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"

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.

Giving Thanks ~ Monday

Thanksgiving Banner

Today I am participating in Kelli's Giving Thanks Week.

I am sharing the Thanksgiving banner

I crafted for my hutch over the weekend.

Please visit Kelli at There is No Place Like Home

to see what others are sharing for Monday's Giving Thanks. :-)

Thank you Kelli!

Supper Menus
November 17th-22nd

Monday
poppy seed chicken, green beans, carrots, dinner rolls
Tuesday
pot roast, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls
Wednesday
texas chili, homemade bread
Thursday
out for supper
Friday
homemade pizza, lettuce and tomato salad

I am a stickler on chex party mix...I only make it during the months of November and December - to keep it special!

We add cheese-its. :-)

Tastes best when eaten while watching the Dallas Cowboys... ;-)

A Long, Cold Day on the Soccer Field!

4 tournament games

2 championship games

2 hard playin' kids

1 coach Dad

lots of blankets!

2 five minute over times

12 penalty kicks

1 1 st place division champion medal!

1 2nd place division champion medal!

1 very tired and very proud Mommy :-)

Oven Fried Chicken

Oven Fried Chicken
4 servings

1 cup flour
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup milk
1 broiler/fryer chicken (4 pounds), cut up or
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Line a large baking pan with foil and butter the foil; set aside. Combine flour and seasonings. Place milk in a shallow dish. Dip chicken into milk, then into flour mixture, coating well. Place in prepared pans. Drizzle with butter. Bake at 350° for 35-50 minutes for bone-in chicken, or 25-30 minutes for breasts.

An Autumn Banner

Inspired by Kelli (as usual!) at There Is No Place Like Home and her simple fall pleasures, I crafted a little something for the mantle. Unfortunately, the hutch is now jealous...so it seems I'll need to make one for it, too! ;-)

Individual Meatloaves
6 servings

1 pound ground beef
½ cup bread crumbs
1 egg
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
pepper to taste

Mix together all ingredients. Form into six little loaves. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Serve with steak sauce or ketchup and enjoy!

"All of the flowers of all the tomorrows

are in the seeds of today."

~Author Unknown

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Autumn Flowers and Apples" by Timothy Easton

The Teacher's Manual to my daughter's Horizons Math 6 curriculum includes a quote or scripture with each lesson.
This was today's.

Sweet Autumn Salad 
(from Taste of Home magazine)
6 servings

10 cups mixed salad greens
1 medium red pear, diced
1 small can mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

In a salad bowl, combine greens, pear, oranges, grapes, cranberries and pecans. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tomato Soup

Almost as easy as Campbell's, but much better! :-)

Tomato Soup
2 servings
3 tablespoons butter
1 can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano, and garlic
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
fresh basil
salt and pepper

Melt butter over low heat. Puree diced tomatoes in a blender. Add tomatoes and cream to melted butter. Add salt, pepper, and basil to taste. Enjoy!

Thanks Heather! You were right - no more Campbell's for me! ;-)

Crayon Fun

Instructions can be found at Crafty Daisies.

I had too much fun with these!

They are great for little hands.

I bagged them up for two sweet children that are having birthdays this week.

Two other sweet children, that happen to live in my house, were charmed with these new crayons as well. For them, some rainbow ones were in order.

Did you know that you can also melt crayons and pour them into candy molds or metal cookie cutters and make all sorts of fun shapes? I think this could be addicting...

Please, Thank a Veteran Today

Freedom is not free.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget

that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,

but to live by them."

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"The Brightest Star" by Lee Teter

Ina Garten's Apple Crostata

A friend suggested "The Barefoot Contessa's" Apple Crostata...

we loved it! Thank you Kristi! :-)

Shhh... please don't tell the Contessa -

I cheated and used a prepared pie crust!

Oh the shame... ;-)

Autumn Chowder

Autumn Chowder
6 servings

1 tablespoon oil
1 onion, chopped
4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
12 baby carrots, quartered
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk
1 bag frozen corn
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon flour
4 tablespoons water
4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add the potato, carrot, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are almost tender. Stir in the milk, corn, salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes longer. Combine the flour and water until smooth; gradually whisk into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until melted. Stir in bacon. Serve up big bowls and enjoy!

Yum...yum...yum...and oh did I say yum?! :-)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

~for today~
November 10, 2008

Outside my window...
the sun is rising behind lots of clouds.

I am thinking...
about plans for the day.

I am thankful for...
an unchanging God.

From the learning room...
we'll be starting the chapter on plants in our Science curriculum and reading about the pilgrims.

From the kitchen...
Starbucks Thanksgiving Blend coffee this morning! :-)

And our menu -

heritage schoolhouse supper menu

I am wearing...
my pajamas and favorite pink robe.

I am creating...
a paper Mayflower replica with my son (hopefully!)

I am going...
to the grocery store, Wal-Mart and a 4H meeting today.

I am reading...
cookbooks (as always!)

I am hoping...
it rains all day!

I am hearing...
the clock ticking and that is all!

Around the house...
I'll be putting away summer clothes and getting out winter things.

One of my favorite things...
Thanksgiving!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
include the last week of soccer practices and games, some shopping, and Thanksgiving planning.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Please visit The Simple Womans Daybook!

Neat New Book

"One Year to an Organized Life - From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good" by Regina Leeds

The author divides getting organized into 12 monthly sections with four weekly tasks. The first week of every month is devoted to journaling and understanding the psychology of disorganization. The remaining three weeks of every month are for tasks like creating a bedroom sanctuary, packing wisely for trips, and creating a festive holiday atmosphere. Full of useful information for everyone, from the person who needs simply to clean a messy desk to the person requiring a whole new approach to life; highly recommended for all libraries.

Yay! Organizing by the season - I love it! I am SO starting this in January! :-)