Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week…

This was our first week back to school after 2 weeks off for Christmas vacation.  I have been sick in varying degrees since Dec. 1.  I am currently recovering from pneumonia.  It is a long slow process making getting back into the swing of things very difficult.

In our homeschool this week…

We started Apologia's Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology for an upcoming review.  I am very excited about this curriculum.  I think we'll learn a lot and have a lot of fun too.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Plan AND follow through with your plans.  I get nowhere fast when I don't have plans.


My favorite thing this week was…

Playing with my little ones using the Flowering Baby curriculum that I will be reviewing here in a few weeks.


Things I’m working on…

I crocheted a baby sweater while I was sick.  I hadn't crocheted in quite some time (I've been knitting) and it was fun to pick it up again.  I am trying to find the time to sew it together and do the finish stitching.

blocking the sweater pieces

I’m cooking…

Hot Buttered Pretzels

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Rebecca on her 20th birthday (Jan. 1) with Connor

Link up your own Homeschoool Mother's Journal post.

Stick with it Saturday

Not too much has changed since last week.  I weighed the same at my Wednesday Weight Watchers meeting. I'm just sticking to the program and trying to meet all of the healthy guidelines each day.  I also make sure to track what I eat.

Today I will be sharing my weight loss journey at a Weight Watchers event.  My leader approached me this week to ask me if I would.  I hope I won't be too nervous.

I have been able to start exercising again.  I've been using the Wii.  I haven't done it every day but the days I have I've worked out pretty thoroughly (or as thoroughly as I can as I continue to recover from pneumonia).  My calves are so tight. :)

As soon as my chest feels better I plan to start running again.  I hope that happens SOON!  I got this run/walk/run timer for Christmas and I haven't been able to use it yet.

My goal for this week is to exercise some depending on how I'm feeling and to stick to my WW program.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin.

How to Make Hot Buttered Pretzels in an Hour

Do you love those hot buttered pretzels you can buy in the mall?  Did you know they are fast and easy to make at home?  We've been making these for years and they are so delicious. The original recipe for these hot buttered pretzels came from a 1996 edition of The Baking Sheet by King Arthur Flour.

You can prepare the dough using your favorite method.  For this recipe, I use the food processor which is fast and easy.  The only drawback is if you want to double the recipe you have to make separate batches, but it literally takes one minute to make the dough so it really isn't a problem.

What you need:

For the dough:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
2 1/4 tsp. yeast (I use instant yeast.  You could substitute a packet.)
7/8-1 cup water

For the bath:
2 T. baking soda
1/2 cup water

To finish:
coarse salt
3 T. butter

Place the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of the food processor with the blade.  (I used the steel blade, but I think I have a plastic blade that is more appropriate for dough.)   Pulse for about 5 seconds.  Stream in up to a cup of water while the processor is running.  You want to stop adding water when the dough begins to form into a ball and clings to the sides..this should take about 7-10 seconds).

 Then process for 45 seconds.

Remove the dough and place into greased bowl. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap.  Allow to rest for 30 minutes.

During the rest period, prepare your baking sheet with parchment paper or grease a cookie sheet.  I typically would use a stone or Silpat but the temperature for pretzels is 500 degrees which is too hot for the stone I have and for a Silpat.

Prepare the baking soda bath at this time.  You can use 1/2 cup warm water (or use boiling water) add the baking soda and stir until dissolved or almost dissolved.  I use warm water but I think the boiling water might help the baking soda dissolve better.  If you use boiling water you'll need to let it cool before using it.

After 30 minutes, divide your dough into 8 equal pieces then allow to rest for 5 minutes. At this time you will want to preheat your oven to 500 degrees.

Roll your pieces into "snakes".  I prefer to spray my counter with cooking spray for rolling out bread dough. We prefer a chunky pretzel, so I don't make them too long.  If you like a skinnier pretzel you will want to roll yours to about 28"-30".  Shape into pretzels.  Here are some directions for how to shape a pretzel if these pictures aren't enough.

(Not the prettiest, but trust me, when they are eating them no one will care.)

Quickly dip your pretzel into the baking soda bath.  I put it in right side down, quickly flip it over and then place it on the parchment.

Give a generous sprinkling of coarse salt.

Allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Bake for 7-9 minutes.  You may want to turn your baking sheet half way through depending on your oven.  I didn't bother.

Melt 3 T. of butter. I like to use the butter wrapper to keep the butter from spattering all over my microwave.

Brush the pretzels with the melted butter.  Use all of it.

Enjoy!



You can find the original recipe here (which gives directions for 3 ways to make the dough) and will be  printable as well.

Visit the crew blog for other How to....posts from crew members. 

100 Bible Verses in 2013: Week 2

A few weeks ago I mentioned that in 2013 I would be joining a group of ladies on facebook using Robert Morgan's book 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart. (The author even blogged about our group.)

I am enjoying reading the devotional part of the book that goes with each of the verses as much as I enjoyed the first part of the book.

Each week we have 2 verses to memorize.  So far it has been easy since I already knew 3 of the 4.  Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, John 3:16 were the ones I already knew.  The difficult one for me was John 1:14 but as of last night I could type it out without looking.  I still don't feel confident that I know it so I will continue to review it until I know it as well as the others.

John 1:14

"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. "

I did download the Well Versed Bible Memory Assistant  (free app) for my iPod touch that is helping me to learn these verses.  I also want to set up this scripture memory system box.

Shanna at Learning at His Feet started the facebook group and is blogging about it each week.  This week she shared a free scripture memory worksheet you might like. (Thanks Shanna for all your hard work!)

Menu Plan Monday

 I Must Meal Plan each week!!  I know this.  I wish I would just do it. :)  I'm a little late but here it is.

Monday: Spaghetti

Tuesday: Homemade Vegetable Soup and sourdough bread

Wednesday: Pan Seared Chicken, stuffing and green beans

Thursday: Meatloaf with Barley, Egg Noodles and vegetable

Friday: Homemade Pizza and Chips

Saturday: Veggie Lasagna and bread

Sunday: leftovers


Link up your own menu plan at orgjunkie.com.  (Or just find great ideas from other bloggers that share their menus.) This week is found here.

Kitchen Tips- No Waste Tomato Paste

Don't you hate when you have to open a can of tomato paste just for a tablespoon or two?  What are you going to do with what is left in the can?  Did you know you can freeze tomato paste?

I like to use Press N Seal. I scoop it out in tablespoon sized mounds then seal it, fold it up and throw it in the freezer.  I can cut off exactly what I need.  You end up with no waste and it's very handy to just pull out and throw into a recipe.  You could use an ice cube tray and pop the cubes into a freezer bag just as easily if you don't have any Press N Seal.

Stick with it Saturday

The last time I wrote a Stick with it Saturday post I said I'd been sick for 2 weeks and hadn't been able to work out.  Nothing has changed.  I ended up with pneumonia...then got a cold and now a possible sinus infection.  I've been sick for more than a month.  I REALLY am sick of being sick and want to run.

My sister bought our family a Wii for Christmas.  Knowing how much I wanted one, my parents got me Wii Fit yesterday as an early birthday present so I plan to use that and get back to running as soon as possible.  I did close to 40 minutes this morning and my legs are already sore.  :)

I lost several pounds over the last couple of months and my total weight loss is 95 lbs.  I cannot wait to pass that 100 lb mark.  My goal is to reach that before my birthday (mid-March).  I should have no problem reaching that goal.

My weight loss/fitness goals for this year are to finally reach my "goal" weight (undetermined as to what that is)  but I have somewhere between 20 and 35 more lbs to lose.  Right now I just want to be within a normal weight range and then I'll determine where I want to be after that.  It's pretty exciting to be getting this close.

I hope to get back to running and run at least one race this year (hopefully more) but we'll see how it goes.  I haven't been able to run much since September due to injury and illness.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin.