Second Grade Freebies: Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

Second Grade Freebies: Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

Bread

So this past Sunday I didn't actually have any school work, crazy I know, and so we (me and my cousin) spent the afternoon cleaning and baking.  The main living areas are all pretty much cleaned, and we have fresh homemade bread sitting on our counter.  I am super excited about this, because I have not had homemade bread in a long time, and with each bite it really does take me back to when my mom made it all the time.

The recipe.

Ingredients:
5 1/2 - 6 c. Water (wa
rm)
2 tbsp Brown sugar
1 c. Oatmeal
2 tbsp yeast
_______________

4 1/2 c. Whole wheat flour
2/3 c. Brown sugar or honey or applesauce
2/3 c. oil
2 tbsp. salt
5-6 c. white flour

Mix first ingredients, then add in the rest.
Kneed for about 8 min.  The dough should start to pull away from the side of the bowl, or not stick to your hands.
Put in 5 greased bread pans.
Let it raise for 30 min till it doubles in size.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.


When we made it I wasn't sure how it would turn out, because while mixing all the ingredients together it looked too soupy (i.e. the dough wasn't pulling away from the edge of the bowl).  But it baked up "Oh so good." It did all work out in the end, and it has been made up just fine before, so I don't know what happened this time to make it do that.

Translate button

So I added this button that translates the blog into another language.  It's from google translate, I think, so I'm not sure how well it translates the text.  But I thought it was kind of cool. :)  If you use it, let me know what think about it.

First month of school

Well, I have just finished my the first month of school for this year, and I must say that I am kept very busy running between work (4 jobs) and classes.  Looking at my class load, I don't really have much work to do, but they are still really busy.  This is because for one of my classes I have to get 8 observation hours, and while it is not a lot I just have to find a time in between all the other stuff that I am doing to go out and observe in a classroom.  I have really been enjoying this because I have been able to go to a 2nd grade classroom.  Another reason my schedule is kind of crazy is because I have to go in to the Writing Center and tutor there for 2 hours a week, so that takes up a couple evenings a week but it's been a little fun.  Then it's just the regular business from classes that can take up time and whatnot. 

I have been ale to get down to Southern to see my parents, and that is also really nice to see them. I have found that Southern is a really nice school, and since it is set right next to a mountain, slash right outside the mountains, it is in the perfect spot of rock climbing, caving, backpacking and whatnot.

So I got a recipe from my mom for bread, and I shall be making it soon and posting it up on here for those that like to do different recipes.


HAPPY THURSDAY!!!

To Write Love On Her Arm

Today, September 10, is national suicide awareness day.  Over the past couple of years, I have noticed the stickers that say "To Write LOVE On Her Arms."  The first time that I saw that, I thought "Well that is different" because I didn't really know what it was talking about.  But, then I realized that it was for awareness about people that have committed suicide, or attempted suicide.  Personally I am glad that they have something for this, because people that have attempted suicide or cut are seeking a way to escape from life.  Many people tend to look at those that cut or attempt suicide as outcasts from society, and most are not really accepted by people in "normal" society. 

Speaking from experience, cutting or attempting suicide does not really help the problems that we are going through.  I think that when people cut or attempt suicide they have sunk to such a low level that they don't really think anybody cares.  Many don't find/ask for help, and they don't want it.  When I had problems, I didn't talk to anybody, and the one person that I tried to talk to was busy and not able to respond, so it seemed like no one cared about what I was going through.  Looking back now, I know that if my friends knew what I was going through they would have tried to help me, but since I didn't say anything to them or my family.  Not speaking with anyone led to problems later in life, and it wasn't till I opened up and let them know what was going on (what went on) that I was able to accept that it was ok to feel like that. 

Now I know that there are different people that I can go to and talk to when I need help.  And what everybody that is cutting or thinking about suicide should have at least on person that they can be open with and talk to about everything, just to be accountable to someone. 

Saying this is easier said than done, but if you know someone that cuts or has attempted suicide or even mentions that they are thinking about suicide, even if  you get interested in their life and start to talk to them it can help a whole lot.  If each young person (which I think is the age of many of those that cut/attempt suicide) could have an adult mentor that they trust to just be open with, then it could help a lot in their outlook on life.

2 great recipes that go together.

So the other night I was sitting watching the food network, and thought to myself "I really need to find a great pita bread recipe."  And so I started looking around on foodnetwork.com for something, ran across two different recipes.  One was a great recipe for baking pita bread, and the other was a great dip

The first recipe is called "Baked Pita Bread" (go figure).

The ingredients are:

• 3 pitas, cut into 8 wedges

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, smashed

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper 

 And the directions are:

Preheat heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut pitas into 8 wedges. Pour olive oil into a bowl and add garlic, salt and pepper. Brush pita chips olive oil and garlic mixture. Arrange pita chips on baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

 The second recipe is a dip called "Avocado Goat Cheese dip."

The ingredients are:

• 1 package whole-wheat pita chips (cut into 6 triangles each)
• 3 ripe avocados, peeled pitted and cut into chunks
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more, if needed
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 4 ounces goat cheese

And the directions are:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread pita triangles on a sheet tray. Bake in the oven until crisp and slightly toasted. Chips will need to be rotated twice while baking.

In a bowl combine avocados, garlic, cumin and salt. Use an electric hand mixer to mix ingredients together. Add lime juice, cream cheese and goat cheese pulsing until smooth and blended well. Add a bit more salt, if necessary.

When I made the dip I used feta cheese, mainly because I thought that feta and goat cheese were the same thing, but come to find out they are not the same thing.  And I also didn't put in the cream cheese, which I'm assuming is there to make it creamier (once again, go figure).  But, it still turned out great, and tasted amazing.  The only complaint about the recipe that I have, although some won't mind it in there, I think it asks for too much garlic.  It's just two cloves, but it kinds permeated the entire thing.  So, maybe next time when I make it, I'll try it with less garlic and try to get the cream cheese in there. 

What I am wanting/planning to make.

Spending time looking at different cooking blogs really makes me wish that I cooked more, which unfortunately I don't have a whole lot of time to do.  But, in my perusing of these blogs I found some different  recipes that I want to make.  I am going to pass along the links to a couple recipes that I have found and want to make. 

The first one is a Blueberry Crisp Parfait.  Which thanks to getting out and getting blueberries and then freezing them, I am able to do.
http://thespicedlife.com/2012/07/blueberry-crisp-parfait.html#more-4818


The second one that I am going to try soon is a egg muffin, which would be a great way for a grab and go breakfast in the morning on the way to class/work. 
http://thespicedlife.com/2012/06/egg-muffins.html


When I get a chance to make them, I shall post my findings and pictures along with the recipe, so that others can have a chance to make them as well. 

So, until then (I'm only hoping a couple weeks, because school starts soon), have a great day, and enjoy cooking.