My Daddy

Here's Papa!! My Daddy is getting ready to retire. He has worked for Southern Railway since I was in Kindergarten and is an engineer. I asked him what he was going to do if he retires and he has decided that he is going to be a gardener!! I hate that we don't live close enough to help him eat it all up!!

Pancakes, BlueBerry, Peanut Butter

Last night Emily cooked blueberry pancakes for our dinner (except for Artie, who had chicken and rice - he doesn't like sweet things for dinner - while me, I can live off them forever!!)

Here is our pancake recipe

2 cups of flour

5 t baking powder

1 t salt

3 T sugar

2 eggs

2 C milk

1/3 C melted margarine or oil

Combine and pour on warm skillet. Cook until it bubbles and then turn and cook a moment more.

These are so simple and easy to make. There is really no need as far as ease for having to buy pancake mix. (now if you can get it for free with coupons that's a different story!!)

We added in 1 cup of blueberries for last night's meal. They were so good, they just popped in your mouth.

You can also change the recipe to make peanut butter pancakes by added 1/3 cup peanut butter.

I think we are going to make some more blueberry pancakes today and put them up in the freezer. Hey, our frozen blueberries turned out great too.

Next year I hope to buy more than I did this year. I only bought 5 pints this year while they were such a good price. I definitely need 10 or 15.

So what to cook with them now?

Our Summer Blueberry Week

Our blueberries are soooo good!!!!

We looking for more and more to cook with them.

The Kuchen turned out good. I finally had to google Kuchen and found out it was a German name for cake.

Here's the recipe we used for the Kuchen from Woman's Day

INGREDIENTS

1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1⁄4 tsp each ground cinnamon and salt
1 1⁄2 sticks (3⁄4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
3⁄4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1⁄2 tsp vanilla extract
1⁄3 cup milk
1 1⁄2 cups blueberries
1 ripe peach, pitted and cut into 1⁄2-in. wedges
1 ripe plum, pitted and cut into 1⁄2-in. wedges

Crumb Topping

3 Tbsp each all-purpose flour and light brown sugar
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut in bits
1⁄4 tsp ground cinnamon
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

PREPARATION
1. Heat oven to 350°F.

Line a 9-in. square baking pan with nonstick foil; let foil extend over ends of pan. (we didn't do this)

2. Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with mixer on high speed for 2 minutes until smooth. On medium speed, beat in eggs and vanilla just until combined. On low speed, beat in flour mixture and milk until blended. Gently fold 1⁄2 cup blueberries into batter.

3. Spread batter into prepared pan and spread in an even layer. Top with peach and plum slices, evenly spaced in batter. Scatter with remaining 1 cup blueberries.

4. Topping:

In a medium bowl, rub ingredients together with fingertips until moistened and clumpy, then scatter over fruit. Bake 55 to 60 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and kuchen starts to pull away slightly from sides of pan. Cool in pan on wire rack.

5. Lift foil by ends onto work surface. Using 2 large spatulas, lift cake from foil onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Cut into squares.

The peaches were the best thing in the recipe. Now I'm ready to get a bushel of peaches next time I'm out!!

10 Steps to Multiplication Memorization

Emily is working on her multiplication tables this summer in preparation for school next year. Here is the plan we are using... (We are already up to the 3's and have skipped ahead and done the 11's)

10 Steps to Multiplication Memorization

1. Learn the 0’s

Any # times 0 is 0.

2. Learn the 1’s

Any # times 1 says itself.

3. Learn the 10’s

Count by 10’s - say aloud and write

10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80, 90,100, 110, 120

Practice the 10’s with a partner, and point to the answer on the paper.

4. Learn the 5’s

Count by 5’s - say aloud and write

5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60

Practice the 5’s with a partner, and point to the answer on the paper.

5. Learn the 2’s

Count by 2’s - say aloud and write

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24,

Practice the 2’s with a partner, and point to the answer on the paper.

6. Learn the 3’s

Count by 3’s - say aloud and write

3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36

Practice the 3’s with a partner, and point to the answer on the paper.

7. Learn the 11’s

Learn the trick - a # times 11 says itself twice.

For example: 5×11=55(This works up to 9×11)

11×11 is 11 with a 2 in the middle (121)

11×12 is 13 plus a 2 (132)- 11, 12, 13 plus a 2

8. Learn the Double Rhymes and 7×8

4×4 isn’t mean, 4×4 is sweet 16

6×6 pick up sticks, 6×6 is 36

7×7 feeling fine, 7×7 is 49

8×8 fell on the floor, 8×8 is 64

9×9 ate a ton, 9×9 is 81

12 x 12 give 4 more, 12×12 is 144

5, 6, 7, 8 - 56 is 7×8

9. Learn the 9’s

Learn the trick - 9×7 starts with 6 (it is 1 less than 7) 6+3 more = 9

The Answer is 63. (6 and 3, The # less than 7 and the # added to get to 9)

Kids can hold up 7 fingers, take 1 away to have 6. Then, count up 3 fingers to get 9.

10. This Leaves Only 8 Left to Memorize

Learn the remaining 8 by making flashcards.

4×6, 4×7, 4×8, 6×7, 6×12, 7×12, 8×12, 9×12

You may want to concentrate on 4×8, 6×7, 6×12 at the same time.

All the answers end in 2. (32, 42, 72)

My favorite gardening books

by Mel Bartholomew

by Reader's Digest

Blueberries

I got a great deal on blueberries this week at Ingles and bought several pints. I think I will be back to get some more. I have several recipes I am wanting to try and hoping to freeze some as well while the prices are low. I looked up online to check on freezing them and here is what I found.

Q. What is the best way to freeze blueberries. Also, once they have been frozen, if you cook with them, do you defrost them first? Do you wash blueberries, before you freeze them?

A. If you grew them, know they have not been doused with pesticides, and are unconcerned about what has been climbing around on them, you don't need to wash them. Otherwise, do wash them, gently, and do it before you freeze them. Thawed berries tend to weep and are very fragile, and you wouldn't want to wash away their flavor when you scour the pesticides off them.

The best way to freeze blueberries is in a single layer on a baking sheet. Dry them as well as you can first without bruising them by laying them on a layer of paper towels and covering them with more paper towels. Place them lovingly, and without crowding them, on the baking sheet, pop it in the freezer, and wait. Once frozen, pack the berries into appropriate storage containers and return them to the freezer.

There are certainly some applications where you don't need to thaw the berries before use — blueberry muffins, for example, where they will thaw and cook in the muffins. Where they will be used as a topping or garnish, however, it is nice to thaw them first so that you don't wind up biting a crystallized berry.

Doesn't seem to hard at all, if there is any left to freeze. I think I'm starting with a Summer Fruit Kuchen recipe that I found in Woman's Day.

I'm so hip

Brian cracked me up a couple of days ago. He texted (or text?) me (cause I'm so hip now and text!!) and said "guess what I did for hours last night?" So of course I texted (?) him back and said "what?" Well then he said

(I feel like an episode of the Cosby show with Rudy and her mom and dad - he said, then she said....)

So, he said "I've been reading Life at the Quinn home for hours!!" :-) He's so funny. I ask him if he learned anything new? :-)

His friend Lauren was reading with him - from her house on her computer (just a little confusion there on my part??? It was the middle of the night.) So now Lauren is coming over with him Sunday to go to church and meet the family.

Now, I'm testing Lauren to see if she is still checking in on the blog. Which really would be bad cause I haven't written again since they were reading. Anyway, looking forward to meeting you Lauren. I'll be the frazzled looking mama trying to shush her children in church. So, if your still out there, leave me a comment. (you too Brian!!)

Southern Plate

I found a wonderful cooking site today that has me ready to get in my kitchen. It's Southern Plate -Recipes from Below the Mason-Dixon Line. :-)



















Here are some of the recipes that caught my eye...

Peach Cobbler

Mud Pie (or Chocolate Cobbler)

Pizza Rolls - there are many recipes with great ideas for hamburger meat

I get tired of cooking the same things too much. I love trying new food and this all looks like our kind of food...

Who knew such a little tiny piece of popcorn could cause such a ruckus. For everyone's knowledge - don't put this in your ear!!! :-)

We spent the morning with the doctor removing one from Stephen right ear. Not sure how long it had been there. Stephen ran a fever Saturday and Sunday - probably trying to fight off his ear invader!! Hopefully he will be great and ready for Bible School tonight. He had to miss last night...

Now we get to move on to the dentist - Troy's getting his first two wisdom teeth pulled today!! Somedays just don't seem all that fun!!!! :-)

Pimento Cheese

This recipe originally came from my sister-in-law, Glenda. It's Artie's favorite. I'm not sure if it's still exactly like she gave it to me?? :-)

16 oz sharp cheddar cheese - grated on medium grate

mayo

bigger jar of pimentos - don't drain, mash them all up

a little salt

combine all above, of course we double or triple this...

tonight we will be eating with celery, crackers and grapes. I couldn't resist after seeing how good they looked in the above picture.

Here's a great post talking about pimento cheese. Notice the mention of the Beacon!!! :-)

Summer Plans

I'm so happy it is summer!!! This is the way I want to spend my days!!! :-)

I have begun my summer plans today, little bits at a time. No more rushing, no hurrying. (and yes Artie I do hurry some times) Okay, maybe I don't hurry; but I'm stressed just from the fact that I should be hurrying!! No more stress!! Says the mama with seven children!!! :-)

Looking ahead to the summer plans.

My favorite summer activity is SUMMER READING!!! The little children are having a reading contest. We will be using the AR reading list and everyone reading on their grade level. I know there are lots of wrong things about being rewarded to read, but there are a lot of good things about reading, so I will handle the fact that they are reading for a contest and believe when they grow up they will still love to read. Just as my older children have. In fact, my older children are wanting in on the contest too. Maybe one just for them?

Tomorrow we will go to the library and get the first round of books. I still need a good summer book for myself. Any ideas? I will probably begin a new Grace Livingston Hill soon. I'm finishing up a book called A Place Called Sweet Apple about a woman who fell in love with an old abandoned house and took it and restored it with love.

We will also be updating chores. The little boys will be taught by Troy to take over the trash duties. Troy is going to have a big house project each day - lots of scrubbing and washing and some outside yard work. Emily is going to have something to cook each day. I want to have a "foods available to cook" list for Emily. Then she can cook when she wants to instead of being tied to a meal - desserts, breads, muffins, breakfast to cook ahead for the frig, casseroles. We will also be moving over to our summer meals - lots of salads and tomatoes!! Then there are always lots of new recipes waiting to be tried and tested!! Brenda will be working - some with Basketcase and some babysitting, so she will probably keep her usual chore schedule.

The calendar is quickly filling up more than I realized with weekly church activities for the little children, Bible school, beach camp, boy scout day camp, Jerusalem Project, parties

Then to fill in the blank days there is camping, swimming, cookouts, sprinklers, bowling, ice cream, Popsicles, watermelon, lemonade, strawberry slushies from Sonic and birthdays.

There will still be a little school for extra practice - mostly handwriting and multiplication tables. Maybe a couple of unit studies just to keep boredom at bay. Troy is thinking of summer school. ??

I'm hoping to get some good yard sale-ing in!! Saturday mornings usually seems so busy, but now that I'm not hurrying.... :-)

A Wise Woman Builds Her House

There is are two beautiful posts at A Wise Woman Builds Her House.

The first one I found was called On Things Hoped For... where a wise woman ponders her in-law children yet to be. Her daughter asks her - do you realize one day the size of our family will double? What a blessing that will be. She thinks on things yet to be...

• dinners with all the children and spouses
• helping with new grandbabies and new homes
• holidays together
• older sisters helping little sisters with their first gardens
• little brothers helping older brothers with their yard work

Imagine ... I get to gain 5 more daughters and 2 more sons!!! What joy. I am praying!! :-)

The second writing was so dear to my heart. One of my favorite quotes of all times is by Emilie Barnes (my Emily's namesake) saying "in the heart of most of us (women) is a little girl who longs to be a lady" (from The Spirit of Loveliness). So of course I couldn't help but love a writing titled How to be a Lady. The wise woman writes on the two aspects of being a lady - the outward and the inward.

Outwardly she shares that we should strive to ...

1. Carry ourselves with good posture not slouching.

2. Dress modestly.

3. Look clean and well kept (hair, nails, etc).

4. Clothes in good repair.

5. Dress femininely.

6. Smell lovely.

7. Peaceful countenance and joyful demeanor.

While inwardly striving for ...

1. A Gentle and Quiet Spirit

2. Love, joy, peace, patience

3. Discretion

4. Unselfishness

5. Purity

6. Humility

7. Kindness, Goodness and faithfulness

8. Self-control

9. Sobriety

10. Grace and mercy

11. Godly character

Wouldn't this world be a more wonderful place if only ...

School's Out!!! :-)

The air is feeling thinner by the moment - three hours of school left. The little children are riding with me this morning. We are taking a small thank you present (candy) to the teachers, saying good-bye and picking up report cards and then - SCHOOL'S OUT!!!

This afternoon, after all the celebrating and playing the children will wind down and be ready for a rest. I have School's Out by Our Gang for them to lay down and watch. I know they will love it. They love the Little Rascals!! Last summer they had such fun making their own BLUR!!

I love movies that inspire play in the children - yesterday afternoon while I was with Brenda's graduation party - they watched The Three Musketeers and then were musketeers all afternoon.