Lunch Box Dessert

Looking for an easy dessert to slide into a lunch box??? How about "homemade" layered pudding cups?? What do you need?







Ingredients:
3-3oz INSTANT pudding mixes (I used 2 boxes of chocolate and 1 box of white chocolate)
3 cans of evaporated milk
Individual containers-- I use 16 Gladware mini rounds(1/2 cup/4oz). You can get them at your local grocery store, Target, or Kmart.
Pour the dry mixes into mixing bowls. Then pour the whole can of evaporated milk into the bowl slowly while you whisk the pudding mix so that it doesn't go lumpy on you. You will need one can of evaporated milk for each box of pudding. I measured the whole can of evaporated milk, it equals 1 3/4 cups, which is exactly the same amount as what you use for making "Pudding Pie". Once the pudding is soft set, I take my medium size Pampered Chef scoop(about 2 tbsp) and scoop the chocolate pudding into the bottom of the containers. Then I take my Pampered chef tart shaper and use it to smooth out the pudding. Then I repeat the step and add another layer. Usually it is three layers in the 1/2 cup containers. Refrigerate when complete.
Here is the finished product!
I love using these Gladware containers for individual servings in the lunchbox. The containers are reusable along with being disposable. So if they get dumped by accident it is not a great loss. I use the containers to make up individual pudding cups or no bake cheesecakes.

This was also posted over at Jenn-Frugal Upstate and her Frugal Food series!

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays

A few weeks ago, I came across Tammy's Recipes blog and found that she has a Kitchen Tips Tuesday. So I thought I would participate today with a Kitchen Tip.

My Kitchen Tip is....

Make a list of everything that you buy, divide the items into categories(canned goods, frozen, breads, etc). Basically you are making yourself a Master Grocery List! The one I have made I did on MS Word, and it is one sheet.

Post that Master Grocery List on your fridge so that when you are out of something or nearly out you can highlight or circle it. Then remember to look at the list before you go do your grocery shopping so you know what you need to get from the store. I have found that having a Master Grocery List on my fridge has saved me ALOT of those last minute store runs in order to finish a dinner or a baking project.

Thanks to Tammy for hosting and be sure to check out the other kitchen tips on her blog.

USA State Study

I used the following items to do a FREE 50 State Unit Study with my oldest ds!

Here is some sites specific to Michigan(my home state)

Michigan House -- many FREE publications

Michigan Senate --check out the Kid's page!

Michigan Government's Kids Page

Michigan History Magazine --pdf of Introducing Michigan history

About.com's Unit Study of Michigan

Michigan's History, Arts, and Libraries --tips on teaching the states' history and other state lessons.

Traveling Mom's Michigan Online Unit Study

TEACH Geography--Great Lakes

Here is some general sites for all the states:

ClassBrain.com--pick your state from the map and get facts about the state

List of State's Symbols

University of Texas' State Map Collection--maps on the states' county roads, average precipitation, geological, plus much more!

Lesson Plans by State

Learn ALL 50 states --tons of information on state government, people, almanacs, news, geography, etc.

Blank outline state maps

ABC Teach State Facts Sheets--blank outline state maps along with facts on each state.

Easy Fun School--list of unit studies on 40 of the 50 states.

State Coloring Pages -- coloring pages of each of the states, blank or with the capital city names. Also have full USA maps with states outlines.

Kid Zone's States Symbols --coloring pages of each states' flag, map, bird, flower

Enchanted Learning States Facts Page --some of their printables require site membership in order to print the full size.

America's Library--click on a state and read facts and stories about things that happen in that state.

Kid Info's States Page---links to many sites on state facts and maps along with links to the States' government/homepages!

Unit Study on 50 States--many links and ideas/activities

Fifty States, Five Lessons

Also if you Google each of the state's tourism center you will find tons more information about the states as well. I typed in things like "Florida travel"; "Maine travel" or "Maine tourism". I got a BIG list of sites!! You can also go and visit Joann at Our Homeschooling Expedition and find many links to various states that she has put together.


Visit your local library for books on each state. There are such series as "Welcome to the U.S.A" and "Discover America State by State Series".
Some other books are:
"Eat Your Way Thru the USA" by Loree Pettit
"The Scrambled States of America" by Laurie Keller


Projects to do with your States Study:

• State Lapbook or State Notebook--printable forms and ideas to create a lapbook/notebook on each state.
• Collect postcards from each state
• Learn the capital cities of each state(make up a bingo game)
• Learn the states in alphabetical order(Learn the 50 States Rhyme/Song)
• Read across America--Read a book from each state. Look here 50 States Book List or Carol Hurst's Literature Site or List of Books for a book.
• Make a travel guide/brochure for your state.
• Have some fun and play the Mystery State Game

Honey Oatmeal Bread(breadmachine)

This is my family's favorite homemade bread. We love having it with soups or just as a nice addition to a meal instead of biscuits. This recipe also makes yummy dinner rolls!

Honey Oatmeal Bread (breadmachine)

11 1/2 ounces(1 1/4 cup + 3tbsp.) water (80°F)
3 tablespoons honey
3 1/4 cups bread flour
1 cup oats, (quick or old fashioned)
2 tablespoons dry milk
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast(can be used in the breadmachine)
OR
2 teaspoons bread machine/fast rise yeast

Place in bread machine in order starting with water and ending with yeast.Basic Bread Setting, unless using fast rise yeast then you can do Basic Rapid Bread Setting. Makes 2lb loaf

***If you want rolls instead of a loaf of bread, place the bread machine on dough setting. After the cycle is done, take the dough out of the machine and make into 12-24 balls(depending on what size rolls you would like). Place in a greased pan...let rise til double in size(1/2 hour to 45 minutes). Bake in oven at 350° for 15-20 minutes or til golden brown.

Looking for more breads, pasta, or potato recipes, head over to Jen-Frugal Upstate's Frugal Food Series--breads, pastas, or potatoes.

Menu Plan Monday

**This is just a plan and plans have the ability to change at the cook's discretion! I like short weeks like last week for menu planning, BUT having short weeks means not enough leftovers for dh's lunches the following week so we shall see if I can get some dinners made this week with extra leftovers to compensate. I am also in a menu planning "rut" this week. Nothing sounds good to fix for dinners, so I am going with Sonshine's family favorite meals. Lunches listed below are for the kids and I, dh's lunches are not included as he normally will just take what leftovers are available. A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday!**


Sunday(11-25)
Breakfast: eggs, hashbrowns, donuts, sausage links and canadian bacon
Lunch: chicken tender sandwiches and mac & cheese
Dinner: Lemon pepper chicken, boiled potatoes, and peas
Snack: "snack basket"

Monday(11-26)
Breakfast: cereal and leftover donuts
Lunch: leftover chicken rice soup
Dinner: bacon cheeseburgers, fries, and corn
Snack: "snack basket" or go-gurt

Tuesday(11-27)
Breakfast: waffles
Lunch: sandwiches and chips
Dinner: oven fried chicken, seasoned pan fries, and green beans
Snack: "snack basket"

Wednesday(11-28)
Breakfast: bagels and yogurt
Lunch: chicken nuggets, leftover boiled potatoes, and apple slices
Dinner: Taco bar and tortilla chips
Snack: graham cracker cookie sandwiches

Thursday(11-29)
Breakfast: french toast
Lunch: sandwiches and chips
Dinner: Roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, and rolls
Snack: "snack basket" or go-gurt

Friday(11-30)
Breakfast: cereal and poptarts
Lunch: leftover tacos
Dinner: seasoned baked chicken, rice, peas and/or salad
Snack: homemade chocolate shakes

Saturday(12-1)
Breakfast: "Cook's Choice"
Lunch: grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup
Dinner: Roasted(crockpot) Pork Roast and gravy, baked potatoes, french style cut green beans, and biscuits
Snack: popcorn

Singing Sunday

In Your Presence
by Jeremy Camp

As I stand here in your presence,
Of your beauty I will always stand in awe,
I reach my hands out to the heavens, yeah,
And I lift my voice to you alone, To you alone,


As I bow my head before you,
I lay my burdens down at your nail pierced feet,
Every ounce of you radiates your glory,
With you I know that I’m complete


And I sing Hallelujah,
You are my God,
Maker of the heavens,
Hallelujah, You are my LORD,
I bow before your presence,


As I stand here in your presence,
Of your beauty I will always stand in awe,
I reach my hands out to the heavens, yeah,
And I lift my voice to you alone,

And I sing Hallelujah,
You are my God,
Maker of the heavens,
Hallelujah, You the LORD of all,
Maker of all the heavens,
I can only kneel before your presence,
All the nations praise your Holy Name,
You are the great I Am,
More than I can reason,
I realize more that I am needing you,


You are worthy, you are worthy LORD,
You are worthy, You are worthy,
You are mighty, You are mighty,
You are mighty, You are holy,
You are mighty, You are holy