Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 8/9 - Fish Stick Tacos

I have Back to School on the brain. We start our homeschool the day after Labor Day and we are in full-on planning mode. That includes lunches. I like to cook "real food" lunches on school days, but sometimes we love convenience foods. French fries are fun once in awhile and what kid doesn't like fish sticks? Even I have a love affair with fish sticks, but I try to only eat them once in a while.

Fish Stick tacos are a huge hit when I make them. The beauty of them is they can be topped with almost anything. Traditional tartar sauce is good, but why not fresh Pico de Gallo or chipotle mayo? Here's a basic fish taco recipe. It makes 2 tacos each for a family of five.


Fish Stick Tacos

30 breaded frozen fish sticks
10 soft flour tortillas or crunchy corn shells
1/2 pound finely shredded lettuce
3/4 cup tartar sauce
3/4 cup salsa
shredded cheddar cheese, optional

Preheat oven to 400*F. Arrange fish sticks in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until crisp and golden brown. Remove from heat and cut into thirds. Fill the tortillas with fish stick portions, lettuce, tartar sauce, and salsa to serve.


For more great recipes visit Hearth and Soul, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday and Tuesdays at the Table.




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Crafty Friday 6/3 - Summer Yarn Bug

I am always on the lookout for fun yarn projects. I love little projects the kids can do with yarn scraps that don't require sticks or hooks because the youngest can't get the hang of it and always wants to make whatever it is too.

These little bugs are super cute and could be made in any summery color the kids like. I actually found them online while looking for something else, but these will definitely be making an appearance this summer at our house. You can click on the link below to get all the instructions and printables.

Summer Yarn Bug

So what have you been up to this week?

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, recipes, or anything else you feel is "crafty". If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the linky form below.
2. Include in your blog entry a link back to the party post on this blog so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is working on today and have an opportunity to contribute! You can use the code below to add the button to your posts or blog if you'd like.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what makes a party fun!! You don't want to come to a party and have no one talk to you!

If you want to play along don't forget to grab a button to place at the top or bottom of your post to show you are participating in Crafty Fridays!
Simply copy the code below in the box and paste where you can edit the html in your blog post.




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Crafty Friday 2/11 - Yarn Doll

If there is anything around here that we have too much of, it's probably yarn. (That can't be a bad thing though, right?) Even the girls have their own bags and boxes of yarn to do with as they please.

Lately the youngest has been making cute little creations with her yarn and spent one day making yarn dolls to play with. Hers were really cute, but didn't last the day after all that playing.

So being the good mommy I am, I went online (what did we do before internet??) and found these directions for an improved yarn doll that should last for awhile.

Materials Needed:

Yarn (any two colors) Scissors Books or Cardboard pieces with the following measurements from top to bottom: Large = 16 1/2 inches Medium = 9 inches Small = 7 inches Doll Makers Needle Black & Red Embroidery Floss

Make the Body:

• Using the color you have chosen for the doll’s body, cut a piece of yarn approx. 6 inches long to be the tie and lay it across the top edge of the large book. Wrap yarn around the book as shown in the photo at #1. Continue winding yarn around the book 200 times.
• Slip the wound yarn off the book and tie the 6 inch piece of yarn tightly around the wound yarn.
• Cut the opposite end of the wound yarn where it bends, so that you have what is shown in the photo at #2.
• Make a yarn ball that is approx. 1 inch in diameter. See the photo at #3.

Make the Arms:

• Using the Medium book, wind the yarn around it as you did for the body, but only 50 times. (You will NOT need to place a tie along the top of the book)
• Slip the yarn off the book and cut along the bottom bend of the wound yarn.
• Tie together one end of the yarn, as shown in the photo at #4, about 1/2 inch from the edge.
• Braid the entire length of the yarn and tie together again, at about 1/2 inch from the edge. (Trim if necessary)

Assemble the Body:

• Take the yarn ball and place it inside the yarn body, under the gathered, tied center.
• Smooth out the yarn evenly around the ball and gather it together under the ball. Tie the yarn together tightly to form the head. See the photo at #6.
• Divide the yarn below the head into two parts, front and back.
• Center the braided arm piece between the two parts as shown in the photo at #7.
• Tie the yarn together tightly under the arms to form the upper body.
• Divide the remaining yarn into two parts, left and right.
• Braid each side, gathering and tying the ends about 3/4 inch from the ends. See photo at #8. (Trim if necessary)

Create the Hair:

• To make the hair, use the Small book and place a 4 inch piece of yarn across the top edge of the book as you did for the body.
• Wind the yarn around 50 times.
• Slip the wound yarn off the book and tie the yarn together tightly with the 4 inch piece of yarn.
• Cut the opposite end of the wound yarn along the bend so that you will have cluster of long strands, tied in the middle. See photo at #9.

• Place the hair over the head with the gathered tie centered at the top.
• Use a doll maker’s needle and the hair color yarn to carefully, sew the hair in place at the top.
• Bring the needle and yarn down to one of the sides of the neck. (This should be done by sending the needle through the inside of the doll's head.)
• Loosely stitch over a small segment of the yarn hair along the neck, then another segment, then another, and so on until you reach the other side of the neck and the hair is secured evenly across the back of the neck as shown in the photo at #10.
• Tie off the end of your stitching yarn under the hair where it is concealed.
• Stitch a simple face using embroidery floss or you could even glue ready-made doll eyes and mouth on.

Done!

What have you been up to this week?

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, recipes, or anything else you feel is "crafty". If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the linky form below (need help with finding the permalink? (click here to see a great post Darcy wrote on this!)
2. Include in your blog entry a link back to the party post on this blog so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is working on today and have an opportunity to contribute! You can use the code below to add the button to your posts or blog if you'd like.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what makes a party fun!! You don't want to come to a party and have no one talk to you!

If you want to play along don't forget to grab a button to place at the top or bottom of your post to show you are participating in Crafty Fridays!
Simply copy the code below in the box and paste where you can edit the html in your blog post.




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Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 2/1 - Snow Cream

Have you heard the news? There's a BIG snow storm headed our way!

Someone mentioned to me today that they were hoping to make snow cream. Snow cream?? I'd never heard of such thing. It seems I had a terrible childhood because I never experienced this treat. From everyone's comments and what I found online it must be good.

I haven't made this recipe, but it's from a trusted source. This recipe is from the great Paula Deen so it's got to be tasty.

With all the snow they are predicting we should have plenty to make this. I may just let the kids have at it and let them have fun. What better way to enjoy a blizzard than to eat it!

If you make this or you've made snow cream before, please let me know. I'd love to hear about your experience.


Snow Cream

8 cups snow, or shaved ice
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place snow or shaved ice into a large bowl. Pour condensed milk over and add vanilla. Mix to combine. Serve immediately in bowls.

For more great recipes visit Hearth and Soul, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday and Tuesdays at the Table.




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Wordless Wednesday - Snow Much Love

How Did You Spend Your New Year's Weekend?

After the ball dropped and the parties ended, how did you spend the first weekend of the new year?

The kids spent new year's eve at Grandma's so the hubby and I got the house to ourselves. (Never, ever happens!) The problem was I was awake 3 hours earlier than usual. I think it was because the house sounds were different. Whatever the reason it was seriously annoying. The one morning I could have slept in!

Because I was up so early I ended up getting the kids back from the grandparents early. They didn't mind though because we had big plans for the day.

We stayed home and had a monopoly tournament! I put some munchies in crockpots along with veggies and fruits to snack on and we spent the day playing the never ending real estate game.


The game went on for awhile and we snacked on BBQ smokies and my Mexican dip. I lost.... I was so sad. Oh well.

Sunday was just as quiet here. The kids got control of the DVD player and we watched many, many episodes of Star Trek Voyager (we love Sci-fi!). The girls worked on crafts and such while they watched and I spent the entire day knitting.

It was so wonderful to just relax with no plans and nothing that needed done right then. I got so much knitting done that my Blizzard Mitts are nearly complete and I'm getting ready to have the pattern test knit. I'd love to have this pattern available in our Etsy shop before it gets too warm for them. :o)

Sunday night I also realized that the phone never rang even once all weekend. I wish we could have weekend like that more often.

Playin' in the Snow

We finally had our first snowfall last week, but it was not much more than a dusting and only lasted a day. So I was completely delighted to wake up the other morning to find that it had unexpectedly snowed again. In fact it was still snowing and the world looked like a giant snow globe all shook up!

We went out to do chores and I had to take my camera out with me. I realized it had been quite some time since I'd photographed the alpacas and didn't even have pictures of some of the new ones. (Bad blogger!)

Later in the day the kids begged to go out and play. How could I say no? They spent more than 2 hours in the yard! It was soooo quiet in the house. :o) And being the good mommy I am, I had steaming mugs of hot cocoa waiting for them when they finally came in. I even topped them with marshmallows.

These are some of the pictures I took.

No, I did not get George to wear the hat. I photo-shopped it in afterwards.

Wordless Wednesday - Pretty Please Mom?

For more Wordless Wednesday visit the home of Wordless Wednesday and A Beautiful Mess.

Wordless Wednesday - Reach For the Sky

For more Wordless Wednesday visit the home of Wordless Wednesday and A Beautiful Mess.

Where Do You Homeschool?

I know it's a funny question because the obvious answer is home, but where in your home do your kids do their work?

I tried for years to make a school space. I even had a school room for one school year, but finally gave up because no matter what, the kids always ended up somewhere else.

It wasn't their fault either. There was always a good reason. Sometimes it was because the light was better elsewhere. Other times it was because I needed to be in another room, but the kids needed my help.

I've finally decided that we have a central place for school books and such and the kids can do their work wherever they land. Generally this is the kitchen table, but not always.

This is where I found them a couple days ago.

This one was curled up in a chair.

And these 2 were at the table.

4-H Veterans Day Project

We planned this service project months ago so it was just a happy coincidence that this month's meeting fell on Veteran's Day.

With the holidays fast approaching, the kids voted on making cards for veterans and servicemen. I've never seen them so quiet and work so hard. Normally the younger ones are begging to play, but instead they were all working really hard. Some of them are just cute hand drawn pictures, while the older kids made some really nice cards.

Wordless Wednesday - Leaf Rocker

For more Wordless Wednesday visit the home of Wordless Wednesday and A Beautiful Mess.

Halloween Highlights 2010

What a great night! It was chilly, but calm and sunny. I'll gladly take the chill during trick or treating if it doesn't come with rain or that evil white stuff.

It was weirdly not that busy, crowded or whatever you want to call it. There were families out, but I've seen it far busier. Maybe because it was a Sunday?

Wordless Wednesday - A Rare Occurance

This doesn't happen often and I didn't make them pose. :o)


For more Wordless Wednesday visit the home of Wordless Wednesday and A Beautiful Mess.

The Only Chore the Kids Beg to do....

Raking leaves!! Do you remember how much fun it was to play in the leaves? Do you remember a time when you would look at all those leaves and think of something other than back breaking work?

Well, the kids have completely taken over leaf raking. They think it's the best thing ever! Nothing like work at all! Yeah for them, but I still think it's a chore. One I am very happy to pass off to them.

I do enjoy watching them enjoy themselves though. They make forts and tunnels and all sorts of other leafy creations before the big haul to the garden. (We compost them into the garden for their soily goodness).


This past weekend was absolutely beautiful to spend time outdoors. It was about 60*, sunny and just lightly breezy. Perfect fall weather!


The kiddos have been out there raking and playing in those leaves for 4 days in a row now, but I took these pics over the weekend.

Wordless Wednesday - Tractor Wanted

For more Wordless Wednesday visit the home of Wordless Wednesday and A Beautiful Mess.

Crafty Friday 10/1 - Buttons

Happy Friday everyone!! Can you believe it's already October??? Where did September go?

This week I need your help. I was given a gallon size ziploc bag full of buttons. They are mostly red, green and white (kind of Christmasy) and various sizes.

What do I do with them????

I was thinking of making some gingerbread Christmas ornaments and sewing on some of the buttons, but what other projects can I use these buttons with? Do you have any ideas?

I don't really play with buttons much even in my sewing so I'm not sure what to do with all of these, but I'm hoping for a few projects the kids can make. I'd love for you to share ideas, suggests and even links to projects on the net if you can.
So what have you been up to this week?

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, recipes, or anything else you feel is "crafty". If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the Mister Linky form below (need help with finding the permalink? (click here to see a great post Darcy wrote on this!)
2. Include in your blog entry a link back to the party post on this blog! so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is working on today and have an opportunity to contribute! You can use the code below to add the button to your posts or blog if you'd like.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what makes a party fun!! You don't want to come to a party and have no one talk to you!!
4. Let me know if you have any questions, problems or need help!

If you want to play along don't forget to grab a button to place at the top or bottom of your post to show you are participating in Crafty Fridays!
Simply copy the code below in the box and paste where you can edit the html in your blog post.




<center><a href="http://ourjourneytoasimplerlife.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af114/TomorrowFarm/craftyfriday.jpg"/></a></center>

Recipe of the Week -- Kid Friendly Chili

Post number 200!!! Can you believe it!! I honestly never thought I'd write so many posts, but thank you everyone for being there along the way.

This week's recipe is a great one. It's probably one of the few things everyone agrees on for dinner. Well, one picks the beans out, but.....

I'm not a huge fan of chili myself, mostly because I don't like big chucks of tomatoes, but this has all the flavor and no chunks! Its tomato soup base is so kid friendly and is spiced just enough to make the grown-ups happy too.


Kid Friendly Chili

1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 can (15.5 oz) dark red kidney beans, drained
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed tomato soup
1 soup can water
1 tbls. dried, minced onion
2 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients in a med. soup pot. Bring to a boil. Simmer on low 10 minutes. Serve with crackers.


For more great recipes visit Two For Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday and Tuesdays at the Table.

First Day of School!

So what do you do on the first day of school when you homeschool? Go to the Museum! With all the other kids in school the museum was a very quiet place with only a couple moms and their little kids. It makes the afternoon so much more enjoyable when you're not fighting to look at displays or play with the science stuff.

After a morning of school work, we headed off to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. This is a great museum in downtown Kalamazoo and it's FREE!! I love that this museum doesn't charge admission and always has great rotating special exhibits. The current special exhibit is Out of This World - Extraordinary costumes from Film and television. Think Sci-fi! We sooo love our sci-fi shows here. The little man was especially excited to go because Darth Vader and the Storm Troopers were there.

Flash photography was not allowed so these aren't the best, but we had a blast and if you're around here you need to visit by Sunday because after that they are gone!

Here is the jacket worn by Arnold in The Terminator (the kids had no clue since they've never seen it, but mommy was geeked!)

Storm Trooper helment. Cool!

Seven of Nine's cat suit thing from Star Trek Voyager. This is my absolute fave!! I love the show and Seven was my favorite character. I think I may have actually fit into it myself (pre-kiddos of course), but I'm just a touch taller than her.


Indiana Jones jacket, whip, holy grail and staff headpiece. These items were from Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade.

And Darth Vader!

I was really amazed at how cheesy some of these costumes looked up close. Movie magic really is magic. :o)

Oh, there were lots of other movies represented too including more Star Wars, Ghost Busters, Batman and others.