Kitchen Help

From washing produce to grating cheese to peeling potatoes, one of my goals is for my daughters to be comfortable in the kitchen at an early age.  Since we stay busier during the school year, summer is the perfect time to get them involved with cooking beyond helping me bake cookies on the weekend.

A favorite lunch this summer has been what our girls call "butter pasta."  It's a simple dish and I was confident that my ten-year-old could handle making it on her own.  Last week I supervised as she boiled the water, added the penne pasta, set the timer for the appropriate cooking time, then drained the pasta in the colander. 

She added butter, sprinkled on Parmesan cheese, tossed it all together, and served herself and her sister.  The following day, she repeated the meal without any help (except my watchful eye), and she's quite proud of what she can do.  She now wants to learn how to make pancakes by herself, so we plan to attempt that soon.

Meanwhile, my eight-year-old asked if she could create her own cookie recipe.  I had her look through my cookie recipes to get an idea of what ingredients to include and in what proportions, then she wrote out her own version of a sugar cookie.  She included cinnamon as a "secret ingredient" and added green food coloring for a little flair!  They turned out good enough to be edible (though she proclaimed they were "missing something"), and, since she concocted the recipe on a Wednesday, we named them "Hump Day Cookies."

While it takes some extra time and instruction, I'm glad that our girls enjoy being in the kitchen and want to continue to encourage them in their culinary efforts!

Do your children like helping in the kitchen?

Fiction Overload

I feel my mind turning to mush after reading too much fiction in June!

Thinking that I would enjoy some light reading one weekend, I bought Deeper Water, the first title in the Tides of Truth series by Robert Whitlow, for 25 cents from the used book shelf at the library.  The story followed a young Christian law student interning with a prestigious law firm and trying her first case.  I was so captivated by the story and the characters that I checked out the other two books in the series from the library and read those, too!

I also finished What to Eat by Marion Nestle, one of the longest books I've read in awhile.  It was full of information about the foods available to us, how they're processed (or not), and how to make the best choices when deciding what to buy and eat.  I did get bogged down in a few portions of the book that were a bit more technical, but still highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to make healthful food choices.

I began reading Rilla of Ingleside aloud with my ten-year-old.  She and I also read Addie Slaughter.  At the library, I was able to find age-appropriate children's books about William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott and Laura Ingalls Wilder for last week's summer learning program theme of famous authors.

On Friday I'll be sharing my latest non-fiction(!) read as well as giving away a copy of the book.

What have you been reading lately?

A Sanctuary

In the midst of Ezekiel's writings concerning God's judgement of the Israelites, I found a touching promise:  "Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come." [Ezekiel 11:16]

A holy God had to punish a people who refused to follow His law; yet He did not forsake them.  Though they were far from their homeland and perhaps separated from their families, God would still be to them a refuge, a place of shelter and protection.

So it is with us who are His children.  Despite the problems that may surround us, the trials that threaten to bring us down, God is always there, a haven of rest, a safe place where His sacred presence can comfort our spirits and encourage our hearts.

Just as God provides a sanctuary for me, so I want our home to be a sanctuary for my family.  I desire that its serenity and cheer fill their hearts as they come and go from these walls, strengthening them as they face each day's challenges.   By demonstrating gentleness, using words of encouragement, playing uplifting music, keeping our space orderly, and showing love in a variety of ways, I can make our home a place of refreshment.

During the coming days, may I seek a sanctuary with the Heavenly Father while providing an earthly "sanctuary" for those I love.

Liberty

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls. ~Robert J. McCracken

Thanking God for the privilege of living in this great country and remembering those - past and present - who have served to protect the freedoms we enjoy.

Saturday Salutes

Even if you don't like desserts, you need to visit Christy at Southern Plate and let your eyes feast on the picture of this Chocolate Sundae Cake.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Lisa Leake shares highlights from her "real food" journey on a guest post at Keeper of the Home.

There's helpful advice on Life with Littles at Life in a Shoe, written by a homeschooling mom of ten.

Wishing you a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend as we celebrate America, still "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Linked to Saturday Stumbles hosted by Simply Staci.

Five Boredom Busters for Kids

Though our children won't say "I'm bored" for fear of the chores that may follow, I sometimes sense that feeling in their demeanor.  While we've been quite busy so far this summer, here's what's kept their attention in the downtimes.

1.  Puzzles.  These boxes hadn't seen the light of day in months, but they recently provided an afternoon of quiet entertainment.

2.  Old magazines.  These outdated copies of Highlights presented the girls with all kinds of activity ideas - including decorating their own bento boxes which they used for an indoor picnic lunch.

Old magazines are also useful for cutting up to make collages on poster board or to decorate almost any surface.

3.  Pretend cooking.  A couple of years ago, my brother and sister-in-law gave each of the girls a kids' baking set for Christmas.  They use these in the kitchen by filling up the pans with water and pretending to bake all manner of foods. 

4.  Reading for the library's summer reading program.  While they are normally avid readers, they were really motivated to get their hours recorded in order to win their prizes.

5.  Playing school.  Of all the things they play, it's one of their favorites!  Currently their dolls are the students, with one daughter serving as school teacher and the other as school librarian, secretary and nurse.

How are your children entertaining themselves this summer?