Harvest musings

As the cooler weather approaches, I always think a lot about preparing for winter. With all the economic difficulties going on, this had been an even stronger urge this year. Last week I made rose hip jelly. Yesterday I made mint jelly. I also dried a number of herbs from the garden. We've been picking tomatoes and carrots almost daily for the past few weeks. Soups are a big menu item again. I think these are all comfort types of activities.

Rose hips are beautiful remnants of the roses that once graced the plants. This was the first time I've tried making this jelly and it turned out very well. What fun to make this beautiful food.

Cider time is here again. Go to a cider mill if you have a chance and partake of freshly pressed apple cider. Take some home to make hot mulled cider. Cider always indicates autumn to me right along with the crisper air.

Hello again

It has been a long, busy summer which isn't an excuse for not blogging. I'm sorry. After I started my new job and new business, I just ran out of extra energy for this. Now I'm more accustomed to this schedule and will take up writing again.

I love Jane Austen. There is a wonderful Jane Austen community online. You can access many very interesting writers from http://www.austenarium.com. There are wonderful alternatives and sequels for Persuasion. Beware though, these stories can be addictive. Some of the online versions are now coming out as standard books, so you can read them that way too.

My garden took most of my spare time this summer. We've enjoyed lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Now that cooler weather is here, we're mixing those into the casseroles that autumn brings. While the garden is still growing strong, I find I keep killing rosemary plants. I love rosemary and want it fresh but have a black thumb. So far, I've managed to kill 4 in the past year. I bought another one today and hope to have better luck.

Menus and thoughts

Spring is such a wonderful time of year. I love seeing the flowers in bloom. Here is Utah, we've had rain in the valley and everything is lush. This is set against a backdrop of snow topped mountains. Our rain meant fresh powder around us. I am awed by the beauty and drama of it-and I'll share if I ever get a digital camera.

Today is Flag Day. There are lots of things wrong with the United States, just as there are with any country. But there are so many more things right-things we aspire to even if we do not always succeed with the execution. Our ideals of justice and equity, diversity, and fairness would make our world so much better if adhered to. I fly the flag proudly today to remind me how blessed I am to live here.

Tomorrow is Father's day, so most of the menus this week are at my husband's choosing. Luckily, he is willing to eat leftovers even then. And I still get to pick lots of things from the garden.

• Sunday
  Pot roast with carrots and new potatoes
  Gravy
  Chard
  Bread pudding with strawberries and chocolate chips
• Monday
  Hot open faced roast beef sandwiches
  Mashed potatoes
  Green salad
• Tuesday
  Bisquick easy beef pot pie
  Broccoli salad
• Wednesday
  Chicken stir fry
  Brown rice
• Thursday
  French bread pizzas-one pepperoni, one veggie
  Green salad
• Friday
  Hamburgers
  Chips
• Saturday
  Grilled salmon
  Grilled veggies
  

Menus 6/8-6/14

Spring is here and it's nice to take advantage of it. Much of this comes from my garden this week. It's so exciting to pick asparagus and strawberries at the same time as lettuce, chard, and spinach. Peas will be coming soon.

• Sunday
  Baked chicken with asparagus
  Green salad
  Fresh strawberries
• Monday
  American chop suey
  Green salad
• Tuesday
  Calzones
  Green beans
• Wednesday
  Chicken vegetable soup
• Thursday
  Tuna macaroni salad
• Friday
  Cream of broccoli soup
  Multi-grain rolls
• Saturday
  Salad greens with strawberries, pralines, feta, and grapes

Menus 6/1-6/7

• Sunday
  Baked chicken in mushroom sauce
  Asparagus
  Whole wheat rolls
  Easy strawberry shortcake
• Monday
  Chili verde
  Green salad
• Tuesday
  Leftover baked chicken
  Three bean salad
• Wednesday
  Leftover chili verde
  Green salad
• Thursday
  Gypsy salad on chard and romaine
• Friday
  Hot dogs in buns
  Baked beans
  Green salad
• Saturday
  Apple pancakes
  Chicken sausages
  Fruit salad

Mushroom sauce: place 1/4 c olive oil in saucepan. Add 1/4 c flour and stir well. Add 1 can chicken broth and stir until smooth. Cook stirring continually over low heat until thick. Add 1/2 milk or cream, 1 4oz can mushroom pieces, chopped parsley (2Tbsp fresh or 2tsp dried). Serve over baked chicken.

Gypsy salad:
2 c diced turkey ham
2 c diced cheddar or other cheese
2 c diced dill pickles
2 c diced tomatoes
Mix all together with about 2 Tbsp prepared mustard and 1 Tbsp mayonnaise. Adjust the mustard and mayonnaise dressing to taste.

Easy strawberry shortcake: Mash 4 cups strawberries and mix with 1/2 c sugar. Serve over slices of Angel food cake.

Sorry I've been gone

A lot has happened in my life since I last posted. I started working in a new position with much longer days. It is a challenging and very rewarding position, but I haven't had long commutes in many years. It took a while for my body to adjust! In spite of that, I absolutely love my new job.

Now it is more imperative that I plan the meals well-so I'll be picking that up here again.

Also, while I was interviewing and starting the new job, I also started a new business. That seriously decreased any available time for fun things like reading and blogging. You can see my new business at Home Learning Coach. It is designed to help parents promote learning in their homes. I create weekly activities designed for families to do together. Sometimes they are focused on specific cultural activities, sometimes on sports, sometimes on service. I hope you will take a look. The activities are designed for families with children between the ages of about 4 and 16. There are often books or stories to read as well.

Spring is truly here and it has been fun and challenging to get the garden planted with everything else that is going on. However, my chard from last year survived the winter and it has been pleasant to use. We've picked some asparagus as well. Lettuce and peas are up. Warmer weather things like tomatoes are in. Unfortunately, the weeds are doing well too, so I must keep after them.

I've been reading some books by Alexander McCall Smith while riding the bus to work. I love the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Precious Ramotswe is such a wonderful character. I have also become a fan of Isabel Dalhousie. It is so fun to read mysteries that are really mysteries-puzzles to solve-rather than murder mysteries and who-dun-its. When I was a child and became a mystery fan, I liked the puzzle solving. Most adult mysteries involve murder and these are a refreshing change. His characters are quite fun and the puzzles engaging. I highly recommend these.

True sportsmanship

At this time when we're looking at the final 4 for NCAA basketball, it is a good time to think about what sportsmanship is. Ostensibly, this is why we have sports as part of education-because of what it can teach us. Unfortunately, many of the things it teaches are negative due to choices of some coaches and athletes. Then there are those who teach just the opposite.

I read the weekly commentaries at Character Counts (http://charactercounts.org/michael/). One of the recent commentaries really moved me-about Olympian Eugenio Monti, http://charactercounts.org/michael/2008/04/the_essence_of_sportsmanship_5.html. This is what is true sportsmanship. How rare it is and how wonderful.

I participated in sports until just a few years ago (age caught up with me) and did my best to be a good sport and teammate. It isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.

March activities

March is a great time for spring activities. It may be too early to get outside into the garden, but it is not too early to start seeds indoors for planting later. This is a great thing to do with the family-but you must make sure to maintain them until you get them planted out, probably in May for me. We're planting tomatoes inside, peas outside this week.

When was the last time you flew a kite? March is often very windy, particularly as storm fronts are going through. If you have a large school field or track area, or a great park, how about taking a little time to fly a kite with your family? You could purchase one, watch Mary Poppins as the end is about flying kites together and taking that time, then put it together as a family and go fly it. What a fun way to spend a Saturday. Much better than cleaning the house.

Menu plan Marcxh 23-29

• Sunday
  Turkey ham
  Oven roasted potatoes
  Spinach casserole
  Brownies
• Monday
  Fried leftover ham
  Mashed sweet potatoes
  Green beans
• Tuesday
  Baked beans-beanwiches
  Green salad
• Wednesday
  Favorite soup
  Sandwiches
• Thursday
  Broiled shrimp kabobs
  Brown rice
• Friday
  Broiled chicken breast
  Cabbage and apple cole slaw
• Saturday
  Grilled tuna and apple sandwiches
  Green salad

Beanwiches: Toast English muffins. Top with mustard, then heated baked beans, then grated cheddar cheese. Place under broiler for about 5 minutes until cheese melts.

Shrimp kabobs: Use moderately large cooked shrimp. Place shrimp and desired vegetables such as tomatoes, mushrooms, pearl onions (I can't eat these), green peppers, zucchini or yellow squash chunks into bowl with a couple of tablespoons of canola oil, a couple of teaspoons of teriyaki sauce, a teaspoon of powdered garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of ginger and stir well. Thread on kabob skewers. Broil about 5 minutes.

Menu plan March 16-22

• Sunday
  Baked fish
  Oven fried french fries
  Green beans
• Monday
  Easy corned beef and cabbage
  Irish soda bread
• Tuesday
  Quick pizza
• Wednesday
  Macaroni and cheese
  Green salad
• Thursday
  Easy vegetable soup
• Friday
  Leftover macaroni and cheese
  Broccoli
• Saturday
  Hot dogs
  Green salad

Easy corned beef and cabbage: Buy a chunk of prepared corned beef from your deli-about 1/4 pound per person. Chop potatoes and carrots, about 1/2 potato and 1 carrot per person, and boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Add finely chopped cabbage, (you can use prepared cold slaw mix) about 1/4 cup per person, and cook additional 10 minutes. During this 10 minutes, slice corned beef and heat in microwave.

Irish soda bread-there are lots of recipes, here's a good one http://www.landolakes.com/mealIdeas/ViewRecipe.cfm?RecipeID=9989

Easy vegetable soup: (for 4) To 16 oz can tomato sauce, add one can water in saucepan. Add 2 cups mixed frozen vegetables and 1 Tablespoon instant beef bullion. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 5 minutes until veggies are tender.

Menus March 9-15

• Sunday
  Easy seafood 'newburg'
  Pastry shells
  Broccoli
  Molasses cookies
• Monday
  Oven fried chicken
  Oven fried yam french fries
  Green salad
• Tuesday
  Baked fish with lemons
  Peas
  Citrus fruit salad
• Wednesday
  Left over fried chicken
  Green beans
  Carrots
• Thursday
  Leftover fish
  Waldorf salad
• Friday
  Hamburgers
• Saturday
  Broiled cheese sandwiches
  Tomato soup

Easy seafood newburg: (Serve 4) Combine 1 can cream of shrimp soup, 1 cup sour cream, 8 oz cooked or canned seafood (clams, lobster, shrimp, crab, cooked fish) and heat through. Serve over rice, pastry shells, noodles.

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Jane Austen- Austenarium site

I love reading Jane Austen novels. (I like the movies too, but most leave a lot out). She had such insight into character. I recently read a new novel (None but you) that tells the story of Persuasion from Frederick Wentworth's point of view. I loved it and can't wait for volume 2 to be published. Then I discovered the draft for volumes 1 and 2 online at Austenarium. She indicates that the published book may differ from the web draft, but at least I now have a finished story to read. I will buy the new volume once it is available.

This site also tells the Persuasion story with alternatives-what if Frederick had married Louisa? What if he had gone to Edward's first instead of to see his sister.There is also a story focused on Elizabeth-and she becomes much more human in that one than she is in the original. She starts out bad but improves. When I read through all these, I felt as if I had spent a great deal of time with Persuasion and feared I would begin speaking like a Jane Austen character. I preceded all of this be re-reading Persuasion once again. Shortly thereafter, Masterpiece began broadcasting their new productions of Jane Austen videos. Their Persuasion is a adaptation, but it does leave out a lot. However, I will admit that I cannot really get enough of all of these. This sure was a completely different kind of life than the one I live. I think I would have been as unhappy as Anne in Bath of that era, but I don't know that I would have preferred the country. Perhaps with enough good books, I would have enjoyed either.

Happy reading.

Menu planning March 2-8

• Sunday
  Roast turkey breast
  Mashed potatoes and gravy
  Green beans
  Oatmeal cookies
• Monday
  Stir fried beef and veggies
  Brown rice
• Tuesday
  Turkey, pineapple salad
  Peas
• Wednesday
  Broiled fish
  Carrots
  Broccoli
• Thursday
  Turkey vegetable soup
  French bread
• Friday
  Reuben sandwiches
• Saturday
  Pizza

Turkey pineapple salad: Mix turkey chunks, chopped celery, chopped pecans, chopped green olives, pineapple chunks. Mix mayo or plain yogurt with a pinch of curry powder, salt and pepper and mix with salad. To serve: place lettuce leaf or two on each plate. Top with salad. Top each salad with a pineapple slice.

Garden dreams

As we get near the end of winter, this is a great time to plan your garden. Garden catalogs arrive daily and have lots of inspiration. When I was about 5, my pre-school class planted a garden, including spinach. We cared for it, harvested it, cooked it and ate it. Amazingly, I loved it. Only my dad and I ate it at home, but from then on, I was a fan. Dad and I started having a garden every year when I was about 9. We always planted radishes, which were fun to grow, but I never cared for them or turnips or beets. However, I did learn to love all types of summer squash.

Because of this love of gardening, I love the garden catalogs. I vary the annual vegetables each year, but also grow: asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, currants, raspberries, grapes, apples, peaches, cherries, plums, and herbs in my yard. I have harvested the asparagus, strawberries, currants, raspberries, apples, peaches and herbs, while the other fruit has yet to yield anything other than beauty. We had a bumper crop of chard and squash last summer. My husband has decided he doesn't care for chard, so I probably won't plant that again, but I'm dreaming of what will go in come May.

If you start seeds now, you will have tomato plants, eggplant, peppers, etc for transplanting to the garden at the right time in the snowbelt regions of the US. I've done that some years, and it is very fun to do with your kids.

Don't make everything utilitarian. We need flowers too as food for the soul. I grow old fashioned rugosa roses, as they make nice rose hips for tea and the flowers are edible and taste nice. I also grow carnations and lilacs as I love the flowers. Hyacinths have the most amazing fragrance, and I try to buy some in bloom each year. I then plant them and they return again and again.

What are your garden dreams?

Menu Planning February 10-16

• Sunday
  Spaghetti
  Garlic bread
  Green salad
  Apple crisp
• Monday
  Stir fried veggies and chicken
  Brown minute rice
• Tuesday
  Leftover spaghetti
  Caesar salad
• Wednesday
  Chicken stew
  Multi-grain rolls
• Thursday
  Zucchini and tomato frittata (or omelet)
  Sourdough toast
• Friday
  Leftover chicken stew
• Saturday
  Cream of tomato soup
  Grilled shrimp with spinach salad
  

Early February Activity

This is a great time to make some valentines. Remember how fun it was when you were young to make special valentines for your family or friends? It still is. If you have kids, plan to spend an evening with scissors, paper, glue, stickers, crayons and make some special valentines for some of the special people in your life.

Even if you don't make your own, Valentines Day is a nice time to remember those who are special in your life. I send cards to my family members to remind them how important they are. The younger members especially enjoy getting cards. I send them through regular mail, not email, so they have something to open. They get very excited about receiving mail.

It is also fun to decorate for Valentines Day. We have our red and white table cloth in the dining area. I also usually put a few other decorations around to remind us of love in all its forms. It is also nice to focus on something besides all the snow we've been getting this winter! I'm getting ready to go shovel again.

Menu Planning February 3-9

• Sunday
  Boneless pork chops baked in creamed corn
  Spinach
  Apple blueberry crisp
• Monday
  Stir fried vegetables and pork
• Tuesday
  Split pea soup
  Whole grain rolls
• Wednesday
  Broiled fish fillets
  Broccoli
• Thursday
  Left-over split pea soup and rolls
• Friday
  Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Avocado sandwiches
  Tomato soup
• Saturday
  Cream of mushroom soup
  Corned beef on rye sandwiches

Puzzles

Winter is a great time to do family jigsaw puzzles. When we were small, we used to 'help' my mother do the large 1000 piece puzzles. I'm sure we weren't much help, but we had a lot of fun together. My family did the same. It is even better when the puzzles show places you might like to visit or have visited. You can discuss these at the same time you are doing the puzzle. If your children are younger, do not limit yourself to puzzles the kids can do by themselves. If they are at least 5, they will have fun trying to help you with yours. You might want to start with medium difficulty, 250 piece puzzles and work on up to the more challenging.

Puzzles bring lots of benefits, both to kids and adults. The challenge to deciphering is a great skill to develop. Many adults cannot see the larger picture from smaller pieces, and this is important on the job. Puzzles can help you think this way. Puzzles challenge your perceptions. They can keep your brain growing as you age and ward off some of the mental challenges that can accompany aging. They can be a great interactive family time.

If you are already great at puzzles, you might try alternate solving methods. I prefer to do the edge first and work my way in. This seems the easiest. To challenge myself, I will try to go from the top down. If there are lots of trees and shrubs, this is hard for me as I have trouble distinguishing the greens and darker colors. I do better with the blues in the sky! Might be why I rarely wear green:) You can assign different parts of the puzzle to different people. You can start in the middle and work out, finishing with the edges.

I have a portable puzzle surface my daughter gave me a few years ago. It is a large piece of felt that rolls around a large tube. This way, I can get the puzzle out of the way when I need the table-and keep the pieces away from my cats. My mother has a slightly different surface that is like a large portfolio that closes over the puzzle to keep it in place. These surfaces allow you to take lots of time to work on the puzzle as it will not be in the way. This can be good if you limit the puzzle times to snowy/rainy days or evenings without television, perhaps with nice music in the background.

Happy puzzling.

Menus January 27-February 2

• Sunday
  Stewed chicken
  Multi-grain bread
  Apples brulee
• Monday
  Hot chicken salad
  Peas
• Tuesday
  Winter soup
  Multi-grain bread
• Wednesday
  Kielbasa
  Sauerkraut
• Thursday
  Broccoli-cheddar soup
  Rolls
• Friday
  Grilled tilapia
  Spinach
• Saturday
  Pizza

Stewed chicken-allows you to make a fryer nice and juicy
Cut desired vegetables into chunks-potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas whatever you like. Place in slow cooker. Add 2 cups water. Rinse chicken and add to slow cooker. Mix sage, thyme, rosemary, turmeric and rub into chicken. (about 1 tsp each, more or less). Add salt and pepper. Cook on low about 6 hours. Carefully remove chicken (it will probably fall off the bone) and place on platter. Remove vegetables. Pour liquid into saucepan. Mix 2 Tbsp flour or cornstarch with 1/2 cup water and add to liquid. Bring to a boil to make a pan gravy.

Apples brulee: Coarsely chop 1/3 apple per person. Mix with 2 Tbsp vanilla yogurt per person. Add 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts per person and mix well. Divide between ramekins or brulee dishes. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Grill until sugar crystalizes or use brulee torch. Refrigerate until ready to serve if made ahead.

Bone stock: Take bones from chicken and return them to the slow cooker. Cover with water. Add a stalk of celery (and onion if you like it). Add 2 Tbsp vinegar. Cook on low for 12-24 hours. Carefully separate any meat from the bones and discard the bones and celery. Use as stock for the winter soup.

Winter soup: Add chicken broth to stock to make 12 c. Add 1 cinnamon stick, 4 peppercorns, 3 whole cloves to stock. Chop 4 potatoes and 1/2 head cabbage and add to stock. Simmer 1/2 hour. Add 28 oz can diced tomatoes and simmer additional 30 minutes. You can put all but tomatoes into slow cooker in the morning and add the tomatoes 30 min before dinner. Remove the spices and add 2 Tbsp vinegar.

Hot chicken salad: Use about 2c leftover chicken. If you don't have enough leftover, you can use canned. Chop 1 stalk celery and 1 green apple. Add about 2 Tbsp mayonnaise and 1 c shredded cheddar cheese. Place in casserole dish and microwave for about 8 min, until heated through and cheese melter or bake about 350 for about 35-45 min.

Rituals

I went to tea with some dear friends yesterday. We had a wonderful time visiting with each other and enjoying the delecacies that were part of the activity. I had a delicious vanilla tea, some wonderful finger sandwiches, tarts, scones, and conversation. Although Steph enjoys tea and the associated amenities frequently, I am usually limited to enjoying only the herbal tea. Our lives are so busy doing, the we seldom take the time to just be in the moment and enjoy, as we did during our tea. We met at the Bellagio, in Las Vegas and we were so focused on the moment that we missed the excitement as Bill Clinton and entourage went right past us. (He was there for the caucuses today in Nevada). It's funny we missed him, but wonderful how focused we were on each other.

All this got me thinking about rituals. We get so focused on the busy that rituals can help us focus on the now. Afternoon tea is a great way to relax, unwind, and get a second wind for the rest of the day. If you live in cold country, it is a nice way to warm up. I don't drink regular teas, but there are lots of wonderful herbal teas to enjoy. However, I don't usually take the time to have a lovely display, biscuits or scones or a treat to enjoy with it. I think now that this is a shame and would enhance the moment. I plan to add that to my afternoon as often as possible now, making sure that my treat is at least a little healthier than those I enjoyed yesterday. Such indulgence would not be good for my arteries or waistline on a regular basis.

New Victorian Mysteries

I've been traveling and needed to get something to read while I've been out. I tried out 2 books by Tasha Alexander, And Only to Deceive followed by A Poisoned Season. I love the protagonist, a Victorian woman who doesn't fit easily within the structures of society. She manages to solve quite complicated mysteries in both books. You get a good feel for the restrictions Victorian society imposed on women and how difficult it was to get beyond those. These are a different side of the same picture that Anne Perry presents in her Thomas Pitt mysteries. I love those too.

I re-read most of my books as I enjoy the company of the characters in those books. Emily, the protagonist of these two books, is a woman I would love to know. These are probably good reads for a book club as there are lots of things to consider about the place of women, the changing roles of women, making choices, how critical society can be, etc in these books. I will probably read them again in the next month and wish the 3rd was coming out before next summer. If you have teenage daughters, these would be great to read with them. Tweens would probably be good too, if they are at the point of really taking a look a their world. It would be good for young men, but they are really geared toward a female sensibility. Men would benefit by thinking about how they still might be treating women in their lives as the women in these books are treated by society.

Menus for January 20-26

• Sunday
  Baked smothered chicken breasts
  Tortilla chips
  Refried beans
  Green salad
• Monday
  Chicken enchilada casserole with leftover chicken
  Green salad
• Tuesday
  Tomato soup
  Grilled cheese sandwiches
• Wednesday
  Broccoli cheese soup
  Green salad
• Thursday
  Chili with corn chips
  Green salad
• Friday
  English muffin pizzas
• Saturday
  Hamburgers

Baked smothered chicken breasts: 2 boneless chicken breasts per person
Cheddar cheese, jack cheese, cilantro, diced green chilies, diced jalapenos, 1 whole avocado per person-diced , diced tomatoes, chopped black olives, sour cream, salsa
Arrange chicken breasts in baking pan. Cover with shredded cheddar cheese and jack cheese mixed with cilantro, chilies and jalapenos. Bake 350 for 1 hour. Top with diced tomatoes, olives and avocado and return to oven for 10 minutes. Serve topped with salsa and sour cream.

Chicken enchilada casserole: Slice chicken breasts from smothered chicken into bite sized pieces. Mix chicken and toppings from smothered chicken with torn strips of tortilla-either flour or corn- and green enchilada sauce. Place in casserole dish and top with more shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa. Bake 350 for 45 minutes

Thought provoking reading

I've been reading a very interesting book about the various stages of life we pass through: The Human Odyssey, Navigating the Twelve Stages of Life by Thomas Armstrong. He examines the important physical, intellectual and psychological stages we pass through. This comes at a good time for me as I'm at a crossroads offering me new opportunities.

In each stage of life, we encounter opportunities for growth. We can either learn from them and progress, learn to avoid them and stagnate, or not learn and continue to repeat our experiences. In the past few years, I've had opportunities for growth in many different areas. Now, I'm facing some difficult or exciting choices, depending on how you look at them.

I invested quite some time getting a Master's Degree so I could make more serious contributions in the workplace. Do I continue down that same path? I am competitive enough that this is very enticing. I am passionate about learning, about learning that is practical. I home-schooled so that I could put what my daughter was learning in context and it would be practical. Should I switch career paths and become an assistant for home schoolers? I've been asked to start tutoring again-that was my first job during high school. I have an aptitude for figuring out the best way to convey the teachings in math for different types of learners. If I go into assisting home schoolers, it is a risky business. I can tutor parents on how to help teach their kids, do the teaching with them, do it for them, or tutor their kids in specific areas. I know there is a market for this, and I know how technology can assist that. Another option is to resurrect the technology business I used to have. I used to provide technical assistance, like the Geek Squad, but targeted to small businesses. I would teach them how best to use the software and hardware they had for their businesses.

Which dream do I follow-the more practical or the more passionate? How much risk do I dare take? This book has helped me examine the choices I've made in the past, usually the lower risk, although deciding to drop out of corporate life to home school was higher risk financially. As I am applying for jobs that look interesting, I'm pondering these questions. It's challenging having all these choices.

How would you choose?

Menu planning January 13-19

• Sunday
  Baked fish
  Glazed carrots
  Green beans almondine
  Pear crisp
• Monday
  Chicken stew
  Rolls
• Tuesday
  Baked beans
  Green salad
• Wednesday
  Add veggies and noodles to the chicken stew and turn into chicken casserole
• Thursday
  Beanwiches
• Friday
  Vegetable soup
  Ham sandwiches
• Saturday
  Grilled chicken salad

Beanwiches: Toast English muffins or hamburger buns. Pile with baked beans. Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Broil until beans heat through and cheese melts. If the beans are quite cold, warm them first. For those who like a little more 'bite', add a hearty mustard to the rolls before adding the beans.

Grilled chicken salad: Grill boneless chicken. Add to a plate of salad greens, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, cucumbers (and onions if you like them). Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil.

Little House in the Big Woods-part 2

If you are reading this together like I suggested, maybe you are wondering what things mentioned in the story you can cook together with you kids. These are the things I would try:

1. Make the pancake men like Ma did. Try serving them with molasses instead of syrup as they often did. This can really spark a discussion about the changes in our foods over the years.
2. Try making candy out of maple syrup as they did at the dance/party/sugaring off. Good time to talk about the different sweeteners we use as compared to those they used.
3. Try hasty pudding with maple syrup. Not a favorite of mine. I don't consider hasty pudding a dessert no matter what topping it has. To me, it is just cornmeal mush.
4. Try churning butter-maybe shaking a jar of cream until it churns. We did it that way for my girl scout troop. There are lots of other ways, though.

These different cooking activities can help us better appreciate the many conveniences we have. It is easier to buy than make-as evidenced from how much more expensive maple syrup is now.

Have fun!

Winter reading

With stormy weather around due to winter, this can be a good time to read together as a family. If you have kids under 10, you might try reading "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder together. Most of your readers will be able to take turns, which increases the fun and improves reading skills.

As you go through the chapters, take some time to contrast their life style with yours. Act out some of the activities. Try making some of the foods mentioned. At a minimum, it gets us away from technology as a constant companion and we might find that we can have fun together. After reading the chapter where Pa is telling stories from his childhood, why not try to do the same? My daughter always loved stories from my childhood and I'm sure yours will too.

Once we discovered the Little House books, my sisters and I acted them out constantly. We were often pioneers, living in a little cabin (often the living room as it had a fireplace). You're not too old to play these with the kids-having them direct you in the story line. Encourage them too. Becoming more aware of the possibilities of imagination can help us promote those skills-and this might encourage innovation in later life as well.

Another benefit is to see how labor intensive daily life was. It is much easier for us to clean the house-we don't usually have to make the soap first-or do laundry. Have your kids try washing something like jeans in the kitchen sink. (They scour the sink well). The washing isn't too hard, unless they are very dirty, but the wringing out is quite difficult. Hanging them to dry will also take a long time. Activities like this can help us appreciate our many blessings and be fun to do together. A side benefit might be a little greater care not to make our clothes so dirty, but that isn't too likely.

Menu January 6-12

• Sunday
  Penne with tomato cream sauce and veggies
  Green salad
  Italian bread
  Chocolate pudding
• Monday
  Vegetable soup
  Italian bread
• Tuesday
  Leftover penne
  Green salad
• Wednesday
  Chicken stew with dumplings
• Thursday
  Leftover vegetable soup
• Friday
  Leftover chicken stew
• Saturday
  Grilled tuna sandwiches
  Cabbage apple slaw