Colonial Lunch

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I love cooking and baking as school projects.  For lots of reasons.  You can actually use the finished product and you don’t have to store yet another piece of paper or some kind of odd shaped art project.  We can all enjoy eating the project and I don’t have to feel guilty about throwing it away. :)

We are finally studying American History this year.  We are presently learning about the colonies.  Perfect timing with Thanksgiving around the corner! 

A few days ago the boys made an authentic Pennsylvania Dutch recipe for baked oatmeal.  Sounds a bit boring and bland, huh?  I was pleasantly surprised—It was pretty yummy!!!!

  And it was EASY to make!

Two thumbs up, and one was so busy scarfing it down, she didn’t even bother with a thumb up!!

I baked it completely according to the directions the first time because I wanted it to be as authentic as possible, but since we liked it so much, we may experiment with adding blueberries or coconut and walnuts next time.  So many delicious possibilities.

If you are studying early American History with your kids, this might be fun to try.  You don’t have to be a home schooler either. :)

Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe For Baked Oatmeal

*1 cup oil (I used Safflower b/c I was out of coconut)

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

6 cups rolled oats

4 tsp baking powder

4 tsp salt

2 cups milk

** Combine all ingredients and pour into greased 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. or until firm in the middle.  Eat hot or cold, with or without milk.

The first time, we ate it just like it came out of the pan.  Next day we ate it more like hot oatmeal with milk, and then today I actually ate mine cold.  Um, YUM!!!  And can we say FILLING!!!  Oh my goodness, this stuff will make you feel so full!

Hopefully this food project will make colonial history stick in their minds!

5 Things I've Learned About Food in 2009

Pin It Now! #1 Rice can be the MAIN dish, not just a side dish.

#2 My kids will not die after a cheap meal of hot dogs and Kraft Mac & Cheese. At least not immediately. :)

#3 Eventually, after many tries, a thrown-together, what's-left-in-the-pantry meal will turn out unexpectedly delicious!

#4 Words like "organic", "non-hydrogenated", "all-natural", etc. have been replaced by "ON SALE" as the primary motivation for purchase.

#5 And last but not least, Chocolate is a NECESSITY no matter how tight the budget!!


I have never been the type of mom/housewife to "throw" a meal together. I am a planner by nature, and I have ALWAYS planned our meals to a tee in advance. This year has been somewhat different at times, and last night one of my "thrown together" meals was surprisingly sapid. :) Just so it is on record, here is what I now call...

Wacky Mac Tomato Surprise

1 bag Wacky Mac Veggie Shapes

1 can Original recipe Del Monte Stewed Tomatoes

Oh, about 2 TBSP butter

Hmmm, a tsp or so of minced garlic

Dash of salt

Sprinkling of pepper, garlic powder, basil

Few generous squirts of Ranch dressing

* I just cooked the noodles and drained them, then mixed in all the rest of the ingredients, sort of chopping the tomatoes up as I stirred.

It really did taste good!!! Praises rang out at the table. Hmm, if only I'd had bacon bits to mix in.

I can see this meal making it on a "planned" meal list in the future. :) And how wonderfully quick and simple it is!!

WFMW: Drinking In The Holidays

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In honor of this week's themed WFMW (holiday tip) I will post 3 of my favorite holiday drinks.

A winter holiday get together just isn't complete without some kind of hot drink simmering in a crock pot infiltrating a beautifully decorated home with an intoxicating, spicy aroma. Ahhhhhh.

I have been making Winter Wassil for over a decade every single winter. And we have to wait until December to make it!!! Harvest Apple Cider is for fall.

Winter Wassil

4 cups apple juice

2 cups cranberry juice

2 whole cinnamon sticks

5 whole cloves (I use probably 3x that)

1 TBSP allspice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Also something that is very fun for kids to drink is Christmas Cocoa! We look forward to this every year!! Really I do, too. I have already posted about this here with pics and everything!

Many years ago I received some Spice Tea in a jar from a friend. It smells delicious, tastes yummy, and is a great home made gift giving idea. It looks so pretty in a festive jar.

Spice Tea

1 1/2 c. Instant tea

3 1/2 c. sugar

2 c. Tang

1 1/2 c. lemonade

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. cloves

*Use 3-4 heaping teaspoons per cup of hot water.

For more holiday tips and ideas, visit We are THAT family.

And Let the Candy Trading Begin

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Okay, how many times are my kids going to dump out their candy buckets to make trades with each other and the neighbor kids????

Did y’all ever do that as a kid?  I know I did. :)  To get more CHOCOLATE!  I haven’t changed a bit.

My kiddos didn’t think they would get as much candy at a “Harvest Festival”, but to their delight, they did!  AND, they had a blast being helpers with me at the Ring Toss booth and hanging out with their friends.  They can’t wait to go again next year.

A kind neighbor friend loaned Mullin his Boba Fett costume, Shiloh decided to be a “ballerina”, and Lincoln went as a pirate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shiloh was over the moon about winning a cake!!  Mark said she went round and round the cake walk for 20 minutes until she won. :)

Rockin' the Pumpkin!

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Dad decided to get creative with the pumpkin this year!! Looks great--much better than my Tow Mater a couple of years ago!!