Menu Monday~2/27/17

Sunday
    Breakfast~Bagels with cream cheese and fruit
    Lunch~Grilled Cheese yogurt and chips
    Snack~ Fruit
    Supper~BBQ Chicken, green beans, baked potatoes and salad
    Snack~Apple crisp

Monday
   Breakfast~Cereal with milk
   Lunch~Ham and Cheese roll ups, fruit and yogurt
   Snack~ice cream
  Supper~Cheesy egg scramble, bacon, engish muffins and hashbrowns
  Snack~Apple Crisp

Tuesday
   Breakfast~Pancakes
   Lunch~Deli Sandwiches, chips and fruit
   Snack~Peanut butter crackers
   Supper~Chicken Alfredo with salad
   Snack~Boston Cream Cake

Wednesday
     Breakfast~Cereal
      Lunch~Macaroni and cheese and ham roll ups
      snack~Yogurt
      Supper~Baked chicken, corn, herbed rice and salad
      Snack~Cake

Thursday
      Breakfast~Clubb McMuffins
      Lunch~Egg salad roll ups with yogurt and fruit
      Snack~carrots
      Supper~Beef roast, dampflanoodle, broccoi
      Snack~Jello

Friday~(First Friday of Lent)
      Breakfast~French Toast
      Lunch~Grilled Cheese, chips and fruit
     Supper~cheese pizza

Saturday
     Breakfast~Cereal
     Lunch~Pizza
    Snack~Homemade soft pretzels
    Supper~Pork Roast, rice and broccoli
     Snack~Cookies

Cherry Turnovers~YUM!!

      My family is a family of sweettooths!  We almost always have ice cream in our house and many times multiple containers of it.  Ice cream is the treat of choice for the hubby and the kids will take whatever (is there a kid who will turn down desserts?)  Well, I only do ice cream pretty much in the summer.  The other seasons are too cold for it for the most part in my opinion.  That being said, I look for other treats to satisfy that sweet tooth!
     When I was in high school I worked at Arby's.  One of the things on their menu were turnovers.  These yummy, sweet, fruity pastries were one thing that I loved!  Fast forward to my adult years, and I found this little secret dessert maker!  Have you heard of Pepperidge Farms Puff Pastry?  I think this stuff is awesome!  I've wanted to try to make it on my own but, haven't tried it yet.  So far I have used it for pot pies, an egg bake, cinnamon twists and now these turnovers.
  They are super simple to make!  Want to make them yourself?  They are super easy!

   What you need:

                              Cookie sheet                 Powdered Sugar                 

                           Parchment paper                   Vanilla              

                            Box of puff pastry                 Milk                             

                            1 egg

                             Pie filling

       To make:  set out the puff pastry for about 20-30 minutes.  This will allow it to thaw enough for you to work with it.  Then unfold one of the pastries (two come in the box) on a large cutting board.  Gently roll out to flatten the folds.  Cut with pizza cutter or knife into 4 equal pieces.  (If you are like me, they won't be exact :).  Don't worry they will still taste awesome!
     Next, take your pie filling, I like apple best however I let Luke pick this time and he picked cherry.  You can use any already made fruit pie filling, if you are feeling really overzealous, you can make your own!  I haven't had much luck with pies so for now, I will stick with the ready makde canned kind!
    So take your pie filling and you want to spread about a tablespoon of the filling onto the pastry.  I have found that it is best if you spread it diagonally since you will fold it in that direction.  Befor











e you fold it you want to "make glue" to help it seal before baking.  Scramble the  egg in a bowl and brush a small amount on 2 sides of each pastry.  Finally fold each pastry into a triangle pressing firmly on the ends to "seal".  That is it!  Time to bake!  Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes.  I check mine at 15 minutes just to be on the safe side.
     While they are cooling, take 3T powdered sugar and mix with 1 T of milk and 1/2 tsp of vanilla.  stir until smooth.  Once the turnovers are almost completely cooled, drizzle the icing crossing back and forth.  They prepare yourself to taste the deliciousness!  Enjoy!    
                                                      

Menu Monday~Feb 20th

Sunday~
  Breakfast~cinnamon rolls with fruit
  Lunch ~toasted ham, salami and roast beef subs with yogurt and
        chips
  Snack~pretzels
  Supper~fried chicken green beans and mac and cheese
  Snack~jello
Monday
  Breakfast~Bagels with cream cheese and fruit
  Lunch ~Scrambled egg and cheese wraps with fruit
  Snack~Pretzels
  Supper~Homemade Texmex chicken with corn and rice. Salad
  Snack~Pound Cake with strawberries and fresh whipped cream
Tuesday
  Breakfast~Cereal with Milk and Fruit
  Lunch ~Chicken, corn and black bean quesadillas
  Snack~carrots
  Supper~ Meatloaf with potatoes, corn and salads
  Snack~Ice Cream
Wednesday
  Breakfast~Skillet Ham and cheese scramble
   Lunch~Banana/Apple roll ups with peanut butter, yogurt and chips
   Snack~ Cookies
  Supper~Skirt steak with ketchup gravy, mashed potatoes and
      green beans salad
  Snack~popcorn
Thursday
   Breakfast~Clubb Muffins with ham, egg and cheese
   Lunch ~Egg Salad on Flour Tortillas with yogurt and apple slices
   Snack~fruit
   Supper~Pizza
   Snack~Pudding
Friday
  Breakfast~Bagelwiches with ham and cheese and sausage links
  Lunch ~Ham and Cheese Panini with Yogurt
  Snack~Carrots with ranch dressing
  Supper~Slow-Cooker Ranch Deer Chili with Cornbread and fresh
         green salad
  Snack~Homemade Pretzels
Saturday
   Breakfast~Pancakes and Waffles with Eggs
   Lunch~ Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Yogurt and Chips
   Snack~Fruit
   Supper~Steak and potatoes, broccoli with cheese and salad
   Snack~  Apple Turnovers

Cheezy Sausage Egg~uffins

  
     Having chickens means that we eat a lot of eggs around here. Several times a week they are the breakfast, lunch or dinner. We hard boil them for egg salad and as a topper for our greener salads.  They are probably one of the most versatile foods out there.  They can be fried, poached, hard boiled, soft cooked etc, etc etc.
     I like to make a baked egg casserole as they are very easy.  What happens when you put that in a bundt pan or muffin tin instead of the 9x13 baker?  Something amazing!  You have a brand new dish!  Your supper table goes from Really, eggs again?  To WOW, what is this!  Okay we do like eggs and for the most part, there are no complaints when that is what greets you when you are called to supper. 
    So are they easy to prepare?  You bet so these would make an awesome “I forgot to defrost the meat!” or “We haven’t had supper yet and it is 7:30 what can we have that is quick?” dilemma that so many of us face multiple times a month (or week if you are like me). 
  To make you will need:
                        16 eggs                                  Pam or equivalent spray
                    1 lb of sausage                            12 count muffin  and 1 mammoth
                    2 cups of cheese                        muffin tin or maybe just 2 large ones
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook sausage in small skillet and drain.  Spray muffin tins with Pam.  Scramble eggs in a large bowl.  Add sausage and cheese and stir until all combined.  Fill muffin cups about 3/4 of the way up as these don’t rise as cupcakes do !
  Bake in the oven checking them at 10 minutes and then every minute or two after that until done. 
    Now my kiddos said that if you are going to call these muffins or cupcakes they need a “frosting top”.  They suggested that you put a drizzle of maple syrup over the top.      Something to try the next time?  Not a huge syrup fan here..
   As you can see these are super easy and can have many variations:  Ham and cheese, veggie, if you don’t want the meat at all, just plain eggs with  a little salt and pepper.  The possibilities are really endless!
  **Keep in mind this was made for my kiddos.  It made 12 regular sized and 6 mammoth size.  You probably want to adjust the ingredients if you don’t need that many.  However they are good heated in the microwave for 1-1.5 minutes the next day!
  Enjoy!

Times Alive 3 Month Subscription~ A TOS Crew Review

Are you looking for a fun, online math program for your student that encourages them and helps them learn their multiplication facts?  If so, you will need to check out this program! 

TIMES-ALIVE by Times Tables The Fun Way brings online lessons with animated songs and stories to learn times tables the fun way!

    Math facts are something that I think every student needs to have a great handle on and the earlier the better. Since each student is different though, each student will develop the cognitive skills to learn at a their own time.  I have 4 kiddos and at times I have had to use different tools or techniques to get their learning to stick.  My daughter "learned" her multiplication at the same time as her brothers, in second grade.  She however, didn’t become as fluent in them as I had liked. We tried timed drills, online games, and flashcards. She would get them then the next day forget. Using Times~Alive she is finally getting them to stick!  The online games and activities have held her interest and entertained her while she is working thru the facts and storing them in her long term memory!  I am so thankful for the program! She now can say that 7 time 8 is 56, instead of 7 x 8 is.......56 (as she is counting it out in her head).

    When I first signed into the website, I thought it was a bit overwhelming., looking at the lesson list page.  Fortunately, my daughter got going really quickly with no hesitations!  I think that for me, it was just a lot of information to be on one page with a new program.  
    Below you will see what comes up when you first get signed on.   This page lists what the type of lesson it is for example video, song or test.  It also shows the lessons you have viewed and completed with either a half or full circle.  To get started you just click on the lesson you need. 

   


Below you will see one of the video screen shots, or the talking and singing part, as my daughter says.  The videos are cute, rhyming "song and dance" animated clips with the facts that they are working on in that clip.





The program goes back and reviews the facts throughout to keep your child working on the previous facts to help things stick.  Below is an example of one of the review pages. 




  I have been pleasantly please in the progress that my daughter has shown in the short time that we have been using this program.  She is singing the rhyming songs and retelling the stories several times thru out the day which I think is what is helping her to remember it.  As I was finishing my review I watched her go thru a few of the screens and she was super fast compared to a few weeks ago! I love when things finally click also..after one of the sessions my daughter did, she came to me showing me the song/skit.  It was about the fact 3x3=9.  It has mice on the screen and she noticed that two of the mice's tails were in the shape of 3 and one was like a nine.  She was super excited and I think that that fact was then stuck in her head!  Check it out:

  
   The only downside to the program that I can see is that sometimes the progress isn't saved in the computer.  My daughter didn't mind starting again.  As she got quicker with it it was a breeze even starting from the beginning.  She is 10 and was a slow multiplier.  She informed me that: 
 
    "This would be great for anyone who needs help with their facts even if they are smaller than me!"

  You can get your subscription for $9.95 a month and help your children Learn Times Tables the Fun Way! 
     
 
  Thank you to the Homeschool Review Crew and Times Tables The Fun Way for the opportunity to review this product! 

Check out what other crew members said about this subscription!

  

                 You can find Times-Alive here:

Website

Youtube

Menu Monday~Week of Feb 13th

Sunday
    Breakfast~Bagels with cream cheese and jelly, fruit
    Snack~ At Church
    Lunch~Cheesy ham and egg casserole with fruit
    Supper~Deer Chili with Corn bread and salad
    Snack~  Yogurt

Monday
     Breakfast~ Cereal
     Lunch~Ham and Cheese roll-ups,  carrots and chips
     Snack~ yogurt
     Supper~BBQ chicken with rice, green beans, and salad
     Snack~ Jello
Tuesday
     Breakfast~ Oatmeal with fruit
     Lunch~ Sandwiches, yogurt and fruit
     Snack~Ice cream
     Supper~Spaghetti meatballs, salad and bread (or left overs)
     Snack~Cookies-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
Wednesday
     Breakfast ~ Cheezy Sausage Egg~uffins with hash browns and fruit
     Lunch~Pizza
     Snack~yogurt
     Supper~Chicken Noodle soup with knot rolls and salad
     Snack~popcorn
Thursday
     Breakfast~Scrambled eggs with toast and applesauce
     Lunch~macaroni and cheese with ham roll-ups and steamed broccoli
     Snack~cheese and crackers
    Supper~Shaken Parmesean chicken with roasted potatoes and grean beans and salad
    Snack~Pudding
Friday
   Breakfast~Cereal
   Lunch~sandwiches, fruit and yogurt
  Snack~Peanut butter crackers
  Supper~pork roast, dampfnudel and corn with salad 
  snack~Ice cream
Saturday
  Breakfast~Pancakes and waffles with fruit and eggs
  Lunch~left overs or grilled cheese with fruit
  Snack~Ice cream
  Supper~grilled chicken salads with bread
Snack~popcorn

Homeschooling..Starting With The Convention

It’s that time of year again in our area!  The homeschool convention is quickly approaching!  Are you ready?  I have talked with several people with in the past few weeks about ours here in Cincinnati.  There are lot of questions buzzing around!    So I thought it would be a good idea to share my experiences and thoughts about how I get thru it. SO here are my thoughts and experiences at our homeschool convention in Cincinnati. 


  First of all, Do I Need to go to be a successful homeschooler?
    Of Course not!  You can do your own research and purchase online, make your own curriculum, or whatever you want/need.  One of the joys/perks of homeschooling, right?  I am more of a touchy feely person and I want to see and touch the books that I am going to be using the best I can.   I find it more frustrating to buy something online that I thought would work to find out it didn’t.  Besides a lot of vendors offer discounts if you purchase at the convention.  Even if it is only free shipping, it helps!
  Second,  Is it recommended to go?
I would say that depends on who you talk to .  I would totally say yes!  I also would say that why not make that weekend yours?  Go with either you hubby (and leave the kids with Grandma) or go with your girlfriends.  Stay in a hotel by the event and have a great couple of days! 
  Do I need to go from start to finish?  Of course not!  Our convention goes for 2.5 days here (We are the Midwest one on the Great Homeschool Conventions).  Ours starts on Thursday night and does about 4 hours, then on Friday it is a long day (8am-9pm I believe) and then Saturday is more like an 8-5.  Now don’t hold me to those times, I am just using it for an example!
    I would recommend that you plan on going at least Friday and Saturday.  If you can only schedule one day, then Friday would be your best bet with our convention’s schedule as it is the longest day.  You can purchase your tickets the day of, however they are cheaper the sooner you buy them.
  Finally, how do I schedule my time? 
I plan on going two days, however I have done my homework ahead of time. 
  When I had 4 kiddos at home to homeschool, it got overwhelming to me to make sure that I had something for each kiddo and each subject they were going to take that year.  SO I went to excel and created a spread sheet that I am still using.  I have the kids listed on the l left and the subjects across the top.  I fill in the info with what curriculum as I decide what I am using.  For example, we have had great success with Math U See with all 4 kids.  SO I know going in I am definitely using that!  That goes into the spreadsheet.  I do this with all the subjects.    Check it out!


  Sorry the picture isn’t the best. However it gets the point across, doesn’t it?  I think it looks a little sad as there are only two kiddos on it.  I started this when I still had 4 at home! Anywho, you don’t need to use Excel, I have used a notebook before.  Whatever works for you.  I just like Excel! 
     As you can see looking at this, there are some blank spaces.  This is because I am not 100 percent sold on what I am doing in those classes.  Art for one, is a struggle in our house.  I am not an artist or artistic at all. At times I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler!  Yep that is me!   So that takes some thought at times as to what to use.  Secondly, I have usually use science and history curriculum with multiple kids at the same time.  So much easier for us!  Once the kiddos hit 8th grade they branch off and start the Apologia series.  So, I still need a science for Cecelia that she hasn’t already done with the boys.  My homework isn’t finished yet!
I think that is enough info for one day though, don’t you?  I will finish my process in another post.  In the meantime, start that schedule of classes for your kids!  That convention is quickly approaching!
   Keep in mind that this is what I do.  There is no wrong or right way to go about the convention or the preparation of your homeschool! You have to do what works for you and your kiddos.  I was overwhelmed when I went the first few years.  It honestly took me about 3 years to be comfortable and know “what I was doing” down there.
  Is this your first year?  The best advise I have for you…BREATHE!!  It can be very overwhelming the first few times you go.  There is A LOT of info to take in!  I will finish my convention journey in a second post. 
   Be sure to check out what other Homeschool Review Crew Members are talking about on their 5 days of Homeschool posts!