The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

In my life this week…

In our homeschool this week…Robyn is plowing right along. She even did several lessons on her own without my supervision when I needed to run an errand or two and has done a good job reviewing her lessons before her quizzes and tests.

I am inspired by…our cooler temperatures and the ceasing of all the rain. It motivates me to work around the house. Heat just wears me out.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…Been to several doctor's offices this week. Hubby has been seeing his doctor about his high blood pressure, and it is starting to come down some, and if you saw my post about the benign tumor that was removed from the top of his head, we had the stitches taken out of that today. Daughter says she can no longer call him Frankenstein!

My favorite thing this week was…getting "new to us" furniture for our den. It just so happens that my Mother-In-Love was given a gorgeous three piece suite for her den and she gave us her hand-me-downs. It looks perfect for our den and we will take it with us to our next home. We have found a home for our old furniture and it may be leaving our house this weekend.

Things I’m working on…I'm really trying to get in my prayer time and Bible reading on a daily basis. I'm also trying to get to bed earlier.

I’m reading…I'm still reading Uncle Tom's Cabin on my Ipod at night. It is very good. I read a little of it today while in the waiting room at the doctor's office. It was a very sad part and I was trying not to cry. I'm just an emotional gal!

I’m cooking…I'm going to cook Dum Dum Depression Casserole tonight and Cornbread. I've planned this meal before but then didn't fix it so tonight's the night. It's sounds like good country food to me.

I’m grateful for…my Heavenly Father who is seeing my family through this season of life of unemployment, hubby's health issues, homeschooling, and trying to ready this home for sale.

I’m praying for…hubby's blood pressure to continue to lower and get to a healthier pressure, for him to find employment, and for him to feel better so that he can get this house ready for sale. Can you tell I'm ready to do this?

Come back again next week. Thanks for visiting Second Star Academy at the Chaos Cottage,

Pam

The cyst on the Hubs was getting bigger. It also itched him a lot. We just didn't think we could justify the expense to have it removed. Then he thought it could be distracting prospective employers. So out it went. It was a textbook Lipoma. A benign cyst. Isn't she a beauty! He is no longer turning into a unicorn. Don't let anyone tell you they don't exist. I have the proof. Ha!

Pam

Menu for week of September 4

Monday:

Breakfast: Pancakes, Turkey Sausage, Low Sodium Bacon, Juice and Coffee
Lunch: Quiche and Strawberries (changed this already, had sammies, Sun chips and strawberries instead of quiche)
Dinner: Wild Rice Chicken, Roasted Asparagus

Wild Rice Chicken
(Freezer Friendly)

1 c. cooked, deboned, diced chicken
8 oz. water chestnuts, sliced, drained
1 c. finely chopped celery
1 c. finely chopped onion
6 ¼ oz. pkg. Uncle Ben's fast-cooking long grain and wild rice
¾ c. mayo (regular or light) used on serving day
1 can cream of mushroom soup, used on serving day

Cook rice. Mix with all ingredients except mayo and soup and freeze. When thawed, place in 11 x 7 inch dish. Stir together mayo and soup. Spread over mixture. Cook covered 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Tuesday:

Breakfast: Free Chick-Fil-A Breakfast
Lunch: Out at Sonic
Dinner: Cajun Beans and Sausage, Cornbread Muffins (using smoked turkey sausage)

Wednesday:

Breakfast: Cereal and Toast, Juice and Coffee
Lunch: Cheese Quesas, Fruit
Dinner: Spaghetti, Salad, Homemade Italian Breadsticks

Thursday:

Breakfast: One Eyed Sailors, Link Sausage, Sliced Tomatoes
Lunch: Chicken Salad Sammies, Carrots and Dip, Sun Chips
Dinner: Chicken Noodle Casserole, Corn on the Cob, Leftover Breadsticks

Friday:

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Toast, Juice and Coffee
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Dum Dum Depression Casserole, Greens, Leftover Cornbread Muffins

Saturday:

Breakfast: Ham and Cheese Muffins, Eggs, Sliced Tomatoes, Juice and Coffee
Lunch: Picnic
Dinner: Leftovers

Sunday:

Breakfast: Muffins
Lunch: Crock Pot Taco Soup, Fritos

Crock Pot Taco Soup

1 pound ground beef (I'm using ground turkey)
1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, with liquid
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups water
2 (14.5 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

1. In a medium skillet, cook the ground beef until browned over medium heat. Drain, and set aside.

2. Place the ground beef, onion, chili beans, kidney beans, corn, tomato sauce, water, diced tomatoes, green chile peppers and taco seasoning mix in a slow cooker. Mix to blend, and cook on Low setting for 8 hours.

Dinner: Clean Out Refrigerator Night

In my life this week…cried my eyes out yesterday watching Where the Red Fern Grows with my daughter. I guess I was just "due" a good cry. Good movie.

In our homeschool this week…we are moving along just fine. Seems like it was an easy week for us.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…may be going to the doctor with hubby today. Waiting on a phone call. He has a cyst on the top of his head to be taken off if his blood pressure issue will allow.

My favorite thing this week was…spending time with family.

Things I’m working on…still decluttering the house to get it ready for the market.

I’m reading…still reading Uncle Tom's Cabin but have also started on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

I’m cooking…I've been cooking some yummy food for my family. Check out my weekly menu posted on Sunday or Monday to see my recipes. My Apple Bread was really good. I wish I had some with my coffee right now!

I’m grateful for…my online friends!

I’m praying for…my husband's blood pressure to lower and for him to find employment.

Lasagna Roll-ups and Italian Bread Sticks

One of my meals I made for my family this week is a family favorite called Lasagna Roll-ups. Usually I double the recipe and freeze it in my Gladware pan which goes from freezer, to fridge to thaw, to the oven. We are only a family of three and this is perfect for us. But we decided to eat the second pan the next day for lunch and finished off the bread sticks as well. Here are the recipes for these two items.

Italian Bread Sticks

1 1⁄2 cup warm water
1 T. yeast
2 T. sugar
3 1⁄2 c. flour
1⁄2 tsp. salt
2–3 T. butter, margarine, melted, or extra-virgin olive oil
Garlic powder/salt
Parmesan cheese

Add the yeast to the warm water and stir. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until bubbly.

Mix sugar, flour, and salt together. Add the yeast mixture and stir to mix well.

Knead for a few minutes until smooth. Let stand 10 minutes.

Pour melted butter/margarine or olive oil in a 9”x13” baking dish.

Press the dough into the dish, spreading it out to fill it completely.

Cut the dough into strips in the baking dish and sprinkle with garlic and/or Parmesan cheese as desired. (I usually add some extra melted butter or olive oil on top too, but I’m overindulgent like that. You really don’t need to.)

Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

Bake 20 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven until golden brown.

Lasagna Roll Ups

-6 lasagna noodles
-1/2 lb. sausage
-chopped onions
-1 (15.soz) jar spaghetti sauce
-1 (8oz) pkg. shredded pizza blend cheese

-Cook lasagna noodles according to pkg. directions.
-Rinse and drain; set aside.
-In a skillet cook the sausage and onions.
-Drain.
-In a bowl mix 1 cup of the spaghetti sauce and sausage together.
-Spread 1/4 cup of the meat sauce onto each lasagna noodle.
-Top with 1 Tbls. cheese.
-Carefully roll up each noodle and place seam side down in an 8x8 baking dish.
-Spoon remaining sauce over top and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
-Bake @ 350 for 20-30 minutes........

The Lasagna Roll-ups get messy when you are making them. Or is it the cook gets messy. Anyway they are delicious. The bread sticks were very easy to make and boy did they smell yummy.

Happy eating!

Pam

Apple Bread

I made the most wonderful and easy apple bread the other day. I wish I had taken a picture. I know I will be making it again, so I will try to remember to post a photo later. It is a super easy recipe:

I box Spice Cake Mix
1 can Apple Pie Filling
3 eggs

Beat all this together for three minutes. Pour into two greased bread pans. Bake about 40 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes and pour glaze over top.

Glaze:

2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 T milk
1 t. vanilla

Mix with a whisk until all the lumps are gone.

My oh my was this good. I even used a sugar free (spelenda sweetened) apple pie filling as that is what was in my pantry. It is so good and moist. I had it hot and cold from the fridge. Either way it is delicious!

I'm asking all my online friends to remember my husband in prayer for his health and employment. His blood pressure has been dangerously high and is being monitored by his doctor and they are tweaking his meds. Also, he needs a job to support his family. He is under a lot of stress to get out of this house and into something paid for and is unable to do much at the moment because he just needs to rest. Pray for him.

Love,
Pam