New Release: Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten

 

A collection of all-new soul-satisfying dishes from America’s favorite home cook!

In Modern Comfort Food, Ina Garten shares 85 new recipes that will feed your deepest cravings. Many of these dishes are inspired by childhood favorites—but with the volume turned way up, such as Cheddar and Chutney Grilled Cheese sandwiches (the perfect match for Ina’s Creamy Tomato Bisque), Smashed Hamburgers with Caramelized Onions, and the crispiest hash browns that are actually made in a waffle iron!

There are few things more comforting than gathering for a meal with the ones you love, especially when dishes like Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas are at the center of the table. Old-fashioned crowd pleasers like Roasted Sausages, Peppers, and Onions are even more delicious and streamlined for quick cleanup. For dessert? You’ll find the best Boston Cream Pie, Banana Rum Trifle, and Black and White Cookies you’ll ever make. Home cooks can always count on Ina’s dependable, easy-to-follow instructions, with lots of side notes for cooking and entertaining—it’s like having Ina right there beside you, helping you all the way.

From cocktails to dessert, from special weekend breakfasts to quick weeknight dinners, you’ll find yourself making these cozy and delicious recipes over and over again. 

Purchase at:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Indiebound

Get Kids Ready for the Election with PBS

 

We are three weeks away from the 2020 presidential election. Some may wonder how to tackle this challenging topic with their children as they prepare for an election year like no other. 

PBS LearningMedia and PBS KIDS provides many resources for parents and educators to successfully engage children – young and old – on the topics of voting and civics. 

• Explain how grownups vote with Daniel Tiger: To help young children understand voting and the process of doing so, what better way for them to learn than alongside their neighbor, Daniel Tiger? If voting in-person this year, this video resource can familiarize young children with the voting process before they join their parent at the polls, with a step-by-step guide on how grownups vote.
• Share a history lesson and make informed predictions with The Election Collection: Parents and educators of middle and high school-aged kids can help them not only keep up with election news, but also learn about the history and process of presidential elections with this collection of videos and activities. The interactive Electoral Decoder, for example, allows learners to explore electoral college results from previous elections, and predict the outcome of the upcoming election.
• Talk about civics in an age-appropriate way: This guide provides parents and caregivers of children aged 2-8 tips and tricks to best talk with their young about voting and civic engagement, all the while improving their reading, art and math skills in the process. 

PBS KIDS has been providing parents, caregivers, and educators resources for decades. As we all adjust to new ways of learning, what better way than to turn to PBS KIDS for ideas, activities, and information. 

Task it Tuesday - Oct 13

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

What an exhausting start to the week. My work from home day turned into showings, visiting clients, and running around until late. I used to do this before the pandemic. Why does it seem so much harder now? 

Luckily, I started off the week with a Bible study and prayer time, so if I focus on that instead of feeling overwhelmed the week will turn out right. 

Here is this week's to-do list:

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking three days
• Six meetings and one class
• Appointments with new clients
• Continue fall cleaning 
• Look into getting a small dumpster 
• Continue reading Systemology
• Continue reading The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street
• Review writing goals from 2020--DONE
• Start looking into a new publisher for three of my books :( 

I think that's it. What's on your list this week? Is there anything I can help do to motivate you toward meeting your goals?

Fall Guide to At-Home Learning from PBS

Teaching kids from home isn't always easy for parents and caregivers. Thankfully, PBS KIDS and PBS LearningMedia have created new and updated resources to support parents as they facilitate learning through the end of the year.

Check out this sample fall syllabus with activities and resources tied to holidays and major events from October to December.

October

• INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY (OCT 12): Explore Alaska Native culture this Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the kitchen by making a new recipe with PBS KIDS’ MOLLY OF DENALI
• THE ELECTION: Help your child learn about civics, voting and elections as we near the 2020 presidential election with this handy guide
• HALLOWEEN: Celebrate Halloween at home while working on your child’s skills in art, reading and more

November

• VETERAN’S DAY (NOV 11): Explain the origin of Veteran’s Day and discuss with your child how you can honor the veteran in their life
• THANKSGIVING (NOV 22): Practice gratitude as a family and teach your child the accurate version of history this Thanksgiving

December

• COLDER WEATHER: Use the change in weather as a way to teach your kid about how the tilt of the earth affects climate and the change in seasons
• HOLIDAYS: Help kids understand the many different holidays celebrated around the world this winter through this collection of videos

You can sign up for the PBS KIDS for Parents newsletter for timely, curated resources, including video content, digital games, DIY activities, and parent-directed information to support at-home learning as it evolves. In addition, parents can find the latest tips, printables, and other tools to Learn at Home with PBS KIDS.

Mailbox Monday - Oct 12

 

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Hope you're enjoying a long weekend. To all my Canadian friends, Happy Thanksgiving! I'm sitting in my office typing this before I head out on an appointment. Check out my view.

I love this time of year. If I could live somewhere that it stayed fall all year round, I would be one happy camper.

These next two shots are from my walk with Theo yesterday.

This last one is just Travis being Travis. Is there any closet that is safe from him?

Now, on to books. My physical mailbox had one present last week. This one I am reading in November for a book tour.

Then I downloaded these two Kindle freebies.

An author friend of my sent me her latest book to review on my children's book blog. I'm enjoying the new WordPress even less than the new Blogger.

That's it from my neck of the woods. Hope you'll share some of your new books. Wishing you a blessed week.

Task it Tuesday - Oct 6

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

This is a busy week. I have several meetings and appointments. Here's what's on tap:

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking three days
• Four meetings
• Appointments with new clients
• Continue fall cleaning 
• Look into getting a small dumpster 
• Continue reading Systemology
• WriteAngles virtual conference on Saturday

I hope you're having a nice week. What do you wish to accomplish?

Mailbox Monday - Oct 5

 

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Welcome to the first Monday of October. I hope you had a nice week. I had a chance to make some good food, get my hair done, and go visit my mother-in-law. The whole family was together, which was nice. Our son might be away for Thanksgiving, so I'm glad we all got together.

Slow-cooker American Chop Suey

New do

Hubby hanging with his brother's dog

As far as books goes, I decided to cancel my Kindle Unlimited membership because I have so many other things to read. If I get caught up at some point, then I will reconsider it.

The mail carrier brought me two books last week that I can't wait to read.

Reviewing Dec 15

Recommended by our former pastor

As you can see, my holiday mood continues. I really want to read more Christmas fiction and nonfiction this year. I desperately need a break from the doom and gloom of 2020. Very few aspects of life haven't been impacted by the pandemic and Facebook has become a politically charged environment where you have to snooze friends in order to enjoy anything. 

I hope you have a wonderful week. Please feel free to share some of your new books.