A Whole New World-Homeschooling!

This school year,has been quite a challenge. I have had to make a complete change to our way of life. I was put in a position where I had to decide what road to take. I stood at a fork in the road. My son attended private school for the past two years and was not invited back for the new school year. I was left feeling angry,dissappointed,and frustrated. My son is FULL OF ENERGY, and I didn't fault the school for having concerns, but to throw in the towel. was a blow. So here I was left with a decision to make put him in public school-NOT!! Apply at another private school or teach him myself. Choosing the later, we have been making our way weaving through slowly and steadily.

The End is Near!!! (My First Year of Homeschooling)
      My son and I have had a journey this school year. There was no waking up early to get him ready to be dropped off at school this year. Oh,no it was me quietly creeping out of  bed trying to not to wake a new baby and my Big One-haha!! Trying to maintain a schedule in and of itself was a task alone. I attempted to follow the suggested plan that came with the class materials and it worked for a while. Nothing was made in stone, and the fact that the boy and I are here four test away from the end-Thank you,Jesus,Allah,Buddha,.... Whomever. I know that there is a God (and a Great One at that) t

o whom, I am EXTREMELY THANKFUL!! I will be homeschooling again this school year. I already know what things I can do to make the year run more smoothly. I look forward to being alittle more organized and more on top of my game. The fact that my daughter is now toddling about and is capable of entertaining herself (alittle) has and will make things alot better. We have had our rough patches and great days. I love seeing up close and personal how much both of my children have grown and developed these past months. It is amusing to watch my smallest picking up every book that she sees and attempting to say words. She does however know her vowels thanks to Nana. Homeschooling has been a challenge and a sacrifice that I am glad that I have made.  I am glad that I did this for my son. I know that this was something that he needed and I am glad to available to be there for him on this level. We have many rivers to cross and many more mountains to climb-keep my family in prayer!!

Cookin Light-A Great Issue

     This month's edition of C.L. is superb!! It is loaded with fantastic looking chicken recipes from sandwichs to pizza,and literally everything in between that you could (or would not ) have thought of!! And to top it off, lots of great chocolate recipes as well. So far this month I have fixed two dishes that have inspired me the chicken and bacon club sandwich in the beginning of the mag,and the chocolate-chip and coffee muffins. First, I'll tell you about the chicken and bacon club. I decided to go with flat bread since I had that on hand. Also,I made the most divine sauce in my food processor with mayo,feta,garlic,olive tapenade,lemon,vinegar,and fresh spinach,sort of like the Greek cucumber sauce in place of mayo, and I added a combination of shredded cabbage and fresh spinach,in place of lettuce,along with julienned red onions, skipping the tomatoes altogether. It essence it was more like a gyro,but it was fingerlickin,sauce drippin,bacon toppin,good!! The muffins were also tweaked I added cake and wholewheat flour,alittle extra coffee,and a smidgen of cinnamon,and I also used raw sugar,vs white-they were really a tasty treat,they satisfied my sweets craving,i was gonna add walnuts,perhaps next time.I think this may become one of my go to desserts considering how very simple the recipe is!! I'll keep you posted as to what I'll prepare next,enchiladas,chicken pizza,hmmm who knows???

Fast Food At Home-101

Alot of times, I simply hate having to go home and cook after a daunting day of taking care of the kids, running errands, cleaning the house and grocery shopping! But,being a somewhat educated woman (hahaha!) I know that eating out on a regular basis is neither good for waist nor wallet. So on the occasions when I am to conquer my quick fix-I go home and well,cook!! Don't get me wrong I don't want to give the impression that I do not enjoy cooking,because it is quite the contrary-I ABSOLUTELY LOVE COOKING!!! I can remember going to the library checking out cookbooks as early as nine. Coming home and making dishes for my mom and myself,some of which I still fix today! I use to get so excited at the prospect of preparing  my own special dishes,as I gave my mom my weekly grocerylist
. People often talk of what one's purpose in life is,I'm sure getting out my trusty pots and pans is somewhere in my calling. As I said I wasn't the typical kid at thirteen I pulled out subscription cards for cooking book clubs and ordered away. I still have my Berry Crocker,Chinese Cooking. I can still fondly recall the night I saw the adertisement for a dynamic gadget called the V-Slicer, I had to have it !! It sliced, it diced,it crinkled veggies-I was amazed. I called my Mom, the next day and asked her to send me the money order so that I could order it right away. I just put her to rest ( the V-Slicer,that is !!) last year. A truly well made product indeed. I actually mourned the loss, afterall I had it for approximately 18 yrs.!

Last evening I went to Target to get me some almond milk and wound up staying in the store for plum near nhour. After,purchasing tyhe milk,and million other impulse items-never shop whilde hungry. I was soooo tempted to go to the mall and purchase a cheese pizza,but I did not. I had started this blog before leaving the house,and had the motivation to stay on track. I pondered what I could fix that would not only be quick, but most importantly FILLING. Earlier in the day I had considered tuna salad,but wound up making french bread pizza and a simple salad-dinner served.

Leftover Magic-A Few Potatoes

The other day I had a few boiled potatoes leftover in the fridge. They looked so lonely and I'm trying my best to stop being so very (very) wasteful,so I know that I either needed to eat them asap or toss them soon. So I decided to make to sautee' them up with alittle pepper,garlic, and onion, poured over a few eggs and topped the whole matter with alittle shredded cheddar,to which I added a few sliced croissants to finish warming up in the oven. We enjoyed the tortillas with a few salmon cakes which I hadn't made in a month of Sundays. When I was pregnant I hated salmon cakes, and really didn't enjoy them like I thought I would because my taste buds still have not returned to me completely. Don't you just hate when you have a meal in your mind and the oral expectation is not met,yeah, me too!!

A Good Meal

Last night I wanted to prepare a nice dinner. I had some fish fillets (swai) that I purchased a few days ago,and I was thinking tacos so I sprinkled alittle old bay and taco seasoning on the fish and let it do it's thing. By the time I got into the groove of the meal I thought that I would forgo the tacos, and go with yellow rice instead. I put a pot of blackbeans on to simmer to which I added sauteed onions,garlic,& bell peppers. Next I finished up my yellow rice which for whatever reason refused to cook up at the appropriate time so I had to keep adding little bits of water to help it along,I thought about risotto the entire time I was doing this! The fish was dredged in alittle seasoned flour that I keep in the fridge for frying fish, I like to use cornmeal with alittle (if any flour),the fish was seasoned ahead of time and splashed with some red wine. While the fish drained on papertowels I prepared a tomato gravy or sorts, again I sauteed up a bunch of onions,peppers, & fresh garlic,after I sweated the veggies alittle I added in a can of fire roasted tomatoes,and alittle spaghetti sauce. I have to tell you the house smelled divine. Oh, and plantains I actually cook them this time,I'm ashamed to admit that I have purchased them on more than one occasion and just have not felt like cooking them. They were perfectly ripe,the skin was just turning with streaks of black. I peeled them,sliced them on a diagonal,and sprinkled them with my herb salt (homemade),and alittle pumpkin pie spice and browned them in hot oil-delicious,if I had enough table setting I would have invited you-till we meet again!

Day 12-A Very Good Day

Today,started off as any other. Attempting to nurse a baby,rouse a sleeping boy,and threaten a grown man. Getting ready in a timely manner so that we all can make it to were we need to be is a challenge. The boy normally heads off to the Y-Mon.-Fri,joined by myself if I'm lucky. The man is off to the barbershop to cut hair. This was a good day inspite of that the fact that I simply could not get anyone on track this morning. The boy dragged, the man dragged, the baby however was on my side,she had nursed to her hearts content and I had time to get the boy to the Y on time for camp and I could have made it to water aerobics! Did this happen-Nooooo!! To say that I was a bit annoyed is an understatement,I'm proud of myself though I did not fuss nor complain-aloud anyway (haha!!). We FINALLY made it out of the door.

I did get to go shopping today and I picked up a nice stock of fruits and veggies-fresh peppers, eggplant,plantains,green onions, radishes,mangoes.....I'm determined to cook something different no matter how many recipes I read,cut out,dream of, I still have a tendency to cook basically the same things,how bout you??? Well this evening I informed my son that I purchased a bag of pizza dough for him to make his own pizza (is that all you bought me??). After he got over his disappointment that I didn't buy him more, he went happily to the task of creating his own pizza pie. I also created one with a pesto base,which I topped with mozzerella,feta,cherry tomatoe,mushroom and alittle bit of salmon-and it was sooo goood!! The flavors were a perfect match! And guess what it was different,more like a pizza that I could have prepared from one of my MANY COOKBOOKS, that I speak of so often.

Let's see I wanted to share w/you all that I consumed on this 12th day of my food challenge. I did not eat,nor drink till about noon today-I know shame on my especially breastfeeding I usually drink water by the pints,so as you can imagine, I was completely starving and thirsty. so I purchased one of those pre-cut fruit salads in the square containers,which was actually pretty good today,the fruit wasn't rock hard. Once I got home I made a big salad after snacking on a few roasted garlic pita chips. The salad was really good ,I had beets,sugarsnaps,homemade pico de gallo-a boiled egg on top of some fancy greens. Anyway it was really tasty. My mother ordered a sweetpotato Poundcake from my aunt so I ate a nice serving of that w/ a scoop of vanilla icecream. Dinner was the above mentioned pizza and I also had two very delicous peaches today. I started to drink a guava kombucha drink from wholefoods but passed once I ate the cake, my liquids have been strictly water today, I'm missing my smoothy it's been a few days since I've made one,perhaps tomorrow-Till we meet again!