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Paula’s Rolls | Recipe

November 25, 2009 By Laura 1 Comment

This wonderful (and I mean wonderful!) dinner roll recipe was sent in by our friend Paula, from A Catholic Harvest. She’s a great gal. I adore her for so many reasons, but to sum it up, she’s a mixed bag. I love people who are full of wonderful qualities, but also full of surprises. For instance, recently I learned that she’s a ‘closet head-banger’. Inside this sweet, funny, supportive and faithful girl, is an inner rock-n-roll chick!! It’s true! Who knew?!

So speaking of rolls…lol….I love this recipe she sent us. I have a few recipes sent in that I’ll be making, now that I have more time to cook and bake. But here is one for now. She sent it, we made it, we photo’d it, and now we’re bloggin’ it!! I wanted to be sure I posted it at least by today, because really, these are perfect Thanksgiving Day rolls to have on your table! And chances are, you already have all of the ingredients you need, to make some last minute. (But please don’t hold us to that. lol) Regardless, these are truly wonderful ANYTIME rolls. So here we go.

Participating Ingredients:

***1/2 c shortening (or unsalted butter)
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp salt
4-1/2 tsp yeast
5+ c flour
2 eggs
stick of butter (not shown)
*** Since the sharing of this post, we have revised our family’s diet, for a healthier lifestyle.
Therefore, we substitute the shortening now for unsalted butter. We believe it’s a better choice.

NOTE: If you have a kitchen mixer, you are welcome to do this part using that. But did not have one at this time, so we mixed the dough by hand.
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In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and shortening, mixing up and cutting up with pastry cutter.

Now, the next step in the directions is to beat 2 eggs in a measuring cup , and then fill the cup to the 2 cup mark with hot water. However, we did not have a 2 cup measuring cup, we only had a 1 cup Pyrex measuring cup. So, we measured out the eggs, dumped them in a small bowl, and added the remaining needed hot water, to collectively make 2 cups of eggs and hot water. I sure hope you followed that.

So here are our two measured, beaten eggs.

Adding the remaining measurement of how water.

Beat together.

Pour hot water, over dry ingredients in big bowl, and mix together. Slowly add 3 more cups of flour. Once all of the flour is in, and as you mix, you may realize that the mixture is really very wet, and is not really going to form a dough mixture at any point. This means you need to add even more flour, little by little, until it becomes more dough-like.

Once all combined well, cover the dough bowl, and let rise in a warm oven until doubled. (Paula uses 170 because it’s the lowest setting on her oven. Ours is 150, and that worked too.)

On a floured surface that you can cut on, knead the dough.

Flatten the dough out with your hands, or with a rolling pin, into a large pizza shape. Then cut with a pizza cutter into 16 triangle shaped slices, like seen above.

Roll each piece from the wide end of a slice, to the point. They’ll look like crescent rolls.

Place in greased pan (Paula uses Pam spray), allowing enough space for rolls to double in size again. Paula says you can use 2 9×13 pans and put 8 on each as we did, or she also has a large pan she thinks is about 11×20.

Cover and let rise in a warm oven again, about 20-30 minutes. When doubled, remove from oven, and heat oven to 375. Bake in 375 oven for 20-30 minutes, depending on how dark you want them.

Immediately rub on, or brush, with 1 stick of melted butter. ( Paula says, “Yes, 1 whole stick!”).

Do these look savory, or what?!!

Paula states at the end of the recipe, “YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!” And indeed, we were not!!

We loved them so much, that we’ll be making them again and again. In fact, I am making more today. However, since we don’t normally eat all white bread, I am going to try this time making them with about 1/3 wheat flour, and see how those come out. I can keep you posted!

We hope you’ll find this recipe a new favorite in your home. Paula also sent a recipe for Indian Fry Bread, which we have plans to make in the next few days. I’ve got a list of recipes we’ll be sharing, actually. Meanwhile, if YOU have a recipe you’d like to see featured on our blog, please use the e-mail button in the sidebar on the right, and send it along! If it remotely appeals to us, we may just Make it-Photo it-Eat it & Blog it! And we’ll link to your blog too, if you’d like!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have rolls to make. And Taco Soup!

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Math Games | Elementary Homeschooling

November 24, 2009 By Laura 5 Comments

Our three second graders, { J, O & S}, have been working pretty hard in math, lately. They were getting stuck on a particular concept, and so taking advantage of the perks of home schooling, we didn’t move on in their workbooks until they ‘got it’. We had some extra long math classes even, working on that concept. So I decided we needed a little FUN with math, today, and made up a couple of games.

MATH BINGO!

If you have any kind of BINGO game, with whatever pieces to draw numbers, you can do these math games with your kids. You can also alter how the game is played, to suit the age and skill level of your own kids. So I’ll share with you how we played, and maybe have a suggestion or 2 of how you can make it easier for younger grade level kids.

First, because we’ll be doing math ON them, a piece of paper has to be set up as a BINGO card, for each child. It doesn’t have to perfect…..ours sure weren’t. I just did the example below, on the computer, for this blog post. But we did ours on regular loose-leaf paper. I let the kids draw whatever shape they wanted in the center FREE box.

$homeschooling math games$

This is our BINGO game. You will not need the real BINGO cards, or the chips for the math games WE played. But later, I will give you an alternative game for younger kids, where you can use the chips on the cards.

So once everyone’s paper is set up as below, you are ready to start the game. You draw the first call, and announce the letter and number. (Example, say it is N-31.). The can put that 31 in any box to start, under the N, but each number needs to be somewhat in the middle of the box, for room to do math with it. As letters and numbers continue to be called, they can continue to choose an empty box to put the number in, under the corresponding letter. Again, when the kids write a number in a box, they need to leave room above that first number, as well as below it, and of course the math sign to the left.

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The paper board will start to look like this. Notice, the first numbers are put int he middle of each box. So for a little bit, you’ll call letters/numbers and only have one number in each box around the board. But eventually, one of the LETTER rows is going to full up, already having a number in every box. As you can see above, N’s row has a number in each box, all the way down that row. So, once we get another N call, the real math will begin!

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And there it is. N-35.

So here is how WE played. Each child could continue to choose any N box (that already had one number in it), but where to put it? Well, after choosing which N box they were going to use, they had to figure out if the 35 was higher, or lower, than the number in the chosen box.

In order to create both addition and subtraction facts, I decided the pattern would be as follows. If the number was HIGHER than the number already in the box, it went OVER the number already there, and they would add. If the number drawn was LOWER than the number already in their chosen box, they would put the drawn number BELOW the number already there, and SUBTRACT.

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So {O} chose her first N box at the top. She already had a 40 in it. 35 is smaller than 40, so she put it under, and SUBTRACTED.

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{S} also chose the first N box. However, he had a 31 in his box. So, he put the 35 OVER the 31 he had, and ADDED.

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We continued to draw letters/numbers and kept the game going in the same pattern. To refresh:

BIGGER numbers went OVER existing number > ADD.

SMALLER numbers went UNDER existing numbers > SUBTRACT.

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As I drew letters/numbers, I put them in the holder tray….just as you would put the numbers/letters on a master BINGO card.

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We played until someone had BINGO….which, as this game goes, everyone should have had at the same time, if they were listening carefully and putting the called numbers, under the correct letters.

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N down was filled first, until everyone had BINGO. But they didn’t officially WIN, until their row was corrected, and all answers were correct. ; )

*1) A YOUNGER VERSION: Instead of doing MATH per-say, children just learning letter and number recognition, can use the real BINGO cards, with the chips. They can wait until they have a row filled to call BINGO, and the teacher can use their master Bingo card, with the chips on it for called numbers, to correct if they identified each number and letter correctly.

*2). For a LITTLE BIT OLDER children, who are working on WRITING and correct letter and number formation, can simply write the one number called, under the correct letter, until they get BINGO. At that time, correction can be done in the same manner as 1) above. In these case, no math is done.

*3) Another option, is to play the game somewhat as we did, doing ALL ADDITION, only.

* No doubt, with a little brainstorming, you can come up with your own ideas for math games, using these suggested tools, to fit the needs of an and all kids of all grades and skill levels. Have fun with it!

MATH TIC TAC TOE!

For younger kids, using a Tic Tac Toe version may be a quicker game. And again, doing all addition at first may be easier.

We followed the same concepts as we did for Math Bingo, but applied it to Tic Tac Toe, with the goal of getting 3 (correct) in a row.

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They put the first number called, in a different box, aiming for 3 in a row.

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BIGGER numbers went OVER existing number > ADD.

SMALLER numbers went UNDER existing numbers > SUBTRACT.

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Oh the suspense….WHO is adding and subtracting correctly??

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Suddenly, everyone was yelling ‘Tic Tac Toe! 3 in a row!!” But was their math work correct? They were. We had 3 winners, although one of them almost forgot to bring down a number, and noticed right before I was about to check!

I hope these games inspire you to play with math, with YOUR kids!! I make up games all of the time, to help instill lessons for life, in the kids. If I can, I get them out of their chairs, and outdoors, if possible! After all….as I say all of the time…

LEARNING SHOULD BE FUN!!!

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Hallowtide: Part II – All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

November 22, 2009 By Laura 4 Comments

In wrapping up our Hallowtide series, in this Part II, we want to share with you a little bit about our All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day, which we always try to acknowledge in some way in keeping with our Catholic faith. If you missed Part I, with a fun-filled peek into our Halloween/(All Hallow’s Eve or All Saints’ Eve), you’ll want to visit that HERE. We think you’ll enjoy it.

We really kept All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day simple this year. But sometimes, for us, simple is the most enjoyable kind.

On All Saints’ Day we honor all the saints and martyrs, both known and unknown. We especially honor the blessed who have not been canonized, and who have no special feast day. This day (Nov. 1) is also a holy day of obligation for us, so we attend Mass, and often try to visit a cemetery.

The last day of Hallowtide, referred to as All Souls’ Day, is a day in which we commemorate the souls of all faithful Christians. We especially remember those we have loved and lost, and pray for their souls. We tend to enjoy making Soul Cakes on this day, in accordance with tradition.

So this year, we took a drive one of the late afternoons, to a large cemetery in town. During the drive on the way there, we reviewed again the history of these days, and what we are to reflect on during them. When we got there, we filed out of the van to venture around for awhile. I enjoyed taking photos, of the details surrounding us, and the somewhat-mysterious but obvious significance of it all.

One thing we all noticed right away, was the evidence everywhere, that there were many people laid to rest there, who had loved ones who have not forgotten about them. We could tell that many of the grave stones had even been visited quite recently. This is likely due to the 3 days which we were in the midst of, when many loved ones who have passed, are remembered by those they left behind.

Such as the resting place of this deceased one. Notice the fresh flowers, and the Happy Halloween pumpkin. I loved the bench at this site, that really spoke volumes to me. Someone really planned on visiting their loved one’s grave site, often. It made me feel sad, that I am not nearby my mother’s grave site. I know I would spend time there now and then.
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This girl was so young. Just look at the flowers! Look at the multitude of stone sculptures and decorative paraphernalia. She was certainly very loved, still is, and in no way is forgotten.
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Everywhere we looked, there were such personal items. And all the while, these tokens of love said so very much to us. They told us all, about how much these people were loved, and how much their death was such a loss to someone. Maybe to many. To those who knew and loved them.

I personally was moved too, to think how much these tokens must mean, to be brought there, and placed like they were. Each and every item left, must have such a story behind them. I was really quite amazed to think how, the amount of love that brought them to leave such things with the loved ones that they lost, was greater than their fear of these things being taken. It restored some of my hope in the human spirit, to see so many items, some obviously having been there a long time, left so undisturbed.

Some of the little things just plain broke my heart, like the baseball on top of the gravestone of this little boy’s site.
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This one made me chuckle a little. I guess this man’s job meant a whole lot to him. Or, maybe it’s significant as a piece that connects someone left behind, to the one who has passed. Perhaps a long time co-worker.
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The kids were really so interested and intrigued. This particular stone had a feature I had never seen before.

A case within the stone to display meaningful momentos. It had a door on the back, that locked. We found that so interesting. On a humorous note, we knew one thing for sure about the the life of the person that rested here. They loved gambling!! I didn’t take a photo, but the scene etched below this keepsake case on this stone, was actually Foxwoods Casino! lol. Do you see those circles at the top of the stone? Believe it or not, those are casino tokens, embedded into the stone. lol.
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The artwork on so many stones, that told us something about that person, was often so beautifully done.
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Like this one. What a beautiful scene. How symbolic, to see the empty chair there on the shore, facing the source of light.
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We really walked around for a very long time. It was fascinating, really. The pieces of stories everywhere. Like always, when I reflect on the lost earthly life of anyone, I wondered about each one of these. Did they have faith? Did they have a relationship with God? Did they embrace a realization that Jesus Christ was sent into this world, to die on a cross for them, and to give them eternal Salvation?

Where were their souls? We prayed for them all. One by one, and collectively.

We walked around until near dark, because no one really wanted to leave. We wandered until it really got too cold, and our hands were frozen. It was a simple thing to do, but the emotions it stirred was surprising. So many lives. So many questions.
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Our seasonal Liturgical table holds the prayer cards of some of our own loved and lost ones.
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We added the names of those who we have known that passed away in the last year, and who’s souls we must remember, and pray for.

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.”
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On the Sunday nearest All Soul’s Day, our church is filled with lit candles….one representing the life of each person in our parish who passed away that year. Our old dear friend, (Mr.) Bill, did not have any family living near by, except for his daughter who lives in New York, but comes down often. His daughter was not at this Mass however, so we took his candle home with us, and let his daughter know we have it for her.
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Also on that Sunday, our pastor gave such a profound sermon. Honestly, he is so gifted with giving sermons, that you get lost in the depths of what he is telling you. You tend to forget where you even are, physically, until his sermon comes full circle, with such a powerful point, as it always does. I wish I could have taped this particular sermon, for you all to hear. My explanation will never do it justice. But on the one hand, he was saying how many religions talk about how us Catholics shouldn’t pray to the saints, asking them to pray for us, or for special circumstances. That we should only pray to God. He went on to say how, we often ask ‘each other’ to pray for us or our loved one, so why would we not ask for the help of those who are right there, in Christ’s presence? Those who are closest to Him?

He also talked about the saints, and how one would ‘think’ saints were so near-perfect….dedicating their lives to God and rarely doing wrong. But he whipped out a laundry list of saint’s names, and made points about each of them off the top of his head, that were indeed startling facts to some of us. Saint Monica, for instance, had a significant drinking problem. St. Paul used to persecute Christians. Thomas Aquinas was obese. St. Francis of Assisi, was believed to be completely off his rocker. So much so, that he was almost thrown out of his own order! Fr. Ken went on and on with the imperfections of well-known saints. In the end, I think many of us sitting there realized, that WE actually have a fighting chance at becoming saints ourselves! lol It helped us realize that we are all sinners indeed, just as the saints were. We were all made in Christ’s image, but certainly human, and all called to never stop pursuing a life which walks with Christ. With each day of our life, we must find ways to grow a closer, more intimate and meaningful relationship with Him.

As we reflect on and pray for the souls of the saints in Heaven, the souls awaiting Salvation in Purgatory, as well as the ones still living here on earth, let us not forget our own!! May we nurture our own souls, sustaining them with that which gives us life, so that one day we too will be in Christ’s presence for all of eternity. I think that’s what we all really want, in the end.
Because whether we think we’re called to be a saint or not, we all are.

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Political Cookies

November 22, 2009 By Laura 3 Comments

We have a de-LICIOUS roll recipe coming right up, submitted by a regular and loved blog reader, Paula. But first, we just wanted to share with you some of our oldest daughter, {A}’s, creative cookies she made last week. (She is an ambitious baker these days, if you don’t know.)

{A} has a very strong interest in the Kennedy Family, and has as of late, been studying their family history in great depth. That’s not to say she is a fan of all of them. ; ) But, she does like who Robert F. Kennedy was. So much so, that she made sugar cookies for his birthday on Friday, November 20th. She thought it was a great excuse to practice her piping skills.

There were many duplicates of these cookies above, so this is just a sample of each design. She even had more detailed pre-sketches on paper, but realized they would be really hard to pipe. I think they came out really cute though. I also think it’s cute that she made these. lol

On a side note, I just wanted to mention that we’ll be doing a little renovation on the Home Page (just a little one). So if you notice things are out of sorts at any point, that’s why. : )

And that, I believe, was my shortest post, ever. I deserve a cookie, don’t you think?

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Photographer + Designer = Funky Urban Expedition! | A Fun Photography Event for Little Girls with Their Moms

November 15, 2009 By Laura 2 Comments

I had this idea that had been nagging in my head for the longest time. As a photographer, I wanted to do a little girl’s urban expedition photo shoot. I wanted my custom designer friend, Michelle, to put it on with me. I knew we would be QUITE a team. It would be an event/package deal, of sorts. Moms would need to sign their little girls up, and they would come along too.

I mentioned it to my friend,and she LOVED the idea! So we planned it. Little did I know, it was going into a crazy-busy time for me. So the event was ON, it was OFF, it was ON and OFF again. And THEN, it was ON again!

We needed to create an ad for the event. So naturally, we needed photos to fairly express some of the kind of images we would be creating as a team, between my photography skills and her tutu designing skills. (Although she does SO much more than tutus!) The photos I would create of the little girls who joined the Expedition were going to be FUNKY, FUN and PLAYFUL in their attire, and also in my creative processing of the images. We were going for urban and different. The event itself was meant to be a grand girl’s day out on the town!

So to create images for the advertisement, I took my own little model, {O}….

Then I took some of the photos I got, and created an ad, which we put on our web sites, as well as a few 8×10 printed ads hung up at some places moms go.

Here is the ad, with the details of the event.

The event ended up being postponed, but was held on the afternoon of October 25th. I was glad it was a little more into colder weather, because I wasn’t sure I was liking the little tank top. So we all went for a little more covered up look.

The event went FABULOUS! God blessed us with a PERFECT weathered day. We had 5-6 little girls (all we could handle!) and their moms. We all had a BLAST!! All of the little girls were so sweet, all giggling with each other and having fun. It was definitely a success! I am still working on their photos, but I am thrilled with the results in the images of these BEAUTIFUL little girls. I really got a lot of gorgeous shots of all of the girls. Can’t wait until the moms see for themselves!

I’m planning a follow-up post on this event, so stay tuned!

UPDATE: You can see some of the resulting photos of this event HERE.

I am featuring Michelle, and her business, Stitch a Wish Designs, right now in the Crafts and Creations section. She is SUCH a gifted, creative and meticulous designer, so her work is classy and beautiful. She makes a lot more than tutus, so go check out her amazing work!

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MATH BINGO!

MATH TIC TAC TOE!

UPDATE: You can see some of the resulting photos of this event HERE.

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