Our little Nest

spring slow cooker recipes

For sure, the crockpot is my best kitchen friend. I keep searching for recipes to use during the spring and summer that aren't very stew-ish and seem too much like cold weather. (I don't know why the slow cooker is always used in the winter when it would actually make more sense to use it in the warm weather and keep from using the stove or oven!) I've got a couple of good chicken ones so far.  These are both from Betty Crocker's Slow Cooker Cookbook.

 

Moroccan Chicken

8 chicken drumsticks, skins removed

1 can (8 oz) pineapple tidbits or chunks in juice, undrained

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 TBSP lemon juice

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried marjoram leaves (or you could use italian seasoning)

3/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1/4 tsp ground turmeric (or ginger)

1 TBSP cornstarch

1 TBSP cold water

1/4 cup sliced pimento-stuffed olives

1 TBSP chopped fresh parsley

1. Place chicken in slow cooker. Mix pineapple, onion, garlic, lemon juice, salt, marjoram, red pepper and turmeric; pour over chicken.

2. Cover and cook on low setting 4 to 5 hours (mine took much longer about 7-8 hours) or until juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut. Remove chicken from cooker, using slotted spoon; place in serving dish, cover to keep warm.

3. Remove fat from sauce. Mix cornstarch and water; stir into sauce.

4. Cover and cook on high setting for about 15 minutes or until thickened. Stir in olives.

5. Pour sauce over chiken. Sprinkle with parsley. (I served over rice! Yum!)

 

Pineapple Chicken Stew

(which of course is ironic since I am talking about the opposite of stews, but to me the pineapple says spring!)

2 lbs. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces

4 medium carrots, cut into 1-in pieces (I use a LOT more carrots because we love them!)

1 medium bell pepper, cut into 1-in pieces

1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth

2 TBSP finely grated gingerroot or 1 tsp. ground ginger

1 TBSP (or way more, lol) packed brown sugar

2 TBSP soy sauce

1/2 tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp red pepper sauce (we omit)

1 can (8 oz) pineapple chunks in juice, drained and juice reserved

1 TBSP cornstarch

1. Mix all ingredients except pineapple and cornstarch in slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on low setting 7 to 8 hours (or low setting 3 to 4 hours) or until vegetables are tender and chicken is no longer pink in center.

3. Mix reserved pineapple juice and cornstarch until smooth; gradually stir into chicken mixture. Stir in pineapple.

4. Cover and cook on high heat about 15 minutes or until slightly thickened.

(The recipe says to save the pepper and stir in with the pineapple on step 3, but we prefer the pepper to be really cooked. Up to you!) We also serve this over rice!

P.S. Clearly I have been in a pineapple mood. I am also making the chicken stir-fry recipe that my dad has made for years and years and adding pineapple to that this week!! 

and then there's school.

Tonight I am, believe it or not, ALONE. Being gifted with only 4 hockey tickets can really be a blessing in disguise, you know!!  So at this moment, while the rest of the family are most likely screaming and chanting, and if they're lucky watching Jordin Tootoo beat the living snot out of someone again, I sit here with my very neglected, in desperate need up a sprucing up, blog and some butterscotch hot chocolate with Househunters International on in the background. Even though posts have been sporadic and not super exciting, I really love this place. Maybe it's because I'm a mom, and it's a place just for me. And I can write my down my thoughts and plans without later accidentally throwing them away or someone using them for a kleenex, I don't know. But I have noticed something lately. The big breaks are usually when we are being extra diligent with our studies, and for a reason that I'm not sure of, I haven't written much about that.

One of my favorite blogs is Mt. Hope Chronicles, where Heidi talks a little bit about her family's life but a lot about the learning that goes on in their homeschooling. It's a real treat to get to see what another busy homeschool family's studies looks like! There I have been inspired many times with new ideas or even just to be better organized. (Not to mention reading the BEST book reviews!)

I think that when I started writing in this space, I had no idea what it would look like or what I would want to say, but over a year in, it has really just become a journal of sorts. Where I can "speak" my thoughts and keep the images of our days. Over time, I have become perfectly comfortable with the fact that some days I am just talking to myself and sometimes there are a surprisingly large number checking in here. But it just recently dawned on me that I leave out a huge portion of our days by not including our school life. I realize that this could potentially put many of you to sleep, but it is something that I would really like to start on a regular basis for my own records, for accountability's sake, and because seeing something written here, it often brings clarity that I otherwise would have not seen when the thought was just living in my head. Plus, we can show off our work to Grandma, you know??!

So expect to see some schoolwork updates. We are starting the final 6 weeks of "this year's" school as far as Emma's tutorial goes.  However, we will only take one week off then start another 6 weeks of school, continuing this way throughout the summer and rest of the year. It's kind of an alternating schedule with 6 weeks of school, one week off, 6 weeks of school, 2 weeks off. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Just this week Emma talked to me for a long time about some school goals that she has and specific classes and credits that she wants to make sure she gets in before she graduates. (Pretty much all science related.) How exciting is that??  It really put us in a position to set some strong goals and make specific plans for the next several years. In the past couple of weeks I have seen her settle in to her school work and have better talks with the family and can see the old sweetness and fun emerging again. It's a good, good thing. I want it to last while we find a balance for everything else. How do we do that??? 

Here are a couple of things we are shooting for here in the next 6 weeks:

• Emma will finish all of her tutorial subjects, of course.
  
• Emma will be finished with her Math book this week and I am hoping to pick up a pre-algebra book for her this weekend. Her goal is to finish pre-algebra and algebra by the end of 8th grade. (She is currently finishing 7th grade.)
  
• The boys will hopefully finish their science book Exploring Creation: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day. This book has been amazing.
  
• Each boy should be finished with their Saxon Math books and will begin the new one.
  
• We have been SLOWLY working our way through First Language Lessons. It will probably take us 12 more weeks to have this one completed. Both boys grasped the concepts easily but struggle with the writing of it, so we are taking our time and repeating a lot.
  
• The boys and I are currently reading Johnny Tremain for history. Also a fantastic book.
  

We also have lots of side writing and reading projects going on at any given time, but these things are going to be our main focus for the next six week period. IF (and that is a big IF) we end up moving this summer, I am hoping to somehow keep things together enough to maintain our 6 week schedule for the most part. Can't wait to keep you updated on our progress!

Beef Cooked in Ragu and Pineapple Zucchini Bread (not together)

When every area of my life lacks organization, you may be surprised (or then again, it might not surprise you at all..) to know that I have a very well thought out and planned meal menu. It's flexible, but every two weeks I have a menu and a grocery list and very, very rarely are we stuck without a plan for a specific meal.

Lately breakfast and lunch have been pared down to the basics with a lot of repetition. This has been extremely boring, but helpful. I don't even know how long I can stick with it. But that's how it is for now; week days are cereal or yogurt, jam and granola for breakfast and a sandwich or salad for lunch.  It's blah and boring and predictable. But the payoff is a kitchen that is not in a constant state of pots and pans piled at the sink and we are getting immense amounts of school done, which I will talk about tomorrow. So it's been worth it, for now at least.

But last week I was craving my featherweight championship fighter great grandma's most amazing pineapple zucchini bread. (You're laughing if you got that, right family?) But there was zucchini drama where it was accidentally used as a cucumber (while the actual cucumber got moldy and had to be disposed of and I hate, hate waste..). On the bright side, we made the discovery that chopped zucchini is not so bad on salad. Anyway. Phil picked up a new zucchini for me on the way home last night, and we enjoyed the bread this morning. It does not, of course, taste like zucchini and it is marvelous. And a much needed break. Make it and see if you don't love it.

I am also going to share the recipe for tonight's supper, Beef cooked in Ragu, from an Italian cookbook that I only use a couple of times a year. This is a fabulous dish that, like most Italian dishes, takes quite a bit of time to prepare, but then sits and simmers for a good long time, so it is not that crazy last minute getting dinner finished up rush. Nice and slow and delicious.

Over the past few months, I have gradually cut way back on our large-portion-of-meat-main dishes. Mostly for budget's sake, but also for weight/health reasons. For example this week we are having meals in which meat is not the main ingredient 4 nights!!  This is big progress for us! I have searched the web for hours looking for good recipes to use up the many pounds of beans that I bought at a great price through our co-op last fall. So far they have been great and maybe I'll share those another time.

I always find it a little bit difficult during the changing of the seasons to know how to plan meals. This week started in the 80s and is ending in the 40s, so it throws those of us who live according to the seasons into a real tizzy. But tonight seems perfect for this meal, which we will have over cooked noodles:

Beef Cooked in Ragu (from The Food of Italy) (except a little adapted)

3 lb. or so piece of beef, such as top rump or silverside

1 oz. butter

3 TBSP olive oil

2 or 3 finely chopped garlic cloves

1 or 2 chopped onions

a few chopped carrots

1 chopped celery stalk

1/2 of a chopped red pepper

3 sliced leeks (I use these if I have them. Tonight, and usually, I do not)

3/4 cup red wine

1/4 to 1/2 cup tomato paste

1 1/2 cup beef stock

basil leaves and/or italian seasoning or whatever you want to use

chopped parsley

1/4 to 1/2 cup heavy cream

Heat butter and oil in a large stock pot/dutch oven and brown the beef on both sides. Season with salt and add the vegetables. Cook over moderate heat for 10 minutes until the vegetables are softened.

Increase heat, add wine and bring to boil. Stir in tomato paste and broth. Simmer for 30 minutes or so. Add the seasoning and some pepper. Cover and cook about 1 hour, or until beef is tender.

Remove the beef from the casserole and allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving. Stir parsley and cream into sauce. Serve as you wish! 

 

Pineapple Zucchini Bread (from Grandma Adolph)

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. softened butter

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup shredded zucchini

8 oz. crushed pineapple (reserve 1 T. juice)

2 cups flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. allspice

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs. Add zucchini and pineapple. Lightly mix in remaining ingredients, pour into loaf pan or cupcake tins. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. Less for cupcakes.

Glaze: Mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 T reserved pineapple juice, 1/2 t. cinnamon (the recipe also calls for 1 t. corn syrup in the glaze, but I never add that and it's just great!)

Seasonal Sundays: Spring is here!

"Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day."

 

Sew, what are you up to??

I've made a tiny dent in the yarn stash with some dishcloths and potholders for friends. (I mailed one set off before I thought to take a picture.) Emma also made a couple of dishcloths for our friends. 

I also finished some washcloths in blue and brown for the bathroom.

I am excited about my new daisy pillow for spring. True, I am a little worried that it looks late-eighties-denim-jumperish. But I really wanted the daisy to stand out, and the denim worked. (Fact:White daisies are my very favorite and were our wedding flowers.) The daisy pattern is from Rachel at the Crochet Spot. She has great free tutorials and patterns and unique patterns for purchase. I have a really good idea for three wildflower throw pillows for spring and summer. At least they are really good in my head...

I made a couple more sandwich bags. The nice, pretty pile that was stacked a few days ago is already dwindling, you can see. I mailed a couple off and found two already claimed and being used for dance snack yesterday!

We needed a new cover on a rocking chair that mom gave to us a few years ago. It was becoming very worn and stained beyond repair. This was a challenge, but I used up some thrifted material that has been waiting for the right project. And the brighter colors are really needed right now, we're so ready for spring! The top cushion turned out to be a disaster, so I am going to try to find a large, thin pillow which will be easier to cover with it's rectangular shape, and will fit fine at the top of the chair.

(Excuse me, Abby.)

And that's all, so far, this week.

Family Love: A Mission for 10

On a walk together the morning of Jackson's birthday, I asked him if there was anything that he wanted to do or accomplish in particular this year.

"Well, I'd really like to finally see a wood duck."

That makes two of us.

Man of the Morning

Birthday walk early this morning with Jackson, who turns 10 today.

A whole decade with this boy that loves the morning with me.

Just skip it. This post is too boring to even read.

Didn't mean for this long stretch of nothingness, but it's because

1. We have been doing well and accomplishing much in the schoolwork portion of life.

2. We have been dealing with a lot of "growing up issues" around here that have required a bit of refocus. On everyone's part.

3. I don't care what the temperature is, spring is coming. I can feel it and smell it and it's making me want to rearrange and scrub things. Either that or sit and stare out the window at birds. 

I am rereading, for about the 3rd or 4th time, Home Comforts, my favorite home management-type book. Highly inspirational. Maybe it will sink in this time.

In the meantime, I have pared down my cooking responsibilities. (Are you gasping??) I am no longer cooking breakfast or lunch. The kids are getting their own cereal (Kashi-don't think I've completely flipped out..) and if they're still hungry they are making a piece of toast and having a fruit. For lunch, sandwiches or salads. This seems simple and straightforward, right? But it's saving me tons of time not only in preparation but also in clean up.

We also eliminated desserts during the week. This did not go over well, but now it's something to look forward to on the weekends. So honestly, I have gone from spending hours and hours in the kitchen to MAYBE an hour preparing dinner. Unless I feel like something extra. But I haven't. I know that we will need to make sure and have some type of variety so that it doesn't get boring, like this post, (hey, I warned you..) but for now it's working.

In addition, again reminded in Home Comforts about the need for a regular, recurring system, I have cut laundry down to twice a week. You have no idea how huge of a change this is. We are washing all of the clothes on Tuesdays and all of the towels and bedding on Thursdays.

Here's what else is going on....

I rearranged my craft supplies and realized that I have to do some serious using up of the current supplies. I'm embarressed to say how many skeins of yarn I found. (I mean you have to stock up on sales and clearances, but this is ridiculous..) so expect something yarny for your birthday/Christmas/any occasion. I do, however, love seeing more of the supplies out and easily accessable. That is inspiring. (I've made two washcloths in the past couple of days just because I saw the yarn sitting there!) 

I am making progress in my doula coursework. My goal is to step it up and have everything but the required seminars completed in the next 3 months.

With spring knocking on the door, a few things are on my mind.  I'm thinking about needing to evaluate clothing situations, seeing where we need to do some adjusting/altering/making what we've got work for a new season. We need to get some bird feeders up and filled. I am coming to terms with not being able to have a garden this year due to a probable move, and wanting to come up with some recipes to preserve using what I can get reasonably through co-op and farmers market produce that I may not have had time to do if I had been working on the garden. (My consolation prize, I guess.)

Well, there. Now we're all caught up. I vow to get the camera out and be able to show our days instead of rambling on in the near future.

 

Thirty-five

Yeah. That's me. Now I round up to 40.

Which is honestly ok. I have little wrinkles on my forehead now and a few gray hairs here and there. And I've earned every single one. I will accept them as my trophies.

I have little lines on the sides of my mouth and the corners of my eyes. But would I have given up even one of the days that caused them? Laughing at underwearless boys, all the silly things said, each other and myself? Never.

I will take the wisdom and understanding and acceptance of self and others that comes with thoughtful years over the tight skin on the better body any day.

I've heard (a LOT lately!) that I am old for my thirties. That's fine. I have probably a little more responsibility than some my age, but I have a very full home and heart and the bright side is that I'm too busy to notice! In addition, my tiny little core circle is represented by many decades, those in their 50's, 40's, 30's, 20's and teens, so it blurs the lines a little anyways. SO bring the late 30's on, I'm good. I am finding it to be true that many areas of life are just improving with age anyway!

  (This is regular everyday me, bare skinned and dark eyed and wrinkly necked and all. And my Seattle hat. I made it- something for myself! -while we were there because the weather there was very anti-hair and I absolutely fell in love with the wool I found at this little shop right around the corner from Savannah's apartment. Ravelry pattern here. )

Wrapping up Seattle

We've been home for a few days now, but here are the pictures of our last couple of days in Seattle.

We spent quite a bit of the end of our trip helping Savannah with furnishings for the apartment, or as the check out clerk at IKEA called it, "feathering her nest" hahaha. We had a great time hanging curtains and assembling furniture and painting and staining and hanging shelves, all kinds of fun!  We did take time for one adventure.

We wanted to see whales. Yes, it was the wrong time of year. Yes, it was too cold and rainy and we knew it was a long shot. But you've got to at least try, right??

The ferry ride to San Juan island (about three hours away) was gorgeous!

(I promise you, I could not get enough of these birds. That's what good children's literature will do to you, I guess..)

Can you even almost feel the freezing wind???

a little cliff-top tap dance..

And then we saw something...

But we don't know what it was. It swam past us and that was it. It was raining, freezing, and there were no whales to be seen. So we loaded back up on the ferry unaware that THAT would in fact be our real adventure!

A serious storm picked up and it turned into a very rough ride, complete with two crying girls. Needless to say, it turned out ok.

Now it's back to having fun this way:

And I came home with an irresistable urge to embroider pine trees..