Computer Time

Whew!  We recently invested in technology upgrades at our house.  With the computer age going strong, and technology being such an important part of everyday life, we felt that we needed to make sure our kids were learning how to type, and how to be fluent in computer usage.  Two of the laptops we purchased will also be used during the Kids/Youth Program time at our Community Outreach Center.  


With all these computers online our network is pretty slow though!  How about you?  Are you "technologically adept"?  What about your kids?  What are some things you use your computers for?  


Well, I'm off for today.  I've got homework to type and a PowerPoint to build for Worship tomorrow!

Kohl's!

In case I haven't mentioned this before, Kohl's and Mardel are my absolute favorite stores.  I cannot think of a store I enjoy more (other than unlimited funds in a nice tack and feed store).  I have found so many amazing deals at Kohl's throughout the years.  I think one of my best scores ever may have been in June of 2009 in Weatherford, Texas.  We bought school clothes for 7 kids plus 2 adults,$1000 worth, for $185 once we rang up my clearance prices, plus my extra 30% off!  


I regress, because it's that time of year again!  I just got my 30% off coupon in the mail, and we finally got a Kohl's last year!  I am so excited to go spend some money ;).  No, I'll just see if I can find some great deals!

typingweb.com

My kids were getting bored with all the typing programs that I'd found, and it was hard to keep track of the progress they were making.  I found this one, which allows me to set up a classroom, track their progress and even take exams for typing certifications (and 10 key) when they get there.  It's free, so I wanted to share the resource.


http://www.typingweb.com/


If you click the Teacher Portal (the school bus), you can create an account for yourself, and as many students as you want to put in your class.  This works for families, homeschoolers, private schoolers, public schoolers, adults classes...any group where you want to be able to monitor the progress!  So far the  girls are actually intrigued by it, and they know they have to be on task, because I can keep track of how they are doing!  


I took an exam this morning and am certified as an expert :)

Ah man!

The latest CafeMom Influencer Program is dinner at Fazzoli's...Oh how I wish we had one!

Computer Repaired!

My Acer has been repaired and seems to be working very well!  For those of you who haven't been along for the journey, a few months ago I caught my leg on the cord of the laptop as I was standing up, and swept it off of the desk, where it crash landed on the back corner, cracking a piece of the corner, and putting a huge split up the middle of the screen.  I still used it for awhile, plugging it into another monitor when trying the split images started making me ill, but eventually it just locked up and began freezing at random moments, even as I struggled to pull files from the hard drive so that I could save them.


One of my friends mentioned replacing the screen, but we were unable to find a part at that time, so it was retired.  The other day, as we were discussing the need for a reliable computer (the older one I'd been using has seen better days, and it kept freezing as we tried to show the Powerpoints for music at church), I was just fiddling around on the internet, and I found a new screen!  My husband Paul and our son David replaced the screen while I was at the Youth Evangelism Conference this weekend, and surprised me with it when I got home!  It was still freezing up, but now that I could actually see and maneuver, I was able to run all the virus programs and it seems to be working well! 


I am so excited to have my computer back!  Now I just have to get all my new photos and Powerpoints rolled back over here :)!

My husband also said I needed to mention that this was a very easy repair.  He said it took about 5 minutes. He step by stepped it from this Youtube video, and there were about 7 screws to remove.  All in all, it was an easy fix, and saved us several hundred dollars, versus buying a new computer or paying someone to repair this one.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_jjqlEXsGU&list=PL4580ACCD9D7692E6&index=2&feature=plpp_video 

The Most Easygoing Cat in the World

Really, he is.  Want to see?

Told you!  He lets them put him in all sorts of nifty outfits ;).  He reminds me a lot of Tab, because he's very personable, and just content to be there and be with you.  Most cats only love you if you feed them in my experience, and it's wonderful to find that glorious exception when they just love to be with you.

I've named him Lancelot, because he is a gallant and chivalrous knight, who always accompanies and watches over his lady love, Guinevere.

A Neglected Blog

I know.  It's been very neglected lately, hasn't it?  I can tell you I have a ton of ideas written down, but any of my reasons for not actually getting them on the screen would just be excuses, so I'll just skip that part :).  I have sat at the computer with the blog window open and an idea in my lap, and just not actually began to type.  So, here we go again :).  I've got lots of ideas, new books, games, stories, and other things I want to share!

See you soon!

Red Velvet Cake and "The Best Frosting I Ever Had" courtesy of the Pioneer Woman

Oh this cake is yummy!  And the frosting is just divine!  I did make a couple of changes.  I got out the red food coloring, but there wasn't enough.  I searched two other boxes, but the red was inexplicably missing in each of them, so I decided to use cherry extract.  Still red, an experimental bit of flavor, but then I was worried the cherry would be overpowering, so I added a few drops of vanilla.  The consistency and everything still worked out, and the flavor of the batter was exquisite!  

I also use milk with a teaspoon of lemon juice as a buttermilk substitute since I don't usually keep buttermilk on hand.

Here's how the recipe goes...

Oh darn!  I absolutely know that I took a picture of the ingredients.  I lined them all up prettily and told them to "smile"!  But I can't find it anywhere!  

Here's what you need to have on hand:

• 1 cup Shortening
• 1-3/4 cup Sugar
• 2-1/2 cups Cake Flour
• 1-1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 2 whole Eggs
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Vinegar
• 1-1/2 ounce, fluid Red Food Coloring
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Cocoa Powder

 Okay now, here are the things I did differently...instead of 1 and 1/2 ounce of red, I used half an ounce of red, two teaspoons of cherry extract, and half a teaspoon of vanilla.  I don't own a sifter, so I just mixed the flour and salt, I used 1 cup of milk with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice rather than buttermilk, and I used butter instead of shortening.

Step 1:  Sift together (or mix) flour and salt in a bowl, then set it aside for later.

In a separate bowl, stir together buttermilk (or milk with lemon juice), eggs, vanilla, and baking soda. Then add vinegar and stir before setting aside.

In a separate smaller bowl, mix together cocoa and red food coloring (and extracts).

In yet another bowl (in my case the bowl of my mixer), cream together shortening and sugar until the mixture is fluffy.  Then alternately add the flour and milk mixtures until all combined. Lastly, pour the red mixture in and beat until combined. 

Now the recipe says to pour it into a sheet cake pan, but I don't have one.  I did make one 10x13 cake pan, as well as a dozen cupcakes.  20 minutes at 350 degrees.

 

The surprising thing is the frosting!  And oh, it is so good!  I changed absolutely nothing with this recipe, wanting to have the true pairing.  It is literally called "That's the Best Frosting I've Ever Had"

Here's what you need to put it together!

• 5 Tablespoons Flour
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 cup Butter
• 1 cup Granulated Sugar (not Powdered Sugar!)

In a small saucepan, whisk flour into milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. And when it says thick, it means very thick.  Brownie batter thick.  Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.  It must be completely cool before you use it in the next step. Stir in vanilla. 

While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. You don't want any sugar graininess left. Then add the completely cooled milk/flour/vanilla mixture and beat the living daylights out of it (word for word from the recipe). If it looks separated, you haven't beaten it enough! Beat it until it all combines and resembles whipped cream.

 After the cake has cooled, bring on the frosting!  And, enjoy!

 

My source is The Pioneer Woman on Television, Saturday, February 25, 2012.  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/04/red-velvet-sheet-cake/