Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Beef Pot Pie

Beef Pot Pie
8 servings


2 pie crusts
1 pound ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1 can cream of potato soup
1/2 cup milk
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1 teaspoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Line a greased pie plate with your favorite pie crust. Cook the ground beef and onion together until done; add seasonings. Combine soup, milk and vegetables; add to meat mixture. Pour into pie crust. Top with second crust; crimp edges and vent. Beat an egg white and brush top. Bake at 350° degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Enjoy!


We enjoyed this beef pie last week at our home school co-op's medieval feast. I requested the recipe after the first bite! :-) Thank you Dina!


Picture to be added later...
My camera goes hunting a lot this time of year. ;-)

Pumpkin Harvest Cookies


Pumpkin Harvest Cookies
2 dozen

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup craisins

Beat shortening, sugar and pumpkin. Add egg. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; add to pumpkin mixture. Stir in nuts and cranberries. Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookies sheet. Bake 12 minutes at 375°. Wonderful with Constant Comment tea!

Mmmm...you could eat these for breakfast! ;-)

Fill Your Heart With Thanksgiving

"Take nothing for granted,
for whenever you do
The "joy of enjoying"
is lessened for you.
For we rob our own lives
much more than we know
When we fail to respond
or in any way show
Our thanks for the blessings
that daily are ours...
The warmth of the sun,
the fragrance of flowers,
The beauty of twilight,
the freshness of dawn,
The coolness of dew
on a green velvet lawn,
The kind little deeds
so thoughtfully done,
The favors of friends
and the love that someone
Unselfishly gives us
in a myriad of ways,
Expecting no payment
and no words of praise.
Oh, great is our loss
when we no longer find
A thankful response
to things of this kind,
For the joy of enjoying
and the fullness of living
Are found in the heart
that is filled with thanksgiving."

~Helen Steiner Rice

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

Monday, November 24, 2008

Thanksgiving Activities for Children

keeping 'em busy...


Websites to explore -

Books we've enjoyed -
"Let's Celebrate Thanksgiving - A Book of Drawing Fun" by Janice Kinnealy
"Crafts for Thanksgiving" by Kathy Ross
"Cranberry Thanksgiving" by Wende Devlin
"A Turkey for Thanksgiving" by Eve Bunting
"Why We Have Thanksgiving" by Margaret Hillert
"Silly Tilly's Thanksgiving Dinner" by Lillian Hoban
"Thanksgiving Day Crafts" by Arlene and Herbert Erlbach
"Thanksgiving" by Cass R. Sandak
"Over the River and Through the Woods" by Lydia Maria Child
"Pilgrims - a Magic Treehouse Research book" by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce
"Thanksgiving Unit Study Adventures" by Amanda Bennett

Fun things to do -

Tammy
invited me to join her home school open house. Please visit Tammy to discover what other home schools are doing to celebrate Thanksgiving! :-)

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Supper Menus
November 24th-29th

Monday
crispy tacos, refried beans, spanish rice
Tuesday
beef pot pie, lettuce and tomato salad, pumpkin harvest cookies
Wednesday
baked ziti, green salad, garlic bread
Thursday
Thanksgiving dinner with family - taking green bean salad, turkey shaped butter cookies, and apple pie
Friday
creamy chicken casserole, black beans, tortilla chips
Saturday
homemade pizza

A Gray, November Day


the best kind

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Have a wonderful weekend! :-)

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com
"Deer Near Cabin" by M. Caroselli

Cinnamon Quick Bread


Cinnamon Quick Bread
1 loaf

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan. Combine 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, and salt. Combine buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients; beat 3 minutes. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Smooth top. Combine 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Pour topping over batter. Using knife, cut in a light swirling motion to give a marbled effect. Bake for 50-55 minutes; until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool 5 minutes. Remove bread from pan; cool on rack and enjoy!

Friday, November 21, 2008

"All seasons sweet,
but autumn best of all."

~Elinor Wylie

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com
"Cozy Cabin" by Judy Gibson

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Sights and Sounds

at the carnival!

not too windy

not too cold

a sure shot

the tilt a whirl! (for the children, not me!)

the ferris wheel

the merry go round

and bumper cars

with Daddy!

The Middle Ages

Tomorrow is the last meeting of the semester for our home school co-op. We have been studying Susan Wise Bauer's The Story of the World: The Middle Ages. A medieval feast is planned. Our contribution - "Viking Bread" and "King Alfred Cakes"...recipes in the Activity Book.

Giving Thanks ~ Thursday


Thanksgiving Recipes

Farrah, the old fashioned homekeeper, Ladybug's Mom at Celebrating Seasons, and an anonymous reader requested recipes for the menu I listed yesterday. I am happy to share the recipes! Thank you for asking. :-)

Please, be sure to visit Farrah. She posts on femininity and homemaking. And, Ladybug's Mom has really great crafting ideas!

Turkey and Dressing Casserole
1 package cornbread stuffing mix
½ cup butter, melted
1 turkey breast, cooked and shredded
1 can water chestnuts, sliced and drained
1 can evaporated milk
1 can cream of chicken soup

Mix stuffing mix and butter. Put ½ of mixture into bottom of a 9X13 inch pan. Mix all other ingredients and pour over stuffing mix. Sprinkle remaining stuffing mix on top of turkey mixture. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

Green Bean Casserole
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cans green beans
1 ½ cups french fried onions

Mix soup, milk and pepper. Stir in beans and 1 cup of the fried onions. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Top with the remaining fried onions and bake 5 more minutes, until onions are lightly browned.

Potato Casserole
12 medium potatoes, peeled (about 5 pounds)
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1 (8 ounce) container cream cheese
1(8 ounce container) sour cream
1/4 teaspoon dried onion
salt and pepper to taste

Place potatoes in a large kettle; cover with water; cook until tender. Drain; mash potatoes until smooth. Add butter, cream cheese, sour cream, onion, salt and pepper. Combine until smooth. Place in a greased 3-qt. baking dish and store in refrigerator overnight. Before baking, set out potatoes at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then bake, covered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until heated through. Uncover for last 10 minutes of baking.

Sweet Potato Casserole

4 sweet potatoes
¼ cup orange juice
¾ cup flour
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt
½ cup butter
1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows

Bake sweet potatoes in microwave until done. When cool enough to handle, peel potatoes, mash and place in a casserole dish. Pour orange juice over potatoes. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt; cut in butter. Sprinkle mixture over potatoes and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, top with marshmallows, and broil just until marshmallows are browned – watch carefully!

Rio Grand Dandy Green Bean Salad

1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup oil
¾ cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1 can french-style green beans, drained
1 can small green peas, drained
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
½ cup onion, finely chopped
1 jar chopped pimientos

Combine first give ingredients until well blended and sugar is dissolved; set aside. Combine vegetables and gently toss with dressing. Refrigerate overnight. Drain well and serve.

Pink Salad
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
1 can cherry pie filling
1 can eagle brand milk
1 (8 ounce) container cool whip

Combine and refrigerate.

No Knead Refrigerator Rolls
4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup shortening
6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside. In another bowl, mix together sugar, salt, shortening, and egg with an electric mixer at low speed. Add mixture to yeast; stir in flour until dough forms. Cover dough with a damp cloth, and place in refrigerator. Punch down occasionally as dough rises. You can leave dough in refrigerator overnight. Two hours before baking, shape the dough into rolls. Place on greased pans, baking trays or muffin pans. Let rise 2 hours. Bake at 400° for 8 to 10 minutes.
Pecan Pie
2 eggs
3/4 cup corn syrup
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups pecan halves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 recipe 9 inch single pie crust

In a mixing bowl, slightly beat eggs. Stir in corn syrup, sugar, and vanilla. Mix well. Lightly stir in pecans, till well-coated with egg mixture. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Turn the oven down to 300°, and bake for another 30 minutes. Cool before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator.
A few of the recipes are already on my site and I linked to them on the original post - Thanksgiving Menu. Happy Cooking! :-)
Thank you, Kelli, for hosting Giving Thanks week!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Giving Thanks ~ Wednesday


Thanksgiving Framed Song


I had five minutes and an empty frame, so I printed out a favorite Thanksgiving song this afternoon.

And, since I'll be spending so much time in the kitchen during the holidays...I filled a black frame with a sweet reminder to the handsome man that tends to walks through my kitchen a lot! ;-)

We interrupt your regularly scheduled homeschooling...

To watch a praying mantis eat bugs -
fascinating!

Giving Thanks ~ Wednesday

Thanksgiving Menu

This week I have been participating in the Giving Thanks celebration, hosted by Kelli, who suggested that participants share their Thanksgiving menus. As we will be travelling to visit family for the holiday, and I will not be hosting this year, I thought I would share the menu from the last time I prepared the Thanksgiving meal. I found the menu, still saved in my computer along with the shopping list, the serving dishes I planned to use, and lots of other details...I'm all about the details. ;-)

*No matter what the menu, though, the most important thing is not what is on the table, but what is around it. :-)*

~Thanksgiving Dinner 2006~

turkey breast
dressing

gravy
chicken and dressing casserole
baked ham
potato casserole
sweet potato casserole
green been casserole
rio grande dandy green bean salad
sweet salad
cranberry sauce
pickles and olives
dinner rolls
apple pie
pecan pie
pumpkin pie
pumpkin roll
thanksgiving shaped butter cookies
thanksgiving shaped chocolate candies

tea
coffee


Well, now, who's hungry? ;-)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Giving Thanks ~ Tuesday



Thanksgiving Jokes and Riddles :-)

We used these at one of our home school Thanksgiving parties. I had them printed on slips of paper in a brown bag. All the children took turns pulling one out of the bag, reading it to the group, and giggling.

What kind of music did the Pilgrims dance to?The Plymouth Rock!

Where did the first corn come from?The stalk brought it!

What happened to the Pilgrim who was shot at by an Indian?He had an arrow escape!

Why did the Indian chief wear so many feathers?To keep his wigwam!

What did the turkey say before it was roasted?
Boy, am I stuffed!

If April showers bring May flowers…
What do Mayflowers bring?
Pilgrims!

How did the Mayflower show that it liked America?It hugged the shore!

Round as an apple.
A color like gold.
With more things inside,
Than you are years old.
What is it?
A pumpkin!

An Indian had 2 ½ piles of corn in one row. He had 1 ½ piles of corn in another row. Then he put them together. How many piles did he have?One pile!

A Pilgrim had nine ears of corn in his barn. Each day a squirrel came to the barn and took away three ears. But it took the squirrel nine days to remove all the corn. Can you guess why? The squirrel took away three ears each time, but only one was made of corn. The other two were his own!

What key has legs and can’t open doors?A turkey!

What happened when the turkey got into a fight?He got the stuffing knocked out of him!

Why was the turkey the drummer in a band?Because he had the drumsticks!

Knock! Knock!
Who’s there?
Waddle
Waddle who?
Waddle I do if you don’t open the door?!

Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?

Yes - a building can't jump at all!

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside!

What happened to the turkey whose feathers were all pointing the wrong way?He was tickled to death!

What are unhappy cranberries called?Blueberries!

What smells the best at Thanksgiving dinner?Your nose!

What always comes at the end of Thanksgiving?The letter G!

What did the farmer say to the green pumpkin?Why orange you orange?!

How do you make a turkey float?You need two scoops of ice cream, root beer and a turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving! :-)

More Thanksgiving crafts, recipes, ideas and inspiration
can be found at Giving Thanks hosted by Kelli.

Giving Thanks ~ Tuesday

Pumpkin Pie Play Dough

5 1/2 cups flour
2 cups salt
8 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 container (1 1\2 ounces) pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tablespoon each cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger)
3/4 cup oil
4 cups water
orange food coloring (2 parts yellow/1 part red)

In a large saucepan, mix flour, salt, cream of tartar, and spice. Add oil, water and food coloring; stir over medium heat. Continue stirring until dough forms and lumps are gone. Place on counter and let cool a minute or two. Knead dough until smooth. Store in an airtight container.

Set out rolling pins, cookie cutters, and little pie pans...

Have fun!
This is also fun to give as a gift - place the dough in a foil pie pan, wrap with saran wrap, tie with a bow. Attach a turkey cookie cutter and small rolling pin.
Please visit Kelli to join in the Giving Thanks celebration!

"12"


At 2:42 AM on November 18, 1999, the partially completed Aggie Bonfire, on the Texas A&M University campus, standing 40 feet tall and consisting of about 5000 logs, collapsed during construction. Of the 58 students and former students working on the stack, 12 were killed and 27 others were injured...

Those that lost their lives will never be forgotten.

"there's a spirit can ne'er be told"

Monday, November 17, 2008

Orange Cranberry Nut Muffins

Orange Cranberry Nut Muffins
12 servings

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, halved (I used crasins this morning)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons grated orange peel

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Combine orange juice, milk, butter and egg; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in cranberries, pecans and orange peel. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 400° for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Serve warm with butter and enjoy!

Giving Thanks ~ Monday


Thanksgiving Scripture

“Give thanks to the Lord…”
I Chronicles 16:8

“Let us come before him with thanksgiving”

Psalms 95:2

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

Psalms 100:4

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Corinthians 15:57

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”

II Corinthians 2:14

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

II Corinthians 9:15

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:6

“Be joyful always; pray continually’ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…”

Hebrews 11:28

Please visit Kelli to participate in Giving Thanks week.