Kickboxing....My Kind of a Girl's Night Out

3 friends....since we were about 12 years old.  Reuniting for a kickboxing adventure/girls' night out...
Old friends, refusing to grow old.

So fun.  So awesome.  Even if I'm such an uncoordinated dork. And, apparently, I hit like a girl.  ;)
But...hey.  It was only the first class of 5 that we signed up for.  You can't learn new things
if you're not willing to look likea dork sometimes.  And I am totally willing,  haha ;)

And.....my kids. One day....they will look back and be thankful for the woman that took care of them.....& kickboxed across the living room & into their bedrooms as she warmed up, did less than supersonic Wonder Woman spins, and basically acted like a fool sometimes. They will laugh and say, "I'm glad my mom was a li'l bit crazy". Right now, however, I think they're thankful that very few see the things that they do.... 
wink emoticon
Their eyes roll. Their mouths say, "MOM. You're weird". But....those lips. They turn upward, even though they fight it....and they smile. 

Haha. ;)smile emoticon

The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ Joining The Journey

Linking up with The Homeschool Chick and The Homeschool Mother's Journal today.....because Homeschool Moms are my favorite kind! ; )

In my life this week...

CHAOS.  Frustration. <------Not School-related.   Productivity......and not.  Fast food.  : (   Busy days.  Sleepless nights.  Migraines.  Tears <------Also not School-related.  Laughter. Smiles.  Songs.  Friends.  Sweet notes of encouragement. 

My house feels like it's been turned upside down.  Furniture piled up against walls and items that could be moved to other rooms have been moved to make room for new flooring and new paint.  After living this way for a week, I'm starting to go crazy!!  Flooring is still not down.  After several days of fighting with it, it has been decided to do something else. 

Aggravation.  Claustrophobia.

I have Sweet Diva orders to complete and very little room to move!!  I can't think when there's chaos.  When there's no room to move.  Must. Take. Deep. Breaths......Often.

The painting, however, is looking great! =)  It's going to be worth it.  When it's over!!


In our homeschool this week...

Due to some of the above, we have done a half-school week.  Co-op subjects were done.  Science, History, Writing.  Math and Language Arts ~ we'll catch up on when most of our friends are taking their Spring Break.  Or add a little to each regular day until we're caught up.  It's a freedom we relish.  =)


Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Lowes. Walmart (yuck).  Target.  Grocery Stores.  Yes, I know.  The excitement of running errands is overwhelming.  ; )

♥ Hobby Lobby ♥ Church ♥

Co-op. =)

My favorite thing this week was...

2 things: 

~ Watching my 5th grader sing with his choir in church Wednesday night.....for the last time as a 5th grader (except for our children's musical coming up) while praying that he will not lose the song in his heart, his devotion to the Lord, and his sweet, sensitive spirit in the years to come.  Bittersweet. 

~ On the way home from church that night, my 3rd grader says, "Mom, I got the words to my solo that I'm singing next time we sing.  Do you want me to sing it for you?" ♥  There is nothing sweeter than a child's voice singing songs to the Lord. ♥  And yesterday, when I wasn't feeling well, "Mom, do you want me to sing my song for you?  It might help you feel better."  And so he did, repeatedly throughout the day. = )  Did it make me feel better?  Oh, yes.....it did.  Every single time.

What's working/not working for us...

Not thrilled with the writing program at co-op.  Will def. be adding to it next year.....trying to decide what that will be.  Love, love, love Shurley English, but afraid that both will be too much.  I can't decide on anything right now.  Because of the chaos, clutter, and claustrophobia.  They cause my brain to short-circuit.  Really.  I have issues. ; )

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

Will I ever reach a point where I'm not second-guessing everything I/we do?  Will I ever feel I am successfully balancing all of my resposibilities?

Can I take a nap?  For a week? 


A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

from my 3rd grader ~ you can enlarge the pic by clicking on it if you care to read it =)

Maybe I'm doing something right, after all. ♥

Curried Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I am starving.  Really.  So hungry right now.  And I want to make this....but I don't have all  the ingredients.
Sigh. 

Seriously, this is one of my most-loved chicken salad recipes.  Eat it by itself, stuff it in a pita pocket, roll it in a tortilla....or, as the name and pic suggest ~ make a pretty and low-carb lettuce wrap! 

I sometimes try to make it just for myself.  You know, make a batch for a healthy and delicious lunch option that will last me a few days because it's so good I don't get tired of it.  But these beggars that live with me always have to stick their noses in my business! ; )

Turns out they love it, too.....so that batch that is supposed to last me a few days usually lasts ONE.  Ahhhh....the joys of family life!  Sharing is sometimes highly overrated.

Curried Chicken Lettuce Wraps

The pic doesn't do it justice........just trust me.  I like good food!

Ingredients :

1/2 cup sour cream (or reduced-fat sour cream)

1/4 cup mango chutney

1/4 cup mayonnaise (or light mayo) 

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup celery, diced

1 apple, cored and chopped

1/4 cup red onions, diced

2 cups diced cooked chicken breasts

1/2 cup dried cranberries

12 lettuce leaves (I use leafy green - or serve on a bed of fresh spinach)

1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions :

Mix first 11 ingredients together (sour cream to dried cranberries).

Put approximately 1/4 cup mixture on lettuce leaf and sprinkle with 1 tsp almonds.

Roll up and enjoy!

Apple-Cranberry Wheat Muffins

Posting one of our favorite muffin recipes today ~ as far as my kids are concerned.....any day that begins with warm, homeade muffins is a good day indeed!  As always.....my fresh whole grain substitutions, as well as any others, are in parenthesis.

Busy mom tip:  sometimes I'll double the recipe and bake in two loaf pans instead, adjusting the time as necessary.  This saves me time in more ways than one:  loaf pans are easier and quicker to clean, and I can freeze the extra loaf for another time. =)

When I bake it in the loaf pan, my crew also enjoys it warm with cream cheese (Neufchatel - 30% less fat) if we have it!

Apple-Cranberry Wheat Muffins

photo courtesy of Luv2Bake @ food.com

Ingredients :

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

(or omit the 1st two ingredients and use 3 1/3 cups freshly ground soft wheat or a combo of ground soft wheat and ground oat groats)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup toasted wheat germ

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2/3 cup carnation fat-free evaporated milk { 5 ounce can} - (or low fat milk if you don't have evap.)

1/3 cup 100% apple juice, Premium

1/4 cup vegetable oil  (or 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce)

1 large eggs

1 1/4 cups baking apples

3/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries (OCEAN SPRAY CRAISINS)

1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400º F.

Grease or paper-line 12 muffin cups.

Combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, granulated sugar, wheat germ, baking powder and cinnamon in medium bowl.

Beat evaporated milk, apple juice, vegetable oil and egg in small bowl until blended.

Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened.

Fold in apple and cranberries.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 3/4 full.

Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar.

Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on wire rack for 2 minutes.

Remove to wire rack to cool slightly.

Serve warm.

Garlic Cheese Biscuits

Posting two recipes this week since I didn't post any last week....plus, I always serve these biscuits with Lemon Pepper Shrimp Linguine ~ it just wouldn't be right to post one and not the other!  : ) 

My family ♥loves♥loves♥loves♥.....did I mention ♥LOVES♥ these tender, buttery, cheesy & garlicy gems of delight!  To be honest. we love any biscuits......buttermilk with honey, buttermilk with jam, cinnamon raisin.... if it's a biscuit, we love 'em!  It's a good thing, too, because I'm fairly certain it would be against the law to be ♥Southern♥ and not love biscuits. ; )

My kids think it's a special occasion when I make these.....if you're familiar with Red Lobster and their *amazing* Cheddar Bay Biscuits, these taste nearly ~ if not completley ~ identical to thiers.

 

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons garlic powder, divided

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules

1/2 cup butter flavor shortening

3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cup buttermilk

(Don't have buttermilk?  Put 1 Tbsp. white vinegar into a measuring cup and fill it up the rest of the way with milk to measure 1 cup...works like a charm for baking!)

3 tablespoons butter, melted

 

Directions:

 

In a small bowl, combine the flour, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, baking powder, baking soda

and 1/2 teaspoon bouillon; cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

 

Add cheese. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls

1 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet.

Bake at 450 for 10 minutes.

Combine butter with remaining garlic powder; brush over biscuits.

 Bake 4 minutes longer or until golden brown.

Serve warm and try not to eat them all yourself! 

I know sharing is hard sometimes, but it IS the right thing to do! ; )

Yield: about 1 dozen.

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Lemon Pepper Shrimp Linguine Recipe

Shrimp linguine flavored with fresh lemon, pepper and garlic. Quick, easy and delicious....and a very elegant dinner! Suitable for company with very little effort! 

**I usually use a 1 lb. box of pasta and double the amounts of other ingredients, sometimes adding some frozen spinach and frozen red/green pepper and onions to make a one-dish meal.  : )

Please forgive the fact that those are spaghetti noodles pictured....I was apparently out of linguine noodles when I took this pic ; )

Ingredients :

1 (9 ounce) packages fresh or dried linguine (I use whole wheat - Barilla, Healthy Harvest, or Publix brand)

1 tablespoon olive oil

6 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 cup chicken broth

1/3 cup white wine (or additional chicken broth)

1 lemons, juice of

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

salt

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 lb fresh or frozen shrimp

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried basil shredded parmesan cheese

Directions:

Thaw frozen shrimp in fridge or run under cold water.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguine, and cook according to package; drain.

While linguine is cooking, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and saute garlic about 1 minute. Mix in chicken broth, wine (or additional chicken broth), lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer until liquid is reduced by about 1/2.

Mix shrimp, butter, parsley, and basil (also add frozen spinach/peppers/onions if desired - whatever amount you prefer) into the saucepan. Cook until shrimp is pink. Stir in the cooked linguine, and continue cooking 2 minutes, until well coated. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve.

Serves 4.

Try serving with Garlic Cheese Biscuits!!  Your taste buds will thank you!  ; )

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Cinnamon Rolls ~ Another Requested Recipe : )

Ever since this post, I've had requests for the recipe for the pictured cinnamon rolls that I teased you with, but because I am old and forgetful I kept.....well, forgetting!  I was going to post a healthy recipe this week, but I recently teased my Facebook friends with another picture of my cinnamon rolls  resulting in a few more requests & reminding me that I was supposed to post this recipe weeks ago....oops!  Better late than never (I've been saying that way too often lately) ~ ~ they're worth waiting for, anyway!  ; )

These are made with freshly ground whole grain flour, but you can make them with all-purpose as well.  Just substitute all-purpose for the wheat (you should need a little less of all-purpose and omit the gluten, lecithin or dough enhancer).

Special Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients :

2 cups water

1/3 cup oil

1/2 cup honey (white sugar may be substituted)

1 tablespoon salt

4 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

7 - 7 1/2 cups freshly milled white wheat flour

1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix

1 1/2 tablespoons dough enhancer or 1 1/2 tablespoons lecithin powder

1 1/2 tablespoons gluten

1 cup raisins (opt.)

Filling:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar, packed (white sugar may be substituted)

2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

Glaze:

 

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 -2 tablespoon milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Combine water, oil, honey and salt in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for approximately 2 1/2 minutes. (Temp should be between 130 - 135°F) If you do not have a thermometer, it is easy to get it too hot. and it will kill your yeast. Microwaves can also vary greatly in how fast they heat. Adjust as necessary.

In mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of flour, dough enhacer or lecithin, gluten, yeast and raisins; mix together. Add liquid ingredients and mix until well blended. Continue to mix adding the flour 1/2 cup at a time. When the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl enough flour has been added. Allow to knead 8-10 minutes, or until the dough forms a smooth ball .

Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half.  Roll each half into a 12-in. x 8-in.rectangle; spread with butter. Combine filling ingredients; spread over dough. Roll up from long side;seal seam. Slice each roll into 12 rolls; place cut side down in two greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pans. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, 45 minutes.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over rolls. Cool in pans on wire racks.

Yield: 2 dozen.

*Note: One package of yeast is about 2-1/2 teaspoons of yeast.



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