Irish Soda Bread

Since Nadia is consistantly saying she wants to be a “chef-cooker” when she grows up, I have been attempting to be more consistent with a recipe a week with her to learn new kitchen skills. Last weekend we tried Irish Soda Bread from Blossoms and Posies.

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

This was a great recipe because Nadia did every step with just a little assist from me (mostly reminders). I also did the final kneading of the bread and cut the cross in the middle.

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

This bread was very good – we tried it with strawberry preserves and with butter. Next time we try this I will use our regular gas oven because it came out too crusty on the outside and doughy on the inside with the convection oven.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Here’s what to do…
  1. Preheat oven to 375°.
  2. Pour lemon juice into milk and stir.
  3. Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl.
  4. Make a well in the flour mixture and stir in the milk/lemon juice.
  5. Dump the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for about a minute, then form it into a soft ball.
  6. Slightly flatten the ball and lay it on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
  7. Cut an X in the top of the dough.
  8. Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Day 5 – Outer Banks 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012
Click on the photo to see album

This was our last full day at the beach with the Hameloth’s and we just relaxed and played at the beach. It was a wonderful day!

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Seeing the dolphins swim by was awesome.

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

And some cool jets flew by.

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Then the girls decided to give themselves a sand spa treatment.

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Lots of teamwork with the boat.

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

Day 5 - 9.28.2012

This is how we all felt by the end of the day. My heart is filled with so many good memories of this trip.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins Unit Study

Mr. Popper’s Penguins was next up in our Literature Unit Studys from Erica over at Confessions of a Homeschooler. The main thing I will say is that Nadia and I LOVED this book!! It was such a fun read and she was so caught up in it that she would beg me for “just one more chapter!” I didn’t take a lot of photos during this as we just had a lot of fun working on things as we had time.

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Once we finished reading the book we got the movie from Netflix. While Nadia and Amelie laughed out loud at the slapstick humor, Nadia immediately pointed out that it wasn’t like the book. At the end we talked about it and she said the book was better than the movie. That’s my girl!

Day 4 – Outer Banks 9.27.2012

9.27.2012
Click on the photo to see album

On this fine morning we decided to head out and do some exploring as a family since we had never been to the Outer Banks before. It was a fun time just watching the girls run around and check things out at each stop.

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I thought this old church was kind of neat.

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Nadia and Lena.

After our exploring and lunch we headed back to the beach. Josie wanted to try the boogie board like her sisters so Mike helped out and I attempted to get some photos of the adventure. She had a blast even though she was completely soaked in the end.

9.27.2012

9.27.2012

9.27.2012

It’s funny how much kids just love to run on the beach!

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Sweet girls totally wiped out each day after beach time.

9.27.2012

That evening we headed over to a place the Hameloth’s suggested to hunt for crabs and take photos.

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Travis with one of the crabs.

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Amelie and I at sunset.

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Crafting lead to silly time.

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