Hash Browns!

Maybe you'll have a bunch of guests in town over the next couple of weeks, or perhaps you will have more time on your hands to make a big breakfast for your family. Here is a great way to make the morning easy by starting the night before!

Hash Browns

The Night Before . . .

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash as many potatoes as you wish. Place on a sheet pan or in a 9 x 13 pan that contains 1/2-1 inch of water. Adding water to the pan allows the potato skins to stay soft. Cover pan with foil. Place potatoes into oven to roast. Set oven timer for 1 hour, 15 minutes. (My oven shuts off at the end of the cooking time). Go to bed . . . potatoes will stay warm all night. Extra potatoes can be refrigerated and used up to 2 days later.

The Next Morning . . .

Remove potatoes from oven. Dice into 1/2 inch pieces and set aside--no need to remove the skin.

Dice one medium onion. Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and a couple tablespoons of butter. When oil/butter melts, add onion and cook until slightly browned and softened. Salt onion to taste. Stir onions periodically in the pan.

Add diced potatoes to the pan with the onions. Salt generously. Cook approximately 7-10 minutes over medium heat. Flip over with a spatula from time to time, and you may see a nice crust form on the potatoes.

Serving Ideas: serve with over easy eggs and toast; make a breakfast taco with corn/flour tortillas, bacon, scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheese, and salsa; use in an omelet or fritatta

Parent Modifications: add any of the following (diced) to the onion while it is cooking: jalapenos, poblanos, green pepper, red pepper, chorizo, a bit of bulk sausage, garlic

~Leslie

Menu, 12/21 and 12/22/09

Monday

AM Snack: bananas, water
Lunch: cheese lasagna, organic broccoli, organic milk
PM Snack: organic yogurt, organic animal crackers, water

Tuesday

AM Snack: organic apples, organic raisins, dried plums, water
Lunch: chicken/spinach/stuffing casserole, organic milk
PM Snack: gingerbread, organic apple juice

Enjoy your winter break! We will resume operation 1/4/10.

A Trip To The Dairy Vault

With so many things on my "to do" list, I feel as though I'm a gerbil running around and around in one of those little wheels. Trying to get last-minute things done before my in-laws arrive this week means the wheel is spinning so fast it's a blur, and I'm a gerbil in a full sweat.

It was time to make a trip to my local grocer, HEB. I enjoy doing the grocery shopping as it gives me time to clear my mind and I truly enjoy reading labels, looking at new food items, etc. In typical Janie fashion, I left the house in a hurry, but was so delighted to find that I had been organized enough to throw my grocery list in my purse.

I like doing my grocery shopping on a Saturday evening. It's quiet, and to all my single friends out there, or those of you without kids, I hear you snickering at me. Grocery shopping on a Saturday night? You'll be there soon enough. Trust me when I say you'll want to do the grocery shopping and leave the kids at home with your hubby every now and then!

I completed my grocery shopping in record time--about 40 minutes. I watched as the tired checker scanned all my groceries, and I handed him my coupons as I ran through my mental grocery list making sure I had remembered everything. Candy canes requested by Isaac?--check. Wipes for Emma Grace?--check. Orange juice for Todd?--check. Baking supplies?--check.

The cashier gave me my total, and I reached into my purse with great pride to pull out my wallet. Another task done on my list. My hand began to move frantically in my purse. To my horror, my walled was not there! Here we go. I dug my iPhone out and buzzed my husband--my freckled cheeks on fire. "Is my wallet there", I asked? "Yes", he whispered trying not to wake up sleeping children--I hung up on him in mid sentence.

I explained to the weary checker what had happened, and he informed me that he could "suspend" my order. Further escalating the situation, a manager was summoned to my checkout lane and he told me that my groceries would be parked in the dairy vault, and that if I wasn't back by 11 PM, they would add insult to injury and restock the groceries that I spent 40 minutes gleaning from their aisles.


The dairy vault--is that where shoplifters go? It sounded so serious [I wanted to take a picture of said dairy vault but I don't think they would have let me in.....] I assured the nice manager that I'd be back in 5 minutes--game on, buddy!



I hopped in my minivan and headed home. How fast could I get there? I pulled in the driveway, barely put the van in park, and as it bounced up and down from the impact, I jumped out and raced into the house to grab my wallet. I was greeted by my hubby and our 3 year old who was proclaiming that he was going to stay up ALL night. Ha! Funny, little guy! All night...."not possible" I say. Doesn't he know I don't have time for chit chat? "Your candy canes are about to be restocked, mister", I think as I bid Isaac and his father a goodbye. Six minutes. That's all the longer it took me to get to my house and back. I beat the clock. My buggy was pulled from the safety of the dairy vault, I paid for my groceries, and wheeled out of there as fast as my sneakers could take me.


A friend made the following comment on Facebook! when I recounted the events:

Oh Janie! I think you need a post it on your steering wheel. iPhone, wallet, money, keys, kids! Haha! That's just crazy!

Indeed, she may be correct.

SASSY PEA MARKET--10% OFF TODAY ONLY!

Sassy Pea Mkt and the petting farm open today ($1/kids). Save 10% on everything! Support LOCAL artisans! Lots of wooden toys, pottery, children's hair clips & tutus, scarves, hats, vegan body products, bibs, burp cloths, all natural dog treats, note cards, jewlery, photography prints. Raising 5 Beef a great gift--and ...their pork and beef cuts are 25% off! YARD EGGS!

Welcome to the Party

Time to prepare for the party. I arrive with my son and begin setting the stage . . .chairs down, put out table activities, unlock the door to the infant/toddler area, start the music. It's usually not long before our first friends arrive. Some of the little guys need some encouragement, but most of the children settle in quickly by hanging up their things, placing their shoes in the shoe basket and their water bottle in the water bottle box. From the infant parents, details about the baby we are inheriting is recorded on their daily sheets. For our older friends, a quick-sign in is all that is needed. I try to find a moment to start some coffee for the staff and begin receiving calls from families who have sick children or appointments that will delay them. I put on my apron--my energy shield (some like-minded programs say), so that I don't give all of myself to the children, but just enough.

My sister arrives, and our staff begin to come, too. Most arrive with their children in tow. Working mothers supported by mothers. The best way to work. We continue to greet every child and parent by name, ask a couple of details about something happening in their life, and have parents leave knowing that we have connected. Their child isn't just signed in, they aren't just a number. They have been welcomed into the family for the day.

The group size builds, and we split off into different groups inside this time of year. The noise level is high, but the children are productive. In warmer weather, we are outside enjoying nature by now, but today friends find one another, ask if a friend will be at school for the day, and stay warm for another hour before we head outside to feed the animals.

The Twos have their morning snack, the PreK continues its play, and the babies begin to settle in for a morning nap. Not everything is perfect, but we are all here, ready for the party.

~Leslie

Pictures of the Twos Class

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Thursday is crafting day around school, and everyone was busy making evergreen trees. In PreK, we cut out trees, colored them green, spread some glue on them, and added glitter to be snow! It was fun. In one PreK class, the children waited until the craft was done so that they could be decorated with a little glitter on their cheeks and hair by Wacy. With crafting done, and the rain subsiding, we headed outside. It was good to get exercise in the chilly air, and it was definetly a boot day, as we found lots of puddles. Friends practiced using a wheelbarrow, and had fun playing hopscotch and walking up our "goat bridge" which is a climbing wall placed on a little hill in the petting farm yard.

Thank you to Violet and her mom, Clair, for bringing some yummy treats to share after lunch!