Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Illustrator: Ted Rand

My mom's cousin recommended Ted Rand books.  I didn't realize that he was the illustrator until I got all my reserves from the library.  

Mailing May
Written by:  Michael O. Tunnell
Set in 1914, it is too expensive for May to take the train to visit her grandmother.  Her parents find another way to keep their promise to send May to visit.  They send her by U.S. Mail!

Anna the Bookbinder
Written by:  Andrea Cheng
Anna observes her father in his bookbinding shop.  Her father gets a very important order just before her mama is about to have her baby.  While her father and mother are busy with the new arrival, she goes down to the shop to finish her father's job on time.

Mama and Me and the Model T
Written by:  Faye Gibbons
Mama teachers herself to drive the Model T when Mr. Long says that the new motorcar is for the boys. 

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Quinoa Enchilada Bake

Original recipe from:  Two Peas and Their Pod

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeƱo, seeds and ribs removed,diced
1 red pepper, seeds removed, diced
1 orange pepper, seeds removed, diced
1 cup corn frozen kernels
Juice of 1 small lime
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups red enchilada sauce
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
Toppings: Sliced green onions, avocado slices, sour cream, optional

My version (changed due to supply in our kitchen)

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
Boil for 5 minutes, cook on low, covered 15 minutes

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
equiv. of 2 colored peppers, seeds removed, diced
1 cup corn frozen kernels
Juice of 1 small lime
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 can red beans, drained and rinsed
1 can vegetarian refried beans
leftover hamburger (1/2 lb...)
1 small can crushed tomatoes
1 cup medium salsa
1-2 cups shredded cheese (part mixed in and part on top)
Toppings: Sliced green onions, avocado slices, sour cream, optional

Saute veggies with oil and spices.  Mix together all ingredients, leaving some cheese out.  Bake in 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Top with remaining cheese, bake 10 more minutes.  Let set 10 minutes then serve with optional toppings.  Tortillas are nice as well if you want to make it into a burrito sort of thing. 

It will feed our family of 5 3 meals!  You could spice it up with additional salsa or switching the crushed tomatoes with salsa.  I have found though that the milder I make things the more kids take to it.  So, I have decided that we can add spice on the side!

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Ladies' Night

My friend, April, has started to coordinate a ladies night with some church ladies. This last time she suggested that we do a craft project. There were a few different ideas, but we decided to paint. I took a canvas that I already owned, and painted all the color on the canvas at the gathering.  Then, not knowing what to do after that, I took it home to think and wait.  Got back from traveling with little Mn and decided to finish it off with a design.  Some of the others had chosen to apply letter stickers, paint over and remove the stickers to reveal a saying.



I used my typical random way of being creative instead of a chevron pattern that I had seen on someone else's post. 


The girls and I were out shopping for spray paint and other art supplies and Kj pointed out the glow in the dark spray paint.  I thought that would be interesting, as I wanted white and had decided that this would be the first and only decor for the kids' bathroom.  Well, it turns out that it doesn't actually spray out white spray paint as the label implies.  Therefore, I had to find some white semi-gloss paint that we had leftover from bathrooms and closets and sponge that on.  Then, spray some more. 




Took off all the tape strips and here is the final outcome.  Next time:  don't rush so much you can't go out and buy white spray paint...lines will be cleaner!