Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas Menu

Now to get the grocery list together for the Christmas day meal. Not only do I have to keep it gluten free but I also need to be mindful that my husband is a vegetarian. Oh, we'll have a turkey, one won by Sparky at the 4-H turkey shoot, but I'll make sure to have enough vegetarian fair for Rob. Fortunately, he eats fish and eggs (from our own free-range chickens). I would probably opt for salmon or smoked whitefish as our main dish if it were not for the prize turkey.

Here's the menu:

Appetizers
Shrimp Cocktail
Christmas Tree Cheese Log and crackers

Salad
Lynette's Salad
Raspberry Vinaigrette

Side Dishes
Winter Root Pudding
Wild Rice Pilaf with Water Chestnuts

Main Course
Roast Turkey

Dessert
White Chocolate Cheesecake

Gluten-Free Christmas Baking

I'm getting my shopping list together for Christmas baking. In choosing what will go on the Wittmann goody list, I need to keep my child with celiac disease in mind. The following Christmas recipes are all gluten free and totally yumcious:

Popcorn Snowman
Meringue Cookies
Peanut Butter Cookies
Fudge Wreath
Cream Cheese Mints
English Toffee
Lollipops

It's different from the days when I would bake hundreds upon hundreds of cookies but no less delicious. And I don't find myself covered in flour at day's end.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Sea to Shining Sea at Google Books


My nine-year old was having trouble finding an answer in her Sea to Shining Sea textbook and so she brought the book to me. I couldn't find the answer anywhere in the book. So, I did what I always do -- I googled the question. Lo and behold, I not only found the answer but I found it straight from the horse's mouth. The teacher's edition for Sea to Shining Sea (Ignatius) is online for free!

You'll find it here:
From Sea to Shining Sea the Story of America Teacher's Edition

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Hey There Obama (Drink the Kool Aid)

I love this YouTube. You got to watch and then pass it on! The singer is a friend of ours and he did a great job along with all the other folks who wrote and produced the video. Wouldn't it be cool if they got their views up to 500,000! Do want you can to help them attain that goal.

Now, be prepared to laugh (or cry) ...

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

PSN5: Discovering Mary

I started reading David Mill's newest book on the way home from St. Louis recently. I'm excited about getting it posted on the Pope St. Nicholas V list as it's a good one for public libraries. It offers Catholic teaching but in the kind of non-sectarian style libraries like. It’s more an explanation than an apologetic, though I think the explanation itself is apologetic, at least to those who have ears to hear.

It’s also a good book for homeschool theology studies as David was careful to present the data in a way that gives a Catholic student the necessary foundation for more advanced doctrine and devotion. The Q & A format makes it easy to read and understand, and by golly the facts are just fun to know.

To read past library recommendations, or to join the email list, visit: Pope Saint Nicholas V.

Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is, put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title: Discovering Mary: Answers to Questions about the Mother of God
Author: David Mills
Publisher: Servant Press
Date Published: October 2009
ISBN-10: 0867169273
ISBN-14: 978-0867169270
Price: 12.99, paperback (9.35 Amazon)
Reviews:
Mike Aquilina
Big C Catholics

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Yumcious Cool Whip Frosting

This is the easiest frosting recipe and yummy too! My friend Colleen gave it to me 15 or so years ago and I still make it from time to time, including today for Teen Daughter 2's Sweet 16.

1 c. milk
1 (8 oz.) Cool Whip
1 small pkg. pudding

Mix the milk and pudding well, fold in the Cool Whip, and frost cake.

Easy!

I'm not a big frosting person. In fact, I've been known to eat my cake and leave the frosting behind. But I really like this one! The only thing is that you need to put leftovers in the fridge instead of out on the counter.

Friday, December 04, 2009

Have You Missed Me?

While in St. Louis for Thanksgiving, my mother, who does not have internet and no clue as to how one surfs the internet, scolded me, "How come you haven't been writing in that blog thingy!!!" Apparently, my sister Chrissy likes to keep up on my life via Blogger and she complained to my mother that I haven't written in a zillion years. Plus, being the good daughter she is, Chrissy will call Mom and read my posts to her when I write something remotely interesting.

I explained to my mother that my life is busy. You know that whole homeschool mom thing and now business owner on top of it. Running Homeschool Connections leaves just enough time for the kids and not enough for blogging. "Besides," I defended myself, "Chrissy can get Facebook if she wants to follow me." I only got a blank stare with that one. Did I mention my mom doesn't have internet?

I left things at that, traveled home to Michigan, got back to my life and ignored my poor pitiful blog. And then the phone call came. It was Mom. "I have a favor to ask as your mother." I knew I was in trouble. Whenever you mother starts a sentence like that you start thinking, "Please let it be a little favor, please," because, as you all know, you can't say "No" to your mom when she says that. If you do, then you'll get the Catholic-mother-guilt-trip. You know the one, "Oh, that's okay. I don't mind really. It's not like I gave up my whole life just to birth you or anything. I wouldn't want you to go out of your way for me. I should be more selfless as your mother and the person who gave you the gift of life. So don't worry about it. It's okay." I know this is true because I use the Catholic-mother-guilt-trip on my own children and it works like a charm.

Where was I? Oh yes, "I have a favor to ask as your mother. Write in your blog thingy just once a week. That's all I'm asking. Just once a week. It would make your sister so happy."

So, here I am writing. My sister better be reading this. Though I'm not so sure about the prospect of her calling my mom and reading it to her. Thankfully, she's 500 miles away and can't threaten to ground me for my bad tone of voice (I got in trouble for that a lot. That and eye rolling.)

I hereby promise to write in my blog thingy once a week. At least until my sister gets that Facebook thingy.