Happy Easter!

We made Easter baskets with our buddy class last week. They turned out super duper cute!

Then, on Thursday, Cooking Group #2 worked with my Amazing SSSW (the latest acronym for our support workers) to make Chocolate Chow Mein Noodle Nests. These are super easy to make and quick as well!

I found the recipe here but didn't use the peanut butter and substituted jelly beans for chocolate eggs. 

Students were all smiles as they headed out the door on Thursday with a basket full of chocolaty goodness in their hands!

Hope Mr. Easter Bunny was good to you and yours!!!

Cheers!

Olwyn

Cooking in the Classroom

As many of you know, I am very, very fortunate to have an amazing Support Worker in my classroom this year. And, as luck would have it, she is also a trained pastry chef!

She has been taking a cooking group every two weeks and making something delish for us to eat! Kids get to cook once in every two months but they get to eat four times! Good deal, right?!

Last week she made Quiche Lorraine with the kids. And there was so much egg mixture left over that we had quiche not once, but twice! Double Yum!!!!

Here's the recipe she used:

Ingredients:
24 frozen mini tart shells thawed

4 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Filling:
6 slices ham
1 cup shredded cheese

To Make Filling:
Place tart shells on rimmed baking sheet; divide ham and cheese among shells.

In bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper; pour into tart shells.

Bake in bottom third of the oven at 375 degrees until pastry is golden and filling is just set (25-30 minutes)

She actually prebaked the shells for a few minutes to avoid the problem we had the last time we used them (they didn't bake through and the 3 o'clock bell was imminent!) but you probably don't need to do that if you are cooking at home.

Enjoy!

Ms. Hughes

Cooking it up... #3!!!

Okay, so I have managed to impress even myself these past three weeks. I have made a new recipe from my pinterest board each and every week so far this year! Go me!!!

This week I made a hashbrown casserole. Not something that would normally even be on my radar except that my mother has a lot of frozen hashbrowns in her freezer. The reason for all of the hashbrowns remains a mystery but I needed to find something to do with all those darn potatoes!!!!

The recipe I found was from The Daily Meal and was called Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole. If you click on the link above, it'll take you to the recipe.

Their version looked like this:



Mine turned out a bit different because (of course) I didn't have all the required ingredients on hand and had to do some substitutions. Still, it tasted pretty yummy!

Here's my version:

It tasted pretty gosh darn good but (I have to admit)...is not very good for you. It is basically a lot of melted butter, sour cream and cheese mixed with some onions, hashbrowns and a can of soup. It totally reminded me of the kind of cooking I get down South! However, since we are under Doctor's orders to feed my Mum full fat everything (no skinny lattes for her, no sirree!!!!) it worked out just fine!

Doubt I'll make it again but at least I can say that there are fewer bags of hashbrowns in my Mum's freezer!!!! (Now if I could only think of something to do with the bags that are still left......)

Happy Cooking!

Ms. Hughes

Sunday Cooking...

Week 2 of cookin' up the recipes I have saved on Pinterest.

This week it was apple and feta salad from Cooking Classy.

The recipe there was a bit different from what I ended up with but the basic idea is the same (that seems to be a theme with these recipes so far, doesn't it?) and it turned out really well.

Below is the recipe how it was on the website. They used chicken, bacon, walnuts, and dried cranberries in theirs.

 Above is my version. I used bacon, feta, apples and lettuce. No dried cranberries. No chicken. 

But have to say that it was still delish!!!! This recipe gets a high score with me. I would definitely eat it again. (I don't make bacon often but, from now on, I'll tuck away a few pieces to make up this for lunch!)

I better watch out...too many more cooking successes and I might start thinking I like the whole cooking thing. 

Nah! Would still rather read a book!

Cheers!

Ms. Hughes

Pinned it...Now do it!!!!

This is my new motto for all of the recipes that are on my pinterest recipe board. 

I have pinned A LOT of recipes over the past months. Lots of main courses but also lots and lots of deserts. I'm not sure why I pin so many them...I don't even eat desert regularly! And I don't eat gluten! They just look so gosh darn good,  I guess!

Anywho, I have decided that I am going to try to make one recipe per week this year. It will hardly put a dent in the number I have pinned but at least I will know if I like the way they taste or just the way they look on pinterest!!!!

Anyone who knows me, knows I don't really like to cook. It doesn't help that I literally have a 14"x 20" amount of counter space to cook on in my very, very tiny kitchen at home. The space is the size of a cutting board. (I'll have to take a picture one day to show you just how small my kitchen really is!)

But, now that I am at my mother's house half the time, I have a large kitchen at my disposal with a gas oven. Yay! 

So, the plan is to cook at least one thing from my "Recipes to Try" Pinterest board each week. I am here for dinner most nights (even the nights I don't sleep here) and have Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings to cook as well. 

I should be able to do this, right?

Right!

(Just keep saying that and I might eventually believe you!!!!)

So, this past Sunday was recipe testing session #1 from the board. I decided to try something that would be useful this first week back to school.


I pinned this awhile ago because it looked so good! It is from the Healthy Foodie and is called Portable Western Omelets. The recipe comes from a cookbook I have never heard of but that sounds interesting called Primal Cravings.

I changed some of the ingredients so I could use what I had on hand. Instead of ham or prosciutto, I used bacon. And I didn't have spinach so used eggs, mushrooms, scallions, green pepper and parsley. They turned out like this:

And I am happy to announce that they are also very, very tasty! I individually wrapped and froze the omelets and have been taking them to school. They microwave up perfectly and are very yummy! And they fill me up until recess. 

I am calling this first effort a huge success!!!!

Now, what to make this coming Sunday?!?! Hmmm...

Stay tuned...

Currently....November

It's that time again!

Time to link up with Farley over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for this month's Currently!

listening....I am not usually a Castle viewer. I used to watch it all the time in the first two seasons or so but not much since then...

however, being bored out of my mind has made me into someone who watches pretty much anything! Though I have not yet succumbed to daytime tv. Currently (get the pun!), Beckett is standing on a bomb that is set to go off in 10 minutes. Oh the suspense!!!!!

loving...okay, okay, I know that this sort of thing really annoys some people (I'm pretty sure it only annoys the unorganized ones out there!) but I am one of  those people who finishes ALL of my Christmas shopping, baking, card writing etc before December 1st. I want to enjoy December. NOT be exhausted! The last couple of years I have used a site called Organized Christmas that has helped me tremendously. It wouldn't work for everyone but it sure works for me!!!!

thinking...that I am so, so, so sick of being sick. I have been home from school sleeping, coughing, sleeping, coughing, you get the idea...since Wednesday! Yep! That's right...four days. Four. Very. Long. Days! I am back on Monday (no matter what!) but won't be there until the afternoon as I have a scheduled appointment in the morning. Not the best timing for the appointment but, what can I do?, I've been waiting awhile for it and I'm not going to miss it.

wanting...okay, this one goes with the loving one. I want the other 50% done. Finished. Complete. Nuff said.

needing...I am kind of like a skipping record today, huh? I can live with some of the cold symptoms but the laryngitis has got to go. I have spent 4 days not talking and still I have a scratchy, rough voice. One that I know will be completely gone again once I teach for a day or so. Maybe what I am really needing is a plethora of silent signals to use when teaching in order to save my voice!

a yummy pin...as some of you know, I am gluten free. I haven't bothered trying to bake much the last few years since finding really good cookie and cake recipes that are also gluten free has been somewhat of a challenge! However, I found this site Gluten Free on a Shoestring and I have decided to give it a try. I mean, how can you look at this picture and not want to try it out?!?!

And there you go....another Currently done!

Cheers!

Ms. Hughes

Sleeping the Sickies Away

Hello Friends!

I have been in absentia from the blogosphere the last couple of days. 

I went to a wonderful workshop on Friday (more to come on that at a later date!) and then came home feeling like death warmed over (or, at least, what I think death warmed over must feel like!).

Went to bed at 8:45 Friday night and didn't get up again (other than to go to the bathroom and get drinks) until today (yep, Sunday!) a little after 10:00 a.m. 

Wowzer!!!! I slept over 36 hours!!!!

Still not feeling great but have been out of bed for over an hour and so far am not feeling the huge need to nap. So, thought I'd get in a post while I am still awake!

Not a lot of talk today. Just some photos of life in Lucky Division 13 this past week!

Made "Mummy Dogs" with the class on Wednesday. Well, in reality, Miss Vanessa made the mummy dogs. I just brought in the supplies. 

There are no words to describe how grateful I am to have Miss Vanessa working in our class this year. Beyond the fact that she is an amazing cook (these mummy dogs soooo didn't make use of her considerable talent!) but because she just makes life better. Always positive, never complaining, a beautiful quiet energy and a great heart. How could I ever want anything more?

Some photos of our Math Stations this week. One was pattern blocks (we have begun learning/reviewing what we know about 2 dimensional shapes), another was at the tub station (a roll the dice game that works on addition facts) and the last was our seat work ( a book about shapes.)

And last, but most definitely not least, a page from a student's Gratitude Journal. I had this student last year and, I have to tell you, my heart just about burst when I read what she had written! Her current teacher sent her over to me during Community Centres and I almost cried reading her wonderful words about me. 

And I love how she is so honest saying that I am optimistic most of the time! So true! I pride myself on always trying to see situations and people from a positive perspective. I succeed more often than not, I am glad to say!

This, to me, is what community is all about. Building relationships that last and are meaningful with the students! It helps me to remember why I am a teacher and what I believe in. The bottom line is always about relationships. Math, Writing, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Gym...all are important but, without relationship, are really meaningless as far as I am concerned. I could go on but, since you all know by now that this is one of my soapbox topics, I won't!

Instead, I will bid you adieu and head back to bed. Not feeling too bad still but could probably use a nap (after all, I have been out of bed now for over 2 hours!!!!!) Crossing my fingers that I am well enough to come to school tomorrow!

Ms. Hughes

Foto Friday

Hello friends!

Sorry there were no photos last Friday. To be perfectly frank, I was just glad to get through last week! I didn't take time to do anything other than what had to get done. It was a long, long, long (did I mention long?) week!!!!!

Anywho, here are some photos of the happenings in Division 13 lately!

We started using our math tubs for sorting activities. 

We learned a math facts game called Bump. This is the fall version with addition to 12.

There was lots of K'Nex love during centre time. Some of the kids are obsessed!!!!

We made applesauce in the slow cooker 

Cheers!

Ms. Hughes

A Moment of Perfection

Yesterday we had a moment in our studio.

It is a moment that happens every year at some point. Some years it happens more than once. If I am very, very lucky (and have done a lot of front loading!)

Generally, though it is a moment that does not happen before a lot of time, patience and effort is put into training the class on behaviour and work expectations.

This year it happened without any prompting.

And, on a Friday afternoon to boot!

At around 1:20 on Friday, the three adults in our studio at the time (myself and two support workers) suddenly turned and looked at each other in amazement.

We couldn't believe our eyes?

Or should I say ears?

Absolute total silence while 23 little bodies wrote down the recipe for our muffins from Thursday.

I mean silence.

Hear a pin drop silence.

It. Was. Awesome!!!!!!

My fingers are crossed for many more learning moments like this!!!!

And, for those of you who might want to try the yummy muffins at home, here is the recipe (from a cookbook I have been using since 1982!!!! Geez, am I old or what?!?)

Blueberry Muffins

1 3/4 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. white sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 c. milk
1/2 c. melted butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. frozen or fresh blueberries

Stir together dry ingredients and add blueberries.

Combine egg, milk and melted butter and stir into flour mixture and blueberries stirring just to moisten. Do not beat.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Enjoy!
 
Ms. Hughes

Cooking in Division 13

Two posts in one day.

It is a miracle!

So, this week the Fruit & Veg program delivered blueberries. Yum! They inevitably send more than a group of grade 1/2's can eat. So...we decided to bake!

Luckily this year we have an awesome support worker who was a pastry chef in her previous life. She has agreed to cook or bake with the class every couple of weeks. I am thrilled!

I am capable in the kitchen but no one would ever say that it is my favourite place to be. (Though I can just bear it if I have the CBC playing As It Happens and a glass of wine to drink while I cook!)

So today, this...

 

turned into this...

 

Tomorrow we will write out the recipe and add our first recipe to our class cookbook. Stay tuned for more great cooking coming your way!

Ms. Hughes