Honor Thy Father and Mother...

 

Recipe Box Swap

Randi hosts the Recipe Box Swap on her blog the first Thursday of the month. She usually has a theme, but anything goes this month. This is my first time to participate. But you need a little history before I get to the recipe.

Our house has undergone some changes in the use of food over the last several years. First, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. Then, my mother was given a choice for a food lifestyle change by her doctor. We were forced to begin looking at our favorite recipes in a new light.

What was not allowed: beef for dad, pork for both, fish could be eaten if it had fins, tails and scales - I thought they all had that. Turkey and chicken were in. Elk, buffalo, and venison, too. Getting expensive. We had lots to learn and the list didn't end there. No tomatoes or carrots. This doesn't even cover the allergies some had to peanut butter, gluten (no grains for mom), corn and beans.

Caffeine and sugar were given the heave-ho. Mom and Dad both gave those up! The boys and I still struggle with it - we are not restricted as they are. But the reality is it would be healthier for us if we did. We also share the expense of groceries and the temptations of what is available.

The list is way too long to list here and now. I'll have to do a separate post on this later. The issues and foods are many and varied.

So, here's our favorite recipe. Sorry, no picture this time around.

Vegetable Spaghetti

Yellow Squash

Zucchini

Red Bell Pepper (any color works)

Purple Onion

Garlic

Celery

Mushrooms

Spaghetti Squash

Favorite spaghetti seasonings to taste

Olive oil

Ground Turkey

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut the spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds. Place face down on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Brown the turkey meat. Chop all the vegetables and add to the olive oil for a few minutes - cook to your desired crunchiness or softness. Mix vegetables with the turkey meat. Turn it off.

For those that can have tomatoes, add Hunt's spaghetti sauce or your favorite sauce. Let simmer.

When the spaghetti squash is done, take a fork and scrap it into a big bowl. If you have never used a spaghetti squash, you don't have to dig deep just lightly skim it with the fork and it flakes out into "spaghetti". Top with the vegetable mixture and if you can have it some parmesean cheese. We never have any leftovers! Its also a hit at pot lucks.

God has blessed us. Dad is cancer free. Mom, well she lost 100 pounds and her fibromyalagia. My children and I are learning to be healthier and exercise more. Learning early these changes just might save my kids from a cancer scare later in life. Whatever happens we know God will be there.

What about your house? Anybody else have to adapt?

PS: When you're done here click on the recipe box and see what other delicious recipes you can grab this month.

Windows Live Writer...

Does it work and do I want it? How does it work? Will it frustrate me or make my blogging simpler? Another practice post.

Edit note...seems to work fine. I will play with this and see how I like it.

Do you use a tool to blog or do you find Blogger or other blog pages make it unnecessary?

Small Business Owners...

Beloved and Faithful have started a business. Simple service for an economical price delivered with a personal touch. Need your dog walked? You can have this at the very low cost of $1. If you're an occasional customer that's the fee. But if you'll sign on as a regular customer they'll do it for $3.50 a week. They started thinking about expanding on the original concept. So they added a dog shampoo for $2, nail clipping coming soon (after training) for the low price of $1.  

All things dogs wasn't the end. Now they have added lawn service. $10 to mow your lawn, no edging, sweeping up will cost you another $2. Rake your yard for $10. These fees are based on what they want, but are negotiable. So, if you say no, their next question is well what do you think is reasonable? $5. Okay we'll do it.

This all began last Thursday afternoon. After school they made a poster. The next thing I know they're out on the sidewalk in front of our house waving their poster around. All I knew was they wanted to know how to spell some words. Imagine my heart in my throat when I see them waving this around and complete strangers stopping their vehicles in front of our house and them chatting away. I had to go outside and see what was up. Well, I didn't want to put a damper on their enthusiasm but I did need to put up some boundaries quick. They looked like those guys that stand around in tax season. Those boys made $10 - $4 of it was in donations.

Business was interrupted with us going out of town, but didn't slow them down! They got together with their cousin. Restructured the business for the day. They made $11 walking dogs, $15 in lawn care and $10 in donations.  A whopping $36.

The day was not without its politics.  At one point Beloved quit.  Then when he apologized and wanted to begin again the other two did not wish to rehire him.  Then there was some serious undercutting to the competition.  But without the help of the other two it didn't go as well. After lunch, the original contract was reviewed and a new deal struck.  Partners again.  

My brother co-owns Gopher Industrial and was just all kinds of helpful to them. They learned more about owning and running a business than they wanted to know.  Now you have to know their Uncle.  His area of expertise is the financial bottom line and how to improve it.  He understands how business works.  He's blessed and a blessing as far as I am concerned.

At the end he sat them down and went over what they thought were PURE profits.  Expenses were soon found and paid for.  Borrowed bags from Aunts $2, Labor (a little help from me and Uncle D) $1, Equipment Rental $1.  Expenses Total $4.  The $10 donation was re-invested in the future of the company.  The original $2 investment taken out.  They were left with $8 a piece.  Then came the lessons in tithing, $0.80 plus the generous giving of $0.20 = $1.  Savings, well we're working on that.

Today was not a wasted day.  They had fun, they had ups and downs and lessons learned.  Me being me and all things being considered Scouting, they're now working on the American Business Merit Badge .  They had a choice and chose not to waste this prime opportunity.

What I would like to see not wasted is the opportunity for our President and Congress to learn these simple give and take rules of money and business.  You have to pay for what you borrow and use.  Unions take a hint, labor doesn't have to be extremely expensive for you to receive a good product or service.  God is paid off the top and first.  Having a knowledgeable mentor who looks over your plan and guides you is essential.  All parties got to CAREFULLY review the fine print and had to agree to the contract before signing it.  Free enterprise works!  The boys had to go back and look at their business plan a couple of times to get it right.  As their business grows or fails its on them, not the next door neighbor.

Did I hear you ask the name of the business?  

Around The Block 

I think they've been around the block and have earned the name.  I heard there's plans to expand...a refreshment stand.  "We'll make more than the ice cream man!"  

Practice Makes Perfect or Frustrasted....

This is a practice post. I was reading up on some bloggy help. Now I am trying to put my knowledge into practice. Will it work? How many times will I have to edit? I sent an email to Dove asking for some help. But I am using some kind of html code I read about to see if I can highlight and link to her. First attempt...

It worked!!! I guess it will be practice makes perfect tonight and I am kicking frustration to the curb. I can tell you frustration won't be missed around here.

Well, not so fast...frustration just walked back in my front door. I still can't figure out how to use one of the templates from The Cutest Blog on the Block. All things considered I am going to call tonight a sucess. I am sending frustration in to the cold dark night with instructions to stay away from your house. Tomorrow is after all another day. My momma always told me I should learn one new thing a day.

Winter Fun

Got those winter blues? Curriculum starting to drag? Consider enhancing your winter fun with a Winter Kit from Hearts & Trees . It has absolutely everything to chase away the winter blues.

• Make your own fleece mittens - color choices are black, red, purple, navy blue or lime green
• Dutch inspired metal punching project - you design the template
• Nature study lapbook on mammals
• 8 page nature journal on mammals
• Art print of Edward Hicks' The Residence of David Twining
• A notebooking page focusing on Edward Hicks
• Drawing project idea
• A notebooking page about neutral colors
• Designed for children 6-12

On The Point...

The prepration for art classes has begun. Can you believe I actually got a blister sharpening all these lovely pencils? I just love all the supplies associated with art. I love coloring, painting, drawing, collaging, etc, etc.... I just never seem to have the time to be consistent teaching art and have lacked focus.

Tomorrow I plan to begin the lessons in Drawing With Children. I hope to combine this with a nature journal. I have scheduled the lessons for twice a week. This week is all about trying out different schedules to find what will work best for us.

Overall this month we are staying home and working on priorities and schedules. I am determined to find a way to make our school both interesting and fun, but also much more focused.

I have some expectations of what I want to accomplish, may it be pleasing to my heavenly Father and edifying to my children.