Homeschooling for His Glory

Today I have a very interesting and practical review for you. It is food related. How about that? The crew got to review MyFreezEasy , a site where you can learn how to make meals that you can freeze to just take out at a later time, and enjoy with minimum effort. We were offered the premium annual membership to MyFreezEasy.com Freezer Meal Plan Membership . This site is packed-full with tips, and goody meals for your family to enjoy. The idea is to provide you with meals that you can save up in your freezer for those days when you have no time to prepare a meal in your kitchen - you know those days when you are out all day and forgot to stick something in the crockpot. The great thing about My FreezEasy is that it does not assume you are a pro at this freezer cooking thing. It has lots of videos to teach you the benefits and the how to of the whole process. I needed that because, as much as I have always been intrigued by it, I never looked at it very closely. My FreezEa...

I love my slow-cooker, otherwise known as crockpot. It makes cooking so easy and is handy for a lot of different situations. It really saves the day when I have to be out of the house the whole day, or need to bring something to church and need a large quantity.     I have a lot of recipes that I really love and that regularly make it on our menu, so I decided to share ten of those with you all:    Chili: Any Chili recipe can be made in the crockpot. So, go ahead and try that Chili recipe of your in there. If you do not have any at all, you can try this Chili Recipe . I just add cocoa powder and sugar to mine and use black bean instead of pinto optionally.   Chicken and Potatoes : a whole meal in the crockpot.   Chicken Tortilla Soup : great with guacamole, sour cream and cheese Taco Soup: also eaten with avocado, sour cream and cheese. Ground beef sauteed with garlic, onion and green pepper (optional)....

I have mentioned before I much I love bread. I bake a lot here, but my hubby and kids are the ones eating the sweets. What I fall for is savory and most of all breads and buns. This is my latest new bun recipe. It was a success. Soft, just sweet enough, just delightful! Hawaiian Sweet Bread Ingredients 1/2 cup Pineapple juice 1/3 cup milk 1/4 cup water 1/2 cup oil 1/4 cup sugar 2 eggs beaten 2 tbs butter, melted 1 tsp salt 4 cups flour 2 1/2 tsp yeast Preparation Combine the pineapple juice, milk, water, oil, melted butter, eggs, sugar, salt, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add 2 cups of the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a rough, shaggy mass. Attach the dough hook to the mixer and turn to medium-low speed. Gradually add the remaining flour, kneading until a dough begins to form. Continue kneading until a soft and smooth ball of dough forms. Place the dough in a clean bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until puffy a...

For those of you who do not know yet, I am a native from the beautiful island of Martinique in the Caraibean. Though we are part of France, we are still islanders and as such have our cool traditional Christmas goodies that fill our tables at Christmas time. Today I am going to share with you one of the most popular and enjoyed by all. Pates de Noel Dough: The dough is a very simple pastry dough. 1 1/2 cup flour 1/2- 1tsp salt 125g ( 1/2 cup) butter 10 cl milk, or water, or a mix of both Mix together  the flour and salt. Cut in the butter until resembles crumbs. Add the milk or water and mix until the dough comes together. Knead just enough to make a workable dough. Filling: 1 lb ground pork salt, pepper, 1 bay leaf 1 lemon 1 onion 3 garlic a couple of green onions scotch bonnet or red pepper flakes or enough of cayenne pepper to spice the lot 1 or 2 slices of bread soaked in milk (optional) Brown the meat with the squeeze lemon and all of the spices...

A few Saturdays ago, our church had a cookie exchange event and I brought these 2 delightful cookies. I thought I'd share one of the recipes with you all, and put it on here for keepsake. Here we go: Swirled Sugar Cookie Ingredients 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups white sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ¨Preparation: Measure the flour, salt and baking powder into   a bowl, mix and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and the sugar. Once smooth, add the eggs, vanilla and combine well. Add the flour mixture to the butter / egg mixture a little at a time. Mix until the floor is well incorporated and dough is smooth. Cover the dough with plastic wrap or wax paper and chill in the fridge  for about 1 hour. Overnight is also fine. If you want to freeze the dough, you can do so at this stage. Divide in tree equal pieces and place in three separate bowls. Kn...

Who does not like baked goods for breakfast? These are also perfect for coffee breaks and snacks. Here is a favorites of our ours, which never disappoints, and easy to do. Blueberry Scones Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling tops 1 tablespoon ...

I am a French national and as such I love bread. I especially love European, French bread. I always look for a reason to make some. Recently, my cousin from France shared with me a recipe, and of course I had to try it. I was really happy with the result, given how easy it was. So, I decided to share it with all of you. Petits Pains sans Petrissage (No-Kneading French Buns ) 375g flour (2 1/2 cup+ 2tbsp ) 2  to 3  tsp yeast 1 tsp salt 250 ml warm water 50 ml warm milk Preparation: Mix together flour and salt in a bowl. Make a well and put in the yeast. Add the water and the milk. Dissolve the yeast, then mix in the flour with a wooden spoon. The dough will be sticky and that is ok. No need to knead the dough Sprinkle flour on top and cover with a damp towel. Let it rest until double in size (about 1 hour). Preheat the over to 400F for ten minutes. Place the dough on a floury work place, form into a log ( as well as you can as the dough will be really sti...

I could not believe I had not shared my go to blueberry muffin on my blog yet. This recipe is a hit not only at our house but everywhere else I have brought it to. I always get requests for the recipe. What I like most about this recipe is how easy it is to make. My youngest made a batch this this morning,and it is all gone, with me only having had one. Awesome Blueberry Muffin Ingredients 1½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup white sugar ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder ⅓ cup vegetable oil 1 egg ⅓ cup milk or buttermilk 1 cup fresh blueberries ½ cup white sugar ⅓ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup cold butter, cubed 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners. Combine 1½ cups flour, ¾ cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Measure the oil in a measuring cup and add in the egg. Fill the measuring cup with the milk to the 1 cup mark. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture. Fold in blueberri...

 Chocolate cakes are favorites at our house. here is the newest successful try. Cheese Swirled Chocolate Cake     Ingredients   Cheese Filling  1 cup (8 ounce) cream cheese at room temperature 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips For the Cake : 2 large eggs 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus 1 teaspoon 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup buttermilk or yogurt 3/4 cup (3 ounces) coarsely chopped walnuts (optional) 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar (optional) Directions: Preheat the oven to 325F. Butter and flour a 10-inch Bundt or tube pan. Make cheese filling : In a medium bowl, cream the cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla until fluffy and beat in the egg. Stir in the chocolate chips and set aside. Cake batter: In a large bowl, b...

Blueberry Lemon Coffee Cake Ingredients : 2/3 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 tbsp vanilla Grated rind of 2 lemons 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 cup milk 1/2 cup yogurt or sour cream 1 1/2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degree. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in vanilla and lemon ring. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir milk with yogurt, and stir into eggs mixture alternately with flour mixture, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of wet. Spoon half the batter into a greased buntd pan or a 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle with blueberries.  Spoon the remaining batter over top, smoothing gently. Bake for about 60 min for bundt pan, and 45min for the 9x13 pan. Let cool 10 min. before removing from pan. The picture shows the recipe baked in ...

Chicken Bites 1 cup finely diced cooked chicken breast 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or any cheese you have on hand 1/4 cup hot sauce, and/or barbecue sauce 2 tbs melted butter 1 prepared bread dough Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in the middle of the oven. Line  a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Directions:   Making the chicken filling: Place chicken in a bowl and mix in cheeses, butter, and sauce of choice. Assembly: Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and cut  into 4 equal pieces.  Lightly dust your hands with flour, then gently  roll and stretch 1 piece of dough to form a 12-inch-long rope.  Flatten  dough and arrange so a long side is nearest you, then roll out to a  roughly 12- by 4-inch rectangle with a lightly floured rolling pin.   Gently press one fourth of your chicken mixture into lower third of rectangle,  leaving a 1/2-inch border along bottom edge.  Stretch bo...

Here is an easy weekday dish that uses leftover or items found in your fridge you want to finish up. Everyone loved it! Rice and Chicken Bake 1 Cup of cooked chicken 1-1 1/2 cups cooked rice 1/2 -1 cup sour cream 2 eggs 1 Tbs ketchup or barbecue sauce. salt Pepper Thyme Parsley Oregano 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese Mix all the ingredients together. Add the seasoning to your taste. Spread in a casserole dish and sprinkle more cheese on top. Bake @ 350 for about 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!

Last week I had a few bananas that were left uneaten. Today I thought I wanted to make something sweet and thought I need to use these bananas. Of course, I went and browsed Pinterest, I got inspired and remembered a jamaican pastry that I used to like: Banana Tarts . So that is what I ended up making. The boys and mom approved! Banana Tarts Ingredients: Filling: 3 ripe bananas (you could use ripe plantains as well) 1/4 cup sugar 2 tbsp water nutmeg vanilla Pastry dough 2 cups flour 1/2 salt 2/3 cup butter or shortening 5Tbsp water Prepare the dough: 1. Mix together salt and flour. 2. Cut the butter in the flour until ressembles coarse crumbs. 3. Add water, 2 Tbsp at a time, mixing with a fork. Form dough into a ball, and refrigerate wrapped in waxed paper. Prepare filling: 1. Put bananas, sugar and water in a saucepan and cook at low to medium temperature until mixture thickens (about 15 minutes). 2. Add a pinch of nutmeg and vanilla. 3. Add optional f...

 Zucchini Fritters  I made these a couple weeks ago and they were a hit with the family. Ingredients: vegetable oil for frying  3 cups grated zucchini 1 cup diced onion 2 eggs 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper When I made tis I half the recipe and it came out just fine. Preparation: 1. Combine the zucchini, onion and egg in a bowl 2. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper and chili powder together. 3. Mix together the zucchini mixture with the flour mixture. 4. Heat some oil, deep enough for frying, but no too deep. 5. Drop a heaping tablespoon of batter in the oil and fry for about 2-3 minutes until firm inside and brown on the outside. 6. Place on a paper towel to fdrain the excess oil. 7. Transfer to a serving plate and enjoy, as a side or a snack. Et Voila!

I absolutely love bread. Iam aloways trying new bread recipe. This one is an abslute winner. Try it and you won't regret it! I did prepare the dough in the bread machine and it turned out just fine. Parmesan-Garlic Pull Apart Bread 1¼ cups warm water 2 tablespoons sugar, agave, or honey 2 tablespoons canola oil 3-4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 2¼ teaspoons yeast 4 tablespoons butter 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup  Parmesan cheese  Directions Mix the water, oil, and agave/honey/sugar. Add half of the flour, yeast, and salt. (If you are using dry yeast and non-instant, mix yeast with liquids and let sit for 5-10 minutes before adding flour and salt.) Slowly add the rest of the flour as needed and continue to knead by hand or mixer for 5 to 7 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with towel and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled. Cut dough into 20-25 pieces. Mix melted butter and minced garlic. Dip dough in butter m...