Chinese Children's Music

Several years ago, I found this site with 27 Chinese children's songs that you could download. Al made a CD of them, and the girls have enjoyed them so much! Some of the titles crack me up: "Communist Young Pioneers", "Heroic Little Sisters", and "I Love Beijing TianAnMen". A few of our favorites are "Little Swallow", "Jasmine", "Mama Is the Best", and "Mud Doll". The arrangements can sound pretty cheezy, but our family just loves listening to the very "typical" sound of the contemporary Chinese recordings! Enjoy!

Because You Just Might Be Looking For A New Recipe To Use Up All That Turkey!

I have this heating up in the oven right now. The fam loves it!

Turkey Tetrazzini

2 cups broken uncooked spaghetti (2-inch pieces)
1 chicken bouillon cube
3/4 cup boiling water
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons diced pimientos, drained
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, dissolve bouillon in water. Add soup, celery salt and pepper. Drain spaghetti; add to soup mixture. Stir in turkey, onion, pimientos and 1/2 cup of cheese. Transfer to a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 35-40 minutes, until heated through.

Notes: I have also made this with leftover cooked chicken with yummy results. I usually skip the celery salt, pepper, onion and pimientos to appeal to the discerning palates of my younger diners. It's still good!

They've Got Art In Their Hearts!

Hannah and Rachel have been taking an after-school drawing class, and are both showing a real gift for art. Al and I are both "artistically challenged", so we're glad they have this opportunity to learn from their talented teacher.

They learned about symmetry at their first class. This is Rachel's drawing of a Native American pot...




...and Hannah's drawing...
Keeping in mind that they are in first and third grade. Pretty good!

Their second class focused on three-dimensional drawing. Here's Rachel's teepee...

...and Hannah's...

Both girls have had a work of art published in the school calendar. Hannah had a work submitted for an Illinois teachers' art show. Hannah also scored a free tee shirt and open gym pass by winning her gymnastics school's coloring contest. And her drawing will be featured on this year's first and third grade holiday concert program.

The best part is that they find so much enjoyment in the creative process. And their confidence and self esteem get a real boost, too!

Happy Four-Year Gotcha Day, Abbie!

The first moment I held you...

With your Daddy at the Civil Affairs office in Guangzhou, just minutes after meeting you...

Sleeping soundly on your first night with us...

Visiting the Yangxi SWI, your first home...

Enjoying the Yun Tai Gardens in Guangzhou...

At the White Swan hotel...

Such a sweet, happy baby...

Our precious girl, four years later...

A Chinese Kitchen

Check out this blog post I stumbled upon! The blogger is currently living in China, and shares photos of her kitchen. If you've been to China (and even if you haven't), you'll enjoy reading this!

I Am NOT Happy!

Well, it was bound to happen eventually, but I didn't think it would be this soon.

I got an invitation to join AARP.

I am NOT eligible for this organization for another five years, thankyouverymuch, and I'd appreciate it if they wouldn't try to rush things along.

I'm gonna go do something "youthful" now, like knit... Oh, no!!!!!!

Apple Crisp

Another great fall recipe! I've been making this a lot, too. I've been making quite a few dinners in my crock pot. That frees up my oven, as well as evening dinner prep time, to whip up this nice warm dessert for my family! The five of us can wipe out one pan in an evening, so I'd advise making two if you have guests!

Best Apple Crisp Ever

4 apples - peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a 9-inch square baking pan, mix sliced apples with brown sugar. In a large bowl, mix together flour, white sugar, cinnamon and salt. In a small bowl, beat together egg and melted butter. Stir into flour mixture. Spread evenly over apples.
3. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until topping is golden and crisp.

Pumpkin Bars

It's the perfect time of year for my "famous" Pumpkin Bars! I've made them several times already this fall, and have been asked for the recipe a number of times! Thought I'd share it here...

Pumpkin Bars
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

4 eggs
1 15-oz can pumpkin
1 2/3 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (opt.)

In medium bowl, mix dry ingredients (except sugar). In large bowl, beat eggs, pumpkin, sugar and oil. Add dry ingredients, beat well. Spread in ungreased 15x10x1 pan (jelly roll). Bake at 350, 25 - 30 minutes (check with toothpick). cool on wire rack.

Frosting:
Beat together 3-oz package cream cheese (softened), 1/4 cup margarine (softened), and 1 teaspoon vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups (sifted) powdered sugar. Beat until smooth. Spread on cooled bars.

Store in refrigerator.

Pardon the Panda

Update: Looks like others like him, too, so he's staying for a while!

When I added that little panda wandering around my blog, I thought he was just going to sit there on my sidebar looking cute. It's probably annoying to try to read a post and have him sit down right on the sentence you're reading. But really, isn't he just adorable? And I discovered that if you click on his bamboo (also floating around the page), it bounces, and he goes after it, catches it and eats it.

It doesn't take much to amuse me these days!

He'll probably be gone by the weekend...

Note to Self...

Do not try to knit a complicated piece while in the same room with children watching Sesame Street!

I was trying to count stitches, but Elmo's counting was louder (and more obnoxious), and I kept getting thrown off...