A 6 Year old on a soft food diet?

Last weekend, my 6 year old son broke his jaw falling off of a bike. I know, aaaaaaaawwww (and OUCH!) He was not going fast, just landed on his chin. He got a couple of "green stick" fractures in his jaw and broke/chipped several teeth. He will need a cap on two molars - if the worst of the two can be saved instead of extracted. Like I said...OUCH! Now, he can only eat soft food for 2 weeks...doctors orders, not because of pain (remarkably, he is not really in pain anymore)

So, what do you feed a 6 year old that can't chew? We are putting "regular" food in the food processor and hoping that he will eat it. So far, chili went over really well, and he liked spicy refried beans. He has also eaten broccoli and cheese mush and corn mush. Tasty, but not really a texture that most kids would enjoy.

Tonight, we are having spaghetti. I am not sure that pasta will make a good texture. Maybe I will skip the pasta on his serving? I am working on a regular post about what is cooking here at home...I will include what we are feeding our very hungry little boy. I think that he will get tired of peanut butter, pudding and applesauce pretty soon. Besides, veggies are a mush (I mean MUST) in our house!

Mama's Hot Sauce!

Adventures in Canning: Take 1

My mom came over and brought her canning equipment to teach my how to make my own hot sauce. It was great fun! I want to learn how to can using a pressure canner, and she has one that she might have used to heat water once.

We started by trying to gather supplies. We hit at least 5 grocery stores trying to purchase the gallon sized cans of tomatoes. I ended up buying a membership at Costco just to get the tomatoes. My plan this year is to grow (and buy from a local farmer) enough tomatoes to can my own. But until then, it looks like I will start shopping at Costco.

When we opened the box for the pressure canner and found no instruction manual, I hit the internet. Since we were on a tight schedule (after having spent much time shopping etc), and I couldn't find the exact manual quickly, we decided to "can" the way she knows how - "water bath." We did use the large pressure canner pot to can this hot sauce, but not using pressure cooking. I haven't given up on that yet, though. I still have the pressure canner, and she has since found the manual and mailed it to me, so I can use it for my next adventure. Anyway, our recipe made about 17 jars of hot sauce (mostly quart sized.) I will try to can some for teacher presents after Spring Break.

I'm here to stay!

Well...things on the "Blog front" have been a little crazy! I have been working on another blog site that I have just about decided to abandon. It just isn't turning out to be what I expected...there are other factors and people involved in that one. So, hang on - I am going to stick with this one! The bottom line is just that I started this for me as sort of an on-line diary and way to connect to my friends far away. We are not so different...you and me. Many of us have similar stories of love and family, of food and friends, and of just doing the best we can with what we have. I hope that you find some comfort in my struggles and victories, and that you share yours with me, so that I may also share them with you. Together, we realize that our lives can effect others in positive ways - even when we are just living out our Faith one day at a time, doing the best that we can!

Although we have had record snowfall here in the South, I am turning my thoughts towards Spring. While finishing the last bowl of my very own recipe Deer Sausage Potato Cheese Soup, I am planning my tomato plants for this year. Last year was our first year to attempt to grow vegetables (and in containers), and the results were very poor - to say the least! We really started them much too late and they hibernated I guess...they bloomed, but never produced until after summer was over.
This year, I am turning to the professionals. I have ordered two Tomato Success Kits from the Gardener's Supply company. With a name like that, how could I go wrong? With a self watering feature, organic dirt and fertilizer...I am expecting a bumper crop of tomatoes! Now I need to learn how to can my own tomatoes! That is next on my list! Check back and I will post my progress.

Reason # 1 to use my new Bosch Mixer: Cinnamon Rolls that look like this!
I have used my new Bosch several times...I am still getting acquainted with it, so to speak. But, when I made these cinnamon rolls, I couldn't help but share them with you! I used the recipe directly out of the cookbook that came in the package with the mixer. I couldn't have asked for a better result! The dough was kneaded just perfectly. I was able to press the dough out with my hands and WOW, did they rise beautifully! These were made for a special Sunday School class breakfast, but we had enough left over to share with the kids for a few days. Kenner says that he "wants giant cinnamon rolls for breakfast everyday!"