Are you constantly throwing out overripe bananas? I have an easy, one bowl banana muffin recipe for you to use those up. Plus there is no refined sugar in these and they are great for an on the go breakfast or snack.
Read more...Are you wanting your kids to stop asking for screens all summer? It's time to set up the expectations.
Read more...
Easy Apple Pie Lesson and Delicious for the Fall Season
I'm so into Fall right now! What about you? This week my youngest had a unit with his home school curriculum all about "apples for a". I love teaching the letters with a theme. It's fun, easy, cohesive and it solidifies it for little ones; especially the kinesthetic, tactile learners. So when it suggested to bake an apple pie we were both all in. Not only that, there was a book to go along with the lesson and I love that!
"A for Apple"
The book we read was How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman. This is the cutest book about a little girl who wants to bake an apple pie but the market is closed. So she heads out on an adventure all over the world to get her ingredients. So not only is this book great for a reading lesson; it covers so much more, including geography. Start by looking at the cover with your kiddo first and making some predictions. Then as you read; ask questions all throughout. This helps them with comprehension and shows them it's great to ask questions while you are reading. You could get a globe or map and follow along with her adventure. There is also one in the front of the book to look at together. This also puts it in perspective for them where our ingredients come from.
Now to Make an Easy Apple Pie
First of all making your own crust can seem intimidating but it's really minimal ingredients and pretty simple. If you don't want to make the crust, totally just buy a store bought one. I prefer the ones in the refrigerated section when I do this. They tend to be more yummy! My favorite is Immaculate Bakery.
Ingredients:
Crust:
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup shortening (this is the best and better for you)
8-10 Tbls cold water
1 egg yolk (to use for an egg wash after filling the pie)
1.Start with level measured scoops of flour and whisk the salt in medium sized bowl.
2. Cut in 2/3 cup of shortening until it looks like little peas are in the flour (you can use two knives or this tool I love for this)
3. Add 1 Tbls of water at a time to one area and mix with a fork until moist. Do this with sections until the dough is coming together. Do not overmix. You will still see some crumbs.
4. Divide the dough in half.
5. Put each half onto a floured surface and shape into a round disk. Put in fridge wrapped up to chill for a bit while you make filling.
Filling:
5-7 apples
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 Tbls butter
2 Tbls flour or arrowroot powder
Preheat oven to 425.
1. Peel and cut the apples into 1/4 inch slices. If you cut them too thick, they won't soften. If you cut them too thin, they will get mushy
3. Add the apples and toss to coat. Let them sit about 5 minutes.
4. Grease a pie plate (this is my favorite) with butter or shortening.
5. Roll out the first disk of crust to fit pie dish. Use roller to lift it and put into the pie dish.
6. Pour the filling in. Mound the apples to the center a bit.
7. Roll out the other crust and lay it over the top. Cut excess off. Crimp the two crusts together to seal closed.
8. Cut a few slits in the top of the pie to let steam out.
9. Make an egg wash with 1 egg yolk and 1 Tbls of water. Brush over the top of the crust.
10. Bake in a 425 oven for about 30-40 minutes. Reduce oven to 350 and put the pie dish on a baking sheet. Bake for about 20 more minutes. Check to see if the crust is golden brown and put a knife in one of the slits to see if the apples are tender. You will see steam coming out of the slits and the filling will be bubbling when it's done.
Baking with Kids is Worth the Effort and Time
This is a fun activity to do with any age. My eleven year old was even helping. Cooking with kids helps them learn life skills, math, science and reading all in one. Plus it helps create a kitchen environment that is full of love. You are making memories with them that will last a life time.
I love making our home a place where the kids want to be and giving them experiences that create warmth. Plus smelling the apple pie bake in the house will not disappoint.
Have you made apple pie before? What is your favorite pie?
Moon Cake
Does your child learn through movement and tactile activities? My youngest so does.
Cooking with your kids is such an easy and fun way to learn. Plus this is a fun Friday activity.
Moon Cake 🌕
Bake a round cake to show the “full moon”. 🌕When you are ready to eat, cut it in half for the “half moon”. 🌗Later cut so a “crescent moon” remains. 🌘Finally, eat it all to represent the “new moon.” 🌑
Grease a 9” round cake pan. Preheat oven to 350. Mix “moon sand” right in the pan:
1 1/2 cup organic flour
1/2 cup organic cane white sugar
1/2 cup organic brown sugar
1 tsp salt I like this one... https://amzn.to/34293c3
Form 3 craters in the moon- one large, one medium and one small.
Add 5 Tbsp. oil (I use Thrive avocado...link in comments) to the large crater.
Add 1 tsp baking soda to the medium crater.
Add 1 tsp vanilla to the small crater.
Pour 1 Tbsp. vinegar into the medium crater and watch it bubble like a volcano. When the volcano stops, add 1 cup of milk. Mix everything together to form the moon’s surface.
Optional: add 3/4 cup chocolate chips (moon rocks) into the batter.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. When cool, sprinkle with powered sugar (moon dust).
Cooking with your kids is such an easy and fun way to learn. Plus this is a fun Friday activity.
Moon Cake 🌕
Bake a round cake to show the “full moon”. 🌕When you are ready to eat, cut it in half for the “half moon”. 🌗Later cut so a “crescent moon” remains. 🌘Finally, eat it all to represent the “new moon.” 🌑
Grease a 9” round cake pan. Preheat oven to 350. Mix “moon sand” right in the pan:
1 1/2 cup organic flour
1/2 cup organic cane white sugar
1/2 cup organic brown sugar
1 tsp salt I like this one... https://amzn.to/34293c3
Form 3 craters in the moon- one large, one medium and one small.
Add 5 Tbsp. oil (I use Thrive avocado...link in comments) to the large crater.
Add 1 tsp baking soda to the medium crater.
Add 1 tsp vanilla to the small crater.
Pour 1 Tbsp. vinegar into the medium crater and watch it bubble like a volcano. When the volcano stops, add 1 cup of milk. Mix everything together to form the moon’s surface.
Optional: add 3/4 cup chocolate chips (moon rocks) into the batter.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. When cool, sprinkle with powered sugar (moon dust).
Do you cook with your kids? 🧑🍳👩🍳For more recipes and homeschool info join other women making this parenting thing work here.
By the way you can grab my free guide for a month of dinner ideas here.
This recipe was adapted from My Father’s World curriculum.
Before we get into the hand soap recipe let me tell you a quick story. A few years ago when I was cleaning right after I brought my first born home from the hospital and NICU; I started to feel light headed and my chest was tight. It got me thinking about what I was cleaning with and how these ingredients were effecting my family, especially my growing baby. What I found out woke me up and I moved forward with making changes. I have not looked back because when I did this for my family it helped us start to feel better, be sick less often and our immune systems became stronger than ever before. I want my children to continue with these natural alternatives because it does make a difference for their bodies, generational changes for their children and honestly the world.
One of the easiest changes I made was making our hand soap. It literally takes me 2 minutes and I just keep what I need on hand all the time to make it when needed. You only need 3 ingredients to make this soap.
DIY Hand Soap Recipe
Mix Straight into the Soap Container
1/4 cup Liquid Castile Soap-I get mine at Thrive (Dr. Bonner's Unscented)
3/4 cup Distilled Water
5-10 Drops of Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils (I usually use the Young Living Thieves for it's power)
Foaming Hand Soap Container- Grab this one here.
So easy and quick! There are no synthetic fragrances either. For us this means no more constant headaches, immune systems being suppressed and skin irritations. I also have peace of mind knowing that I am not possibly contributing to long term health issues for our family. I know that this is not in my complete control but I do have choices I get to make for my family that are in line with my beliefs for our health. This is one change you can make to help you move closer to a place of wellness that is possible.
Are you going to give it a try or do you currently already make your own?
