Pickled carrots ? sure why not!

I seem to have an abundance of carrots, so why not pickle them?
I decided to go with a simple Lacto-fermented method using dill , garlic, white pepper, carrots, and a salt water brine.
I made 1 quart jar and 1 pint jar with the simple recipe and stored them on the shelf in my pantry with a dish clothe under them. I burped them every other day so they wouldn't make a mess.
After 2 weeks of moderate temperatures the pint jar had grown a mold, but the quart jar turn out perfect.

I have used the pickled carrots in potato salad and sliced on a grilled burger (I am out of regular dill pickles)

The flavor is really good and since I used whole carrots in the quart jar the seem to have kept their crunch. I moved the jar into the refrigerator to slow down the fermentation.

Next round I am going to use a bail style glass jar (I have domed lids for them bail jars) hoping I won't have to burp them as often that way.

Next round of carrots will also include shredded carrots and ginger in hopes of a kraut flavor and texture.

Everyday Homemaking, doesn't mean bland and boring food thanks to Everyday Cooking

I hate bland food and I am always looking for simple easy meals that the family will enjoy. So Everyday Cooking was a perfect find for me.As a homeschool mom of 2 little boys, I find that I'm often in the kitchen alone, especially lately with the nice weather outside (not too hot and not too cold). With that I am always looking for new ideas that will make it easy. I fell in love with this e-book cookbook. 
I have it saved on my phone, yes my cell phone, so it is crazy handy. I use it in the kitchen and while I am grocery shopping. I have tried several of the tips and tricks listed through out this book as well as a few of the recipes. I love that the recipes are simple enough that I can modify them. Even better many of the meat / main dish recipes list various cooking methods. Something about the way this book was written has inspired me to start cooking with my pressure cooker. I love canning with it, but never really thought of cooking with it, until I read the recipe for roast. I usually cook a roast (especially a pot roast) in the crock pot, but will be cooking one in my pressure cooker this coming week to save time. 
Vicki Bentley does an amazing job keeping it simple enough for busy moms. She also inspires Moms with real and healthy ideas on her blog
If you are looking for whole food, simple, recipes then I can't say enough about this book. If you are looking for someone to hold your hand along the way, honestly that is how I felt as I was reading the book, like Mrs. Bentley was right there with me talking me through the steps. 

I am trying to make meals ahead and make healthier meals for my family and honestly this cookbook has inspired me.  At first I wasn't sure about an e-book cookbook, but now I think I have used it more in the last few weeks than my tried and true BHG checkboard binders (I have 4 different ones that I use along with a variety of other cookbooks). I'm sold on the e-book cookbook! When else can you have you cookbook when you go grocery shopping? Seriously, I actually pulled it up on my phone a few weeks ago at the grocery store to make sure I had all the ingredients listed for a particular recipe.
The book is available online in print with a coil binding for $17.99 which would make a great gift, or as an e-book for only $14.99, which is a great deal for this amazing book. 


Be sure to check out what the rest of the crew thought of this book as well as another book from Everyday Homemaking

disclaimer: I received an e-book copy of this product as a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my review of the product.

M is for exercising with Math #atozchallenge

Recently the boys and I saw a fun activity on a TV show ;combining math and exercise, with a number board and jumping jacks.


We decided to give it a shot. Cameron got the sidewalk chalk out and drew the number box for us. Then the boys took turns jumping onto two numbers and adding them together, once they had the answer they did jumping jacks to that number.


Burns energy and makes math facts a lot more fun!
Since we live in Oregon and never know if the sunny spring days are going to last we have to figure a way to play the game inside as well.



No problem, Mommy just got 10 sided dice to add some fun to our stamp game and Montessori Checkerboard activities,why not use them to come up with the addends?
Perfect!




















This time Nathan decided to do push ups and  Cameron stuck with the jumping jacks.

Either way they are practicing their math  facts and adding healthy activities to their school day.

Go Back in time and learn with Vintage Remedies for Kids #hsreviews

Do you long for a simpler life, a more natural life?  I know I do, even as I sit here typing this review with my cell phone beeping next to me (ironic I know).

We try and work toward a more natural healthy environment for the boys. Through out the spring, summer , and fall we work with our garden and harvest in an effort to save money, but also eat and live healthier.  I was so blessed when we received our Crew copy of Vintage Remedies for Kids to review and work with Nathan on.

What is Vintage Remedies for Kids? This book is a curriculum for ages 2-6 focusing on healthy food choices and how to make fun and healthy snacks.  Each lesson is age appropriate and has a hands on activity to go along with the lesson. Since this age group (including my Nathan) learn better doing then just listening, all 18 lessons are designed in that fashion. The book doesn't have a lot of pictures but is packed full on fun and healthy snack ideas.

We had a blast making our own butter in a pint jar! He especially loved making it because we got to use it for dinner and then breakfast , and even shared it with a friend that came over.

The book itself is small but fill of information and was actually interesting for my 9 year old son Cameron. He listened along with Nathan as I read the lesson and then helped and did the activities without an attitude.  The sprial bound format is great too as it makes it easy to use in the kitchen as well as a great way to "mark" the lesson you are on by opening the book all the way.

The book is available online through Vintage Remedies website and retails for $25.00.  A littler higher than some of the books we have used but well worth the price.  There are other books in the series as well; Vintage Remedies for Girls, for Boys, and for Teens.  The program is great for small classes, homeschoolers, youth groups, etc..

Be sure to check out Vintage Remedies Facebook Page  and  Twitter

 Check out what my Crew Mates thought of these amazing books HERE

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my opinion, no other monetary compensation was received. 

Keeping up with an active 8 year old.

Cameron and I participated in a social insight study on Collective Bias this past weekend.
Just wanted to share the final project with everyone.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions within the slide show are our own