Taming the Toys - Ashley England

First things First….
Open- Ended Toys: Toys that can be used in a variety of ways depending on your child, the day, and their
imaginations.
“Open-ended toys result in open-ended play. This type of play can evolve over time while also encouraging
children to create and problem-solve as they explore the world around them.” Colleen Smith

Closed toys: Toys that have a clear ending point. Once all of completed, your child is finished and moves on to
the next activity.

Consumables: Toys that are used up and then recycled.

MINIMALISM OR ROTATION?
“As you decrease the quantity of your child’s toys and clutter, you increase their attention and their capacity
for deep play.”
Kim Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting

Rotation: Children have access to a small selection of to ...

Cornbread!

As requested, here is the recipe I use for cornbread.  

1 cup of coarse-ground cornmeal

1/2 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup  buttermilk or milk

2 eggs

This recipe is for a 10 1/2 inch cast iron skillet.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  Mix up the batter.  Put the skillet on the stove and put about 4 tablespoons of butter in it.  When the butter is melted and sizzling, pour in the batter.  Put the skillet in the oven and cook for about 20 minutes or until brown on top.  Turn it out onto a plate, cut and serve with lots of butter!

Pan Sauces 101/Cast Iron Care

So, you just bought a cast iron skillet. Now what?
Peel off the sticker and wash the skillet in hot soapy water. What! I thought you weren't supposed to use soap on cast iron! Well, you're only going to do this one time to remove residue from the factory. Dry it with a paper towel thoroughly and then you are ready to go.
Today we are going to cook some pork chops in several skillets and learn how to make a pan sauce.
Here's how to do that.....
Season the pork chops with salt and pepper.
Put the skillet on the stove and turn the heat to high. Add a tiny bit of olive oil or ghee. When the oil or ghee is hot, add the pork chops making sure not to splatter oil on yourself. Now.....leave them alone for about 3 minutes and then check for browning. Do not disturb them more than you have to in order to check for browning. When they are really brown on one side, turn them over and allow the second side to brown.
When both sides are brown, remove the chops to ...

DIY Miracle Salve

From Primally Inspired
Makes 4 ounces

1 1/2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
16 grams coconut oil
32 grams avocado oil or other oil of choice (almond, olive)
1 tablespoon shea butter
optional: 10 drops essential oil of choice

Add a few inches of water to a skillet and place on your stove at medium low heat.
Place a glass jar in the water and add your beeswax to the jar. Allow the beeswax to melt - this takes 15 or more minutes.
Once the beeswax has melted, add the remaining oils (except essential oil) and cocoa butter or shea butter and let melt - this takes an additional 15 or more minutes. You don't have to stir - the oils will naturally blend together.
Once everything is melted and liquid, remove the jar from heat and add in your essential oil, if using.
Pour liquid into jars of choice and place on the counter for a few hours to harden.
It will take a ton of willpower to not crank up the he...