All posts by NerdMom

Food

Cheap and Light White Sauce

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This is a modification of a Cooking Light white sauce. It doesn’t call for cream like a traditional beschemel or alfredo so I don’t know if this falls into any of the classical categories. The original sauce called for onions but those are not real popular in the Nerd Family so I compensate by punching up the spices. I use it in place of jarred alfredo sauce both for the calories, the money and the preservatives!

Ingredients:

2 cloves of minced garlic (it is about 2 big teaspoons of jarred garlic)
1 tsp canola oil
3 3/4 cups 1% or 2% milk (I have even used whole, it just isn’t as good for you;)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup (about 4 ounces) shredded Fontina cheese
1/2 cup (about 2 ounces) grated Asiago (or Parmesan or Romano)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Grating of fresh Nutmeg
1/2 tsp chili powder
pinch of Cayenne
**Only for the brave** pinch of red pepper flakes

Process:

Heat your pot to medium high heat. Add oil and garlic, remove from heat when you can just start to smell the garlic. Then stir in 3 cups of milk. Combine 3/4 cup of milk with the flour in a bowl and blend thoroughly with a whisk. Add the flour mixture into the pan and return it to medium heat. Stir constantly with a whisk and bring it to a boil Then cook it for 1 minute or until thick (stop if it thickens before 1 minute is up). Remove from the heat and add spices and cheeses. Stir until smooth.

That is it. Use at will!

politics

The DNC: Really Classing Up the Joint

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Apparently I have been wrong in my feelings that the DNC convention and all the liberal protests surrounding it will be a tasteless show of their ill will toward any people who have morals. This is evidenced by the fact that in the many crazy activities going on that week Public Enemy will be gracing everyone with a free concert.

The band’s performance was announced Monday, along with three speakers who will bolster the efforts of the activist group Re-create 68.

For those unclear on the slant of Re-create 68, the are also sponsoring speaker Cindy Sheehan.

Here is a glimpse of the band, for those who aren’t familiar.

Led by rapper Chuck D, Public Enemy is a pioneer of political hip-hop with groundbreaking albums such as 1988’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and 1990’s Fear of a Black Planet. Chuck D continues to comment on issues both in song and in the media, including a radio show on Air America Radio. His sidekick, rapper Flavor Flav, has struggled with an addiction to crack cocaine and has starred in the reality TV show Flavor of Love.

(HT: Bridget Johnson)

Homeschoooling, humor

I know you are a good homeschooler but…

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Tell me, have you heard something similar? Where someone you know starts off on how you are a great homeschooler but on the whole they are against it because of the bad homeschooling parents. You educate yourself on teaching and are bright but what about the others? You know, the ones that don’t make sure their kids learn anything or they lock their kids in the basement;). Or better yet can’t read or do any figurin’;).

I had this happen a lot over VBS. I served with a teacher who said she used to teach homeschoolers and she kind of felt that who does it or the kids’ progress needed to be regulated. When I got further details come to find out she didn’t teach “homeschoolers”. She was teaching at a charter school (read public school) that was an independent study program for kids that were already basically bombing out.

I also have been hearing about parents that weren’t making sure their kids did any work. Or left them at home alone while the mom went to work. Or parents that don’t like doing anything with their kids.

Well, I had an epiphany moment. I was talking about the Rachel L ruling with a lawyer friend of mine (who is pro-homeschooling) and the comeback for all these arguments hit me.

Parents who don’t like their kids and don’t want to teach them won’t homeschool! It is too hard. Those parents are going to be the first ones in line for the public school.

Now will there be exceptions, sure. But those exceptions to all parenting rules already exist. Parents who are going to lock their kids in the basement and neglect them are already breaking the law. They aren’t using the out of “homeschooling” to get away with anything;).

house management

Meal Plan Monday

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Here are this week’s meals!
Monday: Chicken Kiev, Broccoli Mac and Cheese Gratin
Tuesday: Chicken Thighs and Ramen Noodles Asian Style
Wednesday: Crockpot Pork Loin with Potatoes, Broccoli
Thursday: Spinach and Hamburger Lasagna Rolls with White Sauce
Friday: Pasta Alfredo Bake with Pork

gift worthy, MOM

The Old Schoolhouse: Digital Version

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I used to get the paper version of The Old Schoolhouse magazine. It would come and I could pour over it for a week or two. The most frustrating thing was figuring out what 1 person I would share an article with. But then budget cuts hit the NerdFamily and unfortunately magazines were sad victims. As budget regulated I realized that I didn’t have time to pour over a magazine between blogging and homeschooling. I have to say that I felt I was missing an enrichment that I was getting before. I don’t belong to an ISP and this was support group.

Well, with the arrival of the digital version all is right(and maybe even better) with my world. First of all it is like 30% cheaper than the paper version. Being a cheapskate and a mother of 4, that is always a good thing. I love that it is portable and searchable. Since I do everything on my laptop now, I love being able to just pop over and read an article when I have a couple of minutes. You can even download it so you can read a piece when you aren’t online.

Now I have a strange confession, I love the fact you can click a button and forward an article. So when you have that new homeschooling friend who needs to read that encouraging piece or that naysayer who needs a little “information” that is firmer than your word;), just email it.

The reader is really smooth. I have to say that I was braced for a pdf format so the nifty little reader was a breathe of fresh air. You can adjust your sizes to fit your screen or the font size you need, your choice! Another cool thing is about the links. Everything is already web enabled so there isn’t any more of the trying to remember to make a note of the web address and getting to it later.

Obviously I love it so go check it out!

organizing

Planner for the Centuries

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Ok, I think I am in love! I just got the new Schoolhouse Planner last week from The Old Schoolhouse Store. I love the idea of being organized but I have never found a tool that covered all aspects of my life including homeschooling and house management. While I had found things that covered most areas, they were bulky and cumbersome. This seems to work around all that!

The first plus for this planner is that it is an editable pdf. This means I can keep it updated on my computer and then print out the pages I want. Also, since you can edit it on the computer you don’t need as much space. Each month is only 2 pages but there is plenty of room.

Another benefit is the knowledge treasures found in its 247 pages. They include things like the Constitution, yummy recipes, How-to’s on different aspects of homeschooling and great fact lists (like countries/capitals, inventions and their years, etc). They are all those things you want to know and don’t have time to look up. Also, depending on your household, all the things your kids want to know but you don’t remember (or never learned in school;).

The cherry on the sundae are the forms. There are homeschooling forms where you can keep lists of your curriculum, plans by week or even by grade. There are also handy forms for things like nature studies or science experiments. There are also home management forms. They have weekly to do lists split out by errands/chores/call, grocery lists, contact lists, website lists. It even has personal management forms like inventory lists, gift lists and loaned/borrowed lists.

My favorite list is the prayer list. The planner I had for last year had a prayer list where you put the date, the (very short) list and a place to check it off when it was answered. This planner has such a better system. It has a date, generous space for the actual request, 2 spots for updates (with dates) and then a spot to date and write out the result. I love it!

Now if you aren’t a Christian this is still a great planner. You could just not use the pages that pertain to that;). If you don’t homeschool, no problem! Then you can use some of the homeschool pages to deal with homework and projects, then skip the rest. I guess what it boils down to is that I think this is an awesome planner for anyone who has a family and a life;).

So tell me, do you have a planner system you love? If not go, run and get this planner!