chia pudding

This is my new favourite healthy snack: Chia Pudding.

This one with mango and dark chocolate, but it's delicious naked, too!

Recipe:

1/3 cup chia seeds

1.5 cups milk

2 tbsp coconut syrup (because brown rice syrup is so far impossible to find here and because we unknowingly let our maple syrup go moldy - fyi you can boil the mold right off... who'da thought? But no. Any liquid sweetener will work.)

1/2 tsp vanilla

Shake it all up in a container and put in the fridge. I shook it a few times after that and then let it sit overnight. Yes, it's so great for breakfast!

Our little one is getting big, just like my appetite!

super simple summer salad recipe

At the cottage we had this amazing salad:

A friend of mine made a delicious oil and vinegar dressing for it...

So delicious I asked her to hand over the recipe.

To which she responded, just Google it; it's on AllRecipes.

And so I did!

Here's that recipe if you want something super fresh and full of flavour to top your spinach:

1/2 cup vegetable oil {I think we used EVOO}

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 tsp paprika

2 Tbsp sesame seeds

1 Tbsp poppy seeds

Whisk all the ingredients together and drizzle on top of your spinach and whatever salad!

{Recipe source}

I topped it with feta after adding this amazing dressing and reserving myself a scoop {since I'm dairy-free}.

Enjoy!

- Amanda

grandma's coleslaw

You know, there are not a lot of foods that I just don't like.
I'll eat almost anything and I'll try almost anything.
{Needless to say, perhaps, I will not be trying balut when we arrive in Manila.}
One thing I really do not like, though, is coleslaw.
It's too green and mushy for me.
It's vinegar-y and tangy in all the wrong ways.

Last week we had a turkey dinner with the family.
{Since we live overseas, we tend to have whole trimmed holiday dinners in the summer.}
Jeff's grandma always makes awesome food, but this time she made an awesome coleslaw.
I didn't even know this was possible!
I think I'm a coleslaw convert.

Grandma's Coleslaw

1 bag cabbage or broccoli slaw {or chop your own}
1 c Miracle Whip
1/4 c white sugar
2 Tbsp white vinegar
raisins
pecans

Mix 'em up good and throw in as many raisins and pecans as your heart desires. We had this as a side with ribs and it was a perfect summer meal. Yum!

- Amanda

Birthday Sale!

It was my birthday this week!
I don't know if it's the fact that I got older...
and am so rapidly leaving my 20s behind...
or that I'm lazy...
but Jeff and I definitely had Nutella Banana Quesadillas for dinner one night.

This after I found an empty jar of Nutella in the cupboard.
It's a running joke in our house that we need to make sure we live like adults.
But on occasion that dorm-life mentality still seeps through.
I also made Key Lime Frozen Yogurt Pops:

Which I cannot wait to try - they are setting in the freezer as I type.
And because I had the sweetened condensed milk open for them, I also made my Rice Pudding.

One of my favourite desserts!
At any rate, to celebrate I have my TpT shop on sale now! 

Frame courtesy of Clipart Cuties.
Enjoy!

Blah - reports.

You know how when you're writing reports you have really great ideas for everything but those reports? 
You just can't seem to focus on those reports?
Your mind goes blank every time you stare at a child's name on your computer screen?
That's me.

I think I've checked my email a bazillion times.
I've organized the awful mess of a book shelf where things categorized "I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-you-yet" get thrown.
I've read and made comments on some little journal entries.
I took down some work from a bulletin board. 
I put up new work on a bulletin board.
I ate my lunch. 
{I wasn't hungry yet.}
I emailed poor husband to tell him know how distracted I am. 
{He emailed back saying his day is very productive. Thanks, dear.}
So, blogging becomes the next procrastination tool.
{Lucky you - haha!}

And at that, it won't even be educational, this blogging. It's becoming true procrastination now. 

I think I've talked before about the fact that I don't cook.
Very much, anyway.
But I'm trying to learn a few things. Like how when substituting fresh basil in a recipe that calls for dried you simply double the amount. Learned that yesterday.

When I found this recipe yesterday for Lemon Glazed Cookies I had to try them because I'm a major lemon fan,

 and this morning I made these Bacon Maple Cinnamon Rolls because Jeff is a major maple and bacon fan
 
and they were both delicious! We don't have real bacon in Kuwait, of course, so we buy a lot of beef bacon. It's not so bad.

Maybe now I can try to read up a little on travel tips for our upcoming trip to Jordan.
Or organize my assessment folders.
Or catch up with someone {anyone!} through email. 
Or organize the classroom library again.
Or clear off my gross teacher desk.
...
... 

I've been boo-ed!

Thanks to Laura from TIPS: Teach, Inspire, and Prepare Students for linking me up in the latest linky party: 

Here are the rules...

1. If you've been boo-ed, copy and paste the above pic and these "rules" into your post.

2. Give a shout out to the blogger who booed you and link back to their site!

3. Share 3-5 October activities, books, products (maybe yours or someone else's) or freebies(s) that you love!

4. Share the Boo love with 5 bloggers-make sure you check this link so that you don't repeat the "Boo"

http://toristeachertips.blogspot.com/2012/10/ive-been-booed-fun-october-linky.html

5. Link up {here} so that others can find you and read about your October ideas! While you are there check out the other great blogs!

So since I live in a Muslim country, we don't "do" Halloween. I did manage, before I was told that witches and ghouls are considered "haram" {not to be talked about - forbidden or sometimes sacred}, to make one Halloween-esque activity that I can share.{ There is no worksheet or anything, though, since I was mid-create when I found out.}

Another thing I can share is an absolutely delicious recipe that I made for the Canadian Thanksgiving dinner we shared with some fellow teachers here in Kuwait. It's a Martha Stewart find called "Pumpkin Ice Box Pie" and I can't wait to make it again!

These are the ingredients {click the link above for directions to make - you will NOT be disappointed!}:

• For The Crust

  • 16 cinnamon graham crackers, broken into large pieces - I was shocked after sending Jeff out with a grocery list that he actually found these in Kuwait! I won't mention the outrageous price, but suffice it to say the old "arm and a leg" phrase sprang to mind.
  • 1 tablespoon dark-brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

• For The Filling And Topping

  • 3 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin (from 2 packets)
  • 1 can (29 ounces) pure pumpkin puree
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
  • 1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
  • 3/4 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for garnish
  • 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
  • Yum yum! And since we have two - yes, TWO!! - surprise days off from school, I'm thinking of making it again. {There is a fairly major conference happening where several Asian dignitaries will be attending to speak about economic development and since our school is very near the airport, all the surrounding roads will be closed for safety! Awesome.}

  And the last activity I have to share is one that I won in a giveaway from Lori Rosenberg: 

  

  Check it out in her store by clicking above. It's a really cute packet!
  Here are the five bloggers I want to BOO:

  

  and Kelli from Tales from a Traveling Teacher.

  Thanks again, Laura!

Award and More Recipes

This will be a bit of a long post, but there are great things all around: I received a great award and the recipes I'm posting are A LOT lighter than the last one :P {That's for you, Barbara!}

Big thanks to Tori at Tori's Teacher Tips for thinking of me when giving out this award:

!!!!!

I love being a part of the blogging community and think it helped me tremendously throughout my first year of teaching and will for the next thirty years! Thank you, Tori!

The rules:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.  Of course! Huge thanks, seriously.

2. Include a link to their site. I heart Tori's blog. Have a look around.

3. Include the award image in your post. Got it.

4. Give 7 random facts about yourself. See below.

5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award. So many fantastic bloggers.

6. When nominating, include a link to their site. 

7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated. 

Random Facts:
1. My dearest friend, Jessie, has been my best friend since Kindergarten.
2. I have suddenly developed allergies {I don't know to what exactly but not to any foods - phew!} and for someone that L.O.V.E.S. summer, this is the worst.
3. I have been asked to run a workshop for Math and Literacy Centers for our teacher orientation in August. I'm nervous and excited to map out a plan for this.
4. Right now I'm wearing my new Merrell "Barefoots." They are the lightest footwear I've ever owned. Okay, so because it's like walking on bare feet and most of us usually don't, I have to "break them in." Which sounds weird, I know, but its important for my muscles. Jeff and I ended up getting the same pair {plain black} because we do so much wandering when we travel.

5. One of my favourite shows is HGTV's House Hunters International. We have a bit of a dream to one day own income property overseas.

6. I just ordered dozens of white roses for our wedding day, which is coming up SUPER fast {July 21} and I could not be more happy and excited about. I am also working on some white hydrangeas. Gotta keep it simple for an evening wedding :)
7. I find it annoying that my blog posts are filled with so many different fonts, when I specifically have only one chosen for my template. Not as techy as I wish I was!

I'm now giving the award to: 
1. Susie at Learning with Susie Q {Susie is one of my most supportive followers and she has great ideas to share!}
2. Erin at First with Franklin {She's having a giveaway right now in honour of 100 followers}
3. 1st Grade Hip Hip Hooray 
4. Jacque at Mommy & Me Creations
5. Brittany at Sweet Seconds
6. Casey at Second Grade Math Maniac
7. Heather at Second Grade Perks
8. Kimberlee at Teacher Time Savers
9. Nicole at Mrs. Rios Teaches Second Grade
10. Stephanie and Jamie at Prayers and Purple Elephants
11. Barbara at Grade ONEderful {She already has this award of course but she is such a great bloggy friend that I just need to show some appreciation! And she's Canadian!}
12. Alessia at Mrs. Albanese's Kindergarten Class {Another fellow Canadian!}
13. Jenny at Luckeyfrog's Lilypad
14. Amanda {great name! hah} at Reaching for the Top! Ms. Wilkie's Second Grade Class.
And last, but most certainly not least, my absolute favourite teacher in the entire world:
15. Jeff at A New Classroom! He started his blog just a bit ago and is creating a very detailed game-based system for teaching his grade eight class next year. Go check it out if you'd like a fresh perspective on teaching middle school.

Now on to the food.

So this long weekend friends of mine hosted a three-bride {myself and two other good friends} bachelorette party at Blue Mountain and it was SO great! We have a great group of friends that we met while teaching in Korea and I'm so thankful for such a helpful, supportive and loving bunch. I made snacks to hold us over between meals and they were all a big hit. *CLICK ANY OF THE PICTURES OR THE TITLES TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE RECIPE* I highly recommend everything I made: 

Roasted Tomato and Garlic Salsa from Mama Loves Food - make it as spicy {or not} and as chunky {or not} as you'd like. The key is in roasting the veggies. It was definitely like restaurant salsa.

Olive Tapenade with fresh French bread - This was SO EASY to make! Just put all ingredients (black olives, green olives, garlic - that's it} into a food processor and voila. Also Delicious and also from Mama Loves Food.

Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip {one of my favourites!} This recipe is from Chatelaine, one of my favourite "everything" magazines. If I still lived in Canada I'm fairly certain I'd have a subscription.

Goat Cheese and Bacon Balls - from another favourite recipe site, Buns in My Oven. Blended with cream cheese, the strong goat cheese flavour is nice and mild. If you let them sit too long after making, the basil starts to take over the flavour of the bacon, so I guess it's up to you when to eat!
If you need a quick and tasty bbq potluck, try one out. You won't be disappointed!
- Amanda

Simple, easy, delicious chocolate mousse recipe

Who doesn't love "simple" and "easy" when it comes to cooking? I am loving bbq season and was pretty happy yesterday when Jeff decided to make an old favourite - Nigella Lawson's chocolate mousse. It is smooth and cool and dark AND it's made with mini marshmallows! Amazing, right?! It's a perfect way to use up that leftover camping trip stash.

{Recipe and photo source} 

INGREDIENTS

• 150g mini marshmallows {or roughly cut up larger ones}
• 50g soft butter 
• 250g good dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids), chopped into small pieces
• 60ml hot water from a recently boiled kettle
• 1 x 284ml tub double cream {we just use whipping cream}
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

METHOD

Serves: 4-6

1. Put the marshmallows, butter, chocolate and water in a heavy-based saucepan.
2. Put the pan on low-med heat {keep it fairly gentle} to melt the ingredients, stirring every now and again. Remove from the heat.
3. Meanwhile, whip the cream with the vanilla extract until thick, and then fold into the cooling chocolate mixture until you have a smooth, cohesive mixture. Try not to mix too vigorously - folding needs to be  a gentle action!
4. Pour or scrape into 4 glasses or ramekins, about 175ml each in capacity, or 6 smaller (125ml) ones, and chill until you want to eat. If left overnight in the fridge, you are likely to have a more mousse-like texture - if you can stand to leave it that long!

Give it a shot if you're craving something sweet, deep, and chocolatey!

- Amanda

Rice Pudding {affectionately known in 2C as Arroz con Leche}

Okay, so it isn't the "next" post...

At my school we have an "International Week" where each class chooses a country to study and thinks up some activities to bring into the classroom. I chose Peru, because it's where Jeff and I will go in the summer on our honeymoon! I've had to be pretty creative with this unit... I looked up some Peruvian cuisine and found a lot of recipes for Arroz con Leche. I LOVE rice pudding, so I had to do this one {plus it's cheap to make!}. Initially I wanted it to be something the class could make together, but rice pudding has to be made on the stovetop, so I decided to turn it into graphing and Language extension activities instead.

via

First, we tested the dessert, and I gave each student a cut out graphic of a bowl of rice. Then we graphed it: Love it; Like it; Do not like it. I only had two kids that didn't like it! Next we will interpret the results. In Language, the students will write the recipe as a list, then do a simple "First, Next, Last" writing activity based on my retell of the procedure and a few photos I took.

I love love love this recipe, and I was rather irritated when I misplaced it and had to put it back together from memory. It's a mix of different recipes I found online. It's super easy, but a bit time consuming, so keep that in mind.

• 1/2 cup rice


• 1 1/2 cups water


• Pinch of salt


• 2-3 cinnamon sticks


• 2 cups warmed milk {I used one can of sweetened condensed milk and filled up to the 2 cup mark using regular milk}


• 1/2 cup sugar


• 1 egg


• Some vanilla

First, boil the rice with water, salt and cinnamon sticks in a pot. Lower and cook, covered, until there is no more liquid. As this works away, use a fork to mix the egg with the warm milk {so the eggs don't start to cook when you add it to the rice}. When the rice is ready, pour in the milk mixture and add the sugar. Stir constantly on the same low heat. Yep, it takes awhile. When it gets thick, add some vanilla, and stir it in well. Take the pot off the burner and it will continue to thicken as it cools.

Enjoy!

- Amanda