In the Kitchen – Natural Egg Dyes March 20, 2008

Since Easter is this weekend, I thought this would be a good topic for In the Kitchen. Here are instructions for making and using natural egg dyes.

The rich colors of natural dyes can be coaxed from the most unassuming items in your vegetable bin or spice rack. Humble ingredients–such as red cabbage, onion skins, paprika, and coffee–can produce elegant and often unexpected colors when used for dyeing.

Color Source (These amounts will color approximately 6 eggs):
Orange: Paprika, 4 tablespoons per quart of water
Blue: Red cabbage, about 4 cups, shredded, per quart of water
Red: Pomegranate juice in place of water OR 4 cups red onion skins
Pink: Cranberry juice in place of water OR 4 cups shredded beets per quart of water
Green: Spinach (fresh or frozen), 4 cups per quart of water
Ocher: Onion skins, 4 cups of the dry outer skins
Mocha: 1 quart of strongly brewed coffee in place of water

How To:
There are two ways to color eggs with natural dyes: boiling and cold dipping. Boiling allows dyes to penetrate the eggshell and results in darker, more even colors. The cold-dip method can be better if you want to eat the eggs and safer if children are helping out.

Boil Method:
Place 6-8 eggs in a single layer in a large pot and add enough water to cover eggs by one inch. Add some white vinegar (2 tablespoons per quart of water). Add dye ingredients (up to 4 cups vegetable solids or 3-4 tablespoons of a colorful spice, like paprika or turmeric, per quart of water or replace water with any all-liquid ingredient) and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low and simmer for 20-30 minutes. The motion of the eggs in the boiling water ensures that the color will be even on the egg. The resulting egg will be very hard-boiled and inedible, as it picks up the flavor of the dye.

Cold-Dip Method:
Combine dye materials, vinegar,and water in the same proportions as the boil method above, in a large pot. Simmer 20-30 minutes, then strain and cool. Dip hard-boiled eggs in cold dye until desired color is achieved, soaking anywhere from 5 minutes to several hours in the refrigerator. Turn eggs occasionally to ensure even dyeing. Dry on paper towels or in egg cartons.

In the Kitchen March 20, 2008

Okay…I’m on a roll here. So why stop? I guess that’s what happens when you are home from work for a week, have a sick child, and tons of free time on your hands! Anyway, my thoughts for this thread is to post cooking and baking tips. I never liked cooking before I got married. I did it because I HAD to. But now, I’ve grown to enjoy cooking and baking. And I’m finding there is so much to learn…alot of technical mumbo jumbo. So maybe as I navigate my way through and mess a few things up, I will share what I learn here.

Do you have any cooking or baking tips you’d like to share? Feel free to do so!

From my other blog March 20, 2008

If you follow my blog, you know that I have more than one. So here is a link to a post from one of them. I thought it was appropriate for this blog as well. Just something that was on my mind.

Well, the link won’t work for some reason, so you can click on it manually and a paste in your browser. That is if you are really interested in reading it. LOL Here’s the link: http://crazymommafiles.blogspot.com/2008/03/sahm.html

Did You Know – Happy 80th Fred Rogers March 20, 2008

Today would have been Mr. Roger’s 80th birthday. I remember when I was a kid, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood was on of my favorite TV shows. His signture sweaters were a trademark of his image. So much so, that some of his friends have named today “Sweater Day.”

Mr. Rogers was an influential part of my early childhood learning. Mr. Rogers’s spirit continues to live on as his show is still broadcasted on PBS. I feel good inside knowing that my children are able to get some of the quality, educational shows that I loved when I was growin up.

So today, in honor of Mr. Fred Rogers, let’s see those sweaters and cardigans!

Here’s a clip to take you back to the good ole’ days!

Recipe of the Week – Italian Rotini and Cheese March 20, 2008

I’m always looking for quick and easy, meals to cook for my family. I get tired of the same thing all of the time. So this thread will be dedicated to recipes. A quick note…I can usually find quick, but I won’t guarantee how healthy. Although I try to provide healthy, well-rounded meals, I am the first to admit we are not health food fanatics. We like good food!”

Here is the first one…

Italian Rotini and Cheese

2 cups uncooked rotini pasta (6 oz)
1 cup milk
1 container (10 oz) refrigerated Alfredo sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
2 cups shredded provolone cheese (8 oz)
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon Italian style bread crumbs
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease 2-quart casserole. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
2. In medium bowl, stir milk into Alfredo sauce; stir in 2 tablespoons basil, the cheese and 1 cup of the tomatoes. Pour mixture into casserole. Sprinkle with remaining tomatoes.
3. Bake uncovered 30 to 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly. In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon basil; sprinkle over top.

Substitution
If you don’t have Italian-style dry bread crumbs, regular bread crumbs will do. To give them an extra boost of Italian flavor, mix regular bread crumbs with chopped fresh basil leaves as directed and add 1/8 teaspoon Italian seasoning or a dash of grated Parmesan cheese.

SAHM March 20, 2008

I’m home on Spring Break this week and during these breaks, I really enjoy the time I’m able to spend with my family and being able to do all of the things that moms do for their kids. During these breaks, I really start to wish that I could be a stay at home mom, or even a work at home mom. I really enjoy being able to teach K myself. I like watching his favorite shows with him. I like him helping me around the house. I like playing with him. I just enjoy being a mom. So I guess this means I really need to get busy on my photography so I can do just that. Stay at home with my kids and be a mommy to them.

About Budgeting – Our Budget March 19, 2008

I see this thread as a place to post budgeting related issues and/or information. I’m not quite sure how it’s going to work really, but for now I will post our budget.

Currently we are in the process of cleaning up our credit and building up our finances. So we are picking an old bill from our credit to pay and paying on it until it’s paid. We have already paid one – AT&T Wireless. Also, money is coming out of my check each month for a student loan. This will be completely paid in Aug.

Tithes…………..460
House payment……1275
Electric…………200
Water/Garbage…….100
Phone…………….90
Car payment………400
Groceries………..350 (this is my goal…)
D’s Allowance……..44
Lowe’s…………..250
Old Bill(SprintPCS)..56
Miscellaneous…….150
Total…………..3375

That leaves….215 for the savings…in August after the loan is paid, there will be an extra $500 to add to the savings. We just may be able to build that nest egg that we’ve been talking about…

What’s Cooking – Mar. 23rd-29th March 19, 2008

Okay…I’m starting the “What’s Cooking” thread to post what’s for dinner the upcoming week. I figure planning ahead will also help me with my grocery list. That way, I can be sure that I have everything that I need when I need it. I’m not planning breakfasts or lunches. Those items are usually readily available. But I will put them on the grocery list.

So, here’s what’s on the menu for next week.

Sun: mealoaf, cabbage, sweet potatoes, rolls
Mon: leftover
Tues: spaghetti, garlic bread, salad
Wed: leftovers
Thur: pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits
Fri: Pizza, salad
Sat: Chili Bacon Cheeseburger and Fiery Fries

Grocery list:
EVERYTHING…
ground beef (restocking)
cabbage
sweet potatoes
rolls
spaghetti (restocking)
onion
green beans (restocking)
salad
bacon
sausage
biscuits (restocking)
pizza
ketchup
Ivory
candles
yogurt
fruit
beverages
cereal
eggs
bread
pancake mix
chocolate syrup
coffee/creamer
Samp’s dogfood
(good thing I don’t need to buy cleaning supplies…)

To daycare or not to daycare… March 19, 2008

that is the question!

I just don’t know what to do about this daycare situation. I’m torn everytime that I have to take K and leave him there. He absolutely hates being there. Everytime that I take him, he’s crying his eyes out. I mean, when he sees that we’ve made the exit from the freeway he knows we are close and he’s coming out of his carseat and climbing to the front of the car. So, I don’t have to say what’s happening by the time we turn into the parking lot of the center. Talk about emotional! By the time I drop him off both of us are crying. I usually leave in just enough time to drop him off and then get to work. If I had more time, I know that I’d be taking him back to Meme’s.

He only goes two days a week. And I know that it is best for him to go right now since I do work, so playgroups and mommy’s day outs are out of the question for us. He has to go for the social interaction more than anything else. I know that we waited too long to let him start, but I was comfortable with him being taken care of by Meme instead of a daycare center. But now he is preschool age and needs to learn to play and socialize with other children in order to be ready for school next year. I know that he starts to enjoy himself once he’s there because he comes home singing the songs and talking about his day. But I just wish he would adjust better to better there.

Today, I hung around a little since I’m off of work. I was able to sit and calm him down a little bit more. I also wanted to see how they interacted with him. I mean, I don’t think that they mistreat him, especially since Genesis goes there and Roxey wouldn’t dare have kept her there as long as she has if she suspected mistreatment. His teacher spoke to him immediately and started to encourage him to come be a part of the group. She asked if he wanted to eat breakfast and he answered “no.” I told her he’d eaten already. After I left his area, I kind of hung out in the hallway and peeped in to see exactly what happens once I leave. He stopped crying a minute or so afterwards, which is what he typically does. His teacher asked him if he needed to potty and led him to the restroom. I could hear her as she praised him for using the toilet like a big boy and asked him to pull his pants back up. She sounded like she really cared about how he felt. They then went back into the room and she asked him to sit next to her at the table. She asked him if he was ok and he replied “yes.” But his body language said just the opposite! His shoulders slouched as he walked, his face was long – pouty lips and all, and he drug himself to the table and slowly sat down. My heart broke and I almost ran back inside to grab my baby and bring him back home. But I couldn’t! We have to do this. It will be better for him in the long run. That’s what I keep telling myself hoping it will make me feel better. It doesn’t. My heart still hurts because I left him. I feel like the worse mommy in the world. Who says that my baby won’t be just as adjusted or even more when he goes to school if he doesn’t go to daycare? Can’t the nurturing love of a family member provide enough encouragement and instill enough excitement in wanting to go to school next year when he’s more ready? I believe this also. But in the big scheme of it all, Meme needs some time to herself. And K is becoming alot more rambunctious. And did I mention he can run really fast! And the point I hate to think about is, Meme IS getting older and she’s having to give K too much of her attention since he doesn’t nap as much anymore. She needs a break.

So, until summer vacation, this is what we have to do. I know K will start to get adjusted sooner or later. I just hope his adjustment come sooner rather than later.

Spring Cleaning March 19, 2008

It’s time for spring cleaning and thankfully there isn’t much to do since we got rid of ALOT of junk before we moved. So pretty much everything is in it’s place. However, my goals are as follows:
1) organize our closet by the end of this week
2) reorganize the kitchen cabinets by the end of this week
3) organize the garage – hopefully this weekend.
4) get out in my garden and plant spring flowers before D’s birthday next month.
The garage is the biggest job, but there isn’t alot in there. Mostly stuff that I have in there is stuff that I don’t just but just can’t throw away. This just might be doable!