Annie’s Red Beans (and Rice) This is a recipe that I came up with last week. When Jon declared it the best red beans he had ever had, I knew that I had to blog it. 3 cans red beans … Continue reading
January 22, 2006
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Month: January 2006
January 22, 2006
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Annie’s Red Beans (and Rice) This is a recipe that I came up with last week. When Jon declared it the best red beans he had ever had, I knew that I had to blog it. 3 cans red beans … Continue reading
January 13, 2006
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Well, this week went okay. Schooling my oldest at home isn’t going to be a picnic, but in the end I think that it will be better for him. Before these last two weeks of having him home, when the weekend would come, I would be like, “So what?!” (Thinking to myself that all my days are the same, anyway, so what does the weekend matter.) Now — with what seems like the rest of the world — I’m really, really glad that the weekend is here. And, I’m glad that it is a three-day weekend. Yahoo. At least I get a break from something on the weekend now. Now I don’t have to try to help him finish up a week’s worth of homework on Saturday like I did when he was in school. And, I feel better now that my feet are a bit wet with this homeschooling thing. For instance, I know that I’m going to scrap his Science text and look for one that will more closely fit his learning style. And I know that we’re probably going to start the schooling schedule where we are on for 3 weeks and off for 1 week. I think that the 3-1 schedule will greatly benefit my sanity. Not that he would have the whole week off, but would have a greatly decreased workload. The only thing that I have to do is to make sure that it lines up with the other boys’ break schedule. So, that is all that I know. Everyone have a good weekend. I know that I’m going to try to have a good one. The only thing extra on my schedule is making chocolate chip cookies — how’s that for shooting high? :)
Well, this week went okay. Schooling my oldest at home isn’t going to be a picnic, but in the end I think that it will be better for him. Before these last two weeks of having him home, when the … Continue reading
January 13, 2006
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0 comments
Well, this week went okay. Schooling my oldest at home isn’t going to be a picnic, but in the end I think that it will be better for him. Before these last two weeks of having him home, when the weekend would come, I would be like, “So what?!” (Thinking to myself that all my days are the same, anyway, so what does the weekend matter.) Now — with what seems like the rest of the world — I’m really, really glad that the weekend is here. And, I’m glad that it is a three-day weekend. Yahoo. At least I get a break from something on the weekend now. Now I don’t have to try to help him finish up a week’s worth of homework on Saturday like I did when he was in school. And, I feel better now that my feet are a bit wet with this homeschooling thing. For instance, I know that I’m going to scrap his Science text and look for one that will more closely fit his learning style. And I know that we’re probably going to start the schooling schedule where we are on for 3 weeks and off for 1 week. I think that the 3-1 schedule will greatly benefit my sanity. Not that he would have the whole week off, but would have a greatly decreased workload. The only thing that I have to do is to make sure that it lines up with the other boys’ break schedule. So, that is all that I know. Everyone have a good weekend. I know that I’m going to try to have a good one. The only thing extra on my schedule is making chocolate chip cookies — how’s that for shooting high? :)
Well, this week went okay. Schooling my oldest at home isn’t going to be a picnic, but in the end I think that it will be better for him. Before these last two weeks of having him home, when the … Continue reading
January 13, 2006
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0 comments
Well, this week went okay. Schooling my oldest at home isn’t going to be a picnic, but in the end I think that it will be better for him. Before these last two weeks of having him home, when the … Continue reading
January 10, 2006
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Thanks, everyone, for your encouraging words about my new adventure into home schooling. I’ll keep you posted. I have found a great resource in an online group for parents of children on the spectrum…so I’m happy about that. And now, time for a recipe. This is my new favorite recipe for roast. The recipe calls for an eye of round roast, but so far I’ve just used an arm roast and a bottom round roast. They both worked out great, as I’m sure that the eye of round would, if I would pay the money for it. :) Make sure that your dutch oven has a really tight fitting lid for the oven portion of this recipe. I suggest using aluminum foil to make sure that no steam escapes. Also, I would recommend using enough liquid to come at least half-way up the side of the roast. I just added water the the liquid already in there, and it turned out really well. You just have to reduce it a bit more before thickening it. This makes a great sauce, too. Hope that you enjoy it! Roasted Eye of Round 1 eye of round beef roast (about 3 pounds) 2 T. vegetable oil (divided) 1 can (14 oz.) beef broth (I used low sodium) 1/2 cup dry red wine 2 T Worcestershire sauce 1 cup finely chopped onion 1 clove garlic, minced 2 T flour (I used 1T cornstarch instead so that the recipe would be gluten-free) 2 T tomato paste 1/4 t salt 1/4 t freshly ground black pepper Trim visible fat from beef. In Dutch oven, heat 1 T of the oil over medium-high heat. Add roast; cook until browned on all sides. Combine the broth, wine and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl and then pour over beef. Cover and cook in 325 degree oven until well done and tender, 2-4 hours. (I cook mine until it is almost falling apart.) Remove beef from pan, reserving liquid, place it on a large plate or platter and tent with aluminum foil. In large skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining 1T oil. Add onion and garlic; cook until soft, about 4 minutes, stirring often. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Gradually stir in reserved liquid; bring to a boil. Cook stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in tomato paste, salt and pepper. Cook stirring occasionally until thickened. Slice beef across the grain. Serve with sauce.
Thanks, everyone, for your encouraging words about my new adventure into home schooling. I’ll keep you posted. I have found a great resource in an online group for parents of children on the spectrum…so I’m happy about that. And now, … Continue reading
January 10, 2006
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1 Comment
Thanks, everyone, for your encouraging words about my new adventure into home schooling. I’ll keep you posted. I have found a great resource in an online group for parents of children on the spectrum…so I’m happy about that. And now, time for a recipe. This is my new favorite recipe for roast. The recipe calls for an eye of round roast, but so far I’ve just used an arm roast and a bottom round roast. They both worked out great, as I’m sure that the eye of round would, if I would pay the money for it. :) Make sure that your dutch oven has a really tight fitting lid for the oven portion of this recipe. I suggest using aluminum foil to make sure that no steam escapes. Also, I would recommend using enough liquid to come at least half-way up the side of the roast. I just added water the the liquid already in there, and it turned out really well. You just have to reduce it a bit more before thickening it. This makes a great sauce, too. Hope that you enjoy it! Roasted Eye of Round 1 eye of round beef roast (about 3 pounds) 2 T. vegetable oil (divided) 1 can (14 oz.) beef broth (I used low sodium) 1/2 cup dry red wine 2 T Worcestershire sauce 1 cup finely chopped onion 1 clove garlic, minced 2 T flour (I used 1T cornstarch instead so that the recipe would be gluten-free) 2 T tomato paste 1/4 t salt 1/4 t freshly ground black pepper Trim visible fat from beef. In Dutch oven, heat 1 T of the oil over medium-high heat. Add roast; cook until browned on all sides. Combine the broth, wine and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl and then pour over beef. Cover and cook in 325 degree oven until well done and tender, 2-4 hours. (I cook mine until it is almost falling apart.) Remove beef from pan, reserving liquid, place it on a large plate or platter and tent with aluminum foil. In large skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining 1T oil. Add onion and garlic; cook until soft, about 4 minutes, stirring often. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Gradually stir in reserved liquid; bring to a boil. Cook stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in tomato paste, salt and pepper. Cook stirring occasionally until thickened. Slice beef across the grain. Serve with sauce.
Thanks, everyone, for your encouraging words about my new adventure into home schooling. I’ll keep you posted. I have found a great resource in an online group for parents of children on the spectrum…so I’m happy about that. And now, … Continue reading
January 10, 2006
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1 Comment
Thanks, everyone, for your encouraging words about my new adventure into home schooling. I’ll keep you posted. I have found a great resource in an online group for parents of children on the spectrum…so I’m happy about that. And now, … Continue reading
January 6, 2006
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7 Comments
Well, my ducks are in a little better row, so I thought I’d blog to let y’all know how things are going. My first 4 days of teaching my oldest at home went okay. This was sort of a warm up week. I learned a bit about how I should structure his day, and I also have discovered several holes in his knowledge that we will have to address — and along with all the other catch-up work and extra instruction it all seems pretty daunting, but I’m confident that he’ll learn more here than he would daydreaming at school. Of course, he daydreams here, as well, but it is much easier for me to reel in his attention that it was for his teachers at school. The distraction there is just too great, and, as we are only having moderate success with reducing the distractions inside his own head, the only concrete thing that you can do is reduce the distractions that you can — the external ones. It all is a little stressful. And, I say this as someone who is pretty unstressed by the normal things in life. But, trying to teach someone who is easily distractable can be a really frustrating thing to do. And, it requires creativity that is sometimes hard to tap amidst the frustration. So, hopefully I’ll find a way to manage it. Maybe some push-ups will help me, and maybe I’ll try some chocolate as well. I don’t know. The good thing is that I like solving problems. And, I think that there are few feelings worse than the feeling that time is being wasted. That is how I felt about his first semester, despite the best intentions and actions of everyone at his wonderful school, his time was being wasted by his distraction and his own lack of motivation and purpose. So, I don’t feel like so much of his time is being wasted now. And that feels good. Now, if I could just help him to be more motivated and less distracted and more independent, it will all be worth it. Oh, and the learning of the subjects, as well. *sigh* At least I have my Saturdays back for housework. I’m glad about that. Everyone have a good weekend. Check back next week for a great, new, heart-healthy roast recipe. :)
Well, my ducks are in a little better row, so I thought I’d blog to let y’all know how things are going. My first 4 days of teaching my oldest at home went okay. This was sort of a warm … Continue reading
January 6, 2006
by
7 Comments
Well, my ducks are in a little better row, so I thought I’d blog to let y’all know how things are going. My first 4 days of teaching my oldest at home went okay. This was sort of a warm up week. I learned a bit about how I should structure his day, and I also have discovered several holes in his knowledge that we will have to address — and along with all the other catch-up work and extra instruction it all seems pretty daunting, but I’m confident that he’ll learn more here than he would daydreaming at school. Of course, he daydreams here, as well, but it is much easier for me to reel in his attention that it was for his teachers at school. The distraction there is just too great, and, as we are only having moderate success with reducing the distractions inside his own head, the only concrete thing that you can do is reduce the distractions that you can — the external ones. It all is a little stressful. And, I say this as someone who is pretty unstressed by the normal things in life. But, trying to teach someone who is easily distractable can be a really frustrating thing to do. And, it requires creativity that is sometimes hard to tap amidst the frustration. So, hopefully I’ll find a way to manage it. Maybe some push-ups will help me, and maybe I’ll try some chocolate as well. I don’t know. The good thing is that I like solving problems. And, I think that there are few feelings worse than the feeling that time is being wasted. That is how I felt about his first semester, despite the best intentions and actions of everyone at his wonderful school, his time was being wasted by his distraction and his own lack of motivation and purpose. So, I don’t feel like so much of his time is being wasted now. And that feels good. Now, if I could just help him to be more motivated and less distracted and more independent, it will all be worth it. Oh, and the learning of the subjects, as well. *sigh* At least I have my Saturdays back for housework. I’m glad about that. Everyone have a good weekend. Check back next week for a great, new, heart-healthy roast recipe. :)
Well, my ducks are in a little better row, so I thought I’d blog to let y’all know how things are going. My first 4 days of teaching my oldest at home went okay. This was sort of a warm … Continue reading