At first, I was not quite sure how to approach this product. After all, this non-profit educational foundation writes history curricula for public schools. So, first how was I going to adapt curricula which is written for a public school classroom to work with my own 8th grader, 5th grader, and 2nd graders while still using my own perfectly good homeschool history curriculum? Second, was it really worth that effort? What were this company's foundational principles--their philosophical bias, if you will? Was that really going to be compatible with my own? Initially, I had my doubts.
So, just what was this company's mission? I found this right on the AHEF home page:
AHEF is a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation dedicated to the understanding and teaching of America's factual and philosophical heritage to promote constructive citizenship and Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility among our students and citizens.
AHEF accomplishes this patriotic mission by writing, producing, and distributing FREE K-12 lesson plans to teachers, students, and families in all 50 states and through additional initiatives, programs, and partnerships.
Right below this company's mission I found this quote:"Effective, cohesive, and positive self-government in a free democratic republic such as America requires an informed and educated citizenry for the survival of our participatory democracy. ...We are in danger of forgetting this lesson." "...[A] nation that does not know why it exists, or what it stands for, cannot be expected to long endure."
--Dr. Bruce Cole, President, American Revolution Center
Former Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities
Well, I really like this statement. I agree with it. I want my children to know the foundations upon which our government was founded--principles of Freedom. Unity. Progress. Responsibility. I read further on AHEF's "The Problem" page. As they assert, these themes are founded in not only our Judeo-Christian and Western Civilization heritage, but also in our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution and other founding documents of our nation's history. You can read more here about this company's desire to prevent the further erosion of our country's values and freedoms.
So, how do I feel about this curriculum now? In short, I want my children to learn the principles upon which our nation was founded and this organization provides some educational activities to meet some of these same goals which our family already supports. Therefore, I decided I would just use some portions of this supplementary curriculum as a supplement to our history studies.
My children and I have engaged in some of the learning activities included in the Colonial America section--including reading and discussing the principles upon which America was founded and some great information about our Founders, playing the Independence game (which we had attempted somewhat unsuccessfully to adapt for a smaller group), reading a radio script ("We Got to Get Independence!"), and studying the Declaration of Independence, answering some questions about it and completing a crossword puzzle. We have only progressed about a third of our way through this curriculum, simply using it to supplement our other history studies. Other topics (usually assigned a "month" in which to study and tying back into those main key character themes I mentioned earlier: unity, freedom, responsibility and progress) I might use later in the year. Clearly not a complete curriculum and probably not as good a choice as our regular history curriculum's activities, but perhaps suitable for history supplementation for many families.
Sections included on the FREE CD-Rom include Elementary, Middle, High School, and an Elementary Spanish edition. The Elementary and Middle School lesson plans include 182-184 pages of lessons, worksheets, activities, crossword puzzles and even coloring pages. The lessons--although devoid of Christian content, being crafted for the public schools--are still adaptable for use by Christian families. These lessons, though needing some adaptation in many cases for the homeschool setting, contain some good information and extra activities you may wish to use to supplement your schoolwork. Many homeschools may benefit from the FREE download of this material. If you do not have high speed internet, you may also order a free CD-Rom from AHEF.
Recently I was provided two free books from Bright Ideas Press in order to review these products for the Homeschool Crew. I did not receive any monetary compensation in exchange for providing my honest review, and the opinions expressed represent my own and my family's experiences with this product. To read more about this product and many more exciting homeschooling products, please visit the Homeschool Crew web page.
A Young Scholars Guide to the Composers by Melissa E. Craig, Maggie S. Hogan and Richard B. Pinkerton was just what our family needed for music appreciation this year! I have been using this primarily with my 8th and 5th graders, but my 2nd grader and preschoolers have certainly been listening in to the interesting lessons I've been reading aloud as well as the wonderful music samples and discussions about the music. I think they are actually much more actively involved, even at their young ages, than a casual observer may suspect.
You know, I really like just about everything about this 298 page music resource. It is easy to use, both Christian and chronological in its approach, covers an entire year and provides the necessary music you will cover in the form of web links. Having covered medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music, we are currently enjoying selections from the Classical composers. We have been spending about 20-30 minutes daily studying musical composers and their chronological historical time periods with this wonderful curriculum. Some days are longer because we may be reading about a composer's life and filling in notetaking pages and then listen to a short musical selection, while others we may only listen to a musical selection and discuss it. This book also includes some fun bonus materials I've detailed below.
Strengths:
- Covers 4th - 8th grades
- Minimal teacher preparation required
- Christian
- Chronological
- 32 weekly lessons (one year of lesson plans) including: 6 musical eras and 26 biographies of famous composers
- timeline and maps included
- composer information cards with game directions
- note-taking pages
- quizzes
- answer keys
- coloring pages
- listening suggestions (internet links)
The other thing is that I also sometimes wish I had the CD-Rom version instead since I have been typing in somewhat long musical selection links at least a couple of times per week. A clickable link would have been easier. I thought I could find the right links for the youtube links by simply typing in the composer and the piece, yet I still found I had to type in the provided link codes by hand. Yet, I still also really like being able to open the book and read aloud to my children from it while they fill in the note-taking pages. If Bright Idea Press would offer the paperback and CD-Rom as a package deal, I think I would be in love with this program! Which version (paperback or CD-Rom) will serve your own family best will depend on your own family's preferences and needs. You will also want a computer with a good internet connection, as the music selections will require a good amount of bandwidth. We do have high-speed internet connection, so it worked just fine for us.
This book is available in the following formats:
$34.95 Paperback book
$29.95 CD-Rom version
This company also sent me Hands-On Geography by Maggie S. Hogan. I like this book as well, but I must admit that the format of this one is quite different. This book, instead of being an easy, complete one year study which requires little preparation from the teacher, is actually more of an idea book for the teacher. I like that it is designed to encourage teachers to think "outside the box" and that it is really rather packed with some great hands-on activities, especially for the more kinesthetic learners in your family. Many pages are reproducible and creative, but many of the activities must be assembled, photocopied, or in some way created by mom. Wonderful, but this really requires advance preparation by mothers.
I'd love to say we completed several of the projects in the past weeks, but I have actually only completed a few. One (gasp!) I even cheated on just a little--I used a beeswax candle-making kit instead of following the candle-making directions included within this book. As soon as I discover where my precocious toddler has placed my camera/computer data cable, I'll add those candle photos right here! We also enjoyed the geography card game and took that one on the road with us to play in the car. I had never noticed how many states have the mockingbird as their state bird! I have also begun creating some fun nature field guide observation pages with the children. I wish I had had that section for some of our previous elementary science studies. Although it does not tie in quite as well with our current elementary study of oceanography, I still really like this idea as well.
Strengths:
- Kindergarten - 5th grades
- Reproducible
- Creative
- Includes many outline maps
- Ties the study of geography into many different school subjects
- Includes instructions on how to create many activities, games and projects!
- 142 pages of some really creative, hands-on activities targeted just for this age group
I try to stay indoors as much as possible from the first frost until the spring melt, but that leaves me with cabin fever because I can’t stand being inside for so long. In the spring I get very stir crazy because I feel such a strong need to get outside, yet I can’t go outside without freezing or without several layers of restrictive clothing. The thing I hate most about winter is that it’s cold. I have to wear multiple sweaters inside to stay even remotely warm, and that’s with the furnace turned to 23 degrees celcius. I often find that the only way to warm up is to take a bath – a bath so hot that my face stays red for an hour after I get out. That truly warms me and I am able to be comfortable for the rest of the evening when I do this. Otherwise I can feel cold for weeks straight, without ever warming up. I hate it.
This was on my mind this morning as I spent ten minutes scraping frost off the truck windows. It’s not terribly cold yet, but after 15 years in this northern climate I have learned to dread the oncoming winter. Not even so much because it’s so cold as because it’s so long. Even this year, when winter was a bit later in coming, the first snowfall – something I used to find beautiful – only reminded me that the long winter was about to begin. “Here we go,” I thought despondently, gritting my teeth in preparation for the long, cold months ahead. This morning’s frost only reminded me that winter has begun. It is early November now, so it really was a late start, but I know that I will probably not be truly warm again until at least May.
I got in the car and drove reluctantly slow over the icy roads. It takes so much longer to do anything in the winter, I moaned inwardly. I turned into the saddle club and pulled up to Max’s temporary paddock. They are still building his stall, so he has to be out here in the meantime. Yet another thing to add to my list of why I hate winter. There is no electricity out here, so we can’t use a water heater. Instead we have to haul warm water from home 2 or 3 times a day so that he has water to drink. But before refilling his water bucket I have to chip the ice out. My son rakes up manure and says his hands are cold. I give him my warm mitts and keep my own hands warm rubbing in Max’s thick winter coat of fur.
It doesn’t take long to shrug the winter blues. In fact, as soon as we start working in the paddock the blues slip away. I shovelled, filled the water bucket, got the hay, and stroked some of the white frost off Max’s black mane and back. Max’s full name is Go Boy’s Black Maximus. Go Boys is from his sire’s name. Maximus is Latin for greatest or biggest. This big, black horse is well named. There is something magical about caring for a horse. At least for me there is. We’ve had Max for about a month now, and I still love every job I’ve had to do for him. The only thing I haven’t enjoyed is being cold while doing those jobs. Still, even when I go and think I won’t stay long because it’s too cold, I find that I don’t want to leave. I enjoy working at the paddock and especially being around Max. We’re still getting to know each other, and I want to spend as long as I can there every day to facilitate that process.
But eventually we do have to get home. So we pile into the truck and head back out to the highway. But first we have to drive through the field where the large round bales of hay are kept, and it is there that I noticed the beauty of winter for the first time this year. A beauty I used to appreciate, but having endured so many long winters I now often miss. The long grass in the field was covered in frost, and it glistened in the morning sun, reflecting, like millions of tiny prisms, all the colours of the rainbow.
If nothing else, living up here as afforded me many beautiful sights of winter that I had never seen in the more southerly climate I grew up in. This was definitely one of them. I watched the twinkling frost as I drove through the field and back out to the highway, knowing that winter does have some beautiful redeeming qualities. I thought this winter would be harder because I have to be outside every day. Could be possible that this “Great Black” horse who has already blessed us in so many ways, will also make this winter just that much more bearable? I’m beginning to think he might.
This is a very thought provoking and entertaining video. It also goes along with the strengths movement idea. Please see my previous post about that.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/11/03/robinson.schools.stifle.creativity
I have been highly pleased with this recent Crossway title. Christin Ditchfield, author of more than fifty books including A Family Guide to Narnia, recently traveled the United States sharing with Christian parents how they could use C. S. Lewis' Narnia tales to reveal Biblical truths with their children. On this tour, she realized that for many Christian adults they either came to faith later in life or grew up in churches which only focused on the main stories of the Bible like Noah's ark or Daniel in the lion's den. Sadly, these parents lacked confidence in sharing the truths of Scripture with their own children. Determined to help these parents disciple their own children, Ditchfield decided to write this newest book, 304 pages of basic Biblical education with a good measure of encouragement and exhortation included.
As I have read this title myself, I have greatly appreciated Ditchfield's format and style of writing. On the one hand, as a Christian for twenty-seven years and a minister's wife, I found little which I did not already know. Yet as I kept reading, I decided this author has developed a tone and style which should greatly appeal to the average church member while building his faith in bite-sized amounts. I found this book readily accessible for the layperson while keeping today's busy parents and families in mind. With all essential information covered in only a few short pages per Biblical book and yet written in an engaging style, this resource could easily be used by parents, grandparents, and even Sunday School teachers. Here is what you can expect to find in the real "meat" of this book--each synopsis of the sixty-six books of the Bible:
- The Book's Name
- The Author
- The Audience
- The Setting
- The Story (simplified)
- The Message
- Key Verse or Passage
- More on This Story in the Bible (how the different biblical books may be inter-related, especially historically)
- Words to Know (Vocabulary)
- Making the Connection, Did You Know?, and Think About It sections (one or more of which may not be included when discussing shorter biblical books, but all of which are devotional in nature or application-related).
- a brief history of the Bible
- a brief apologetic on the authority of the Bible
- the core message of the Bible simplified
- tips on choosing a Bible translation
- using a Bible dictionary, encyclopedia and concordance
- study tips for personal Bible study
- study tips for family devotions
- Bible reading plans
- stories from the Old and New Testaments everyone should know
- Bible heroes
- Jesus' miracles
- Jesus' teachings
- verses to help you share your faith
- verses to help you guard your heart
- verses to help you face your fears
- maps of the Bible lands
- and more!
With all of the excitement that has been building on the news about the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay starting in Victoria and making its way up Vancouver Island, I just had to take the kids to see it in real life :) Plus I have to admit that I really wanted to see it myself *grin*. So we made the trip to Campbell River and found ourselves a nice little spot to hang out near the 50th parallel to wait for the runners. As it neared there were tons of police vehicles monitoring the traffic and then the big red Coca Cola truck was the first thing to come into view :)
As the Coca Cola truck was passing by us they started hopping off of it and gave all 3 kids flags & these really cool coke bottles that have fibre optics in them so they randomly change colors from green to blue to red. They were a BIG hit in the car on the way home in the dark *grin*.
Next vehicle in the relay entourage was the RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) truck pumping out the tunes while they danced around on it. It was like being at a parade *grin*.
Once the sponsors had gone by we could finally see the flame! At first all we could see was fire floating above the heads of others watching ahead of us and then it finally came into full view. That baby was really burning! I think the fact that it was starting to get dark really made it look even more impressive than what we had seen on tv :)
And there it goes. It was only seconds from the time it came into view to the time it went past us but it was so worth it to see the excitement on the kids faces as it burned right in front of them :) We never made it to the new Spirit Square downtown Campbell River where the torch finally ended by lighting the cauldron on stage because the crowds were so fierce but we found a nice little spot right in front of the fireworks display *grin*. It'll be great memories for all of us as we may never get the chance to see it again :)
“I am somewhat shocked at the fundy churches who have "Harvest Day" celebrations to keep their flock away from the evils of the pagan holiday. Umm... does no one do their homework anymore? Samhain IS a harvest festival. Your jack-o-lanters with Jesus cut out on them are a really fine hallmark of the pagan reverence for the dead on this day. Your bonfire? Well... if you knew how that tweaked the nips of every pagan looking for an excuse for rolicking good Sabbat revelry, well... would you still do it? Seriously, people... if you're going to co-opt a pagan holiday, then proceed to secularize the h*** out of it with candies and Power Rangers costumes, and THEN eschew it for something else, at least take the time to see that your something else isn't rife with even MORE pagan symbolism than the thing you were trying to eschew in the first place.”
For our family we have decided to opt out of the Halloween scene. We do not dress up, we do not go to halloween parties (even glorified "harvest" parties), we do not give out candy at the door. The most common response I have to this is, “But it’s all in fun.” That may be, but it doesn’t change what they are celebrating “in fun.” We did not come to this decision lightly. We spent quite a few years (really, quite a few fall seasons) praying about this decision and doing our research. Without having seen the above quote, we realized that she is right. Another common response is, “It doesn’t matter what its origins are. It’s what it is now that counts.” I can assure you that while the origins are not entirely irrelevant, we came to our decision not because of the origins of Halloween, but because of what it is today. Take a look at the facts.
There is more crime on Halloween night than any other night of the year. Do I really want to be part of a holiday that encourages this?
You don’t have to go far down the street to see that the holiday is all about death. Do I really want to be part of a holiday that glorifies death, whether or not this is the participants’ intention?
The justification of “it’s all in fun” is also a concern. Should we really make light of things that are very real and very dangerous?
Church parties that “clean up” Halloween aren’t really changing it. They are simply taking out the most offensive elements in order to free their consciences to participate in what they like about the holiday. As noted in the above quote, even in good intentions some of these celebrations incorporate traditions that we would really not want to participate in if we truly understood what they are.
And I have asked myself why? Why is it such a big deal to simply not participate? What is so wonderful about the celebration that we have to make all kinds of excuses and changes to it in order to not miss out on the fun? What really would we be missing? Dressing up and eating candy? Surely we don’t need Halloween for that. Furthermore, if it really is a night that is important on the occultic calendar (and it is) why are the churches bending over backwards in order not to miss out? Why, I ask myself, are we not responding with prayer against the evil of the night instead? Even if you choose to ignore the satanic activity of the night, believing that it doesn’t matter as long as you don’t personally participate in that specific portion of the holiday, there is still the matter of increased criminal activity. Ask any policeman and he will confirm this. Should we not be responding in prayer rather than trying to see how much we can legitimately celebrate? It just doesn’t make sense to me.
Again, I write this not to point fingers or to tell others what they should do. Please don’t comment that I should just chill out because it’s all in fun. As I said, we did not come to this decision lightly or quickly, and it's ok if you disagree with me. I simply suggest that you do so with full knowledge of the information and in prayer. Is there really anything in the Halloween celebrations valuable enough to be worth cleaning up just so we won’t miss out? Think about it.
Recently I was intrigued to receive access to an online writing evaluation service called My Access. When I taught in a university writing lab almost two decades ago, we did use computer software programs designed to self-correct both grammar and spelling in order to be a time-saver for the five or six of us graduate assistants who each put in a minimum of ten hours per week tutoring college students. It certainly was not a perfect solution, as we instructors would sometimes laugh and joke among ourselves at the suggested grammatical or spelling errors and suggested "corrections." Yet, the programs did call attention to a number of errors and in the end saved us some time.
So, when My Access Home Edition arrived, I wondered not only whether this program would be beneficial but how helpful it would really be. Here is where I put my children to the test! First to be in line for product testing, my 14 year old eighth grade daughter seemed to enjoy this program. She liked typing up her essays, despite the fact that she does not touch type yet! (In case you are wondering, I actually did buy her a touch typing program this summer, but we have just not begun it yet.)
She has really enjoyed both slowly typing her own essays and dictating to me and seems to like the prompts it gives her to correct or expand her subject more in certain areas. Mostly, she enjoys seeing her scores rise! Her very first essay attempt was overall in the borderline "below proficient"/"proficient" area. Not wanting to perform "below average," this result really motivated her. By following the suggested corrections, she was able to raise her score and improve her paper, according to my own estimation as well as this program's artificial intelligence estimation. After only six submissions over the past few weeks, one of her recent essay submissions saw her "language style" approaching the "advanced proficient" level with her second draft.
Now my second child, an eleven year old fifth grader, is a wonderful young man of few words. Really. Very few. Some of the other scout leaders have asked us on occasion whether he does not like them, as he really is not a talker and sometimes will not even reply to questions or greetings. It simply is not his strength. Interestingly, he actually likes this program because he wants to do all the associated learning activities. Go figure! He likes the little computer animated sections where he can see the definitions of the parts of an essay and identify them in order to earn points. I'm not sure he has used this feature enough for it to branch over to his actual writing skills yet . . . but I am hopeful that someday it will.
Since he also does not touch type, I have been allowing him to dictate his essays to me. The procedure I have been following with him is simply this: he narrates to me his paper while I type. After he has told his story, I ask him some clarifying questions. In short, I force him to name some adjectives and adverbs and even some transitional words and phrases to clarify and add color to his otherwise bland "Noun/Verb" sentences. I also sometimes have to ask him to fill in some part of the action which he has left out. I do this before he submits his first draft rather than after because I really do not want him to earn a super low score! His initial scores still remain mostly in the "Below Proficient" level. We have then revisited his essays and I have asked him more probing questions, forcing him to rewrite. So, although I am having to continue to work with my son very "hands on" (at least at this point), this program is helping him in a more indirect manner and he is enjoying it. He is also receiving outside evaluation of his abilities, which I think is beneficial. I think as he matures, he could use this program on his own.
My eight year old second grader does have an account yet I cannot seem to convince her to try writing an essay yet. I do not think that is terribly unusual. She is still getting her basic spelling, reading, and math skills down. I have attempted to show her topics and get her interested in one, yet she either seems intimidated or uninterested.
Now that I have told you about our experiences with this program, I want to share a link of demonstration videos of My Access writing program. You can view these videos to see the ways you can use this program, how to add students, and much more. Overall, I do think this program could prove beneficial for many families. Yet at least in our family it cannot be used as a stand-alone writing program, except perhaps for my eighth grader. I do like that my two very different students both like using this program, yet for very different reasons!
As with any artificial intelligence software program, it is not quite as effective as having a live teacher or tutor, yet could save time for busy homeschooling moms, especially for those whose children already touch type or for moms who feel unqualified to help their children with writing skills. Areas marked for improvement are very general and specific errors are not noted. I also want to point out that we did lose access to this website for a few days, as the site experienced difficulties. If this online program is your sole writing program and you are using their generated topics, this might make a mess of your lesson plans for the week.
Another item you may wish to know is that this program does award points for essays completed, as well as individual learning activities. The suggestion is made that the parent may wish to have a certain reward for a certain number of points attained, which the parent may also set by increments of 250 (250, 500, 750). However, a student can simply change a few words in his essay, resubmit it, and attain a large number of points very quickly! It would be somewhat difficult for a parent to initially realize that her student was doing this, so you will still want to maintain fairly close oversight of your children's use of this program.
Finally, I want my readers to understand that this program does not cover any literature, and only covers spelling and grammar in terms of noting where your children are in need of improvement or may be strong, so do not expect this to be a complete language arts program but instead a complement to one. If your budget allows for this expense, or writing is an area in which one or more of your upper elementary through high school aged children could use improvement, this is one option available to you. Access to this online program costs $99.95 for 3 students for one year, or $129.95 for 6 students for one year.
You may also want to reference this "What's Included" product page to assist you in making your decision. Below I have summarized some main points:
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You need a computer and an internet connection. Access to a printer is also helpful.
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This program includes 90 pre-loaded writing topics for three different distinct age groups (8-10, 11-14, and 15-18), yet you may also add in topics.
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Includes interactive lessons designed to guide students through the writing process: planning, organizing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
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Graphic organizers and other printable resources to help students through the writing process.
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Immediate essay scoring and individualized feedback through an artificial intelligence based software program.
- Revision plans focus students' revision activities on the following traits of writing: focus, content, development, organization, language use and grammar.
- Links to progress reports are emailed out weekly and may be viewed online and printed. Most recent essay submissions may also be accessed and printed. Email newsletters are also mailed out.
With the snowy cool weather upon us I thought it would be the perfect time to share a recipe for one of my favorite soups :) I actually took these photos during the summer months when I had an odd hankering for hot soup during a heat spell! LOL
Ingredients:
Roast chicken bones left after meal
1 whole head of garlic
2 or 3 ribs of celery
3 or 4 carrots
5 onions
1/2 pound of bacon
6 sausages
pepper & salt
basil
Start by grabbing a large stock or soup pot and add your chicken bones, peeled carrots & onions and the entire head of garlic. I love to cut the head of garlic horizontally across the middle so that it opens up the making it even easier for that wonderful flavor to escape. Don't worry about the skin on the garlic as you are going to strain it all out before finishing your soup :)
Once you have all of your veggies in your pot fill it until the water level is just under the rim and place it on the stove. Turn the heat on high until it comes to a boil. As soon as it boils you can put on a lid and turn it down to low so that it can gently bubble away for a couple of hours to infuse your water with all of the yummy flavors.
While you are waiting for you chicken stock to cook you can start to get your meat ready for frying. Take your half pound of bacon and slice it up. I cut mine about a 1/4 inch thick but you can do it thicker if you like. There are no rules to how chunky your bacon has to be!
I love using our homemade sausage for this soup which is a garlicky beef & pork blend but you can pick up any of your favorite flavors at your butcher. If you want a soup with a little bit of a kick you may want to find yourself some spicy Italian sausages! To prepare your sausage for frying take a sharp knife and slice through the outer casing and peel it off of each of the sausages.
So it's been a couple of hours or perhaps an entire afternoon if you got busy and forgot about your simmering stock
, but now it's time to strain it. Taking your largest colander and another large soup pot, place the colander into the empty soup pot and pour the hot stock into it. Be very careful trying not to splash any of the hot liquid onto yourself. Quite often I actually wear my oven mitts when I do this to protect my hands from splashes and steam burns :) Let your colander drain a couple of extra minutes to catch the final drips of stock and then place both the stock and colander of bits to the side for later. If you have chickens the boiled veggie leftovers is a delicious treat for them :)
Now that your soup pot is empty again, return it back to the stove and add your chopped bacon and sausages to it. You are going to fry them right in your soup pot. That way you won't loose any of the good flavors. Fry until nice and brown :)
As soon as you have browned your meat you can add your homemade chicken stock and all that's left to do is to season it with salt and pepper. I LOVE adding basil and usually add about 3 tablespoons of dried basil as I don't have any fresh at this time of year, but that's not set in stone and if you hate basil just leave it out and add your favorite spices :)
Mmmm, so delicious and I think I've got some fresh Portuguese rolls that are just begging to be dipped in it *grin*.
Enjoy!
My eldest is taking her turn for a day in the limelight today. It is her fourteenth birthday today! Hard to believe how much time has passed! Five out of the seven of us have autumn birthdays, and most of our extended family does as well, so many days my time has been taken up with birthdays or other super-fun things like selling BSA popcorn or AHG gourmet chocolates! Anyone in the mood for chocolate?
So, I thought I would pop on for a minute today to show off a photo!
Hmmm, I see that someone has been avoiding photos lately, but here's one from the summer!
I'll be back with a new review sometime tomorrow!