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Sunday, December 14, 2008

My Little Clone

My son, who will be turning 4 in a few days, is so adorable. Today he wanted to play on what he likes to call "his" laptop. It's actually Daddy's laptop that he purchased a few years ago, a Panasonic toughbook, that is durable enough even for a child of his age. After purchasing a new battery for it since it's been bad since the day I bought the computer, this is the result:


A little clone of Daddy!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Surprisingly Scrumptious Carrot Casserole

Sometimes we have an abundance of carrots. We like carrot cake and carrot muffins and the like, but we don't prefer basic cooked carrots. However, I like to experiment in the kitchen so I'm frequently trying new things. My all time favorite cookbook is the More-with-Less cookbook by Doris Janzen Longacre. We have tried many recipes from it and have had very few that we did not like. I must confess I was a bit disappointed when the cookbook came because a cursory reading of recipes did not look appetizing. However, due to the high esteem in which others have held this book, I have taken a lot of chances. I can honestly say, after trying a lot of recipes, we have only disliked one. That's pretty impressive for any cookbook! Anyway, here's the latest experiment:

Carrot-Cheddar Casserole (sounds gross...I know!)

Serves 8 as a side
Bake 350 - 30 min.

Note: Can mash drained carrots easily by whirling in blender with eggs and milk.

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine in a mixing bowl:
3 c. cooked, mashed carrots (about 1 1/2 pound)
3 beaten eggs
2 c. milk
1 1/3c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/3c. crushed crackers (reserve 1/4c. for topping) - (We used Townhouse Light buttery crackers, but you can use any you like.)
2-3 T. softened butter
1 1/3t. salt
dash pepper (more, if you like)
1 T. chopped parsley

Mix well. Turn into greased casserole and sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake 30 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Another note: We used an 8 x 8 dish, and it took about an hour of baking before the knife came out clean. I would try a more shallow casserole dish like a 9 x 13.

Enjoy!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Dog-Sitting Sunday


Sorry, Mr. Caleb! But don't they look cute and it was only a little bit :D

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Seeking His Glory

As I continue to consider a Biblical philosophy of education and curriculum possibilities, God is faithful to draw me to resources that seek to honor Him in all things. Last month, I was reviewing material for history. Since I don't often post what I'm thinking about, I'll have to play catch up to inform you about the finds in that subject.

Presently, however, I have been considering math curricula. About two years ago, God led me to Christ-centered Curriculum. It has been the most Biblical math curriculum that I have seen. It does require a lot of one on one with the child learning the material, however, it is scripted, so this responsibility could be delegated (especially any drill work). I have been unimpressed with much of the material on the market. Though there is a lot of material, there is little that is truly Biblical. There are many that tack a Scripture verse here or there, but there is little more that sets them apart from what the world has to offer. Some would argue that it doesn't really matter; math is math. I disagree. Math is so much more. Finally, God placed a resource in my path that confirms my thoughts in this matter:

Christian Perspective

At this site, you will find samples of Beyond Numbers, a short but helpful book on keeping a Biblical perspective while teaching mathematics. The author, Katherine Loop (a homeschool graduate), quotes Mathematics: Is God Silent? by James Nickel, a number of times. Nickel's book also looks like a worthwhile read though I haven't gotten the chance to review it yet.

At seventy-five pages,Beyond Numbers is a book that most people should be able to get through in just a couple of sittings. It is an easy read; I've even read parts of it to my five-year-old daughter. There are a lot of good reasons to read this book. If you have a hard time keeping God at the focus of your math studies (or other studies as a lot of the principles are the same), this book is a good book to read and review on a regular basis.