Minecraft.....

     Some of you may not have even heard of Minecraft. Others of you may be limiting the time your children play this addicting video game. I'm one of those parents who say, "At least if they are playing a video game, they have to create with this one instead of killing things!"
     So, recently, I read this article http://2machines.com/183040/ about all sorts of positive benefits that come from letting your children play this video game. What??!! Positive things come from playing video games? I don't know a single person who would say this. What do you think?
     Check out the article and see. Watch the library for possible Minecraft activities this summer. Actually, you can learn a lot from a video game.:)

How do you get your kids to read?

     What I really meant to say was, "How do you get your kids to LOVE to read?" I, myself, am a huge reader.  For a while, I was reading a book a week. I've slowed down a bit because of lack of time and sleep :), but I still love to read. I try to talk to my kids about reading and bring home lots of different books to try. I read out loud when there is time and tell them memories about books. My oldest, my daughter, didn't seem to like to read when she was younger. Sure, she could read, and did score quite high on all her reading tests, but I wasn't sure she really liked it. Then, all of a sudden one day in junior high school, she needed a book. I must have found just the right one, because from that day forward she LOVED to read. I couldn't find new good books fast enough for her. She devoured books. Then, a fun thing happened, we started reading some of the same books!! And then we could talk about them, and watch the movie versions and agree that the books were way better!! How awesome is that?!

My second child, my son, is the same way. It took me a little bit to realize just which books to bring home for him, but after years of scoring above and beyond in reading, now he LOVES to read also, devouring series after series. We often read together at night and the next day when he's read without me in school, he remembers in vivid detail all that has gone on and recounts it for me as if we had read together.

My third, also my son, is just getting started reading. Again, he doesn't seem to enjoy it. He has to read 20 minutes every night and he does without much complaint, but as soon as the timer goes off he is done. I started bringing home graphic novels for him and he eats them up, but I'm still not sure reading is a favorite pasttime for him. Hopefully, someday in the near future it will just "click" for him, like it did my other two.

I am so excited to share a love of reading with my children. It's one of my favorite things to do. There is a new book out called Raising Kids Who Read by Daniel Willingham. NPR reviewed it here (http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/03/17/387774026/q-a-raising-kids-who-want-to-read?sc=tw), and they share a few of Daniel's tips on teaching your kids to love reading. I'm not sure I did anything special, but I did read to them, and in front of them and we talk about reading and I make sure books are available to read. What do you do to foster a love of reading?

From Our Recipe Box to Yours...

     I know ham seems to be traditional fare for Easter dinner, but growing up my grandma always made what we called Pineapple Hambake. I searched and searched for a recipe that would be like what I enjoyed and found this Pineapple Ham Balls Recipe. It is essentially what I ate growing up, except my grandma made them into patties like hamburgers and lined them up in a 9x13 pan with slices of pineapple in between; thus Pineapple Hambake. If you are looking for something that is a little different this year, but still want to stick with ham as traditional fare, give this a shot. I always loved it!!!

Pineapple Ham Balls Recipe

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 1 hourYIELD:4-5 servings

Ingredients

• 3 cups ground fully cooked ham
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1 cup soft bread crumbs
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 can (20 ounces) sliced pineapple
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

Directions

• 1In a bowl, combine ham, pork, bread crumbs, eggs and pepper and mix well. 
• Chill. Form into 10 balls; set aside. Drain pineapple, reserving 1/2 cup of juice. 
• Place juice in a saucepan with sugar, vinegar and dry mustard; cook and stir over
•  low heat until sugar is dissolved. Arrange pineapple slices in the bottom of an 
• ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Place a ham ball on each pineapple slice. 
• Pour sugar mixture over all. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until ham balls 
• are thoroughly cooked. Yield: 4-5 servings.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! I hope you are wearing green today....

     Here's another traditional Irish favorite that looks so easy. I bet the kids would even eat this!

Bangers and Mash....

The quantities aren’t specific because this is something you can make for 50 or for 2

3-4 Sausages per person (Depending on size)

1 ½ – 2 Large Potatoes per person, peeled and chopped
2tsp Butter
2tbsn Sour Cream
Pinch of Nutmeg
Salt & Pepper to taste

3 Large onions, finely sliced
2tbsn Brown Sugar
2 Garlic Cloves, Finely sliced
½ cup milk mixed with 2tbsn Brown onion Soup powder
350ml Water

• Place the sausages on a greased baking tray and place in a 180°C oven for 15-20 minutes until golden and cooked through.
• Place the potatoes in a large pot, cover with water and allow to cook until they are soft.
• Mash with the butter, sour cream and the seasonings.
• Fry the onions in a bit of oil very gently until softened and starting to colour (about 20-25 minutes).
• Add the sugar and the garlic and turn the heat up. Allow the sugar to melt and everything to go a bit jam-like.
• Add the milk and water and allow to thicken. Check the seasoning and adjust. Serve over the sausages and mash.

(from http://simply-delicious-food.com/2010/05/13/bangers-mash/)

Did you miss a recipe?

     Did you know....Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick"), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland),^[4] the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland,^[3] as well as celebrating the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.^[5] Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.^[6] Christians also attend church services^[5][7] and the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol consumption.^[5][6][8][9]

Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland,^[10] Northern Ireland,^[11] the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the British Overseas Territory ofMontserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora around the world, especially in Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. (per wikipedia)

In honor of this holiday, I thought I'd include a traditional Irish recipe to try tomorrow while you are wearing green :)!

Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe

This is the best Irish soda bread I've ever had. It's lighter and softer than most others I've tried. We like slices spread with whipped butter. —Kerry Barnett-Amundson, Ocean Park, Washington

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Bake: 40 min. + coolingYIELD:12 servings

Ingredients

• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons caraway seeds
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
• 3/4 cup raisins

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, caraway seeds, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a small bowl, whisk eggs and sour cream. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raisins.

2.Spoon into a greased 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 350° for 40-45 or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing sides of pan. Cut into wedges; serve warm. Yield: 1 loaf (12 wedges).

Read more: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/easy-irish-soda-bread/print#ixzz3UZxjfhBH

A Turn of the tables...

     Do you have an electronic device that you use for reading? Do you have a computer, an Ipad, a Kindle, a smartphone? I'm pretty sure a great majority of us have something electronic to read on. Actually, I have more than one such thing. But, the real question is, "Do you use it?" More importantly, "Do you like it?" For myself, I have come to the conclusion that there is a time and place for everything. For the most part, I prefer reading an actual book to using a device. But, sometimes....a Kindle or an Ipad is very appropriate for the occasion. For example, when I lie down next to my kids at night, I don't need to switch on a light to read. When taking a trip, especially by airplane, you have only to pack one device instead of several books. If you are reading on your phone, it's easy to read while waiting in the doctor's office or on your lunch break, or at a kid's sporting event....
     Mostly, I think....

I ran across this article comparing Kindles and books today. I was amazed to find the author loves her Kindle more. Read it here...http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/07/12/why-i-love-my-kindle-even-more-than-books/why-i-love-my-kindle-more-than-books-still-on-the-fence-about-whether-an-e-reader-is-for-you-you-wont-be-after-reading-this-post-i-cant-believe-all-the-great-perks-included-with-a-kindle/

What do you think? What's your favorite way to read?

From Our Recipe Box to Yours....

     My family was invited to a dinner a few weeks back put on by the Butler County Fair Board. One of their members brought a salad much like this one. I just loved it and went searching to find one similar to make at home. Here you go....

Pear Salad with Walnuts and Feta Recipe

Ingredients:

1 bag spring mix salad
2 pears, cored and thinly sliced
1/4 cup roasted walnuts
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
freshly cracked pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread walnuts on single layer in a baking sheet. Roast for 10 – 12 minutes, or until just fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.
2. Add spring mix to a large bowl. Top with thinly sliced pears, feta cheese and walnuts. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Add freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Toss salad to incorporate all ingredients.

Book Trailer Monday....

The newest Oprah BookClub 2.0 selection....