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- Jenny
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Cooking in Cast Iron Part One: Seasoning
Big, heavy black pans, filled with bacon or eggs or corn bread. Doesn't that sound rustic and heavenly?
I have wanted to use cast iron for a long time and I finally got the opportunity two weeks ago when my family went camping. Thank to my mom-in-law (she purchased me three different pans for Christmas) I was able to jump in feet first to this fun, old-fashioned way of cooking.
Seasoned or not seasoned?
Do you know what that means? I didn't. I had no idea, until I started to learn about what it means to have a "seasoned" pan. As my children have serious food allergies (soy, peanut, egg and legume), I am militant about new foods and whatever they eat on, off of of etc. So I had to find out more about this "seasoning."
Good seasoning of cast iron is essential. If you're lucky - and probably most of you can do this - you will purchase a pre-seasoned pan. Your job is done, cook away! Pans will be black in color. The pan will have already been treated with vegetable oil so that the iron is sealed and not prone to oxidization (rust).
But if your family is like our family, you will have to scour the Internet for the rare UNseasoned pan so that you can season it yourself (my children's soy allergies extends to vegetable oil.)
We seasoned ours with olive oil.
Seasoning Your Pan for the First Time
Once you get the pan, block out a few hours to season properly. Per pan. Yes it takes that long - you don't want to hurry the process.
Turn your oven up to 450 degrees. Place the newly unseasoned pan in the oven.
A waxy coating will now take about 25 minutes to melt off. Remove carefully from the oven and wipe down with a paper towel.
Now you're ready to oil the pan. Put a good size amount on the pan and using a towel or paper towel cover the entire pan, including the handle and the under side. Again be careful not to burn yourself.
Place in oven for about 40 minutes. Pan should be blackened.
One initial coating is sufficient, but you can do this several times depending on how seasoned you want it to be.
Further Care
When you go to cook in your cast iron the first time you will be amazed at how evenly it cooks! When you are done with it, take it to the sink, rinse it in warm water WITH NO SOAP and DO NOT USE a scratchy sponge. A towel or your hand will do. Caution: Using soap removes the seasoning - a no-no!
I hope you try this old-fashioned way of cooking! It has been a joyful surprise to me!
Next time: cooking in your cast iron!
I have wanted to use cast iron for a long time and I finally got the opportunity two weeks ago when my family went camping. Thank to my mom-in-law (she purchased me three different pans for Christmas) I was able to jump in feet first to this fun, old-fashioned way of cooking.
Seasoned or not seasoned?
 |
| New, unseasoned, out of the box |
Do you know what that means? I didn't. I had no idea, until I started to learn about what it means to have a "seasoned" pan. As my children have serious food allergies (soy, peanut, egg and legume), I am militant about new foods and whatever they eat on, off of of etc. So I had to find out more about this "seasoning."
Good seasoning of cast iron is essential. If you're lucky - and probably most of you can do this - you will purchase a pre-seasoned pan. Your job is done, cook away! Pans will be black in color. The pan will have already been treated with vegetable oil so that the iron is sealed and not prone to oxidization (rust).
But if your family is like our family, you will have to scour the Internet for the rare UNseasoned pan so that you can season it yourself (my children's soy allergies extends to vegetable oil.)
We seasoned ours with olive oil.
Seasoning Your Pan for the First Time
Once you get the pan, block out a few hours to season properly. Per pan. Yes it takes that long - you don't want to hurry the process.
Turn your oven up to 450 degrees. Place the newly unseasoned pan in the oven.
A waxy coating will now take about 25 minutes to melt off. Remove carefully from the oven and wipe down with a paper towel.
Now you're ready to oil the pan. Put a good size amount on the pan and using a towel or paper towel cover the entire pan, including the handle and the under side. Again be careful not to burn yourself.
Place in oven for about 40 minutes. Pan should be blackened.
One initial coating is sufficient, but you can do this several times depending on how seasoned you want it to be.
Further Care
When you go to cook in your cast iron the first time you will be amazed at how evenly it cooks! When you are done with it, take it to the sink, rinse it in warm water WITH NO SOAP and DO NOT USE a scratchy sponge. A towel or your hand will do. Caution: Using soap removes the seasoning - a no-no!
I hope you try this old-fashioned way of cooking! It has been a joyful surprise to me!
Next time: cooking in your cast iron!
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Outdoor Challenges to get the Kids OUT!
Some of you remember that I posted about how hard it is for me to get the boys outside. It is still hard. Just to be clear! But I haven't given up!
I promised you a list of fun outdoor challenges, so, I am here to deliver! Below you will find some fun outdoor things to do for all different kinds of kids WITH LINKS - because I need pictures sometimes.
Let me know if you do any of them and how they went!
Credit to all the great assemblers of terrific outside information!
Build an outdoor tent. There are SO MANY different types. I like this one. EASY!
Plant a children's garden. For lots of reasons this is a great experience for both them and you. Start with plants that will be super successful like sugar snap peas, beans, sunflowers, radish and beets.
Here's ours!
Soda bottle Sprinkler! Take your last empty bottle of soda or seltzer and attach it to your hose for some fun!
Outdoor tic-tac-toe! There are a lot of these on Pinterest, but I really liked this one for it's simplicity.
Set up a backyard pulley system. Here's an interesting one. I know some kids would absolutely love moving stuff back and forth with this
And if you really, really want to get in on the fun, run a MESSTIVAL in your backyard! I dare ya!!!
I promised you a list of fun outdoor challenges, so, I am here to deliver! Below you will find some fun outdoor things to do for all different kinds of kids WITH LINKS - because I need pictures sometimes.
Let me know if you do any of them and how they went!
Credit to all the great assemblers of terrific outside information!
Build an outdoor tent. There are SO MANY different types. I like this one. EASY!
Plant a children's garden. For lots of reasons this is a great experience for both them and you. Start with plants that will be super successful like sugar snap peas, beans, sunflowers, radish and beets.
Here's ours!
Soda bottle Sprinkler! Take your last empty bottle of soda or seltzer and attach it to your hose for some fun!
Outdoor tic-tac-toe! There are a lot of these on Pinterest, but I really liked this one for it's simplicity.
Set up a backyard pulley system. Here's an interesting one. I know some kids would absolutely love moving stuff back and forth with this
And if you really, really want to get in on the fun, run a MESSTIVAL in your backyard! I dare ya!!!
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Sprouted onions? No Problem!
When you go to the grocery store and are shopping for onions, you have a couple choices. You can purchase one or two, or, you can purchase a whole bag full.
If you're like me, and use a lot of onions, you might choose the bag option.
Good intentions aside, sometimes a few of them invariably get old before you can use them and sprout healthy green foliage out the top. By then, they are typically a bit shriveled and emaciated looking.
So, what do you do? Do you throw them away? Chuck them in the composter? Feed them to your chickens?
I have done most of those things (as well as throwing them into the woods for the raccoons). Just because I don't want to eat them, doesn't mean some-'thing' else won't!
But I recently stumbled across one of those foodie-hack sites that tells you all the things you can do with things you thought were old and/or unuseable. And after reading through it, I realized that I DIDN'T have to throw away those onions, I could, rather, plant them!
This goes along with my favorite motto from the Depression-era - "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." Reusing my old onions (sort of) is a great way to save money and "wear it out"!
As I am in high garden season (my favorite time of year), I immediately took them out to the garden and found a place to plant them.
First, I retrieved them from the garbage. Yes, they were in the garbage.
Second, I dug a deep-ish hole (about 3-4 inches) - onions like to be buried deep to successfully duplicate themselves.
Third, I peeled off the outer later of shriveled up skin.
Fourth I placed the onions in and covered them.
I should have some new onion babies by August.
Give this a try and let me know if you have any success!
If you're like me, and use a lot of onions, you might choose the bag option.
Good intentions aside, sometimes a few of them invariably get old before you can use them and sprout healthy green foliage out the top. By then, they are typically a bit shriveled and emaciated looking.
So, what do you do? Do you throw them away? Chuck them in the composter? Feed them to your chickens?
I have done most of those things (as well as throwing them into the woods for the raccoons). Just because I don't want to eat them, doesn't mean some-'thing' else won't!
But I recently stumbled across one of those foodie-hack sites that tells you all the things you can do with things you thought were old and/or unuseable. And after reading through it, I realized that I DIDN'T have to throw away those onions, I could, rather, plant them!
This goes along with my favorite motto from the Depression-era - "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." Reusing my old onions (sort of) is a great way to save money and "wear it out"!
As I am in high garden season (my favorite time of year), I immediately took them out to the garden and found a place to plant them.
First, I retrieved them from the garbage. Yes, they were in the garbage.
Second, I dug a deep-ish hole (about 3-4 inches) - onions like to be buried deep to successfully duplicate themselves.
Third, I peeled off the outer later of shriveled up skin.
Fourth I placed the onions in and covered them.
I should have some new onion babies by August.
Give this a try and let me know if you have any success!
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
100 Days of Real Food Dinners
For the next few weeks I am going to be cooking dinners from this blog post from Humorous Homemaking. I would love it if we could forgo ALL processed foods, but we are not ready for that, so we are starting with REAL FOOD dinners.
I was feeling PRETTY BORED with my own cooking and we were straying away from the dinner table and starting to eat in front of the tv, because, well, dinner was boring.
Anyway - we started last night with the Chicken Italiano and even my sour cream hating husband loved it! Even my picky eater child number 2 was pleasantly warm to it!
I forgot to take a picture. I am new at this. I will have a picture for the next meal.
Why am I interested in real food?
Well, to be honest I feel our family was slipping dangerously into a pit of convenience and snack foods. I have noticed that the boys are filling up on psuedo-junk food often. I say "pseudo" because I don't even buy the worst stuff, but even the 'healthy' chips are processed etc. And it's no surprise that snack foods are THE MOST EXPENSIVE...even with coupons and sales...and what's the point? Like I say to the boys, "they're not gonna help you grow. You can't grow on chips!"
Tonight's meal is Cheeseburger Soup.
- Jenny
I was feeling PRETTY BORED with my own cooking and we were straying away from the dinner table and starting to eat in front of the tv, because, well, dinner was boring.
Anyway - we started last night with the Chicken Italiano and even my sour cream hating husband loved it! Even my picky eater child number 2 was pleasantly warm to it!
I forgot to take a picture. I am new at this. I will have a picture for the next meal.
Why am I interested in real food?
Well, to be honest I feel our family was slipping dangerously into a pit of convenience and snack foods. I have noticed that the boys are filling up on psuedo-junk food often. I say "pseudo" because I don't even buy the worst stuff, but even the 'healthy' chips are processed etc. And it's no surprise that snack foods are THE MOST EXPENSIVE...even with coupons and sales...and what's the point? Like I say to the boys, "they're not gonna help you grow. You can't grow on chips!"
Tonight's meal is Cheeseburger Soup.
- Jenny
Monday, May 16, 2016
Getting the Kids to Play Outside Again...or not?
Every Spring, I notice we go through a period where my children need a lot of encouragement and, yes, parental pressure, to play outside again. As they have gotten older, other more "interesting" forms of entertainment have taken over.
I am sure I am not alone when I say that television, Youtube videos and video games play a major part in my children's lives.
Being a nature-lover myself, when Spring does finally roll around (this year it is taking exceptionally long) I want to get out and I want the boys out there with me!
So, we annually have this conversation:
Mom: "Let's go outside."
Kids: "Mooooooom. There's nothing to do outside."
Mom: "There's a ton to do outside! Ride your bikes, build a fort!"
Kids: "That's booorrrrring."
Eventually, I win (because I am the mom) and we go out.
I have done a lot of reading about this issue. Both online and in book form and there is a lot to say about how the world has changed since the 1970's and 1980's. Whether it is a misconception or not (some feel it may be), many parents don't feel it's safe to let your kids wander around the neighborhood the way our parents did twenty to thirty years ago. And there are some real dangers out there to be concerned about. I share those concerns.
And with the recent media frenzy over "free range parenting" - any parent who actually allows their kids to play in the yard (their own yard, mind you) without standing out there next to them, is afraid a neighbor might call the cops on them!
So, I ask you, what is a parent to do?
Everything seems to be consorting against us!
According to a news piece:
"A growing body of evidence is starting to show that it's not so much what children know about nature that's important, as what happens to them when they are in nature (and not just in it, but in it by themselves, without grownups). Respectable scientists – doctors, mental health experts, educationalists, sociologists – are beginning to suggest that when kids stop going out into the natural world to play, it can affect not just their development as individuals, but society as a whole."
Balance. It's what I tell my kids.
Why can't they play video games and watch t.v. all day? Balance, kids. Just like grown ups, kids needs to have a balanced lifestyle. A variety of external stimulation, the healthiest of them being outdoor play.
I am happy to report that eventually they begin to enjoy themselves outside and even find their own fun with gardening, spraying each other with the hose and digging holes in the yard (deep, deep holes).
Additionally, I have a toddler that LOVES to be outside. That makes me happy for sure.
So, this year, like every year, I will be pushing my agenda with my three boys: "get outside!" and I know one day they will thank me for it.
- Jenny
Ps I am working up a list of summer challenges for my kids to accomplish outside...forts, and scavenger hunts - which I will share soon!
I am sure I am not alone when I say that television, Youtube videos and video games play a major part in my children's lives.
So, we annually have this conversation:
Mom: "Let's go outside."
Kids: "Mooooooom. There's nothing to do outside."
Mom: "There's a ton to do outside! Ride your bikes, build a fort!"
Kids: "That's booorrrrring."
Eventually, I win (because I am the mom) and we go out.
I have done a lot of reading about this issue. Both online and in book form and there is a lot to say about how the world has changed since the 1970's and 1980's. Whether it is a misconception or not (some feel it may be), many parents don't feel it's safe to let your kids wander around the neighborhood the way our parents did twenty to thirty years ago. And there are some real dangers out there to be concerned about. I share those concerns.
And with the recent media frenzy over "free range parenting" - any parent who actually allows their kids to play in the yard (their own yard, mind you) without standing out there next to them, is afraid a neighbor might call the cops on them!
So, I ask you, what is a parent to do?
Everything seems to be consorting against us!
According to a news piece:
"A growing body of evidence is starting to show that it's not so much what children know about nature that's important, as what happens to them when they are in nature (and not just in it, but in it by themselves, without grownups). Respectable scientists – doctors, mental health experts, educationalists, sociologists – are beginning to suggest that when kids stop going out into the natural world to play, it can affect not just their development as individuals, but society as a whole."
Balance. It's what I tell my kids.
Why can't they play video games and watch t.v. all day? Balance, kids. Just like grown ups, kids needs to have a balanced lifestyle. A variety of external stimulation, the healthiest of them being outdoor play.
I am happy to report that eventually they begin to enjoy themselves outside and even find their own fun with gardening, spraying each other with the hose and digging holes in the yard (deep, deep holes).
Additionally, I have a toddler that LOVES to be outside. That makes me happy for sure.
So, this year, like every year, I will be pushing my agenda with my three boys: "get outside!" and I know one day they will thank me for it.
- Jenny
Ps I am working up a list of summer challenges for my kids to accomplish outside...forts, and scavenger hunts - which I will share soon!
Friday, April 15, 2016
Sunshine is Finally Here!
So, I thought Spring was here in March. We had about two weeks of warm and sunny weather. It was amazing. My husband and I got outside and started clearing beds and raking. The kids were outside - even the baby (now 15 months). And then God reminded me that he was indeed still in control and it got colder and ... SNOWED. My crocus were up already!
During that period of about two days when that "white stuff" was on the ground, I tried not to look outside. ha, ha. I was pretending Spring was still here.
But, now, hallelujah! The sun is back and the grass is turning green! What a joy!
There is something about Spring arriving that always lifts my spirits, even if I don't realize they have been down.
We have done a lot to the garden already - widening it, removing an old sandbox and re-fencing it. Our fence was about 10 years old and had seen better days. We hired some local people to come and pull out some of the really stubborn weeds which had taken root in the last three years - I think it was wormwood. The roots are long and the longer it sits there in the ground the deeper they dive and the thicker they get.
So, that felt really good!
Seedlings have been started and the garden is cleared and ready for some healthy, mineral rich soil to be added.
We will be planting tomatoes, potatoes, kale, lettuce, carrots, peppers, spinach, cucumbers, and various squashes this year. How about you?
During that period of about two days when that "white stuff" was on the ground, I tried not to look outside. ha, ha. I was pretending Spring was still here.
But, now, hallelujah! The sun is back and the grass is turning green! What a joy!
There is something about Spring arriving that always lifts my spirits, even if I don't realize they have been down.
We have done a lot to the garden already - widening it, removing an old sandbox and re-fencing it. Our fence was about 10 years old and had seen better days. We hired some local people to come and pull out some of the really stubborn weeds which had taken root in the last three years - I think it was wormwood. The roots are long and the longer it sits there in the ground the deeper they dive and the thicker they get.
So, that felt really good!
Seedlings have been started and the garden is cleared and ready for some healthy, mineral rich soil to be added.
We will be planting tomatoes, potatoes, kale, lettuce, carrots, peppers, spinach, cucumbers, and various squashes this year. How about you?
Monday, September 21, 2015
Homeschooling a Middle Schooler
The thought of homeschooling my sixth grade son makes me a bit nervous.
I enjoyed third, fourth and fifth grade. But, now that we have hit sixth grade, I have to tell you, I feel the pressure increasing. I know I am not the only one, too.
As I talk to other homeschooling moms who have middle schoolers, we say to one another, "I hope I am doing enough," and roll our eyes looking for a reassuring "yeahhhh."
Why does this happen when our kids hit sixth grade?
Let's face it, it's a time filled with changes.
1. MAJOR social changes are occurring at this age. My son has had to work through some real friendship challenges this year. Acquaintances have tricked him, teased him and there is a definitely unspoken "are you cool?" thing going on. He has started to comb his hair (shock), care about what he wears (well, at least a little) and insist on brushing his teeth before we leave the house (even if he already did - I am NOT complaining).
2. He is looking for his VOICE. This is that age I remember when everyone was looking for someone to "hang out" with. Where do I fit in? What group do I belong to? As a homeschooler, I think we are spared some of this sort of pressure. He doesn't have to choose yet between being an athlete or a word-nerd, but he is sensing the difference between his interests and his friends' interests. "'So and so' REALLY like sports, Mom...." says my son who plays baseball, with varying levels of interest every Spring.
3. I am thinking about HIGH SCHOOL. Yeah, I have to admit it. I am thinking about high school. I am also wondering if I will be able to handle homeschooling high school. I am wondering if he will want to go to public school - and what I need to cover before he gets to that point so he's not totally behind.
So what am I doing this year?
I decided to utilize an online curriculum for him. I am using Time4Learning and so far I am happy with the material. The reason I did this is because I felt I could not cover everything I needed to with Language Arts especially.
We are attending co-ops regularly with kids of his age group. We belong to two groups that have a bunch of 9-12 year olds and it helps him feel he is connected to friends who have the same interests as him.
He continues to be involved with Boys Scouts which is a great confidence and independence builder.
What kinds of challenges are you facing with homeschooling your middle school age kids?
- Jenny
I enjoyed third, fourth and fifth grade. But, now that we have hit sixth grade, I have to tell you, I feel the pressure increasing. I know I am not the only one, too.
As I talk to other homeschooling moms who have middle schoolers, we say to one another, "I hope I am doing enough," and roll our eyes looking for a reassuring "yeahhhh."
Why does this happen when our kids hit sixth grade?
Let's face it, it's a time filled with changes.
Here he is going off to his first sleep over camp.
1. MAJOR social changes are occurring at this age. My son has had to work through some real friendship challenges this year. Acquaintances have tricked him, teased him and there is a definitely unspoken "are you cool?" thing going on. He has started to comb his hair (shock), care about what he wears (well, at least a little) and insist on brushing his teeth before we leave the house (even if he already did - I am NOT complaining).
2. He is looking for his VOICE. This is that age I remember when everyone was looking for someone to "hang out" with. Where do I fit in? What group do I belong to? As a homeschooler, I think we are spared some of this sort of pressure. He doesn't have to choose yet between being an athlete or a word-nerd, but he is sensing the difference between his interests and his friends' interests. "'So and so' REALLY like sports, Mom...." says my son who plays baseball, with varying levels of interest every Spring.
3. I am thinking about HIGH SCHOOL. Yeah, I have to admit it. I am thinking about high school. I am also wondering if I will be able to handle homeschooling high school. I am wondering if he will want to go to public school - and what I need to cover before he gets to that point so he's not totally behind.
So what am I doing this year?
I decided to utilize an online curriculum for him. I am using Time4Learning and so far I am happy with the material. The reason I did this is because I felt I could not cover everything I needed to with Language Arts especially.
We are attending co-ops regularly with kids of his age group. We belong to two groups that have a bunch of 9-12 year olds and it helps him feel he is connected to friends who have the same interests as him.
He continues to be involved with Boys Scouts which is a great confidence and independence builder.
What kinds of challenges are you facing with homeschooling your middle school age kids?
- Jenny
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