Northern Europe, Germany, and Netherlands Study Brainstorm

What's Schoolin'?

We are using Montessori materials and Trail Guide to World Geography for our Europe studies.  I also have the Hands of a Child Europe lapbook.  There is a cool resource recommended in TG called Geography Through Art... which I don't have :(.  Left to my own devices, here are some of my ideas to incorporate some art (and food!) into life/homeschooling.  They have been going to art classes the last 2 semesters so I finally let it go, but this is just too good of an opportunity to incorporate some art and/or crafts.

These are brainstorm ideas... not necessarily what we will actually do!

For Northern Europe, Germany, Netherlands:

~ Make a Viking Rune Stone in clay
~ Do something related to Hansel and Gretel... gingerbread house?  Also, along the lines of the Black Forest/Bavaria... talk about the Passion Plays and Oberammergau  (and show photos)
~ Sketch Big Ben in ink
http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/7389/1/1/how-to-draw-big-ben.htm
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/learn_to_draw_big_ben.htm
~ Make sauerkraut for Germany (which we need to make anyway!)
~ We'll do more Germany things with our celebration of St. Nicholas Day Dec 6th
~ Some Germany ideas from Mr. Donn (always good resources!):
http://countries.mrdonn.org/germany.html
~ Eat potatoes for Ireland (not very creative but it's what I have!)
~ Eat Hutspot for The Netherlands (carrots, potato, and onion cooked and mashed)[update: this was delicious!  Here is the post]
http://www.food.com/recipe/hutspot-44572 (I would just cook all together then add butter and real milk)
http://www.heardutchhere.net/hutspot.html
~ More Dutch recipes here:
http://www.heardutchhere.net/dumeals.html
~ Dutch folk art inspired embroidery?  Here is some inspiration:
http://www.designsponge.com/2009/03/dutch-door-press-2.html
http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2008/12/lets-talk-trends-dutch-folk-art.html
~ A simple paper with the ouline map of Holland printed on it with the words The Netherlands is known for: typed on it.  They draw/label windmills, wooden shoes, tulips, famous artists (Van Gogh and Rembrandt), and cheese.  Same for Germany.
~ castles.org has castles.  They used this site to research 3 German castles for a page from Trail Guide.

Gottatries

First the non-foodie gottatry:
Advent basket:
http://homemakingbeyondmaintenance.blogspot.com/2012/12/advent-basket.html

Natural Cleaners (baking soda sprinkled on the stove and squirted with a mix of white vinegar and dish soap is what I use to clean our stove top - it really gets the grunge off that this messy cook renews daily with spills and burnt food!):
http://realfoodrealfrugal.com/2012/12/05/frugal-homemade-cleaning-products/

Gingerbread doughnuts [A doughnut baking pan would be awesome.  I wonder if they make in stainless steel?]:
http://allergyfreetestkitchen.com/2012/12/gingerbread-donuts-with-cinnamon-buttercream-frosting-photo-tutorial/

Candy cane lemons (how cool!):
http://alifeunprocessed.blogspot.com/2012/12/candy-cane-lemons.html

Easy eggs baked in oven (each in muffin cup):
http://thenotsosupermama.com/2012/12/04/sausage-breakfast-sandwiches-and-easy-eggs-baked-in-the-oven/

Peppermint Bark (I will sub canola with palm shortening and probably make single layer):
http://nomyumfree.com/allergy-free-christmas-chocolate-peppermint-bark-guest-host-cupcakes/

Toffee/chocolate bar! Yum.  I was thinking about coming up with a recipe for this and was thrilled to see this:
http://www.sandisallergyfreerecipes.com/2012/11/salted-toffee-chocolates-gluten-free.html

Banana oatmeal (looks good!):
http://glutenfreedairyfreerecipes.com/bananas-foster-oatmeal/

Chocolate almond bark (has link to make own coconut butter for recipe):
http://www.goodgirlgonegreen.com/recipes/chocolate-almond-bark

Soaked sugar cookies:
http://www.thesimplemoms.com/2012/12/a-simple-real-food-recipe-sugar-cookies-allergen-free-options.html

English muffin bread (2 loaves):
http://homefront.prudentliving.com/recipe-box-english-muffin-bread/

Christmas bundt cake:
http://thingsmybellylikes.com/2012/12/10/christmas-bundt-cake/

Easy Panir cheese:
http://frugalfarmwife.com/article/easy-goat-cheese

Easy Ricotta cheese:
http://realfoodrealdeals.com/2012/12/04/

One more!  Cream cheese cut-out cookies:
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/cream-cheese-cookie-cutouts

Ancient Rome Part 3 (Plans)

What's Schoolin'?

Here is a link for my plans that I am using with my high schoolers.  It works well for us to have a unit sketched out and divided into what we will do together and what they are responsible for doing independently.  Although I listed the spine as a read-aloud, they ended up just reading and doing the questions on their own at the beginning of the unit.  I actually gave them a copy of these plans; especially since it has all of the books and assignments listed.

... I just found a typo but I honestly doubt I'll go back and fix it at this point so, please overlook any faults!  Some of my notes may not make any sense :).  If this is the case, please don't hesitate to ask me.  The books that the students read are posted in my Ancient Rome Part 2 (Books) post.  Resources that I used are posted below.  If you would like to see what links I gave the children for use with the unit, you can see them in my post Ancient Rome Part 1 (Links) (under 'Other Work' in the plans they are to 'Visit the Roman Links sent through e-mail.').

Another thing you'll notice is that The Aeneid is spread out within the plans.  I have Julius Caesar plans for Shakespeare's play but they are printed separately and we won't begin that until they are done with The Aeneid.  They are choosing to read the whole thing even though I only required Book 9 (together) and Book 1.  I'm glad I let them "decide" because it gives them more ownership in their learning.  Of course, it helps that they can only answer some of the key concept questions if they have read the whole work :).

Please remember that this is for personal use only.  It is for free use but please share the link to the blog post instead of just the doc link when passing it along to others.  Any small donations are welcome and go directly to dc's 4-H projects (use the button in the upper left margin).

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzY-sfWD2RgpeFpPUm9KUXlPaE0

In the Hands of a Child has an Ancient Rome lapbook all ready for you.  Silly me... I bought one when it was on a super sale a few years ago... and wouldn't you know that I totally forgot to use it in our Rome studies!! Argh!!  So, now that I've remembered in the middle of our studies we'll pull some things from it for them to document some of what they are learning from all of those great books.  Since one dd is lapbooking history (the 11th grader) and the other is notebooking it (the 10th grader), this will work out fine.  I just love HOAC lapbooks!!  It's $12 at this time for the e-book:
http://www.handsofachild.com/ancient-rome-curriculum.html

A Journey through Learning has a lapbook for Ancient Rome also:
http://www.ajourneythroughlearning.net/anrolawistgu.html

Here are most of the resources mentioned in the plans:

Sparknotes: The Aeneid Themes, Motifs, and Symbols:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/aeneid/themes.html

Sparknotes summary and analysis of The Aeneid Book 1:

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/aeneid/section1.rhtml

Sparknotes Quiz on The Aeneid: 

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/aeneid/quiz.html

Suggested essay topics:

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/aeneid/study.html

Character List/Descriptions:

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/aeneid/characters.html

Key Facts worksheet for The Aeneid (this is the answer key; I made another without the answers for them to fill in; then we went over together):

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/aeneid/facts.html

Aeneid Quiz:

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/aeneid/quiz.html

Easy Timeline Creator: http://www.timelinecreator.com/

M. Wittmann's article “The Martyrs of Ancient Rome":

I can't find her article anywhere, but here is a link to her unit ideas:

http://maureenwittmann.com/media/rome_martyrs_unit.pdf

Ancient Civilizations (McDonald Publishing):

History Pockets: Ancient Civilizations (it says gr.1-3 but I like the graphics and such for lapbook mini-books):

 

 All Ye Lands:

Ancient Rome Part 2 (Books)

What's Schoolin'?

Here are some of the books that we are using for our studies of Ancient Rome.  Currently they are reading The Aeneid by Virgil (Warning: it's a bit gory!  Boys may love it!).  I have several literature lessons embedded in my Rome unit for it [Book 9 and Book 1 are the required books but they want to read all of it].  I listed the links they will use in Part 1 (which includes some lit excerpts) and will upload the lesson plans in Part 3.

Note:  This is for my high schoolers.  Youngest is not doing Rome right now.

The Aeneid for Boys and Girls (they read this before the original Aeneid)



 The Aeneid by Virgil



Julius Caesar by Shakespeare



Cicero's The Republic and The Law (2 separate books that I have in one binding)



 St. Athanasius (Tan Books)



Lives of the Later Caesars (Penguin Classics)



Constantine biography



St. Helen of the Cross (Constantine's mother)
[Here is a link: http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-books/st-helena-and-the-true-cross/sku/93549]

The Children's Plutarch (Tales of the Romans)



Horrible Histories:  The Rotten Romans



Lost Civilizations:  Ancient Romans



Understanding People in the Past:  The Ancient Romans



The Human Adventure:  Greek and Roman Civilization



Oxford Profiles:  Ancient Romans (especially Constantine and Theodosius the Great)



Detectives in Togas



The Spear or The Restless Flame by de Wohl (The Spear is excellent; I haven't read the other yet)



Pocket Dictionary of Roman Emperors



Eusebius:  The History of the Church




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Gottatries

What's Shoppin'?

Doing Christmas shopping online this year?  If you will be using Amazon, I would be very grateful if you would go to their home page through my link.  Thanks so much!  Just click below.

Amazon home page

What's Cookin'?

**This is so, so cool!  DIY beeswax cotton food wraps:
http://myhealthygreenfamily.com/blog/wordpress/plastic-wrap-alternative-diy-beeswax-cotton-wraps/

**Here is the source given for beeswax.  I see that they have 100% beeswax candles, which I have wanted to have in the house for quite some time:
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/search/search.php?refine=y&keywords=beeswax&x=0&y=0

Simple, simple homemade fruit rollups! [Update:  We made these with some apple sauce that we had recently made and they were delicious (although I over-dried them and ended up breaking them into small bite-sized pieces.]
http://realfoodfreaks.com/2012/10/24/homemade-fruit-roll-ups/

Dairy-free/grain-free peanut butter cookies (1 C peanut butter, egg, sugar, baking powder):
http://chiquitabambino.blogspot.com/2012/11/grain-free-dairy-free-peanut-butter.html

Cranberry sauce (use sweetener of your choice):
http://realsustenance.com/sugar-free-cranberry-sauce-with-a-secret-ingredient/

Pumpkin brownie tarts.  I would un-veganize it with milk but otherwise mostly use it as-is:
http://www.adashofcompassion.com/2010/10/a-twist-on-tradition/

This has a crust that would be good for any unbaked pie (like homemade chocolate pudding!) (3/4 C almonds; 1/4 C dates):
http://www.sweetlyraw.com/2011/11/pumpkin-lucuma-cheesecake.html

This pumpkin pie filling is no-bake:
http://almondsandavocados.com/personal-pumpkin-pie-vegan-gf-almost-raw/

Caramel sauce (I was looking for a recipe for caramel squares to make popcorn balls and caramel apples - this may be too saucy for that but it looks great for other things):
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/caramel_sauce/

**Caramel squares.  I think this thicker recipe will be better for popcorn balls and caramel apples [update:  worked GREAT - 1/2 recipe was enough for a huge pot of popcorn]:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/candy/Caramels.html

Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts!  I don't have a doughnut baking sheet but they can be made as muffins:
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2012/09/07/pumpkin-doughnuts-baked-to-perfection/

Baked cheesy chicken strips:
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/02/easy-chicken-recipe-better-than-chicken.html

Brownie dessert shooters - these are too cute in the tiny cups.
http://allergyfreetestkitchen.com/2012/11/brownie-dessert-shooters/

Soaked pumpkin pie oatmeal.  I think this would be a good dehydrated cold cereal also.  They really liked it when I mixed baked oatmeal muffins with some crumbled (healthy) pumpkin cookies and dehydrated them for breakfast cereal...
http://www.thespinachspot.com/2012/11/soaked-pumpkin-pie-oatmeal.html

Chocolate coconut butter bites:
http://wholenaturallife.com/2012/11/28/chocolate-coconut-butter-bites-eat-your-chocolate-coconut-butter-on-the-go/

Chocolate nut clusters.  This would make a great gift... hint, hint!
http://practical-stewardship.com/2012/11/28/2-or-3-ingredient-chocolate-nut-clusters/

Peanut butter banana leather:
http://thischickcooks.net/2012/11/29/peanut-butter-banana-leather/

Sweet potato sloppy joes:
http://thingsmybellylikes.com/2012/12/04/sweet-potato-sloppy-joes/

Raw nutty truffles:
http://www.thespinachspot.com/2012/11/raw-nutty-truffles.html

Homemade hot cocoa mix (handier to have ready than how I usually make it):
http://frugalfarmwife.com/article/homemade-hot-cocoa-mix

Another take on hot cocoa:  Peppermint Hot Cocoa with steamed almond milk.
http://renaissancelife.us/blog/peppermint-hot-chocolate-with-steamed-almond-milk-dairy-free-sugar-free/

Chewy grain-free nut butter breakfast cookie (with pumpkin!)
http://www.cheekybumsblog.com/2012/12/chewy-grain-free-nut-butter-breakfast-cookies/

Coconut berries delight (uses frozen berries):
http://wholenaturallife.com/2012/12/03/coconut-berry-delights-a-tasty-way-to-eat-more-coconut-oil/

Chocolate almond bark:
http://www.goodgirlgonegreen.com/recipes/chocolate-almond-bark

How to make sprouted flour!  Yeah.  I want to try this so I was happy to see this tutorial:
http://modernnourishment.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/how-we-make-our-sprouted-flour/

Hutspot (Dutch recipe)

What's Cookin'?

Since we are talking about The Netherlands, Germany, and Northern Europe in Geography right now I thought this was the perfect companion dinner.  The fact that I only had to buy a bag of carrots and an onion only added to my thrill.  Also, since I rarely can leave a recipe alone, this is done my way (here and here are some recipes I found that I adjusted).  That means tossing in a beef soup bone for added nutrition and, after cooking and straining, adding in some 'mush' from my last juicing adventure earlier in the week.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 lb organic potatoes (the rest of the bag from the beef stew)
1 lb organic carrots (I left out 2 huge ones so dc would have some for snacks later)
1/2 large yellow or white onion (I would've used the whole onion but I thought I could use some for something else)
Butter
Milk
Optional: Any meat you would like to serve it with or add to it later.

Directions:

Chop the potatoes, carrots, and onion (and beef soup bone if using).  Place in the crockpot with plenty of water for them to boil and cook throughout the day (I put in 2 quarts water) until tender.

Remove the soup bone; drain the water.  Mash.  [This is where I added my juicing pulp]  Add Butter and melt while stirring.  Add milk and stir.  Add salt, pepper, spices/herbs to taste.  [This is where I added just less than 1/2 pound pre-cooked ground chicken].

We were literally scraping the crock pot to get every last little bit.

This recipe is part of:
Real Food Wednesday,
Allergy Free Wednesday:
Fat Tuesday
Old Fashioned Recipe Exchange

Christmas books on sale at Amazon!

We really, really need to update our Christmas book basket!  The books that worked when our dc were little... just don't grab them anymore.  I'm sharing some of my window shopping with you :).  Some I have read and some I haven't but all are at least 20% off at the time of this posting.  All are eligible for free shipping (see details).  I hope this helps some of you with your Christmas shopping!

The Christmas Quiet Book (20% off):



Room for a Little One (20% off):
 

The Spirit of Christmas (34% off):
 

 Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree (32% off):
 

Charlie and the Christmas Kitty (42% off)
 

Legend of the Christmas Stocking (32% off):
 

 The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (32% off):
 

The Christmas Baby (32% off):
 

 How the Grinch Stole Christmas (33% off):
 

The Night Before Christmas (32% off):
 

The Jolly Christmas Postman (32% off):
 

Olivia Helps with Christmas (32% off):
 

The Legend of St. Nicholas (32% off):
 

Letters from Father Christmas (JRR Tolkien)(32% off):
 



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Advent: O Antiphons ~ Jesse Tree Link

O Antiphons:

We've done the O Antiphons for a few years now but as I was googling to find the original resource I used I came across this neat site with the songs for each along with a sort of devotional and personal reflection for each day.  If you are not familiar with the O Antiphons, just think of the song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.  These prayers were used in the 7th or 8th century and have continued since then.
http://www.catholic.org/clife/advent/advent.php?id=7


The original resource I've used for years has some food ideas for each prayer/day.  Here are some great links with food ideas:

http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2010/12/o-antiphons-incorporating-old-monastic.html

http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2008/12/o-antiphons.html

Here is the beautiful, wonderful printable that I use:
http://familyfeastandferia.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/o-antiphons-prayer-companion10.pdf

Foods I want to have ready to start on Dec. 17th (separated by O Antiphon day):

- Gold coins with the symbol for that day on it for each day (organic choc coins? homemade coins, here, here, or HERE? homemade peppermint patties? Dollar Tree chocolate coins??)(There are chocolate coins and a few molds starting on this page at Amazon)
The printable for the O Antiphons gold coins are here [as well as the gold coins for St. Nicholas Day]:
http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2010/12/st-nicholas-chocolate-coins.html

- Blueberries, dark chocolate, eggs, fish(?), maybe these  cute fig newton books (using an all natural brand like Barbara's Bakery or others found here  (check ingredients), or homemade bars - I have fig puree in the freezer)

- Cookies in the shape of the tablets, chips/salsa, make our gingerbread house this day?  (maybe eat dinner in the tent?) (We use to make our gingerbread houses from scratch but have been using kits the last several years. Time for homemade again?

- Stew with carrots/potatoes (or mashed potatoes); drink natural root beer :) (we like Blue Sky or Hansen )

- Unshelled pistachios, peanuts, or pecans; key lime cookies (recipe here); we like Lara Bars for traveling snacks so maybe a key lime Lara Bar!

- Oranges, "sun" with toast and honey (toast cut in strips and set up like rays on a plate with a dab of honey in the middle)

- Cookies in wreath/crown shapes (use wreath tip from press-out cookie gun) (or cut slices of fruit bread with circle in center like a wreath/crown).

- Birthday cake for Jesus on the 23rd.



Jesse Tree:

Domestic Church has a direct link now for the Jesse Tree ornaments.  I printed the pdf, the children colored them, then I laminated them.  We have used these simple ones for years.  You can see how humble mine is here.  It is a treasured tradition.
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/FRIDGE/FRIDGE1.HTM

 There are many Jesse Tree resources at Amazon here.

 By one of the co-founders of Domestic Church (where I got my printable):

 



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"Bowl-Lickin' Good" Beef Stew

What's Cookin'?

The only ingredients I used for this to feed a hungry family of 5 were stew meat, potatoes, carrots, thickener, and broth.

My cost?  About $2.50 since my mom had given me some stew meat.  Had I gotten the stew meat I would have to add $2.50+ to my cost since I still would have used less than 1 pound of meat to stretch out the grass-fed meat.  That's still only a hair over $1/person for a nutritious and substantial dinner!

The original recipe called for 3 pounds of meat and 3 potatoes.  I put such little meat that it was heavy on the potatoes.  I wish I would have put even more potatoes so we could have gotten bigger second helpings!  However, we served it with homemade wheat biscuits so no one left hungry [I guess about $2.75 if I add in the biscuits.].

Ingredients (adjust to what you have):

1 lb stew meat (I used less)(grass fed is best)
1-1/2 lb Potatoes (half of an organic bag of little yellow ones)
3 Carrots (also organic if possible; $1 for a 1-lb bag)
1/4 C Thickener (use your thickener of choice such as arrowroot; I used a bit over 1/4 C white flour;)
1 quart homemade chicken broth (I added a little more so I would not have another almost-empty jar in the fridge)
Spices/herbs of your choice

Directions:

Pour about 1/4 inch clean oil in your pan ("clean" meaning non-gmo; I used sunflower).  Put the stew meat in and cook it just on the outside, turning the pieces over constantly.

Take out the meat and put in the flour.  Stir quickly (unless you stop to take a picture!).  It will bubble.

Slowly pour in the broth while stirring constantly.  I used a lot more than the original recipe called for because I wanted it to cover the potatoes I would add later plus I wanted it extra saucy instead of dry (it's much easier to boil off water than to add water later for gravies and sauces!).

Put the meat back in and low-simmer (covered) for 1 hour.  Meanwhile, snatch a warm biscuit out of the oven and indulge with some butter or cheese!  You can also use this hour to cut up the potatoes/carrots, listen to music, get online, clean something, or spend time with family... (I spent it researching humic and fulvic acid but I'm funny that way!)

After an hour of simmering add the potatoes and carrots.  I quartered the little yellow potatoes and sliced the carrots in very slim 'coins'.  This is also a good time to add any spices and herbs.  [I added a generous amount of Real Salt , onion powder, garlic powder, pinches of basil, marjoram, and 2 kinds of oregano.] Simmer for another 30-45 minutes until tender (covered).  If it's still too watery for your preference, then continue simmering with the lid off, stirring often, until your desired consistency.  Serve immediately.

Enjoy your beef stew with biscuits (or not!).  We enjoyed out stew while watching Strike Up the Band with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland!

This was SO much better than the crock-pot beef stew that I scorched a few weeks ago!!

This is part of Real Food Wednesday

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Ratification of UN Treaty to be voted on this week!

I mainly keep politics out of this blog but I want to pass this along...  Another example of something that pulls at your heartstrings but is insidious at best...

Read about it here:
http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/2012/201211270.asp