Month!

While teaching 1st grade using the Houghton Mifflin curriculum book, we read a story about a girl who was blind and used braille to read. My students loved learning about Braille and "secret codes." We even did a few art projects with it. Here are a few fun activity you can do with your children or students and learn something new.

Materials
Printed Braille alphabet (see below)

Other Materials depending on the project
Liquid Glue
hole punch or sharp pencil/pin
little round objects:beans, bead, etc.
graham crackers or bread
frosting or peanut butter
chocolate chips, red hot dots, raisins, etc.

First, you need to print 1braille alphabet for each project. You can download one here or print one from here. In the past I got mine with boxes to help my students understand that it's based on 6 organized dots like on this web site here. They all print out kind of small, so if you have a copier/printer, cute it out and enlarge it. You can also try this Yahoo image here.

Project 1: Raised Glue Braille
You need liquid glue. The thicker the better because you want the glue to "stand up" not run. Elmer's works pretty good. There is also colored glue and even some paints might work. Pretty much, anything that will harden while standing up.

Open the glue about halfway (so it doesn't run out and ruin your page), dab it onto each dot of your printed Braille page. Try to fill the whole dot and get it to stand up instead of running. It's easier the thicker the glue is! Set a side and let dry.

Project 2: Raised Braille
You will need a sharp pencil/pin to poke holes. This one is a little tricky because you have to poke holes through the back side of the paper where there are no dotes. In any case, hold the paper up to the light and poke holes so that it leaves a raised dot on the front side. If you know how to print a mirror image, it will be a lot easier...
Under printer properties, select the features tab. Find orientation and check the mirror image box. This will print it backward so you can see the holes while you poke, then turn the paper over to feel the bumps.

Project 3: Raised objects Braille
If you don't want to deal with too much mess, find small round objects like: beans, beads, googly eyes, red hots, etc. to glue on to the braille paper.

Project 4: Raised Braille FOOD!
You can make a yummy Braille snack. Using mini chocolate chips, arrange a message for a friend on a graham cracker using frosting or peanut butter as your "glue." Break the grahams apart to make individual letters. See if you can figure out the letters using your tong instead of your fingers.

Project 5: Make your own Braille Stencil
You need a hole punch. Hole punch each braille dot. Once you have hole punched all the dots you now have a stencil to make WORDS!!! Write your name or even a secret message by coloring in the holes on a paper. Then you can do one of the projects above and try to have someone read it with out using their eyes.

Project 6: Make your own Secret Code
Children can make their own symbols for the alphabet including: stars, hearts, dots, etc.

While You Wait...
While you wait for your Braille Projects to dry, you can lean something about the people who use Braille.

How long do you think Braille has been around?
Who invented it?
Who uses it?
Have you seen it at places you've been to?

Next time you use a public bathroom, look for the gender symbol. You will usually see some Braille below it.

To learn more about Braille and people with a sight disability try these sites...
American Foundation for the Blind
Braille Bug
Wikipedia Braille
Louis Braille

You can also request a FREE Braille card here!

Corn Chowder: Chose Your Own Adventure

I made Corn Chowder...Or I should say I experimented with Corn Chowder.

I didn't think it turned out well because it boiled over while I was tending to a screaming baby, but my husband said it was a success, so I guess I'll post it.

Serves 2-3 People, so use your math skills for your family
1 large potato or 2 small potatoes
1c. milk
1 T. flour (I used wheat)
1 c. water
1 1/2 - 2 c. corn
1 t. better than bouillon (or cube bouillon or 1 t. salt+spices)
1 t. olive oil

Add Ins:
1/4 c. onion
1/4 c. celery
1/4 c. diced potato

1. Wash, peal, and dice/slice the potato (it will boil quicker). If you want onions, celery, and extra potato in your chowder, chop those vegetables too.
2. Boil ONLY the potato until tender, about 10-12 minutes.
2. While waiting for your potato slices, whip 1 c. water, 1/2 to about 1 c. of the corn (depends on how corny tasting you want it), and bouillon in a blender.
3. Chose your adventure: For a creamier chowder, strain the corn mixture into a large pot and toss the corn skins. For more texture, don't strain, just put the corn mixture in a pot.
3. Chose your adventure: If you want onion, celery, and extra potato, add it now to the corn mixture. Also add the 1 t. of oil. Bring the corn mixture to a boil.
4. While the corn mixture and vegetables are cooking, strain the potatoes. Whip the potatoes,
1 c. milk, and 1 T. flour in a blender.
5. Add the potato mixture to the boiling corn mixture, then reduce heat to simmer about 5-7 minutes. Also add the rest of the corn.

5 things to do with failed bread

The first time I made bread it turned out BAD! It tasted fine but it was very dense and hard. It took me 4 months to figure it out. I will give you a recipe and tutorial but it will have to wait, I am sick and in bed. So I thought I would share with you what you can do with your bread if it doesn't turn out.


1. Crackers - Slice very thin, an electric knife works well for this. Spray one side with cooking spray, sprinkle with seasoning, and bake at 425 for 5 minutes on each side.



2. French toast - Dip slices of bread into a mix of egg and milk, cook in pan over medium high heat till browned, flip and brown other side. For a tasty treat substitute flavored coffee creamer for the milk.


3. Croutons - Cut bread into crouton size cubes. In a bowl combine some olive oil with seasoning of choice, stir in bread cubes and stir until coated. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes stirring every 5 minutes.



4. Bread crumbs - put bread in blender and blend until coarse.





5. Mini pizzas - Slice bread. Cut out circle, I use a canning ring. Put sauce, cheese, and any other topping on. Microwave or bake at 425 till cheese is melted.


Or your could use it to soak up spilled milk or let your children play Hansel and Gretel. We used to go and feed it to the ducks everyday, but I have since read that you shouldn't do that.

If your first attempt doesn't work out don't quit, keep trying. You shouldn't even think of quiting till you have used the failed attempts for all suggestions.

Bread

warning: Just because something is healthy doesn't mean it is calorie free. This bread is Yummy and when eaten in large quantities will cause weight gain.

I made bread(100% whole wheat) and honey butter today. Recipe and tutorial for bread will follow soon.





Honey Butter

1 cube butter
1/2 C raw honey

In a bowl mix butter and honey together on high speed 3-5 minutes till light and fluffy. Store in fridge.

Nacho Cheese, Mac and cheese, and Almond milk

What kid doesn't like mac and cheese? Well this week my little girl wanted some, but I was out of boxes. I always have noodles on hand in my food storage, and cheese in the fridge. I store them in a big 5 gallon bucket. I have a mix of half white and half whole wheat. This way when I run out I can make it from scratch, which I think tastes better and is healthier.

My kids love nacho cheese with chips, but the stuff you get in a can isn't the healthiest. Here is a recipe that makes it a good snack or a dinner if you added a can of beans.

Almond milk is a great substitute for milk, especially for those with dairy allergies. It is lower calories than dairy milk, and I prefer the taste. Children may be allergic to this, consult your doctor for children under the age of 4.

White sauce

1T butter
1T flour (I use whole wheat, but any type works)
1C milk

In a pan melt the butter over medium to high heat, and add flour. Cook for a minute or two until bubbly. Slowly add milk and stir constantly till comes to a boil and thickens. This sauce is good for many recipes and a great base for any creamy sauces like Alfredo. If your watching your waistline use skim milk.

Mac and Cheese

1C. noodles
shredded cheese (amount depends on how cheesy you want it, I use cheddar)
white sauce

In a pan bring 3-5 cups water to a boil add noodles and cook until desired tenderness. I cook mine about 8 minutes, set a timer so they don't get mushy. Pour into strainer and drain water out. Pour back in pan and over low to medium heat add white sauce and cheese. Stir until cheese melts, add salt and pepper to taste. If your watching your waistline use low fat cheese and whole wheat noodles.

Nacho Cheese

white sauce
shredded cheese (amount depends on how cheesy you want it, I use cheddar, monterrey jack or pepper jack would be yummy also)
1-2T taco seasoning

In a pan over medium heat stir white sauce and cheese together. Add taco seasoning to taste. Serve with chips and salsa.

Almond Milk

1C almonds
water
agave
salt

Rinse almonds well. In a bowl cover almonds with water and soak for 4-12 hours. Drain and rinse almonds. In a blender combine almonds and 4-5 cups of water. Blend well for a few minutes. Pour into strainer lined with cheesecloth and strain. You can then strain it through muslin cloth. Add about 1-3 teaspoons agave and a dash of salt to taste. Store in refrigerator for up to a week, shake or stir before serving.

If you try some let me know how your family likes them.