Seen
I took the boys to lunch at McDonald's today since we were out and they've both been doing so well with school. As we stood at the counter and waited and waited and waited for our order to be ready, I noticed something strange on the menu: a single cheeseburger is $0.99; a double cheeseburger is $1.00. What? The extra meat patty and slice of cheese cost just $0.01?
Heard
Jacob: "I haven't seen George Washington yet!"
Caleb: "Well, he died before Mom was born."
Just how old do they think I am?
Yesterday...
Jacob: "When we go to heaven, will we take our stuff?"
Me: "No, we'll have all new 'stuff' in heaven."
Jacob, sobbing: "I don't want to go to heaven. I want my toys!"
Today...
Jacob: "Mom, can we take our van to heaven?"
Me: "No, we won't need it. There won't be any cars there."
Caleb: "What about NASCAR?!?"
Later today...
Jacob, whining: "I want to take Snoopy to heaven with me."
Me: "Well, the man who made Snoopy is there."
Jacob: "But I want my Snoopy!"
Tonight...
Jacob: "Can we take our jammies to heaven?"
A Steel Trap
It amazes me how Caleb is able to retain trivial information (and endless NASCAR stats). While we were at the library today, he reminded me he wanted to check out Scholastic Book of World Records 2007 again. It's been a few months since he last had it, and he pored over every page. The only one I could find on the shelf this time was the 2002 edition, but he wanted it anyway.
As he was reading it on the way home, he remarked, "I wonder how that happened!" When I asked him what he was talking about, he said that in the 2007 book, the Nile River was the longest; in the 2002 book, the Amazon River was the longest. (Or maybe vice versa. I can't remember things quite the way Caleb can!) He proceeded to announce that he wanted to check all the other years for that book so he can find out when it changed and maybe how.
He blows my mind sometimes.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
First Day of School
After a few delays, and a much bigger break than I had intended to take, we're officially back to school again. We didn't finish everything last year and, because of our busy summer schedule, we didn't get the chance to pick back up again until now. I had hoped to have a more year-round school year, but we ended up taking a full 3 months off instead.
Caleb woke up early today, shortly after 7:15. He might have been excited, but he wouldn't admit to it. I woke Jacob up shortly after 7:30 and had the boys get dressed for the day and eat breakfast. I wouldn't let them get on the computer until after we had finished with school, which they hated. That's one of the new rules.
As I was getting Caleb's books ready, he told me he wanted to do his math first. That's his favorite subject. He jumped right in, picking up where we left off with very little trouble. He was a little rusty on adding two-digit numbers, but after I worked with him on one or two, he got right to it.
I had planned on history (his least favorite subject) for Mondays and Tuesdays, but Caleb wanted science on those days. He wanted to do plant science again, but I told him we had completed that unit. He has the opportunity to participate in a science fair sponsored by our homeschool association for grades K-8, so he decided to do a project on plant science for that. We reviewed our journal entries from our experiments so we could come up with some ideas. Since he really wants to plant some more seeds, and the ones we planted in small cups this spring quit growing because they ran out of room, we decided to make that the focus of the project. This weekend we'll get seeds, good-quality potting soil, and 5 different sized pots so we can start our project next Monday.
After we planned that out, we got back to our human body science. Today and tomorrow we're studying bones. We actually have a library book called Dem Bones: "The toe bone's connected to the foot bone. The foot bone's connected to the ankle bone..." Next week we'll study muscles. Then we'll move on to the nervous system, the circulatory system, and the respiratory system. Finally we'll be able to get to this year's study on earth and space sciences.
Following a quick snack break, we worked on spelling, English, and writing. Part of our spelling this fall will be working on the 2nd grade spelling bee word list. Caleb participated last year and did really well, especially considering we didn't start working on the word list until only 2 weeks prior to the bee. In English, he learning about the different types of sentences. He's having a lot of fun with that. This year I need to increase the amount of writing he does. I need to be sure he does some copywork each day and gradually work in some writing of the narratives after his science and history lessons.
I also need to get him started early on reviewing his AWANA verses for this year. It starts in two weeks, but since I know the first few verses he'll need to know for this year, he may as well get started. I have also thought of two visitors he can take with him this year, so he'll get that part of the green jewel requirement met. We've struggled with that the last two years.
I set aside 30 minutes this afternoon for him to complete the second side of his math worksheet, then do some silent reading. When his time was up, he said he wanted to read some more, but that only lasted about 5 minutes before he was back to playing with his Hot Wheels.
While Caleb was working on his copywork, I started working with Jacob on learning to read. I'm using a phonics program, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Seigfried Engelmann. I used that with Caleb and he was reading Dr. Seuss books after only 3 months. Jacob did really well with his first lesson today. He surprised me by already knowing the 's' sound without me telling him first. Thankfully the lessons are short - only about 10 minutes each right now. I had trouble keeping him still long enough to complete the first lesson. Maybe he'll adjust as the lessons get longer later on.
I wonder what tomorrow will be like!
Caleb woke up early today, shortly after 7:15. He might have been excited, but he wouldn't admit to it. I woke Jacob up shortly after 7:30 and had the boys get dressed for the day and eat breakfast. I wouldn't let them get on the computer until after we had finished with school, which they hated. That's one of the new rules.
As I was getting Caleb's books ready, he told me he wanted to do his math first. That's his favorite subject. He jumped right in, picking up where we left off with very little trouble. He was a little rusty on adding two-digit numbers, but after I worked with him on one or two, he got right to it.
I had planned on history (his least favorite subject) for Mondays and Tuesdays, but Caleb wanted science on those days. He wanted to do plant science again, but I told him we had completed that unit. He has the opportunity to participate in a science fair sponsored by our homeschool association for grades K-8, so he decided to do a project on plant science for that. We reviewed our journal entries from our experiments so we could come up with some ideas. Since he really wants to plant some more seeds, and the ones we planted in small cups this spring quit growing because they ran out of room, we decided to make that the focus of the project. This weekend we'll get seeds, good-quality potting soil, and 5 different sized pots so we can start our project next Monday.
After we planned that out, we got back to our human body science. Today and tomorrow we're studying bones. We actually have a library book called Dem Bones: "The toe bone's connected to the foot bone. The foot bone's connected to the ankle bone..." Next week we'll study muscles. Then we'll move on to the nervous system, the circulatory system, and the respiratory system. Finally we'll be able to get to this year's study on earth and space sciences.
Following a quick snack break, we worked on spelling, English, and writing. Part of our spelling this fall will be working on the 2nd grade spelling bee word list. Caleb participated last year and did really well, especially considering we didn't start working on the word list until only 2 weeks prior to the bee. In English, he learning about the different types of sentences. He's having a lot of fun with that. This year I need to increase the amount of writing he does. I need to be sure he does some copywork each day and gradually work in some writing of the narratives after his science and history lessons.
I also need to get him started early on reviewing his AWANA verses for this year. It starts in two weeks, but since I know the first few verses he'll need to know for this year, he may as well get started. I have also thought of two visitors he can take with him this year, so he'll get that part of the green jewel requirement met. We've struggled with that the last two years.
I set aside 30 minutes this afternoon for him to complete the second side of his math worksheet, then do some silent reading. When his time was up, he said he wanted to read some more, but that only lasted about 5 minutes before he was back to playing with his Hot Wheels.
While Caleb was working on his copywork, I started working with Jacob on learning to read. I'm using a phonics program, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Seigfried Engelmann. I used that with Caleb and he was reading Dr. Seuss books after only 3 months. Jacob did really well with his first lesson today. He surprised me by already knowing the 's' sound without me telling him first. Thankfully the lessons are short - only about 10 minutes each right now. I had trouble keeping him still long enough to complete the first lesson. Maybe he'll adjust as the lessons get longer later on.
I wonder what tomorrow will be like!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Monday Memories: Packing
This time last year, I was too busy to blog much. We had found a house to rent and were getting ready to move into it the first weekend of September. I only blogged once last August. In it I answered a meme, wrote about first grade preparations, and shared the latest in my Pampered Chef business. You can read that post here.
What's Cooking?
Tonight: Tuscan Chicken over Angel Hair Pasta, Garlic Bread
Tuesday: Mushrooms in Garlic Butter Sauce over Angel Hair Pasta, Garlic Bread, Salad
Wednesday: Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, Sweet Potato Fries
Thursday: Garden Veggie Pizza (on that delicious homemade pizza crust I tried last week!)
Friday: fast food
Saturday: leftover pizza
Sunday: Family Fiesta at church - catered by El Fenix, dramatic presentation by Reg Grant (DTS professor), dessert auction
Speaking of Mexican food...
I really miss Trejo's back home. We like El Fenix really well. We've tried two other Mexican restaurants lately, too. Martinez' Mexican Restaurant is good but not great. Enchilada's was good the first time we ate there; we were less than impressed the second time and probably won't go back. I've heard Chuy's is really good, but I haven't been there yet.
But no place is like Trejo's. I really want to go back there again sometime.
Checking my List
I had a few days last week to do some things on my own while the boys stayed with my parents. I actually made a list because last time they were gone, I forgot half of what I wanted to do and ended up missing out. Let's see how I did...
1. I did browse the shops at Tanger Outlet Mall on my way back home, but I didn't find anything. I did get my "Blueberry Chocolates", and they're really good. I think the manufacturer needs to change the description on the back of the package, though. It reads "a huge, tart blueberry..." It's actually a tiny dried blueberry dipped in creamy milk chocolate, then covered with a smooth blueberry-flavored confection. Billy doesn't like blueberries much and, after I read the description on the package, said he wouldn't try it just because of the language. It sounds like something from the J. Peterman catalog (of Seinfeld fame).
2. I waited until Saturday to go to the Rock Barrell. I've been trying to get Mama there for quite some time, and this weekend I finally did. Her eyes lit up when she walked through the door - all the rocks and minerals and fossils. That's just her thing. Melissa and Lindsay went, too. I'm not sure what they were expecting, but they were pleasantly surprised. The three of us bought beads for making necklaces. I helped them make theirs Saturday night, then spent a good part of Sunday afternoon making a necklace, a watchband, and a bracelet for myself in black, turquoise, and silver. Once I finish up with them, I'll post a picture. (I also found a turquoise and brown donut to use when I remake a necklace Aunt Sue gave me. That's my next project.)
3. No golf. No time. Too hot.
4. I loved the gellato from Paciugo at NorthPark Center. After tasting Rose, which was light but a little too sweet, I chose Butter Pecan, Turtle Cheesecake, and Chocolate Chocolate Chip. Great combination! I think I liked the Chocolate Chocolate Chip best. The lady I had given the Pampered Chef catalog to wasn't there, but there were about a million other people milling around. I kept wondering why in the world there were so many people in the mall, then I saw a sign declaring the tax-free weekend. I don't like crowds and didn't want to feel like a salmon swimming upstream, so I left.
5. There aren't nearly as many antique stores in Forney as I thought there would be. There used to be a long row of them right off Hwy. 80, but as I drove past on my way home from dropping off the boys, I only saw 2 or 3. I didn't feel like stopping then, and I never made it to the one I visited about a year ago.
6. I didn't get around to working in my closet. Maybe tomorrow...
7. I didn't scrapbook, either. I figured that would be something to do after I worked in my closet and found all my stuff.
8. On Friday, Billy took me to lunch at Fadi's. It was just as good as ever! We both got a salad with marinated mushrooms, spinach, and dried cranberries and a serving of their delicious roasted cauliflower. I ate most of my whole wheat pita with some of Billy's hummus. I drank a glass of strawberry juice with my meal. It was really good! I tasted Billy's Magic Drink (with 12 fruits and vegetables in it), and it was really good, too. It had a distinctive flavor that I'm still having trouble identifying.
9. I browsed a few stores, but I didn't buy anything. I was looking for a pair of sandals or cute brown flip flops since the sandals I've been wearing for years are finally tearing up. I saw the same cute pair at a couple of different stores, but I didn't buy them. Maybe I'll go back after payday and see if they've been marked down any.
10. I spent my Barnes & Noble gift card, but I got Red River at Half-Price Books (for half price) and was able to get a different book with my gift card. Our local Barnes & Noble is small and goes by the name of Bookstop. Its parking lot is closed off because of road construction, so you have to go around the long way to get there. As I pulled up to one of many front-row parking spaces, I saw signs in the windows announcing their "Final Closing Sale". Everything was 20% off, with some items marked at 30% off. I found two books for the boys in addition to Build it Big for myself (business-related reading).
11. I didn't wander leisurely through the library. Instead I drove up and stuck my almost-due movies in through the book drop on the side of the building. I never even got around to watching my two movies.
12. Friday morning I was all set to stroll through the Arboretum. I was dressed comfortably, had my camera ready, and was going to be there shortly after it opened for the day. As I backed out of my driveway, raindrops started falling on my windshield. As I drove around the block, the rain started falling harder, so I went back home. I checked the radar and it didn't show anything in the area of the Arboretum, but you never can tell when something's going to pop up, and I didn't want to pay my admission and get rained out. I'll try again another day.
13. I didn't open any school books. I'll get to that this week since we'll be starting school Monday. Yes, I put it off another week. This week is full of various appointments and meetings.
Three fun things I did that weren't on my list:
1. Lunch at Panera Bread on Thursday. I took my book (What's so Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey) and read while I waited for my Portobello & Mozzarella Panini and my Cheddar Broccoli Soup and French Bread to be brought to my table. I enjoyed every last bit! I love Panera!
2. Supper at Romano's Macaroni Grill on Thursday. Billy and I went up to Plano for that since the one a few miles from here closed down. I ate Chicken Toscana Soup and Chicken Canneloni. Both were excellent. Billy's Creamy Tomato Basil Soup with Tortellini was really good, too. (That coming from someone who doesn't like tomato soup!)
3. After supper, we walked through Whole Foods Market, a mostly-organic grocery store. It was fun seeing all the cheeses, olives, granolas, dried fruits and lentils and beans, etc. I was hoping to glimpse Lisa Whelchel (Blaire, The Facts of Life) while I was there, but I didn't. (I've heard she shops there. I met her at a local Lifeway book-signing event she did a year or so ago. Shortly after that I learned she lives in Plano.)
All this has made me tired, and it's late, so I think I'll head off to bed...
Good night!
What's Cooking?
Tonight: Tuscan Chicken over Angel Hair Pasta, Garlic Bread
Tuesday: Mushrooms in Garlic Butter Sauce over Angel Hair Pasta, Garlic Bread, Salad
Wednesday: Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, Sweet Potato Fries
Thursday: Garden Veggie Pizza (on that delicious homemade pizza crust I tried last week!)
Friday: fast food
Saturday: leftover pizza
Sunday: Family Fiesta at church - catered by El Fenix, dramatic presentation by Reg Grant (DTS professor), dessert auction
Speaking of Mexican food...
I really miss Trejo's back home. We like El Fenix really well. We've tried two other Mexican restaurants lately, too. Martinez' Mexican Restaurant is good but not great. Enchilada's was good the first time we ate there; we were less than impressed the second time and probably won't go back. I've heard Chuy's is really good, but I haven't been there yet.
But no place is like Trejo's. I really want to go back there again sometime.
Checking my List
I had a few days last week to do some things on my own while the boys stayed with my parents. I actually made a list because last time they were gone, I forgot half of what I wanted to do and ended up missing out. Let's see how I did...
1. I did browse the shops at Tanger Outlet Mall on my way back home, but I didn't find anything. I did get my "Blueberry Chocolates", and they're really good. I think the manufacturer needs to change the description on the back of the package, though. It reads "a huge, tart blueberry..." It's actually a tiny dried blueberry dipped in creamy milk chocolate, then covered with a smooth blueberry-flavored confection. Billy doesn't like blueberries much and, after I read the description on the package, said he wouldn't try it just because of the language. It sounds like something from the J. Peterman catalog (of Seinfeld fame).
2. I waited until Saturday to go to the Rock Barrell. I've been trying to get Mama there for quite some time, and this weekend I finally did. Her eyes lit up when she walked through the door - all the rocks and minerals and fossils. That's just her thing. Melissa and Lindsay went, too. I'm not sure what they were expecting, but they were pleasantly surprised. The three of us bought beads for making necklaces. I helped them make theirs Saturday night, then spent a good part of Sunday afternoon making a necklace, a watchband, and a bracelet for myself in black, turquoise, and silver. Once I finish up with them, I'll post a picture. (I also found a turquoise and brown donut to use when I remake a necklace Aunt Sue gave me. That's my next project.)
3. No golf. No time. Too hot.
4. I loved the gellato from Paciugo at NorthPark Center. After tasting Rose, which was light but a little too sweet, I chose Butter Pecan, Turtle Cheesecake, and Chocolate Chocolate Chip. Great combination! I think I liked the Chocolate Chocolate Chip best. The lady I had given the Pampered Chef catalog to wasn't there, but there were about a million other people milling around. I kept wondering why in the world there were so many people in the mall, then I saw a sign declaring the tax-free weekend. I don't like crowds and didn't want to feel like a salmon swimming upstream, so I left.
5. There aren't nearly as many antique stores in Forney as I thought there would be. There used to be a long row of them right off Hwy. 80, but as I drove past on my way home from dropping off the boys, I only saw 2 or 3. I didn't feel like stopping then, and I never made it to the one I visited about a year ago.
6. I didn't get around to working in my closet. Maybe tomorrow...
7. I didn't scrapbook, either. I figured that would be something to do after I worked in my closet and found all my stuff.
8. On Friday, Billy took me to lunch at Fadi's. It was just as good as ever! We both got a salad with marinated mushrooms, spinach, and dried cranberries and a serving of their delicious roasted cauliflower. I ate most of my whole wheat pita with some of Billy's hummus. I drank a glass of strawberry juice with my meal. It was really good! I tasted Billy's Magic Drink (with 12 fruits and vegetables in it), and it was really good, too. It had a distinctive flavor that I'm still having trouble identifying.
9. I browsed a few stores, but I didn't buy anything. I was looking for a pair of sandals or cute brown flip flops since the sandals I've been wearing for years are finally tearing up. I saw the same cute pair at a couple of different stores, but I didn't buy them. Maybe I'll go back after payday and see if they've been marked down any.
10. I spent my Barnes & Noble gift card, but I got Red River at Half-Price Books (for half price) and was able to get a different book with my gift card. Our local Barnes & Noble is small and goes by the name of Bookstop. Its parking lot is closed off because of road construction, so you have to go around the long way to get there. As I pulled up to one of many front-row parking spaces, I saw signs in the windows announcing their "Final Closing Sale". Everything was 20% off, with some items marked at 30% off. I found two books for the boys in addition to Build it Big for myself (business-related reading).
11. I didn't wander leisurely through the library. Instead I drove up and stuck my almost-due movies in through the book drop on the side of the building. I never even got around to watching my two movies.
12. Friday morning I was all set to stroll through the Arboretum. I was dressed comfortably, had my camera ready, and was going to be there shortly after it opened for the day. As I backed out of my driveway, raindrops started falling on my windshield. As I drove around the block, the rain started falling harder, so I went back home. I checked the radar and it didn't show anything in the area of the Arboretum, but you never can tell when something's going to pop up, and I didn't want to pay my admission and get rained out. I'll try again another day.
13. I didn't open any school books. I'll get to that this week since we'll be starting school Monday. Yes, I put it off another week. This week is full of various appointments and meetings.
Three fun things I did that weren't on my list:
1. Lunch at Panera Bread on Thursday. I took my book (What's so Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey) and read while I waited for my Portobello & Mozzarella Panini and my Cheddar Broccoli Soup and French Bread to be brought to my table. I enjoyed every last bit! I love Panera!
2. Supper at Romano's Macaroni Grill on Thursday. Billy and I went up to Plano for that since the one a few miles from here closed down. I ate Chicken Toscana Soup and Chicken Canneloni. Both were excellent. Billy's Creamy Tomato Basil Soup with Tortellini was really good, too. (That coming from someone who doesn't like tomato soup!)
3. After supper, we walked through Whole Foods Market, a mostly-organic grocery store. It was fun seeing all the cheeses, olives, granolas, dried fruits and lentils and beans, etc. I was hoping to glimpse Lisa Whelchel (Blaire, The Facts of Life) while I was there, but I didn't. (I've heard she shops there. I met her at a local Lifeway book-signing event she did a year or so ago. Shortly after that I learned she lives in Plano.)
All this has made me tired, and it's late, so I think I'll head off to bed...
Good night!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
50/50
I went to the dentist today for cleaning and x-rays. The good news is that my broken tooth is the only problem I have. Everything else looks great. The hygienist even commented on how clean my teeth are, especially for someone who hasn't been to the dentist in 4 years.
The bad news is my broken tooth. It broke "deep", as the dentist put it. I'll be going back in 3 weeks to get some work done on it. He said there's a 50/50 chance I'll end up having to get a root canal done because of how deep the break is. He said it's hard to see on the x-rays and that he won't know for sure until he's working on it. If I do end up needing a root canal, I'll have to go back two more times after that - once to get my tooth built up and once to get a crown. Somehow I don't think I'll feel like a princess.
Please pray really hard that I won't have to undergo a root canal!
Apparently I had a cavity there. IF I had gone to the dentist regularly like a good little girl, I wouldn't be facing this problem now. It would have been detected and taken care of earlier. I scheduled a 6-month cleaning for February. Now I need to call the boys' dentist and get them scheduled; it's been a little over a year since they last went. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of their dentist or the pediatric clinic where I took them, but I do know where it's located. I'll probably go by there one day this week and get all that taken care of. I bet they sent a reminder card, but since we moved almost a year ago, it probably didn't get forwarded.
Move Over, Martha White
I love making pizza. For the longest time, I used the Pillsbury crust in the can. I never really liked it that well, but it was better than the Chef Boyardee brand.
Then I discovered Martha White's Pizza Crust Mix. All you have to do is add hot water, stir until it's mixed well, brush it with oil, and let it set for 5 minutes. It tastes really good and is inexpensive. Wal-Mart has a Great Value brand on the shelf next to it for even less, but I never did try it. It's probably just as good, but now I'll never know.
I remembered a delicious pizza crust Amy had made several years ago. She emailed me the recipe and I tried it last night. (I kept forgetting about it, but I couldn't find any Martha White Pizza Crust Mix when I shopped at Kroger last week.) It was soooo good! Even though it took a little longer to mix it up than the Martha White brand, it's well worth those few extra minutes. This will be my standard pizza crust from here on:
4 cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I added a little extra.)
2 tsp. oregano (I used Pampered Chef's Italian Seasoning Mix.)
2/3 c. olive oil
1 1/3 c. water
Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Measure oil and water into one container, pouring all at once into flour mixture. Stir to form a ball.
Divide in half and press or roll out onto 15" pizza stone. (Yes, I only use my Pampered Chef baking stones!) If dough is too sticky, add a little extra flour. (Mine turned out just right.)
Top pizza and bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Makes 2 15-inch pizzas.
**I prebaked my crusts for 8 minutes each before topping them, then I baked them an additional 8 minutes.
I topped these pizzas with some left over diced ham, sliced fresh mushrooms, and sliced black olives. I also added some onion to mine and Billy's pizza. I think this crust will be excellent topped with spinach, zucchini, tomatoes, etc. I want to try it like that in week or so.
We all loved the flavor of the crust, and I loved the fact that I knew exactly what ingredients went into it. It really didn't take much time, and it's so much better than any other crust I've tasted. It seemed to be more filling, too. Billy and I each ate 2 pieces and were full. Caleb ate 1 1/2 pieces; Jacob ate 2 1/2. Since I always make 2 pizzas, we have plenty left over for tonight. Mmmmmm....
The bad news is my broken tooth. It broke "deep", as the dentist put it. I'll be going back in 3 weeks to get some work done on it. He said there's a 50/50 chance I'll end up having to get a root canal done because of how deep the break is. He said it's hard to see on the x-rays and that he won't know for sure until he's working on it. If I do end up needing a root canal, I'll have to go back two more times after that - once to get my tooth built up and once to get a crown. Somehow I don't think I'll feel like a princess.
Please pray really hard that I won't have to undergo a root canal!
Apparently I had a cavity there. IF I had gone to the dentist regularly like a good little girl, I wouldn't be facing this problem now. It would have been detected and taken care of earlier. I scheduled a 6-month cleaning for February. Now I need to call the boys' dentist and get them scheduled; it's been a little over a year since they last went. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of their dentist or the pediatric clinic where I took them, but I do know where it's located. I'll probably go by there one day this week and get all that taken care of. I bet they sent a reminder card, but since we moved almost a year ago, it probably didn't get forwarded.
Move Over, Martha White
I love making pizza. For the longest time, I used the Pillsbury crust in the can. I never really liked it that well, but it was better than the Chef Boyardee brand.
Then I discovered Martha White's Pizza Crust Mix. All you have to do is add hot water, stir until it's mixed well, brush it with oil, and let it set for 5 minutes. It tastes really good and is inexpensive. Wal-Mart has a Great Value brand on the shelf next to it for even less, but I never did try it. It's probably just as good, but now I'll never know.
I remembered a delicious pizza crust Amy had made several years ago. She emailed me the recipe and I tried it last night. (I kept forgetting about it, but I couldn't find any Martha White Pizza Crust Mix when I shopped at Kroger last week.) It was soooo good! Even though it took a little longer to mix it up than the Martha White brand, it's well worth those few extra minutes. This will be my standard pizza crust from here on:
4 cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I added a little extra.)
2 tsp. oregano (I used Pampered Chef's Italian Seasoning Mix.)
2/3 c. olive oil
1 1/3 c. water
Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Measure oil and water into one container, pouring all at once into flour mixture. Stir to form a ball.
Divide in half and press or roll out onto 15" pizza stone. (Yes, I only use my Pampered Chef baking stones!) If dough is too sticky, add a little extra flour. (Mine turned out just right.)
Top pizza and bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Makes 2 15-inch pizzas.
**I prebaked my crusts for 8 minutes each before topping them, then I baked them an additional 8 minutes.
I topped these pizzas with some left over diced ham, sliced fresh mushrooms, and sliced black olives. I also added some onion to mine and Billy's pizza. I think this crust will be excellent topped with spinach, zucchini, tomatoes, etc. I want to try it like that in week or so.
We all loved the flavor of the crust, and I loved the fact that I knew exactly what ingredients went into it. It really didn't take much time, and it's so much better than any other crust I've tasted. It seemed to be more filling, too. Billy and I each ate 2 pieces and were full. Caleb ate 1 1/2 pieces; Jacob ate 2 1/2. Since I always make 2 pizzas, we have plenty left over for tonight. Mmmmmm....
Monday, August 13, 2007
When it rains,
...it pours indeed.
First it was my tooth that broke. It's still not giving me mouth pain, but I wonder if it's the cause of the headaches I've been having the last few days. Thankfully I was able to get an appointment for tomorrow morning for a cleaning and x-rays. Then they'll determine "a course of treatment" until they can get me in to fix it.
My next challenge was finding a babysitter. Of the two I use "regularly" (as infrequently as I actually use one), one works days and the other has relatives visiting for the week. I went down my list and finally found a friend whose daughter has just gotten her babysitter certification. She's "practicing" babysitting at her house with her mom there, she only charges $2 an hour, and her little brother is a friend of Caleb's. Everyone wins! I just have to be sure I leave in plenty of time to take the boys there, then get back to this part of town for my appointment.
Then the garage door broke this morning. I heard a clank! this morning after the garage door closed when Billy left. I looked around, but I didn't see anything wrong. When the boys and I tried to leave later to run a few errands, the door would only go up about 3 inches. When I pushed the button to let it down, it went down and back up to that same 3-inch height. I couldn't even push the door up. Our leasing agent said a repairman would be calling me about coming out this evening, but when he called, he said he'd be out tomorrow morning. I told him I had an appointment and he promised to come early and be finished in less than an hour. I will not be late.
Finally, this afternoon when the boys were going to have a little video game time, our old PlayStation quit working. Caleb said the sound had gone out on it a while back. Today the video went. I tried hooking it up to a different TV, but still nothing. I'm sad that it's not working, even though I haven't played it in years. We have some really fun games that I'd like to be able to play again one day. Maybe it's not the console but the cable we've been using. Maybe Billy can figure out what's wrong and fix it. Caleb said, "We'll just get an X-Box, then." I told him he'd have to wait until Christmas for something like that. And we're thinking maybe a Wii... I don't know much about all that, so I'll leave it up to Billy.
Hopefully that'll be all that breaks down around here for a while. Things like this usually come in three's for me.
First it was my tooth that broke. It's still not giving me mouth pain, but I wonder if it's the cause of the headaches I've been having the last few days. Thankfully I was able to get an appointment for tomorrow morning for a cleaning and x-rays. Then they'll determine "a course of treatment" until they can get me in to fix it.
My next challenge was finding a babysitter. Of the two I use "regularly" (as infrequently as I actually use one), one works days and the other has relatives visiting for the week. I went down my list and finally found a friend whose daughter has just gotten her babysitter certification. She's "practicing" babysitting at her house with her mom there, she only charges $2 an hour, and her little brother is a friend of Caleb's. Everyone wins! I just have to be sure I leave in plenty of time to take the boys there, then get back to this part of town for my appointment.
Then the garage door broke this morning. I heard a clank! this morning after the garage door closed when Billy left. I looked around, but I didn't see anything wrong. When the boys and I tried to leave later to run a few errands, the door would only go up about 3 inches. When I pushed the button to let it down, it went down and back up to that same 3-inch height. I couldn't even push the door up. Our leasing agent said a repairman would be calling me about coming out this evening, but when he called, he said he'd be out tomorrow morning. I told him I had an appointment and he promised to come early and be finished in less than an hour. I will not be late.
Finally, this afternoon when the boys were going to have a little video game time, our old PlayStation quit working. Caleb said the sound had gone out on it a while back. Today the video went. I tried hooking it up to a different TV, but still nothing. I'm sad that it's not working, even though I haven't played it in years. We have some really fun games that I'd like to be able to play again one day. Maybe it's not the console but the cable we've been using. Maybe Billy can figure out what's wrong and fix it. Caleb said, "We'll just get an X-Box, then." I told him he'd have to wait until Christmas for something like that. And we're thinking maybe a Wii... I don't know much about all that, so I'll leave it up to Billy.
Hopefully that'll be all that breaks down around here for a while. Things like this usually come in three's for me.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Feast 155
Here's today's Friday's Feast:
Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of pie?
The first thing that came to mind was Strawn's Coconut Cream Pie. They're famous for their strawberry pies, but I much prefer the coconut cream. The chocolate cream pie is really good, too. I haven't had their pie in many, many years. I remember one year for my birthday I didn't want a cake. I wanted coconut cream pie - and I got it, too! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Soup
Name something that made you smile this week.
Something that was different from Caleb's questions, which I often find humorous, and Jacob's funny antics was getting to hang out with friends yesterday. Kim and I see each other often, but I don't think I've seen the others all summer, so it was good getting together and laughing with them again. Just thinking about the day brings a smile to my face. Even the bird. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, read the post below this one.)
Salad
What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid?
Stay indoors. Eat popsicles, ice cream, and fresh fruit from the fridge. Drink ice cold lemonade or ice water.
Main Course
You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up?
Well, $1,000 isn't going to do much toward redecorating my living room, so I won't even dream about that. It would do nice things in the boys' playroom, though. I'd put up some curtains across the two windows and the sliding glass door. I'd buy some attractive shelves for stacking their boxes and tubs of toys on instead of shoving them under the toddler bed/"couch", which I'd probably get rid of since they never use it. (I'm not really getting rid of it since I'm not redecorating, though. It looks cute and hides the Legos, K'Nex, Magnetix, Tall Tree Timbers, and other things that are stored under it.) I'd coordinate the boxes and tubs their toys are in so everything would look more uniform.
Dessert
Fill in the blank: My friend says my hair smells good, but I say it's just the baby wipes. (Yes, you have to read the previous post...)
Chip or Chunk?
Last night, as I was eating a piece of pizza, I realized a piece of one of my back teeth had broken off. I had swallowed it! It felt strange, like I had cheese sticking to the side of my tooth, but when I ran my tongue across it, it felt sharp and strange. I stuck my finger in there and felt a sharp edge, but no cheese. I stuck my tongue back there again and realized part of my tooth was gone! I tried looking at it with my hand mirror, and I could see part of it was missing, but I can't really tell how much, just that it's angled upward. It doesn't go all the way up to my gums, thankfully. It feels like a chunk, but it may just be a chip.
It doesn't hurt when I drink anything or brush my teeth. I guess it won't hurt when I eat, either, but I'm nervous about that. I have to eat sometime, though. I'm starving! I've been wanting to lose some weight...
I need to call a dentist. I haven't been in 4 years - since we moved here. I kept thinking I would make a special trip back to see my old dentist, one I'd been going to for 16 years before we moved, one I was comfortable with. But I would forget, then put it off when I did remember. I've always had good teeth, so I never worried about it. Now I'm going to pay for it!
Billy left his dentist's card on the refrigerator for me so I can call this morning and get an appointment. Hopefully it'll be soon.
Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of pie?
The first thing that came to mind was Strawn's Coconut Cream Pie. They're famous for their strawberry pies, but I much prefer the coconut cream. The chocolate cream pie is really good, too. I haven't had their pie in many, many years. I remember one year for my birthday I didn't want a cake. I wanted coconut cream pie - and I got it, too! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Soup
Name something that made you smile this week.
Something that was different from Caleb's questions, which I often find humorous, and Jacob's funny antics was getting to hang out with friends yesterday. Kim and I see each other often, but I don't think I've seen the others all summer, so it was good getting together and laughing with them again. Just thinking about the day brings a smile to my face. Even the bird. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, read the post below this one.)
Salad
What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid?
Stay indoors. Eat popsicles, ice cream, and fresh fruit from the fridge. Drink ice cold lemonade or ice water.
Main Course
You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up?
Well, $1,000 isn't going to do much toward redecorating my living room, so I won't even dream about that. It would do nice things in the boys' playroom, though. I'd put up some curtains across the two windows and the sliding glass door. I'd buy some attractive shelves for stacking their boxes and tubs of toys on instead of shoving them under the toddler bed/"couch", which I'd probably get rid of since they never use it. (I'm not really getting rid of it since I'm not redecorating, though. It looks cute and hides the Legos, K'Nex, Magnetix, Tall Tree Timbers, and other things that are stored under it.) I'd coordinate the boxes and tubs their toys are in so everything would look more uniform.
Dessert
Fill in the blank: My friend says my hair smells good, but I say it's just the baby wipes. (Yes, you have to read the previous post...)
Chip or Chunk?
Last night, as I was eating a piece of pizza, I realized a piece of one of my back teeth had broken off. I had swallowed it! It felt strange, like I had cheese sticking to the side of my tooth, but when I ran my tongue across it, it felt sharp and strange. I stuck my finger in there and felt a sharp edge, but no cheese. I stuck my tongue back there again and realized part of my tooth was gone! I tried looking at it with my hand mirror, and I could see part of it was missing, but I can't really tell how much, just that it's angled upward. It doesn't go all the way up to my gums, thankfully. It feels like a chunk, but it may just be a chip.
It doesn't hurt when I drink anything or brush my teeth. I guess it won't hurt when I eat, either, but I'm nervous about that. I have to eat sometime, though. I'm starving! I've been wanting to lose some weight...
I need to call a dentist. I haven't been in 4 years - since we moved here. I kept thinking I would make a special trip back to see my old dentist, one I'd been going to for 16 years before we moved, one I was comfortable with. But I would forget, then put it off when I did remember. I've always had good teeth, so I never worried about it. Now I'm going to pay for it!
Billy left his dentist's card on the refrigerator for me so I can call this morning and get an appointment. Hopefully it'll be soon.
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