The Taco Feed

Last Friday night Uncle Bill came over for one of his famous "taco feeds." What makes it so "famous" is that he makes the taco shells from scratch!

It doesn't take too much effort, and just a little bit of time, and the result is delicious!

First you mix together Corn Masa (from the grocery store -- it's cornmeal treated with lye) and water:

Then you roll the corn mixture into balls and cover:

Next you press the tortillas out with a tortilla press ($10 or less at a local Mexican store):

Then you cook them in a non-stick pan set over hot heat. And you keep them in a warm oven underneath a cloth kitchen towel:

In the mean time you get together your taco meat, cheese, lettuce, salsa, black olives, cilantro, onion, etc.

It's very fun to lick the cover to the sour-cream:

Uncle Bill says that newspaper covering the table is the authentic way to go:

Everyone digs in and makes their own taco:

Boy are they ever good!!!!

I've not been very detailed in my instructions. If you'd like step-by-step instructions and a recipe, go here. I think I'll be needing to get one of those tortilla presses and trying it out myself sometime.

Well, Michael is off again this afternoon to speak at a conference for the weekend. Emily flew the coop and went to Texas to visit our cousins. That leaves me and the children and some very, very cold weather. I have a few ideas and I hope we will have a pleasant few days together. Right now, I've got to get back to chores and finances.

A Few Recipes

Today I'm participating in Keeping Creative Kitchens over at Reflective Ponderings.

I thought I'd share a few recipes that I've tried this week and we have really enjoyed.

First off is Easy Taco Soup. This was so nice and easy to put together and can be made in large batches and frozen. The kids enjoyed eating it because they got to have tortilla chips, cheese and sourcream with it:

We also had this Baked Potato Soup which had the same theory of "things on top" that makes it fun. I don't make potato soup often because of the high carb content, but I felt a little better about this soup since it contained an entire head of cauliflower. I've also been serving soups of this nature with cottage cheese on the side to boost the protein content of our dinner, since that is necessary for my diet.

Earlier in the week I made this Thai Beef Curry which was fantastic. I think I will be using the skeleton of this recipe (coconut milk and Thai red curry paste) to make this again and again in different varieties. I wish I had a picture of it hot on my plate, but this is what it looks like as leftovers in the fridge:

I've been feeling better about cooking this week since I've been trying to allot myself one whole hour in the kitchen for dinner prep instead of just 30 minutes. Definately helps. :) It also helps to remember that food prep and cooking is not time wasted but time invested in my family, no matter how appreciative (or not) they are.

Weather Report

Outside it is bright and beautiful and cold! Inside we are enjoying the warmth of a cozy house and the beautiful light reflected off the snow.

We haven't had snow in quite some time and it is so pretty as it falls in large flakes:

Snow beckons silently to children, "Come out and play!"

Somehow mothers know what is called for next:

Soup for dinner sounds good to me. I hope you all are enjoying a cozy day, wherever you are.

2008 Top Ten Books

It's time now for the Top Ten List from 2008.

#1. Best of the Best: Romans Commentary by James Montgomery Boice

I have been making my way through these four volumes over the course of the past year and can say without a doubt that these books have had the most impact on my life of anything I've read this past year.

Boice's commentaries are broken into very manageable sections, easy to read in 15-minutes. His theology is solid and thought-provoking while at the same time explained so that any lay person can understand it.
2. Best Novel -- Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

Everyone I've talked to that has read this book loves it! Written during WWII, by a woman who was evenutally killed in a concentration camp, this book gives a firsthand look at what the German Occupation was like for those living in Paris and the surrounding countryside. Nemirovsky was a very talented writer and that is evident in this novel.

3. Best Cookbook -- Once Upon A Tart by Mentesana and Andureau

This cookbook is filled with beautiful photos, delicious recipes, and engaging commentary. The recipes are from a famous bakery in New York by the same name and include soups, sandwiches, salads, muffins, cookies, scones, and similar items. I'm looking forward to getting a copy myself someday!

4. Best Parenting Book -- The Mom Walk by Sally Clarkson

This book is all about being a Christian mother. All of Sally Clarkson's books have been wonderful encouragements to me. She knows how to challenge, inspire, and encourage. She also loves to drink Yorkshire Gold tea! :)

5. Best Christian Book -- The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan

This books explores the topic of "the Sabbath" and what that means for a Christian. This is a subject I have thought long and hard about over the years and am always looking for books that expound the subject. This book was balanced, challenging, and refreshing.

6. Best Travel Memoir -- Almost French by Sarah Turnbull

Travel memoirs are one of my favorite genres. Turnbull was fascinating and funny as she described what it was like trying to learn to live in Paris as a Parisian would.

7. Best Historical Fiction -- My Antonia by Willa Cather

This book has been around for many years but I had never heard of it until a friend mentioned that it was her favorite. Set in Nebraska in the late-pioneer era, it tells the story of pioneer life through the recounting of one life in particular -- Antonia. I love reading about what life was like "back then" and this book did a good job of making the pioneer life come alive.

8. Best Food Book -- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle -- by Barbara Kingsolver

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle tells the story of Kingsolver and her family as they decide to eat locally for one year, and grow as much of their food as possible. Since I love to read about food, I enjoyed all the descriptions of what they grew and how they cooked it. Is this kind of life possible for most of us? No. So, one learns some new things, tries a few things, and then lets the rest go.

9. Best British Book -- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Shaffer/Barrows

This was a fun read, once I got past the letter-style and became attached to the story. It tells of life during WWII on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel. Since I love WWII, Britain, and history, it was a perfect fit.

10. Best Homeschooling/Creative Book -- The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule

I didn't read too many books in this category, but did enjoy The Creative Family. I read Amanda's blog daily and love being inspired to draw, sew, cook, paint, and otherwise create with my children.

Well, there they are. Looking back over my list of books read this year I felt that I hadn't read as many "wow, that was a terrific book" kinds of books. Makes me feel a bit like all that reading was for nothing. However, many of the books I read I chose to read to find out what they were like. And I did.

Looking ahead into the next year I want to be a bit more picky about the books I read, so that at the end of the year I'll have more on that "wow" list than this year. I would like to read more in the American History genre since I am weak in that area. I would also like to explore more of the Classics and am currently reading "Introduction to the Classics." In preparation for teaching Indiana History next year, I want to begin reading up on that topic as well. We'll see how it goes. Reading is such a wonderful adventure!

A "Must See"

North & South, based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell of the same title, is the movie I have been raving about all week.

This BBC production, made in 2004 (I believe), tells the story of a middle-class woman from the South who moves to a city in the north during the industrial revolution. It tells the story of Margaret's discovery of the poverty and poor conditions of mill-life and the differences she faces in the north.

Margaret is not long in the north before she meets one of the mill owners, Mr. Thornton, who appears to be harsh and unrelenting in his treatment of the mill workers.

The tale is woven through the lives of Margaret, the mill workers, and Mr. Thornton as they each come to understand more about the other, to let down their prejudices, and to change their hearts.

The movie is nearly 4 hours long, which, I think, allows it to develop the story in more detail and over more time than a mere hour and 30 minutes. By the time one reaches the end of the story you feel so attached and moved that you are sitting on the end of your seat. The ending leaves nothing to be desired, and is a wonderful crescendo to the beautiful artistry that goes before.

I think I am to thank my friend Rachel in NZ for recommending this -- I believe she was the first to draw my attention to it.

Bits and Pieces

This will be a random blog post, about random things, and even including a random picture. :)

This is about how Indiana looks just now: cold, sometimes gray, a dusting of snow under the trees. It's perfect weather for tea, and toast with honey.

We've had a good week of school. We were here most mornings, and that makes school so much easier. The children are making progress and Rachel is suddenly so interested in practicing the piano! Long may that continue!

Michael is off to Baltimore for a family reunion and memorial service for his uncle. I will miss being with him and the chance to see extended family whom we haven't seen in 9 years. In the mean time I hope to have a pleasant weekend with the children and perhaps even find time for the craft corner and some creating (that may be wishful thinking).

I finally finished my first pair of knitted socks this week! yay! I will post a picture soon.

I discovered that I have apparently been driving our new car around in 4th gear instead of D this past week. I wonder how much damage I've done....

Things in the kitchen are not very exciting. It helps when I have plenty of time to make dinner, but often I limit myself to 30 minutes, and that feels rushed. Tonight Uncle Bill is coming to make tacos -- from scratch! I'm sure I'll take pictures.

David likes to be known as "Guy."

Rachel and Andrew have been practicing Frog and Toad shows all week. The songs run continually through my head: "I'm the snail, with the mail, I deliver without fail....."

I'm engrossed in a book about literary London. I need to type up my Top Ten books from last year.

On my to-do list for this week: mending, finances, thank you notes, picture back-up, and photo-ordering. How much of this will be forwarded to next week? I'm not yet sure. However, I have accomplished the ironing and the errand-running.

I'm going to start trying to get James to be dry at night. Lightening McQueen (is that the right spelling?) shoes will be an inspiration.

I'm still thinking about the captivating movie (North & South) I watched this week: review to follow soon.

Well, I better stop, and go work on one of those items from my to-do list. The kids are on the computer for their weekly allotment of time and it's "my chance."

Cut Poinsettias

Although the day is almost over, I'm jumping in to participate in Keeping Creative Kitchens over at Reflective Ponderings.

I don't really have any amazing ideas this week, but I thought I could share about my poinsettia arrangement I made the other day:

My pink poinsettia was getting very leggy and looking as though it needed to take a flying leap into the trash can. At the same time, I was trying to find something to go on my table for a Christmas party. I had heard that you can cut poinsettias and put them in water, but that it is very tricky to do so. Since I had nothing to lose, I decided to give it a try.

It worked!

So, here are the instructions (yes, I realize this post is about 6 weeks too late for most of you, but it will put the idea in your head for next year):

Prepare a vase with water and cut-flower food.
Set a burning candle next to the vase.
Cut a stalk of poinsettia and immediately stick the cut end into the candle flame to seal in the milky sap. I left it in the flame for about 3 seconds.
Immediately pop the stem into the vase of water.
Repeat with remaining stems.

Some poinsettias are fussy and refuse to be put in water. Apparently you can tell within an hour or two if your poinsettia is fussy -- it will keel over and wilt. If your poinsettias stay nice and firm and look happy, then the trick worked! The poinsettias should stay nice for 1-2 weeks. Mine are still looking good a week later.