Gift Idea...

My Dad has been making pens.  I didn't even know you could make pens, until he started! ;-)  They are really pretty.  Check them out at Cumberland Crafter .  They would make wonderful gifts.

Blessings,
Joy

What's Been Happening in My Kitchen?

We have lived in Ecuador now for almost 24 years.  During that time, I've learned to adapt almost all of my recipes.  There are very few mixes and I'm sure if you walked down the "can goods" aisle at our grocery store you would be shocked and how little there really is there.  Learning to cook everything from scratch was a must.

While cooking in this way has it's advantages, as I'm sure it is probably healthier for you and usually the flavor is great, it does add a lot of prep and cooking time.  Years ago when our 3 older girls were still at home, I found a book entitled, Make A Mix.  I was so excited to find it and we made up and used quite a few of the mixes.  As they left home, and Tony, Teddy and I moved to Manta, I got out of the habit of making them.  For one thing, anything with shortening already incorporated in it, just did not hold up in this climate.  Also since I wasn't teaching full-time anymore, there was not as much pressure on my time.  

Adding 2 more little ones to the family and getting to a point in our Home Schooling, where our school days are becoming longer, my time for meal planning and prep less.  So about a month ago I dug out the old cookbook and started searching on-line and found a ton of ideas.  Also I searched around the kitchen and came up with almost enough jars and containers for everything.  I only needed to purchase 4, to not only do my new mixes but re-organize all my baking essentials!  So this week not only did a get a lot of new mixes and meal prep help, I also finally got my kitchen organized in a way that I think will be more workable.  :-)

Here is a website where I got the ideas for the labels and tags.  She even has downloads if you want to use her labels and recipe tags.   I thought about using them, but decided to just make my own, as I wanted to make it work for me.   

http://redflycreations.blogspot.com/2012/07/mixes-mixes-mixes.html

She also has several recipes too.  

Here is another site that has lots of recipes.  I used her "Quick Mix" recipe, because it doesn't have shortening incorporated into it, and that means that I don't have to keep it in the freezer in this climate.  I also

 made her "Yellow Cake Mix". 

http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/archives/

I also made up some of these, Chocolate Cake Mixes.  This recipe was given to me years ago by a close friend.  It does have shortening in the mix, so I keep these in my freezer.  If you live in a cooler, drier climate that probably wouldn't be necessary. 

Chocolate Cake Mix

2 Cups flour

1-3/4 Cups sugar, (superfine if available)

3/4 Cup cocoa

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1-1/4 teaspoon salt

4 Tablespoons shortening

Mix until no chunks of shortening are visible.  Store in an airtight container.  This is equal to one cake mix.  I put mine in "zip-lock" bags.  

To Make Cake Add:  

1-1/3 Cups water

1/2 Cup oil

3 large eggs

Blend with cake mix in a large bowl with an electric mixer at low speed until moistened, increase speed to medium and beat 2 more minutes.

Pour batter into pans and bake for 30 to 33 minutes for 9-in pans, and 35 to 38 minutes for 13x9 in pan.  You can also make cupcakes.  They take 19 to 22 minutes.

I also made a Corn Bread Mix, Hot Roll Mix, Brownie Mix, Muffin Mix, Pudding Mixes, and some "Slice and Bake" cookies, that I put in the freezer, all from the Make-A-Mix cookbook.  If you are interested in the book you can find at on Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Make---Mix-Karine-Eliason/dp/0762426020/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350183823&sr=1-1&keywords=make+a+mix  

It is even available in Kindle Format! ;-)

Not only is it full of recipes for mixes, but also tons of recipes to use the mixes in. :-)

If you would like to download my labels and recipes, (for using the mixes I made) click on the link below:

Labels and recipes

Happy Baking!

  

Family Tree

I have been trying to make time to be "creative".  It is one of those things that when I make the time, the payback is so great!  I always feel rejuvenated, but making the time is the hard part!  It seems that our days are so full of just "surviving" that we often forget to take time for these things.

My latest "creative project" has been our "family tree" in our entry way.   I got the idea about 6 months ago, and started collecting the photos that we needed.  This past month, Tony was able to paint the wall for me, and my sweet daughter, Alexis, drew me a tree and sent it to me by email.  So I have to give her credit.  The tree is from "A Taylor Designs".  :-)

After we got the wall painted, I decided  that I wanted to use black, cream, and turquoise frames. So I spent a couple days painting some of my frames.

Tony helped me by sketching it on the wall for me, and then I spent the last week painting it. :-)

I am so excited with how it came out.  We still need to get a picture of Tony's grandparents, Grandpa and Nana Anzalone.

Here are a few pictures of my "family tree"...

More Boots!

Another great thing that happened in September, is that a long awaited for package arrived.  Our dear friend from the US, who sent Matthew boots, earlier, also sent Teddy and Carla boots.  They were mailed in June, and took a really long time to get to us!  It's funny because so many things have improved here over the years, that it is often easy to forget that we live in a 3rd world country, but then every once in a while we get a glaring reminder.  Our mail situation is one of those.

We were sad, to learn that one of the gifts that had been sent, had been taken out of the box, BUT we were thrilled that both pairs of boots arrived safe and sound!!

Here are a few pictures of the kids getting their boots...

Living Hope Academy...

Friday we just finished our first term!   Unbelievable!  It seems like we were just getting ready to start and here we have our first 7 weeks under our belt and are looking forward to our first vacation week.    Over all the kids did really well.  We all seem to be adjusting to the schedule and our days are full.   One of the things that has been really different for me this year, is that school is taking quite a bit longer than it has in previous years.  Of course for Teddy, it has been increasing every year, but I have been able to be finished with my part usually by noon.  This year, I am taking a break to fix lunch and then after lunch we all head back up for at least an hour sometimes 2.  That is is taking some getting used to.

One of the things I am hoping to accomplish during this break, is to get more of our meal prep done, and in the freezer.  Also hope to make several "mixes" that will be time savers, too.   Since we are all home for the mid-day meal, it just works better for us to have our main meal of the day at that time, instead of in the evening.  But, with more time needed for school during the day, it is taking some "creative planning" to make that work, and still enjoy a nice dinner together.  :-)

It is exciting to see the kids making progress!  Teddy has done an in-depth study of the Pacific Islands and is currently in the middle of a study on Australia.  He is just about to conquer Long Division and Complex Multiplication problems.   Next he will be moving onto some pretty complex work with fractions.  (I'm so glad Daddy is near by to help out with Math!!) He has also been learning a lot about the Human Body.   Just finished studying the digestive system. Also an in depth study of how the kidneys work.  Really quite fascinating   Not sure who is enjoying it more, Teddy or me? ;-)

Carla and Matthew have been learning about ancient history.  I was a little concerned at first, that it might be over their head, especially working as ESL, but I have been very pleased with how much they have understood and retained.  In Science they learned all about the Water Cycle, and we spent some time on Weather.  Now they are starting a study of plants.

Carla is doing great with her reading, and she seems to really enjoy it.  She is struggling a little in Math, but, is making progress, and we are very pleased with that.

Matthew has made unbelievable progress with his small motor control.  If you compared his work today with what he was doing even 6 months ago, you would never believe it was the same kid.  I am so proud of how hard he is working in this area.  He is still struggling a lot in the "decoding" part of learning to read.  Not because he doesn't know the sounds of the letters, but his problems with speech, make it difficult for him to put the sounds together in a way that he can hear the word.  We are working on some different things, and praying that we will find the right combination for him.  I have no doubt that this little boy will learn to read.  He has never failed to accomplish anything he set his mind to do, be it learn to walk...talk...feed and dress himself...write and cut.... It just might take a little bit longer to accomplish, but what is that in the whole scheme of things? :-)

We thank you so much for your prayers for our family.  It is such a blessing to us to know that you are praying for us.

Blessings, Joy

Matthew's "pizza"

Even Carla's babies enjoy school! ;-)

We enjoy "field trips" to the beach!

We spent time in Monti Cristi learning about culture things.  Here Teddy is showing a couple tagua "nuts" and the plant they came out of.  Tagua is known as "vegetable ivory".  

Here we saw how a hat is made. 

President Eloy Alfaro, brought the coast and the highlands of Ecuador together by building the first railroad connecting the two. 

Matthew enjoys swimming lessons 2 afternoons a week.  

I couldn't resist this one...he's like a duck in the water! :-)

Carla and Teddy enjoy Tennis classes 3 afternoons a week. 

Carla and Matthew made farms after we read Charlotte's Web.  Here they are painting their barns.

Teddy planned the menu and cooked breakfast all my himself for the family one Saturday morning. 

It was great!!  Chocolate chip pancakes with Strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate sauce AND chocolate banana milkshakes!  YUM!!

Tony and Teddy working on Viking Ship model.

Sorry this is sideways...I can't figure out how to rotate it! :-(  This a a picture of Carla with her "robot" she made!