Dinner in a Hurry

• Brown Ground Beef or Chicken Sausage cut in chunks.
• Add chopped vegetables, onions, celery, peppers. etc.
• Cover and simmer for a few minutes.
• Uncover and add stewed or fire roasted tomatoes and simmer out most of the liquid.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Make as much or little as you need.

Can be served over toast, biscuits, rice, potatoes, or eaten low carb.

Discipline Tip-I am Good and I Can

I am Good and I Can.

If children can internalize a positive self-image, they are more successful.  This is best done by them voicing the words.

I had an elementary math class where most of the children had a life of trouble with math.  “I can’t!” was what they believe about themselves.  We started everyday with everyone closing their eyes and saying in unison:  “I am good, I am smart, and I can do math.” Then we started your day.  We were rewriting what they believed about themselves.   We would work until they learned each concept.  They were not allowed to fail.  It was amazing how well those children did for the first time in their life.   There also was never any discipline problems in the class.

When I tutor children, I include this same method.  It makes the learning more successful.

Telling children doesn’t change their self-image as much as when they tell themselves.  It is good to compliment, but follow-up by asking how they feel about their work.

If you are a parent of a child with low self-esteem, say with them a statement of a new positive self-image.  Help them say the same statement each morning in a private place. This will help them have a permanent change of self-esteem.  I know it seems strange, but it really makes a difference.  Enjoy the children in your life.

There is another discipline tip in this blog called “I Like Myself”.  It has more ideas.

http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/

Oatmeal Kindness Cookies

(Fun to make and share for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.)

1. Mix:

• 1 cup flour
• 3/4  t. soda
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 t. nutmeg

2. Beat in:

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1  1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 t. vanilla
• for 2 minutes.

3. Stir in:

• 2 cups regular oatmeal
• Optional 1 cup chocolate chips

4. Roll in balls or use a small ice cream scoop.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

6. Eat and share!

Taco Seasoning

TACO SEASONING

•    2 tsp. instant minced onion
•    1 tsp. salt
•    1 tsp. chili powder
•   ½  tsp. corn starch
•   ½  tsp. crushed dried red pepper
•   ½  tsp. garlic powder
•   ½  tsp. ground cumin
•  1/4 tsp. dried oregano

Add ½  cup of water and add to 1 ½  – 2 lbs. of cooked ground meat or cooked chicken.   Simmer until the water is cooked out.

LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY–Love is the Key

Love is the  key!                                      

Everyone needs to feel loved and cared about.  No one can interact with others perfectly, but if the children in your life feel loved and cared about, they will work harder and be more successful.

Here are a few ideas to help children feel your unconditional love for them:

• Express your love for them individually.  Make it personal and real.
• Use Active Listening.   Repeat back to them what they have said in an understanding manner.
• Ask them a specific question about themselves.  I like to have free time first, so I can have some personal interaction with as many students as possible before starting class.
• An affectionate touch or hug.  Never force a hug or affection.   Sometimes a one-armed side hug, a hand on the shoulder or hand makes all the difference.  If you listen with your heart you will know when it is needed.
• A personal smile.
• Give them a personal simple task to help you.  We all need to be needed.  Incorporate helpers in your day.  Make helping a pleasure not a chore!  “You get to” or “I need you to”, not “you have to”, makes all the difference.
• One on one or small group activities help them see you care.  Try handwriting practice in a tray or plate of cornmeal or finger painting.

Sit back and quietly observe with an open mind.  Open your heart!  Taking time for each child will eliminate future possible discipline problems.  Act don’t React!  Enjoy your time with the children in your life.  Make each day a treasure; we never know what tomorrow brings.

Give us your comments on how you help children feel loved.  Have a great day!

Visit our website for great phonics materials for home or school. http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/

Raspberry Pretzel Salad

Raspberry Pretzel Salad (Holiday Family Favorite)   

This is a family favorite holiday dish.  I have altered the traditional recipe to eliminate artificial flavoring, coloring and hydrogenated oils.  I usually make it the day before a big dinner.  Hope your family enjoys it.  

Topping:

• Mix in a sauce pan a 12 oz. can of frozen berry juice or raspberry/cranberry juice and 1 can of water (12 oz.).
• Sprinkle on top 2 gelatin packs (Knox) and let it dissolve for 1 minute.
• Add 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and stir.
• Cook over low heat until gelatin and sugar are dissolve not more than 2 minutes.
• Pour into a glass container and put in the refrigerator to cool and start to jell.  (This mixture will go on top at the end.)

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups of pretzels crushed.
• 3 T. brown sugar.
• 1 cube of melted butter.
• Mix together in a 9×13 glass baking dish and spread out on the bottom of the baking dish.
• Bake in the oven at 350 for 10 minutes.
• Then put in the refrigerator to cool. (about 20 minutes.)

Filling:

• Whip 1 cup of whipping cream until it starts to peak.
• Add 1 T. instant vanilla pudding and 3/4 cup of powdered sugar, then mix.
• Add 8 oz. of cream cheese then mix on low.
• Spread on the cooled pretzel crust and cool in the refrigerator. (about 20 minutes).

Put on the Topping:

• Put a 12 oz package of frozen or fresh raspberries on the cream cheese filling.
• Take the partially jelled gelatin topping and spread on the raspberries.
• Chill until set.  

Cornbread

Cornbread  (gluten free)

Mix together:

• 2 cups rice flour
• 2 cups cornmeal
• 2 tsp. Xanthan gum
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1  1/2 salt
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups water or milk
• 1/2 cup oil or applesauce
• 1/2 cup honey

Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan. 

Bake 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Serve with honey-butter.

Tips:  If you have a grain mill, brown rice and unpopped popcorn make great flour for this recipe.  It also works well to put all the dry ingredients in ziplock bags in the freezer to use later.  It makes a fast wonderful cornbread.   Everyone will love it. 

Take Care of Yourself–Discipline Tip

 

Self-Esteem–

You, as the teacher or parent, need to feel good about yourself.  To do this you must find your inner greatness.  You were created by greatness and that Creator only makes greatness.  Look inside yourself and see your own personal worth.  Your personal worth has nothing to do with your job, being a parent, how much money you have, what size you are, the bad things you have done, or the bad things that have been done to you, etc.  Your personal worth is a gift and it is inside you.  Your task is to look inward and find your personal worth.  Tips to find your inner worth:

• Make a list of qualities your Creator/Heavenly Father has.
• Realize those qualities you have inherited, and your task is to find them.
• Forgive.
• Life is full of possibilities.  Find your possibilities.
• Live for what you can do for others, and not what you can get.
• God doesn’t make junk.  Treat yourself with dignity.  You are HIS creation.
• There is a song from my childhood that has helped me through hard times.  “I Am A Child of God”  Find songs to help you.

When you start finding your inner worth, you will have more success working with the children in your life.    LOVE YOURSELF!

 http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/

Zucchini Muffins

Zucchini Muffins  (Makes about 24.)
1. Grate:

• 2 cups zucchini
• 1 teas. grated lemon peel

2.  Add and mix:

• 4 eggs
• ½ cup oil
• 1 cup brown sugar

3. Add and mix:

• 3 cups flour
• 2 teas. baking powder
• 1 teas. salt
• 1 teas. cinnamon

4.  Scoop into greased muffin tins.

5.  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

Recipe–Ants on a Log

Ants on a Log

 

1. Wash and cut celery.

2. Spread peanut butter in the celery.

3. Put on raisins or peanuts.

4. Enjoy!

(Does it taste like ants?)

Fun to do with the short A or short I sounds. (A for ants. I for insects.)

 http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/