The Dangerous Book for Boys

I've been wanting to get The Dangerous Book for Boys for my son's 9th birthday. But a new hardcover at $25 is a whole lot of money. Fortunately, while shopping at Sam's Club, I found it markeddcown to $14.87.

I think this was the best $14.87 I ever spent. Birthday Boy and his brothers absolutely love this book. They've had their noses in it all day.

I checked amazon.com to read the reviews and they have it for $14.95.

Library Book Search

Have your library privileges been suspended due to lost or unreturned books? Are huge library fines looming over your head? Get up from your computer right now, gather the kids, and do a library book search.

If your library has a website where you can check your personal account, then go to it and print it out. Get a box, basket, or bag to hold all of the books that you find. As you find books, cross them off of your printout. Looking at the remaining titles will hopefully spark the memories of your children and they will remember where they last left the lost book.

Search the car, under the beds, on the bookshelves. Assign a different room to different children, perhaps having them work in teams.

One advantage to a library book search is that the house gets tidy in the process. I always say that if something is missing, all we have to do is tidy up and it's sure to show up. As the kids pull out all the stuff from under the couch in their search for books, have them put that stuff away in their proper places. As they search the car, have them throw out all the trash and bring in all the items that don't belong there. As they look under their beds they can take an extra 60 seconds to feather dust the cobwebs away.

If you recall leaving books at someone else's home, give them a call right away and arrange to get the books back to the library.

Now, once you've collected all the books, take them right to the car. If you really can't drive to the library at this very second, then leave the books right on the driver's seat so that you don't forget to return them next car trip. Books left in the car for weeks build up just as many fines as books lost in the house!

The library is an awesome resource for homeschoolers so do your best to keep library books in check and library privileges intact!

Getting the Most Out of Your Library

My monthly column is up at Catholic Mom, click HERE to check it out!

“I’m sorry Mrs. Wittmann, as of the new year, you can have no more than fifty books checked out at one time,” the librarian told me apologetically.“Oh no! I’ve got forty Cinderella books on hold for a unit study the kids and I are working on. And I’ve probably got twenty books out on the Civil War, and then there are the books we check out just for fun. This is terrible!” I exclaimed, breaking out in a cold sweat, totally forgetting about the ten or so “real” math books sitting at home.

Composting Unit Study

My weekly column is a unit study on composting. Just in time for spring!

If you've never composted or if you live in an urban area, I encourage you to still be open to introducing composting to your homeschool studies. Composting can be a wonderful addition to your science studies, in a very natural way. Both the novice and the urbanite can pull it off. This unit study introduces all the resources necessary for success.

Food Routes

From my friend Linda S.

Hi! I thought this was so cool and that you might like it...

If you go to the web site, and click on FOOD ROUTES, you can put in your zip code or state and find farmers markets, u-pick (raspberries in Fowlerville in August), and other things...neat.

Happy eating...Linda

http://www.foodroutes.org/

Other Thrifty Homeschooling Blogs

I've added some more thrifty homeschooling blogs to the sidebar for your perusal.

If you know of any others I should add, please leave them in the comments. Thanks!

Saving At the Grocery Store

I have a monthly column at Catholic Mom. April's column is on slashing your grocery bill.

If you are an average American family, you can cut your grocery bill in half – through baby steps.

Educators Discounts for Homeschoolers

I have a weekly homeschool column at Catholic Exchange. This week's column is on getting educators' discounts for your homeschool. Go check it out.

Homeschool Blog Awards

The 2006 Homeschool Blog Awards are up and running. You have until Friday (Apr. 13) to vote. They have a Thrifty Homeschool category, so especially make sure to check out those blogs. I'm really happy to see this category!!!

I've been terribly negligent of this Thrifty Homeschooler blog. I guess I better get on the ball so I can be nominated next year!

Split Pea Soup Recipe

Thrifty homeschool member Margaret Mary has a split pea soup recipe over at her blog. Go check it out. Very thrifty and yummy too!

Free English Worksheets

Here's a useful website with free English worksheets to print out: UsingEnglish.

Tex-Mex Casserole

Super Easy Tex-Mex Casserole

2 c. cooked rice, brown or white
1 1/2 c. salsa
1 tsp. chili powder
15-oz. can black beans, undrained
1 c. frozen corn
tortilla chips
8 oz. Colby jack cheese, shredded, separated

Preheat oven to 350.

Spray casserole dish with Pam.

Combine the first 5 ingredients and 1/2 of the cheese, in the casserole dish. Top with crunched up tortilla chips and remaining cheese.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes.

Refried Bean Soup

My friend Colleen gave this recipe to me years ago and I still make it. Sometimes, I have homemade refried beans and broth in the freezer and will use that. I'll post recipes for the beans and broth over the next week.

If I use this recipe as my main course, I double it.

Refried Bean Soup

2 tsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) vegetable or chicken broth
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) Mexican style stewed tomatoes
1 can (16 ounces) fat-free refried beans
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
black pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a 4 1/2 quart Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Saute onion and pepper until tender.

Add the garlic, broth, and stewed tomatoes. Stir. Raise the heat to high. Stir in the refried beans and the cumin. Stir well. Cover and let the soup come to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and stir occasionally for 5 to 7 minutes or until ready to serve.

Variation: Add a can of black and/or kidney beans.

Cheese Enchiladas with Green Sauce

This recipe has way too much fat and is labor intensive, but it is so delicious that I still make every once in a while. Even my green-hating children like this dish. (Don't tell your kids it's green because of the spinach!)

I got this recipe originally from Betty Crocker's Vegetarian Cooking (long OOP), but as usual I've made adjustments. This serves 6, so double if you have a large family.

Sauce
10-ounce fresh spinach (about 6 cups) or a 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained.
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup veggie or chicken broth
1 4-ounce can diced green chilies, drained
1 3/4 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

Cheese Filling
2 cups grated mild cheddar cheese
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese (pepper cheese if you like spicy)
1/2 c. sour cream
2 Tbsp. chopped parsley (I prefer fresh, but dry is okay)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

8 6-inch corn or wheat tortillas

Preheat oven to 375

First mix together the ingredients for the cheese filling.

Next make the sauce:
Wash spinach, cover and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and chop. (If you use frozen, cook spinach according to package instructions and drain well)

Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add flour and stir mixture 2 minutes; be careful not to brown. Gradually whisk in milk and
broth. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in spinach, chilis, cumin, and red pepper.

Now prepare your enchiladas:
Spray rectangular baking dish with Pam.

Heat the tortillas in an ungreased skillet for about 30 seconds so they don't crack when you roll your enchiladas. Cover with a tea towell so they don't dry out.

Dip each tortilla into the green sauce, making sure both sides are completely covered. Spoon about 1/4 c. of the cheese filling onto each tortilla. Roll the tortilla around the filling. Place seam side down the baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

Bake until cheese melts and enchiladas are heated through, about 25 minutes.

You could garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, or green onions.

Lenten Meals Around the World

Suburban Banshee over at Aliens in this World is posting tons of Lenten recipes from around the world. Very cool! You could tie in your Lenten meals with your social studies. I love homeschooling!

Vegetable Oven Omelet

My friend Linda has chickens and so always has an abundance of eggs at her house. This recipe is for her.

I love omelets, but I never make them. Too much of a pain when you have children. Instead, I make my omelets in the oven.

Vegetable Oven Omelet
1 c. shredded pepper jack cheese (4 oz.)
3 c. of your favorite veggies, chopped
2 med. tomatoes, chopped
3 c. shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz.)
2 c. milk
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
8 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 and spray a large casserole dish with Pam. Layer the first 4 ingredients, in the order listed, in the casserole.

Beat milk, flour, salt, and eggs until frothy. Pour over cheese.

Bake uncovered until eggs are set, about 45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes, then cut and serve.

(For a smaller family, click HERE for a similar recipe that uses half the ingredients.)

Spaghetti Primavera

I seem to be on an Italian kick here.

I first got this recipe many years ago from one of those little Pillsbury cookbooks you find in the check out lane at the grocery store. I've altered it just slightly.

My favorite veggies for this dish are red bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini, and carrots.

Spaghetti Primavera
12-oz. pkg. spaghetti
1 garlic clove, minced
2 Tbsp. olive oil
6 c. of your favorite veggies (or what you have leftover in the fridge)
1 c. milk (if you don't care about fat then use 1/2 and 1/2)
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning to taste
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, separated
2 med. tomatoes, cut into wedges (peeled, if you're picky)

While your spaghetti is boiling, saute the garlic in a large skillet with the olive oil. Add your veggies and saute until they're tender crisp, about 5 to 10 minutes.

In a small saucepan combine the milk, butter, and spices. Heat until butter melts and remove from heat. Stir in 1/4 c. of the Parmesan, saving the 1/4 c. for later.

In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked pasta and sauce. Gently fold in the vegetables. Garnish with the tomato wedges and top off with the remaining Parmesan.

Risotto

Another favorite classic Italian dish at my house is Risotto. This is a rice dish made with Arborio (or more simply, medium grain rice). It is a more time-consuming recipe than most rice dishes. Instead of just dumping the water and rice into a pot and forgetting about it for 20 minutes, you gradually add broth as it's absorbed by the rice. Even though you do have to watch it for 20 min., it is very easy to make and the you end up with a nice creamy dish.

Like Frittata, this dish is versatile and you can easily substitute ingredients, but you always use Parmesan cheese.

Here is a very basic recipe for risotto.

Here is a recipe for Risotto Primavera. (Personally, I leave out the icky peas.)

If all you have in your pantry is long grain rice, it'll still work but the medium or short grain is better. I've never tried it with brown rice.

UPDATE: I tried it with brown rice. DON'T do it. It was a total failure. The brown rice takes too long to absorb the liquid so it evaporates before it cooks the rice.

Have It Your Way Frittata

My family loves Frittata. If you haven't had this Italian egg dish before, its kind like an oven omelet. My favorite is spinach with Swiss cheese and the runner up is broccoli with cheddar cheese.

The recipe I use can be found HERE. I cut this out from USA Magazine years and years ago and used it so often that it finally fell apart. This is a very basic recipe that you can modify to your tastes.

Going Vegetarian

One way to save money on your grocery bill, in addition to improving your health, is to cut back on meat consumption.

Also, during this time of Lent, many people abstain from meat for spiritual reasons.

Over the next month, I plan to post a vegetarian recipe each day to help those of you who need a little help going meatless.