Wedding Shower Invite

I have been invited to my nieces shower. No surprise. However I received a recipe card with it. I am wondering if this means I am to send or bring a recipe to the shower. If I do I know which she wants more than anything... Baked Mac and Cheese. Maybe I will give her my homemade Barbecue sauce recipe also.

Fudge Frosting

Fudge Frosting (To cover top and sides of 3 9-inch layers)
6 squares Unsweetened chocolate
4 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups sweet milk (Eagle Brand Milk)
2 teaspoons vanilla
6 Tablespoons butter
5 - 6 tablespoons cream

1. Melt chocolate in saucepan over low heat.
2. Combine sugar, flour and salt with chocolate.
3. Add milk gradually, blending well.
4. Cover saucepan and bring to boil slowly, stirring occasionally.
5. Boil slowly two minutes.
6. Uncover and boil to soft ball stage (232 degrees F), stirring occasionally.
7. Remove from heat, add vanilla and butter.
8. Cool frosting to lukewarm without stirring.
9. Beat until frosting loses its gloss.
10. Add cream and continue to beat until right consistency to spread.
11. Spread quickly on cake.
(For 2 8-inch layer cake, use 1/2 of this recipe.)

Can't get the lid off of a jar?

If you are anything like me, jars give me trouble. I am a "klutz"... I fear dropping a jar and crash... splatter.... oh my I did it again.

Here are some hints to help you get jars open easier. Hold the jar upside down and pour warm vinegar around the neck. This is where the glass jar and the top lid meet. Twist.
Here is another idea... purchase one of those jar openers. They come in various types.
Sometimes I use a hand towel. I put one end around the jar and the other end around the lid. I twist in opposite directions.
My grandmother and mother tap the lid with the handle of a butter knife, then twist.

If you have any other suggestions send them to me. I will be glad to share them with others.

Food Equivalents

Grocery shopping can be challenging for most of us. We find a recipe we would like to make; however we don't know how much to purchase because it contains fresh produce. How many apples makes a cup? Do I need this whole bag or just one?
Fresh produce is one of the special Food Equivalents we will be adding to the side bar as we add recipes that need those equivalents. Check back often so you can see if we have added an equivalent you need.

Menu Planning

Anyone that has been in my classes understands that I believe MENU planning is the key to a great, hassle free meal. I also believe that the family should be involved in the planning.

When we allow our children and others members of our family help plan the meal we are telling them they are important. If your children are like mine were, they did not all like the same things. How did we solve this problem? We would let them have a voice in dessert, vegetables, meat... and then we would have at least one thing that each of them liked, most of the time they agreed on what we had planned.

Here are a few other suggestions in how to get the kids involved in mealtime.
1.) Encourage the children to try everything. Keep a log on what they like or don't like. If you date it, then you can explain to them that their taste change from time to time and that just maybe they will like it now.

2.) Don't let them not try new things. Keep introducing new foods to them. I know that sometimes they don't like the texture, more than the taste. Encourage them to at least try. If they truly don't like it, don't force them to eat it. This could make them not want to ever try something new. Keep something handy that they do like and let them have it when they try.

3.) Have the children have a voice in the menu.

4.) Take the children to the grocery store to help purchase the groceries. Have them help pick out fresh fruit (if in season, otherwise use frozen or canned), some vegetables they like or would like to try.

5.) Allow them to help pick out napkins, paper plates and cups. This makes them feel they are having a voice in the table settings along with the meals. It helps them have some ownership in what they have to eat.

6.) Have the children help with meal preparations. There are many things they can do. It makes them proud of what they have done and more willing to try something new.

7.) Make a cookbook of favorite family recipes. Have them help you. When you finish it becomes their recipes. Let them choose at least one recipe a month to add to the family menu.

Welcome

Welcome to my first blog posting for this blog. I am a teacher of special needs students. I am constantly trying to create new ways to get the students interested in learning. I am opening an online school in the summer. If you are interested in information about this program and having your child(children) be apart of my programs, email me at letshelpothers@gmail.com

Thanks for coming by. I will post my first kid friendly recipe soon. Look for a video with some of the recipes... my grandchildren will be leading the instruction video when one is needed. Pictures will be furnished. This is from a kid friendly kitchen.