Recipe Day: Kale Crisps

Okay, ya'll, this is probably one of the easiest healthy snacks going - and it is so good I couldn't get Jeff and the boys to leave them alone to serve with supper tonight! Kale Crisps taste a bit like potato chips (as told to me by Maestro), take just a couple of minutes to throw together and about twenty minutes in the oven. Leave them out on the counter for hungry snackers and I promise they'll disappear - and you'll be happy knowing that they're eating healthy and not potato-chip crunchy. For you home gardeners - kale is a cinch to grow a LOT at once, you do have to keep an eye for worm infestations though - they love it too!

I served them on top of and alongside a very pungent garlic-mashed cauliflower dish. Also totally tasty and complimentary to the Kale - while I don't have a picture of the cauliflower, I might just throw it in at the bottom as a "bonus" recipe for you faithful readers. Enjoy!

A Good Father

Our oldest - Maestro - turned twelve this past November. He is rapidly hitting adolescence and what a time it is! So far I have been more than impressed with his concern for how he "should" act, why people (especially teens!) act the ways they do, and for where he should look to improve himself next. His progress has been impressive and inspiring. But even as he mentally moves forward in his journey to becoming a man, he is also moving on his way physically. That really moves him out of the realm of "Momma's Boy"

Recipe Day: (Vegan!) Early Morning Scramble

I cannot take much credit for this recipe but my kids eat. it. up. It is one of few recipes which I don't change the recipe... much. I add curry powder, cumin and maybe some soysage (Aren't I clever? Get it: Soysage?? Well, my kids would laugh - and roll their eyes!)  Even if you have never tried tofu before, if you eat eggs, I would really encourage you to try this recipe - it is super-healthy and truly delicious, not to mention, it takes ten minutes to make!

Recipe Day: (Vegan!) Almond-Apple Spice Cake

Every so often, our family gives up dairy and eggs for a time, cuts back a bit on sweets and we practice a bit of self-discipline. Even though things like cheese, milk and eggs are cut out of our diet temporarily, a good vegan meal doesn't only have to be bland, boiled or steamed vegetables. On the menu tonight were: baked potatoes with homemade mango salsa, asparagus marinated in a chocolate-balsamic vinegar and walnut oil, and veggie meat substitutes (BBQ ribs for the adults and chicken fingers for the kids.) For dessert, I whipped up this delicious little cake. The recipe has its origins in The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen, (a phenomenal little vegan cookbook!) but as usual, I changed it just a little.

Facing Challenges in Life

This is a post about rising to the Challenges life gives us, growing in those challenges to become bigger and better people, and broken appliances and the lessons they teach us by no longer functioning...

Do you ever catch yourself saying, "I need to 'catch up' on the laundry"? I've been saying that for some time now, but something has occurred to me about that particular phrase, "catch up on laundry"

You can never really catch up on laundry because there is always more laundry being generated

Praying Through the Day

Sometimes my children are my prayer. 

Aaaahhhh... The first 30 minutes of the day. Remember those moments when you were able to get up early, have a cup of coffee while the birds chirped outside and fall breezes rustled through the trees. A time of peace and quiet, when you could give your mind time to waken slowly and become alert before having to rush into the to-do list of the day.

Balancing Life Between Work and Home Schooling

Amateurs practice until they get it right. Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.

I'm starting with the quote above largely because it motivates me to always strive for more. But now on to the rest of the post!

I recently visited a work-at-home-mom's blog that was new to me called The Work at Home Woman. She had a forum for many different WAHM topics, including one that asked, "Do you home school your kids?" The post was started by the site owner, who asked folks to post tips on balancing work life and home schooling life. The first respondent was someone who (clearly) was not a home schooling mom. Her answer was,

I dont like the whole concept of homeschooling because i (sic) deprives the kids from non-academic learning such as learning to share, accepting failure, team work, value of friendship etc. Homeschooling can be a great way of teaching but it does not help a kid grow up as a sensitive individual. I think that kids should attend traditional schools and homeschool only on the topics that interest them.

I do not understand how people can continue to think that socialization is the number one problem facing home school families. Not only that, but what was her real need in posting her opinion in a forum asking for tips on balancing it all out? Okay, rant over. That just steams me. That one individual opinion aside, here is how I responded to the real purpose of the forum.

No socialization going on here... Nope.