Pioneer Food

We haven't done many of the crafts that correlate with our history reading about the US moving westward. But there were 2 recipes that we decided to do.

Bacon Stew - taken from Life on the Oregon Trail by Sally Senzell Isaacs

• 1 cup of rice
• 2 cups of water
• 1 small onion, cut up
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• dash of pepper
• 4 slices of bacon
• 1 16-ounce can of red beans

1. Put 2 cups of water in a pan. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Add the rice to the boiling water. Lower the heat, and cover the pan with a lid. Cook for about 20 minutes until all the water is gone
3. In another pan, heat the oil.
4. Cook the onions in the oil until the pieces are almost clear.
5. Pour the beans into a strainer and rinse them with water.
6. Mix the beans into the onions. Add the rest of the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat for 10 minutes.
7. Fry the bacon in a skillet until it is crisp.
8. Remove the bacon and break it into pieces. Mix the pieces with the beans.
9. Spoon the bean mixture over rice, mix together, and serve.

I didn't really follow the directions. I cooked the bacon in a iron skillet (to be more authentic) and put some frozen onion/celery/bell pepper mix in with it. Then I dumped in a can of Blue Runner red beans. I served it with sausage. This is not really anything new for us since red beans & rice is a typical dish in Louisiana. Daddy doesn't really like red beans and rice, but he said it was the best beans and rice he ever had. It was probably all the bacon grease or he was just really hungry!  He did plate his really pretty though. 


Johnnycakes - taken from Westward Ho by Laurie Carlson

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups yellow cornmeal
• Butter
• Maple syrup

1. Mix the eggs, water, milk, oil and salt together in a bowl.
2. Stir in the cornmeal.
3. Stir it until all the lumps are smooth.
4. Heat the griddle.
5. Put a bit of oil on the griddle to keep the cakes from sticking.
6. Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto the hot griddle.
7. Fry the cake until it's done on 1 side, then turn it over and cook the other.
8. Eat johnnycakes warm with butter and syrup. This recipe makes about 12 cakes.

We, of course, served it with bacon. They basically tasted like fried cornbread. I made a double batch, but we didn't really like them for breakfast. I froze the rest to have the next time we have beans & rice. Cole even had some theme food since we've been talking about wagon trains on the Oregon Trail.

Miriam’s Birthday

Miriam's birthday was low key. We had homemade pink donuts and chocolate milk for breakfast. ZeeZee brought her a little goody bag at lunch time that had a "fake" flower, some cute flower sneakers, a birthday tiara, and a gift certificate for a girls day out shopping with lunch. On Thursday, I took her for her checkup at the pediatrician. Dr. B was trying to get her to talk and she was asking her about her birthday. It sounded so sad because she asked her if she had a party or was having one...she didn't answer. She asked her if she had cake, cookies, or cupcakes for her birthday and she said no. We're going to do a birthday celebration when Aunt Laura & Uncle Eric can come in.

Upward Basketball Games #6

Last Saturday was "Crazy Hair Day." We used red and silver hair spray. Some of the kids still have red scalps from it.

Cameron's team - The Wolves

Cameron's team had to play the really hard team again and he had to guard the toughest player.

Luke played his friend Aidan's team. Aidan asked his coach if he could guard Luke later in the game.
During one of the times when Aidan was guarding Luke, he fouled him and Luke was able to shoot some free throws. Here's the video I took of that:

Happy 5th Birthday Miriam!

It's hard to believe she's already 5...although she sometimes acts like she's going on 15. She loves being a big sister to Cole...sometimes too much. Yesterday, I put Cole in his bed when we got home from Walmart. While I putting up groceries, I heard Cole playing and realized that Miriam had put in his exersaucer.

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Sweet Wishes Fieldtrip

Today we had a fieldtrip to Sweet Wishes, a gourmet cupcake shop.   The kids were each able to decorate their own cupcake.  They had icing, chocolate chips, and 2 different sprinkles.  The owner, Mrs. Sheetal, spoke briefly to the kids before they decorated them.  The owners are social workers and they like to give back to the community so they didn’t charge the kids anything for the cupcakes. 
If you see how loaded down their cupcakes were, you know that they had fun! Afterwards, we headed to the new Perkins Road park to have lunch and play.

Shelby Play Day

The Shelbys came over to play today. There were spring bouquets picked for the moms, lots of kids cups, cookies decorated by the girls, and lots of playing. It's so neat to see their friendships developing especially the girls. But one day we might have to lock Miriam & Emma up!

Family Fiesta

Sunday night at church we had a family fiesta to kick off our spring season of WAK (worship arts for kids). 

Wordless Wednesday–Cole

Just had to share these of Cole. This is when you just stick it on auto to capture those precious moments.

Fun Friday–Banana Chocolate Chip Waffles

I was hoping this stack of Banana Chocolate Chip Waffles was enough to feed my hungry bunch this morning. Thankfully, it was!

I upped the banana based on some of the reviews. I didn't have mini chocolate chips so I just used regular. It was almost too sweet when served with syrup.

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 1 1/2 medium banana, mashed
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chip

1. Place dry ingredients in large mixing bowl and stir until mixed well. Add remaining ingredients and combine until well blended and smooth.
2. Let batter sit 5 minutes before using.
3. Preheat waffle iron.
4. Use 1/2 cup batter per waffle and cook until done (approx. 2 minutes).
5. Serve immediately.

Wordless Wednesday

Upward Games #5

This week's theme was "Danna Doo Day" (bandanna/doo rag ).
Luke & Cameron had some special guests to cheer them on this week. Our children's director from church, Mrs. Audra, and Paw & LaLa came to see them play.
Cameron received another yellow star for sportsmanship.

Luke received the white star for most Christlike. He had to play the whole game and most of the time against someone who was most likely older, faster, and a head taller than him. His team lost right at the end with a foul which caused the other team to receive a point.

Wordless Wednesday…Life with Sisters

Poor Cole...Somebody put their headband on him and put his ring on his arm like a bracelet...I'm assuming it was Miriam.