Mediterranean Pasta Salad

I have fresh basil to use so I decided to make our favorite pasta salad.

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 Whenever I toast nuts in the oven I burn them so this time I tried it on my stove.  It worked great and took only a few minutes.  Don't forget to stir often.

 Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
1 12 oz. package garden Rotini pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 red onion finely chopped
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
8 fresh basil leaves, chopped
4 Tbsp. basil pesto
a small jar artichoke hearts, chopped
2/3 cup creamy Caesar dressing
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/2 cup Feta cheese

    Cook the pasta according to package directions.  Drain. Pour cold water onto cooked pasta noodles to cool.  Combine the cherry tomatoes, onion, Parmesan, basil, pesto, dressing, and artichoke hearts together.  Once the noodles are cool add the dressing and stir to combine.  Refrigerate until ready to eat.  Sprinkle on Feta and pine nuts when serving.

Summer Survival Plan

I always have to have a plan.  Its how I roll.  In the winter I plan activities to not go crazy while we are stuck inside and in the summer I plan activities so having all my children home doesn't kill me.

This is my summer plan:

First we have a jar.  For each homework activity my kids do they get either a popcorn kernel, a macaroni noodle, or a shell to put in the jar.  

 The jar has three lines.  When we get up to that line we get to choose a kind of celebration.  This could be going to the Science Center, having a movie party with friends, getting ice cream etc.

 I have books for each of my children.  When I first started doing summer school I searched the internet for days coming up with activities and making binders full of ideas.  Now I just buy these.  I buy the grade my kids will be going into in the fall because they are far ahead enough that 3/4 of the book is review and only a little bit is new.

I calculated about 74 days of summer break, not including Sundays.  Those days include vacations and my kids' birthdays so I know we won't do work then.  Each book has about 300 pages so I decided each kid has to do 6 pages a day.  One of each section without skipping ahead!

Last year I only made them do 2 a day and then we didn't finish the books before school started!

For each page of these books they get a popcorn kernel, but those will add up fast.  They also get a popcorn kernel for doing 10 minutes of math fact games.  We love SumDog and ABCYA for math games.  They also get a kernel for 10 minutes of sightreading games for the piano.

I also want them writing so they get a macaroni noodle for a one page book report and one for 20 minutes of piano or cello practicing.

The get a shell noodle if they write a short story.

Here is our summer schedule with topics we will focus on:

Summer Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursdsay Friday Saturday

8:00 Walking Walking Walking
9:00
10:00 Science Playgroup Piano Lessons   Writing Story Time
11:00
12:00
1:00 Free Time Free Time Free Time Free Time Free Time
2:00 Free Time Free Time Free Time Free Time Free Time
3:00 Art Club
4:00

We also have a topic of the week and we take turns picking it.  I get to go first.  Last year did things like: proper hydration, cowboys, volcanoes, insects, etc.

We pick out books at the library and read them throughout the week and then on Thursday  I am going to make my kids write a page summary of what they learned.  My five-year-old will probably write two sentences and draw a picture, but I'll make the other older kids write longer.  

Good luck with your summers!

DIY Ironing Board Cover

I have been meaning to get a new cover for my iron for years but every time I see one at the store I'm not sure the measurements of my iron and I'm disgusted at the price.

So the other day I decided to make my own.  It was super easy.  Took me 30 minutes.  I should have done it years ago.

You need sturdy fabric that won't wear out.  I looked in the aisle of household fabrics for curtains and pillows.

Measure your iron and add about 4 inches around the circumference.  I needed about 2 yards but my iron is a small one.

  

Then I got this pad at the store that is for an iron.  I used my old pad to cut out the new one.

I always zigzag my edges to make sure they don't fray.  Then I folded over the edge 1/2 inch and sewed that.

Then I did it again leaving an opening at the end.

Now just feed some elastic through the edge.

Then just put the pad on the iron and then the cover.

Beautiful!

Roasted Vegetables

Roasting vegetables is our new favorite way to eat vegetables.  It brings out their sweetness and its easy.

  I love the mixed bags you can get with cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots.  We love asparagus and I even enjoy roasted brussel sprouts now.

Wash the vegetables.

                                                    Cut them so they are all the same size.

Lay them out so they are in an even layer.  Less than this would be better.  They need to be able to breath.  Drizzle on a little bit of olive oil.  I used about 1/4 cup on this batch, but less is better than more otherwise they get soggy.  Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper.

Roast most vegetables at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Asparagus needs less, about 15 minutes.

I love when they are just a little bit burnt and crispy.

Sloppy Joes

This is one of the recipes from my childhood.

Barbecue Sloppy Joes

1 lb ground hamburger thawed if frozen

1/8 tsp. Black pepper

1 c. onion chopped

1 8-ounce can tomato sauce

½ c. barbecue sauce

¼ c. water

4 hamburger buns

            Crumble hamburger into a medium skillet.  Sprinkle with pepper.  Add onion.  Over medium-high heat, cook and stir for five minutes or until meat is no longer pink and onion is almost tender.  Reduce heat to low.

            Stir in tomato sauce, barbecue sauce and water.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally.

Angel Hair Pasta w/Chicken

2 T. olive oil

2 chicken breast halves cut into 1-inch cubes

1 carrots, sliced diagonally into ¼ inch pieces

1 (10 ounce) package frozen broccoli florets, thawed

2 cloves garlic, minced

12 ounces angel hair pasta

2/3 c. chicken broth

1 tsp. Dried basil

¼ c. grated Parmesan cheese

        Heat 1 T. oil in a medium skillet over medium heat; add chicken.  Cook, stirring, until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.  Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels.  

        Heat remaining oil in the same skillet.  Begin heating water for pasta.  Add carrot to skillet; cook, stirring for 4 minutes.  Add broccoli and garlic to skillet; cook, stirring for 2 minutes longer.

        Cook pasta according to package directions.  While pasta is cooking, add chicken broth, basil and Parmesan to skillet.  Stir to combine.  Return chicken to skillet.  Reduce heat and simmer for 4 minutes.

        Drain pasta.  Place in a large serving bowl.  Top with chicken and vegetable mixture.  Serve immediately. 

Play Dough

This is my mom's play dough recipe.  I've never found another one that compares.  

Play Dough

2-1/2 cups flour

½ cup salt

1 Tbl. Alum (found with the spices)

3 Tbl. Oil

2 cups water

            Place in a heavy bottom pan and cook at medium or medium/high heat.  Stir until hard to stir.  Knead by hand.  You can add food coloring when you knead it. Store in an airtight container.

 I doubled it this time so it looks like a lot.  It is easier to stir when you don't double it.