Sunday, December 27, 2009

Other Blog

I have temporarily abandoned this blog until I figure out what to do with it. You can find my latest posts at www.nourishyourchildren.com

Happy New Year!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

His Beloved

Jesus pursues His beloved bride and fights for her. Jesus paid the untimate price for her and He is coming again.

This is a prayer from Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge from chapter 11 Warrior Princess.

I now put on with thanks the armor which You have provided for me-girding myself with the belt of truth; first my need to be pursued and fought for. Thank You for daily pursuing me and fighting for me as well.

I also gird up my desire to be irreplaceable in a grand scheme of Yours. You have placed this desire within me and I wrap Your truth around it, in hope of what You will do. Grant me eyes to see each day in light of Your activity, to live in the big-ness of Your story.

I gird up my desire to offer life through my gifting, the beauty You have bestowed on me. I ask You to continue to reveal and confirm what You desire to do through me and all You have given me. I trust that You have called me by name and have given me a love, a beauty, a gift to pour out on my family, my friends, and those You bring to me. May this day be an offering of love poured out before You on the alter of my life."




Chapter 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 6
Chapter 5
Chapter 4
Chapter 3
Chapter 2b
Chapter 2
Chapter 1
Introduction

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Veteran's Day

Freedom is not free! Prayer and thanks to all the men and women who serve and have served our country.



Teach your children well!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Coconut Chicken Soup



On this cold fall evening we had Coconut Chicken Soup.

For the recipe www.nourishyourchildren.com/blog

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Sourdough Biscuits



A friend gave me a recipe for Sourdough Biscuits and my family liked them. Then I tried making them in my Bosch and now they love them. When I made them before the consistency was crumbly like one would expect buscuits to be. Made in the Bosch they were more like something out of a can (not sure my kids even know what biscuits out of a can taste like) We had biscuits with Chicken-A-La-King the first night, then biscuits with butter for breakfast the next day, and biscuit pizza's for lunch. I plan to make these for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Sourdough Biscuits

1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 cups spelt flour
2 cups sourdough starter
2 tsp sucanat
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp Real salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/3 cup buttermilk

In a plastic bowl mix 1 cup unbeached flour, 1 cup spelt flour and 2 cups sourdough starter.(I put it right in the Bosch and stir with a spatula not the metal bar) Leave for 7 to 12 hours. Mix the remaining flours with the sucanat, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and add them to the bowl. Cut in the butter. Blend lightly. Add the buttermilk slowly until the mixture is right for rolling. You might need to add more flour if it is too wet.

Roll out into 1/2 inch thickness on a floured surface. Dip biscuit cutter in flour then cut biscuits. Place on buttered baking pan. Brush with melted butter. Let rise for 1 hour.

Biscuits Rising


Bake at 375 for 20-25 min.

These pictures are this recipe doubled so I would have lots on hand to feed hungry mouths. For more recipes see NourishYourChildren.com

Friday, October 23, 2009

Scrapbook Saturday


Scrapbooking, Notebooking, Lapbooking

Scrapbooking is a great way for kids to keep track of what they have been doing. My daughter and I started scrapbooking when she was about 11. She saved little ticket stubs and party favors to put in her book. It gave Lindsey something to create and keep for her own. Scrapbooking kept her busy when she wanted something to do. Lindsey was my active child who needed directed activities.

Later, I learned how much this design, writing, and art was teaching her organizational skills and critical thinking.

When I heard about notebooking and lapbooking then I incorporated these ideas in presenting my end of the year homeschool portfolios. Portfolios are not the only choice of reporting in our state but I loved the idea of this way of keeping my child's work organized. And my child gets to help design and create the book.

Record keeping can be overwhelming if left until the end of the year. The kids and I can scrapbook regularly during the year and keep up with their portfolio.
So now I teach with record keeping in mind.

When the kids were younger I would get to the end of the year and think "what do I have to show that we did in this subject?" Since learning in homeschool is a way of life and not just something you do from 8am - 3pm then this could be hard to record. Taking pictures helps.

Now (after 14 years of schooling, I am starting to get the hang of it) I plan all year for a nice portfolio. No more scrambling at the last minute It gives my child a chance to see what they have done all year and present it in a organized manner to show to grandparents and other interested people. They learn to show their best work and not keep every single paper. It gives them a feeling of accomplishment and reward for all their effort.

For more information on parenting active children Nourish Your Children

Monday, October 19, 2009

Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies

Looking for a healthy recipe for snacks that will be good for you and your kids. Try these cookies.

Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies

2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cup of Rapadura (or Sucanat)
2 c. thick sourdough batter
(add 1 c. flour to 1 c. sourdough and let sit overnight)
3 c. rolled oats
1 1/2 c. spelt flour (or 1/2 white and 1/2 whole grain)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups of crispy nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips

Cream sugar, shortening, and butter. Add sourdough and rolled oats. Combine flour with cinnamon and baking soda. Add to mix. Mix well and chill in refrigerator for 7 to 12 hours. The longer you chill it the more sour it will be. You want the sourdough to break down and neutralize phytic acid in the grains so they will be more easily digested.

Add nuts, raisins, or chips. Drop by teaspoon onto a cookie sheet. Bake @350 for 15 min.

You can also omit the cinnamon and nuts and roll out into shapes. For a natural frosting I use cream cheese sweetened with honey. Eat right away, this frosting won't last long.

I adapted this recipe from one that a friend gave years ago out of her grandmother's cookbook.

For more recipies that would fall in line with Weston A. Price Foundation and his findings visit "my list of recipes"