Tag: winter

Weekend Cooking; The weather outside is too cold

I know it’s November and Thanksgiving is just next week BUT I was not expecting this freezing weather yet!  I’m not a big fan of the arctic temps the Midwest ushers in and yet, lucky for me, I love, love, love soup.

In preparation for this very busy weekend of our church Christmas bazaar, the opening night of Junie B., Jingle Bells, Batman smells that features the amazing Groovy Girl as none other than the main character, which is the same weekend that family and friends would descend upon us to experience this starring role I decided to make soup during the week so we could enjoy it for lunch and/or dinner.  And we did.

Of course it was made in a crock pot from a recipe book that my mother-in-law gave me quite awhile ago and it is delicious.

Adapted from Better and Homes and Gardens’ The Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes:

Indian-Style Curry Soup

1 medium eggplant, cut into 1-in cubes (5-6 cups)
1 pound red potatoes, cut into -1-in. pieces (3 cups)
2 cups chopped tomatoes or one 14 1/2-oz can low sodium tomatoes, cut up
1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 T grated fresh ginger
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 1/2 tsp coriander
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
2 T snipped fresh cilantro

In a 4- or 6-quart slow cooker combine eggplant, undrained tomatoes, and garbanzo beans.
Sprinkle the ginger, mustard seeds, coriander, curry powder, and pepper over vegetables. Pour vegetable broth over all.
Cover and cook over low setting for 8-10 hours. 0r on high for 4-5 hours.  Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

My modifications: I only used part of an eggplant and I diced it into tiny cubes as I didn’t want the children to see the eggplant. I already had yellow organic potatoes so I used those an cubed them into bite-sized chunks.  I had dry garbanzo beans in my dry storage so I prepared those with an easy recipe so they were soft before I toppled them into the crock pot.  


The soup hit the spot as the temperature continued to drop here yesterday.

This post is linked to Beth Fish Reads Weekend Cooking meme. Click to there to find many other food-related posts.  Stay warm out there.

Peaceful Reading…

Snowmen, Snowwomen=Snowpeople

(photo courtesy of Snowman Pics)
This first week back at school is always tough-teachers and students are tired.  In the Midwest its been cold and will be cold, cold, cold through March.  It is a long season for kids to tolerate.  To bring a little fun into the first week back and share their holiday break stories, we’ve been talking snowmen and reading books featuring the funny snow creations.  Here’s my list of books I’m using with students through January, hopefully giving kids a light-hearted look at winter.
Read this week:

It’s Winter (2002) by Linda Glaser-great alliteration which keeps even the youngest students awake with the fun sounds.  Even though this is fiction it has interesting facts and just as the reluctant listener might be giving up their head snaps back at the mention of bats and bees hibernating!

All You Need for a Snowman (2002) by Alice Schertle-I’ve fallen in love with this book and don’t know why I haven’t used it for a read-aloud before.  Poetic passages and whimsical illustration keep liitle ones(and me) mesmerized.  “Three hand-packed, triple-stacked balls of snow.  Hat on top, where a hat should go-that’s all you need for a snowman.  Except for…” and the next page gives you another item to add to the big, billowy snowman

To Read:

Snowballs (1999)by Lois Ehlert-This one has always been my go-to book for winter.  This year a teacher borrowed it before I had a chance to which  may be a good thing as it led me to search anew.

A Snowman named Just Bob (1999)and its mate A Snowgirl named Just Sue (2005)by Mark Kimball Moulton- good, paired set to read together.  A bit over the top in cheesy though and long.

Oh! (1999)by Kevin Henkes-in simple form shows the pure joy of winter snow.

Tracks in the Snow (2003)by Wong Herbert Yee-good, mini-mystery showing us a lovely outdoor winter world.

Snowmen at Night(2002) by Caralyn and Mark Buehner-with a little imagination a young boy thinks of fun things snowmen must go off and do while everyone else is sleeping.  Classic fun and probably what we will read next week.

Stranger in the Woods; A photographic fantasy(2000) by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick-Love this story, the kids love the “mystery” and the photos are beautiful!

There was an old Lady who swallowed some Snow! (2003)by Lucille Colandro and Jared Lee-rhyming, rollicking fun and kids cannot resist getting involved in this readaloud.

A Really Good Snowman (2005) by Daniel J. Mahoney-I discovered this charming tale last year and enjoyed reading it aloud because it has such a sweet message about helping smaller siblings out.  Cute animal characters compete in a snowman competition. Perfect for 2nd and 3rd grade.

What am I  missing?  What snowman and winter books are your favorites? 
Share your ideas in a comment so I can expand my collection.
Peaceful Reading…