Pantry clean out time

Full disclosure time:  I sometimes buy groceries that I really haven't made a plan for using.  Sometimes these groceries remain untouched in the freezer or cupboard for MONTHS before I get around to figuring out what to do with them. 

This week my plan (if you could call it that) is to NOT BUY GROCERIES*.  That's right - I'm going to clean out that pantry of the "ingredients" and make room for "food."

That means the pork roast that I plonked into the freezer but then never used because it was so large that it takes so much time to defrost that I just shift it aside for the popcicles will get used (finally.)  Probably a whole bunch of rice too.  I have LOTS of rice. 

*Milk and eggs are exceptions.  We cannot live without milk and eggs in the house.

Party, Party, Party...

We've been in full party mode at the Hearts Residence. Deuce, Jack O'Hearts, and Little 4 are having birthday parties all within 3 weeks of each other. Deuce was easy - she wanted just a sleepover with a couple of friends. Movies, cupcake decorating, popcorn, giggling, and waffles for breakfast. 

You tell that there's a LOT of sugar at that table! 

Jack O'Hearts had an adventure themed party. For that I needed a little more planning. I made State Park type signs to mark the different areas of the backyard and the different activities that we were going to do there. We made a pretty neat-o obsticle course, a stuffed animal safari, crafts, and an ice cream sundae bar.  We finished up the party with s'mores made over the fire pit.

Jack O'Hearts - Adventurer!

Running the obsticle course


Now I'm starting to get the yard ready for Little 4's Carnival Birthday party.  I'll breathe later.

Getting Ready for next school year, part Deuce

So with Ace's stuff all decided, I need to work on Deuce's eighth grade plans.

English - Reading and Composition - I have a program that I actually wrote for Ace, that I'm just going to pass along to Deuce - it's heavy on the Verne, but I think she'll like it.  It has lots of creative opportunities.
Math - Continue with Singapore's NEM1 and move into NEM2 if it comes to that.
Science - I'm on the fence with this one.  I am considering the Connect the Thoughts Upper Level Science 1 Basics - but it does involve a lot of writing.  Not much actual experimenting or anything.  Mostly, it focuses on the scientific method, and I think that will be a good thing for her.  I guess, since I've already bought it, I'll try it and see how it goes.
Social Studies - Deuce would like to try another CLEP class, since she's already passed two of them, so I think we'll work on American Government and Politics.  I taught this a few years ago to Ace, and when she took the AP, she passed with a 5.  Deuce isn't thrilled about the essays involved with the AP, but is willing to try the class as a CLEP course.
Music - The violin will continue.  Deuce is becoming more and more accomplished with her playing.  I'd like to get her working on music theory as well as the lessons.
Art - I am going to attempt a fine art appreciation lesson this year for all the kids.  I will be starting out with Botticelli as our first semester artist, and using the artwork suggestions in Ambleside. 
Japanese Lanugage - I am very pleased that both Ace and Deuce have been so diligent in their learning of the Japanese Language using Rosetta Stone.  Deuce, particularly, has taken to it.  She also has been using a couple of iPad apps to learn Kanji, hiragana and katakana.  Since I purchased 3 years of Japanese, the kids are going to continue this program as well.

I think that this looks like a very well rounded school year for the girl.  She should still have time for her favorite hobby - hanging out in her bed, reading.

DIY Highschool

Planning, planning for 2012-2013 school year.  Here is the high school line-up for Ace.

Reading - High School Literature discussion group - This will be Ace's 3rd year.  They read some pretty interesting stuff.
Writing - Finishing up the Other Worlds curriculum, Ace does lots of writing anyway, having finished 2 novels, plus maintaining her blogs.  Additionally, this year Ace wants to take the AP in English Composition, and also the English Language AP.  To train for these tests, we will be using the IEW English Composition and English Language programs.
Arithmetic - NEM 3 (she's verry excited about this!!)
Science - High School Chemistry in Your Home (after finishing up biology this summer.)
History - American History 2 at the local community college. (She's taking part 2 before part 1 because she is taking it with a friend.)
Japanese Language - The Rosetta Stone Japanese Language program is going very well here.  Ace will keep on doing this, especially since I bought three years of it!
Driver's Ed. - EEK! (enough said.)
Rel. Ed. - Ace will be continuing her training as a catechist for Catechisis of the Good Shepherd, Level 1.  Plus, she'll start teaching in her own Atrium.

Yup, that will keep us busy.

Poppy Seed Cookies

This recipe is from an old Penzy's catalog.  I've made it as part of our annual Christmas cookie tradition now for a couple of years.  It is essentially a butter cookie, but with the additition of ground almonds and poppy seeds to add a distinctive flavor and crunch, and rolled in colored sugar to make them festive looking. 

(Don't they look nice?  Ace took this picture!)

Poppy Seed Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1/2 cup finely ground almonds

1/2 cup poppy seeds

1/4 teaspoon salt

Colored sugar

Cream the butter.  Add the sugar, egg and vanilla and mix well.  In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, almonds, poppy seeds and salt.  Gradually add to the butter mixture and mix well.  Divide the dough into half and roll into logs.  Roll the logs in colored sugar.  Wrap the logs in waxed paper and chill for a couple of hours.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Slice the logs 1/4 inch thick and bake at 325 degrees for about 12 minutes or until delicately browned. 

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

A note on poppy seeds:  These can be awfully expensive in a regular grocery store.  I've found them much less expensive at my local ethnic food store.  Penzy's carries them, but for a little more than the ethnic grocery.



Pecan cookies

This cookie was clipped from an old newspaper.  The clipping is quite yellow and brittle.  The headline of the article is "Pecans Used In Cookies."  The article goes on to describe the "pleasingly cruncy texture and good flavor of these cookies."  I think that my husband can vouch for that.  I've had to make two batches since the first was chomped up already. 

Pecan Cookies

[Four Dozen]

3/4 cup butter

1 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon rum flavoring

2 1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Pecan halves

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add egg and rum; beat thoroughly.  Add sifted dry ingredients and mix until blended.  Chill for an hour or longer.  Shape into small balls about an inch in diameter.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets and flatten slightly with fingertips.  Press a pecan half into the center of each cookie.  Bake at 375 degrees about 10 minutes or until delicately browned.

Christmas cookies 2011

I love vintage recipes.  Several years ago I purchased a file box of handwritten and clipped reipes from an estate sale.  This year for Christmas, my kids and I are making some of the cookies that the former owner of the recipe collection thought worthy of saving in her recipe files.  This is the first of these recipes.



Chocolate Date Cookies

1 cup chopped dates

Water (small amount)

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

½ cup milk

2 cups flour

2 Tbsp. Cocoa

1 tsp. Baking soda

pinch salt

Chopped nuts (optional)



Cover the dates with water; cover and let stand. Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg and milk. Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the sugar mixture. Add the dates, and the nuts if desired.
Drop by teaspoonfuls on a cookie sheet and bake at 375°F for 10 minutes or until done.

Makes about 4 1/2 dozen.



Made for Christmas 2011.

Now for the taste test: These are really yummy.  They are tender and sweet with a light cocoa taste that does not overwhelm the flavor of the dates.  Although we made them without nuts - we are making a bunch of other nut cookies - they would be excellent with the addition of chopped walnuts.