Well, science lab may be taking it too far, but this year has been one consumed with science for us.
Our homeschool group has a science club--Quest Science Club. This was the second year they had a science fair. We entered last year and got hooked. (O.K., momma-teacher got hooked. The kids just didn't stand a chance against getting out of it this year.)
This was the first year we participated in the regional science fair--SARSEF. This fair included students from homeschools, public schools, private schools and charter schools.
I have to say, I'm pretty happy with the results:
Horse Girl's project was Fluffy Stacks of Perfection. In this project, she tried to find out what liquid and leavening agent produced the fluffiest pancakes (buttermilk and baking powder, in case you are wondering). At Quest, she received a $25.00 culinary award and a certificate to make hand-tossed pizza at a local pizza restaurant. She did not place at SARSEF, but we are very happy, non-the-less.
Pea Picker did a project with his dad. Being the trap and skeet shooter he is, Pea Picker did a project along those lines--Shooting Up a Pattern measured the patterning effects of steel and lead shot (lead patterns better). At Quest, Pea Picker took the WOW award from Mad Science and he also won the best notebook. At SARSEF, he won a second place prize in his grade level.
Bubbie-Boy is my chemistry guy. He loves to mix potions. In The Amazing Inflating Balloon he mixed different household liquids (vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice and Coke) with substances (yeast, pop rocks, baking soda and Alka Seltzer) to see which produced the best chemical reaction to blow up balloons. At Quest, he won best display board with good science. At SARSEF he took a second place prize.
I am tired and ready to hang up my lab coat--oh, wait, Horse Girl will be starting her project for next year in a couple of weeks. Maybe I will just give my lab coat a good washing.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Multi-Grain Pancakes (+ Additions)
My dear, sweet friend and neighbor, Lara, shared this recipe with me. She brought over the mix and the recipe card, and we were able to mix up pancakes when we needed them. We think they are our new favorite pancake recipe (and we LOVE pancakes).
Multigrain Pancakes
1 cup oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat bran
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups buttermilk
1/3 cup butter, melted*
3 Tbs. syrup*
2 eggs, beaten
*Because I cannot just leave well enough alone (and believe me, these pancakes are good just as they are), I always have to change something in a recipe. Today Bubbie-boy and I made them with the following changes:
replaced butter with oil
replaced syrup with 2 Tbs. brown sugar
added 1 tsp. vanilla
added 1/2 cup chocolate chips (Bubbie-boy's request)
Combine dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and cook on a hot griddle.
Multigrain Pancakes
1 cup oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat bran
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups buttermilk
1/3 cup butter, melted*
3 Tbs. syrup*
2 eggs, beaten
*Because I cannot just leave well enough alone (and believe me, these pancakes are good just as they are), I always have to change something in a recipe. Today Bubbie-boy and I made them with the following changes:
replaced butter with oil
replaced syrup with 2 Tbs. brown sugar
added 1 tsp. vanilla
added 1/2 cup chocolate chips (Bubbie-boy's request)
Combine dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and cook on a hot griddle.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Lemon Bundt Cake
Wow! I'm on a roll! Two posts in one day.
Don't get too used to it.
So, where we live, it is the time of year when lemons are in abundance. Hubby likes bundt cakes and I have a huge bowl of lemons, so . . .
Lemon Bundt Cake
1 cup white wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1-1/3 cups granulated sugar (I used turbinado sugar)
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup confectioner's sugar
Heat oven to 350º. Combine dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Mix in lemon zest. Add oil, juice, milk, vanilla and eggs. Beat well. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until it tests done. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then loosen from sides of pan. Warm 1/4 cup lemon juice in microwave for about 40 seconds. Mix in confectioner's sugar until dissolved. Pour around outside edges of pan. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then invert onto a plate.
Don't get too used to it.
So, where we live, it is the time of year when lemons are in abundance. Hubby likes bundt cakes and I have a huge bowl of lemons, so . . .
Lemon Bundt Cake
1 cup white wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1-1/3 cups granulated sugar (I used turbinado sugar)
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup confectioner's sugar
Heat oven to 350º. Combine dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Mix in lemon zest. Add oil, juice, milk, vanilla and eggs. Beat well. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until it tests done. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then loosen from sides of pan. Warm 1/4 cup lemon juice in microwave for about 40 seconds. Mix in confectioner's sugar until dissolved. Pour around outside edges of pan. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then invert onto a plate.
Beef Noodle Bowl
Yes, I know it has been a while since I have been here, but I think about my little spot on the web quite a bit.
Last night I made a recipe inspired by http://joyinmykitchen.blogspot.com/. I customized the Beef Noodle Bowl for our family.
Beef and Noodle Bowl - Kraft Foods (Modified by Snow White and Frog Prince)
*further modified by A Desire to be Heard
1/2 lb. linguine, uncooked
*five serving size
3 C broccoli florets
3 carrots, peeled and sliced (about 1.5 C)
*I think I used four carrots total
1 lb. beef sirloin steak, cut into strips
*1-1/2 lbs.
*1/2 red onion, sliced
*garlic cloves, to taste, minced
*1/2 head cabbage shredded
1/4 C Kraft Fat Free Zesty Italian Dressing
*I probably used about 1/2 cup total Kraft's Light House Italian
1/4 C Soy Sauce, low sodium
*ground ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes to taste
Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain. Toss with approximately 1/4 cup salad dressing. Set aside.
Steam carrots and broccoli to desired tenderness.
Heat about 1 tablespoon canola oil in a pan. Add onion and minced garlic. Saute for about 1 minute. Add beef, and cook, stirring, until cooked through. Add cabbage. After a few minutes add about 1/4 cup salad dressing, soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder and red pepper flakes. Cook for a few minutes longer until sauce is thickened.
Combine noodles, carrots and broccoli and beef mixture.
Serve and enjoy!
"Thanks, SnoWhite, for the recipe.
Last night I made a recipe inspired by http://joyinmykitchen.blogspot.com/. I customized the Beef Noodle Bowl for our family.
Beef and Noodle Bowl - Kraft Foods (Modified by Snow White and Frog Prince)
*further modified by A Desire to be Heard
1/2 lb. linguine, uncooked
*five serving size
3 C broccoli florets
3 carrots, peeled and sliced (about 1.5 C)
*I think I used four carrots total
1 lb. beef sirloin steak, cut into strips
*1-1/2 lbs.
*1/2 red onion, sliced
*garlic cloves, to taste, minced
*1/2 head cabbage shredded
1/4 C Kraft Fat Free Zesty Italian Dressing
*I probably used about 1/2 cup total Kraft's Light House Italian
1/4 C Soy Sauce, low sodium
*ground ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes to taste
Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain. Toss with approximately 1/4 cup salad dressing. Set aside.
Steam carrots and broccoli to desired tenderness.
Heat about 1 tablespoon canola oil in a pan. Add onion and minced garlic. Saute for about 1 minute. Add beef, and cook, stirring, until cooked through. Add cabbage. After a few minutes add about 1/4 cup salad dressing, soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder and red pepper flakes. Cook for a few minutes longer until sauce is thickened.
Combine noodles, carrots and broccoli and beef mixture.
Serve and enjoy!
"Thanks, SnoWhite, for the recipe.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Our New Year Celebration
Well, it's 2010. Hmmm . . . I don't feel any different; only amazed that an new year yawns before me. 2009 went by very quickly--it's unbelievable.
So, last night, we allowed the kids to stay up past midnight (they get such a kick out of doing that). I am pretty done with killing myself cooking, so we had a simple meal:
Grilled Chicken Sausage in Snuggles from Sprouts
French Fries with a cheese sauce from Trader Joes
Sour Cream and Onion potato chips (a request by DD)
For dessert:
Quick Yellow Cake*
2 cups flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening**
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
Heat oven to 350º. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Add shortening, milk and vanilla. Beat on medium*** for 2 minutes. Add eggs and beat for 30 seconds more. Bake in greased 13x9 pan for 35 minutes, or until pick comes out clean.
*I halved the whole recipe and baked in an 8x8 pan.
**Replaced shortening with oil
***I didn't feel like dragging out the mixer, so I used a whisk, and I didn't beat for the allotted time.
Homemade Chocolate Syrup
1 cup cocoa
1 cup hot water
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
pinch of salt
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Place cocoa, hot water, sugar and salt in a large saucepan (allow room for stirring). Stir the ingredients until they begin to blend. Don't worry about the lumps--they'll dissolve during cooking. Then turn heat to medium and stir constantly (burns easily) and carefully. When it comes to a boil, continue cooking and stirring for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Store in the refrigerator.
So, last night, we allowed the kids to stay up past midnight (they get such a kick out of doing that). I am pretty done with killing myself cooking, so we had a simple meal:
Grilled Chicken Sausage in Snuggles from Sprouts
French Fries with a cheese sauce from Trader Joes
Sour Cream and Onion potato chips (a request by DD)
For dessert:
Quick Yellow Cake*
2 cups flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening**
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
Heat oven to 350º. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Add shortening, milk and vanilla. Beat on medium*** for 2 minutes. Add eggs and beat for 30 seconds more. Bake in greased 13x9 pan for 35 minutes, or until pick comes out clean.
*I halved the whole recipe and baked in an 8x8 pan.
**Replaced shortening with oil
***I didn't feel like dragging out the mixer, so I used a whisk, and I didn't beat for the allotted time.
Homemade Chocolate Syrup
1 cup cocoa
1 cup hot water
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
pinch of salt
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Place cocoa, hot water, sugar and salt in a large saucepan (allow room for stirring). Stir the ingredients until they begin to blend. Don't worry about the lumps--they'll dissolve during cooking. Then turn heat to medium and stir constantly (burns easily) and carefully. When it comes to a boil, continue cooking and stirring for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Store in the refrigerator.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Cream Soup Mix
Several years ago, I attended a class on Once-A-Month Cooking. I got a recipe for Cream Soup Mix during that class, and it has been a staple in my kitchen pretty much ever since. Here is the recipe for you to try:
Cream Soup Mix
2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup cornstarch
*1/4 cup instant reduced sodium chicken or beef bouillon granules
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/4 tsp. white pepper
Combine all ingredients and mix well with wire whisk until blended. Store mix in an airtight container.
To prepare as a substitute for one can of condensed cream soup in recipes, stir together 1/3 cup dry mix and 1-1/4 cups water in a saucepan. Cook and stir until thickened.
*I do not add the bouillon granules. I add my bouillon at the time I reconstitute the mix. My current bouillon of choice is Better Than Broth.
Cream Soup Mix
2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup cornstarch
*1/4 cup instant reduced sodium chicken or beef bouillon granules
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/4 tsp. white pepper
Combine all ingredients and mix well with wire whisk until blended. Store mix in an airtight container.
To prepare as a substitute for one can of condensed cream soup in recipes, stir together 1/3 cup dry mix and 1-1/4 cups water in a saucepan. Cook and stir until thickened.
*I do not add the bouillon granules. I add my bouillon at the time I reconstitute the mix. My current bouillon of choice is Better Than Broth.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Blog Much?
Well, it's obvious that I don't get here as often as I would like, but my little home on the web is not forgotten.
This coming weekend my DD and I are headed off to Mother/Daughter Cowgirl Camp. Unfortunately, the weather has turned chilly (hey, those of us who live in Tucson absolutely CANNOT take the cold). I am thankful it is not in the 100s, but warmer weather would be welcomed for camp. We did this back in April, too, and it was chilly then. But this time . . . we WILL be prepared. Knitted caps and scarves, thermal underwear, wool socks, down sleeping bags. We will be the warmest cowgirls in the west!
This coming weekend my DD and I are headed off to Mother/Daughter Cowgirl Camp. Unfortunately, the weather has turned chilly (hey, those of us who live in Tucson absolutely CANNOT take the cold). I am thankful it is not in the 100s, but warmer weather would be welcomed for camp. We did this back in April, too, and it was chilly then. But this time . . . we WILL be prepared. Knitted caps and scarves, thermal underwear, wool socks, down sleeping bags. We will be the warmest cowgirls in the west!
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