What are you doing this Lenten season?

Come share what you are doing this Lent with your family.  This is my own linkup with no strings attached. No mandatory follows or "likes."  Our focus in Lent should be on Our Lord, and I am looking forward to seeing all that you will share below.

I am linking up below my Kinds Words Cross, my Sacrifice Jar and some Special Books and other activities I have done in past years.  Over the next 40 days, I will be sure to share more.  This linkup will be open THROUGHOUT Lent, so please come back to visit and share!  :-)

An InLinkz Link-up

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Apple Cinnamon Bread

It snowed yet again today (I think we have now surpassed 6 feet of snow this winter) and when it snows, it means something warm and delicious has to get baked.  :-)

We tried a new recipe today for Apple Cinnamon Bread.  It can also be made with carrots or zucchini.  The house smelled so good that my children said that no candle could ever compete with "the real thing."

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon

depending on the variety you choose:
1 cup grated apples or 1 cup grated carrots or 1 cup of grated zucchini

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease bread loaf pan.

Peel and grate whichever fruit/veggie you chose

In a small mixing bowl, add sugar.  Next, sift your flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices together. Stir.  Make a well inside your dry ingredients, pour the liquid in the center.  Add your apple (or other) mixture and nuts.

Pour the batter into your greased bread pan.

Bake for 55 minutes.  Test with a toothpick.  Enjoy!  We LOVED it here.  :-)

P.S.  If you observe Lent in your family, I would love for you to come over and share how you make the season special in my Lenten Linkup.  It will be open THROUGHOUT the season for you to come and share, read, and be inspired.  :-)

P.P.S.  If you have a recipe to share, come join Try a New Recipe Tuesday!  I'd love to have you join us to see all of the delicious recipes and this week's features.

Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Claire Justine, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and  Tuesday How to Party and the Tried and True Recipe Party and Kids and Mom in the Kitchen and Family Fun Friday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop andAll My Bloggy Friends and Hearts for Home Blog Hop and Foodie Friends Friday and Family Fun Friday and TGIF Linky Party and Food on Friday andHip Homeschool Moms, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home andGood Tastes Tuesday and Thriving Thursday and Friday Flash Blog Hop 

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Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up March 1

Lots going on during these cold, snowy, dreary days of February, albeit all indoors.  Lots of schoolwork and unfortunately, no field trips or outdoor play.  We keep hoping that Spring will come soon, even though there is another big storm forecast for Sunday into Monday.  :-)

We started our week with putting final touches on and review of our Olympics unit.  We really enjoyed the games-- not only cheering on our athletes, of whom we are very proud, but learning about geography, the Russian culture and Olympic history.

I made contraction matching cards as part of a grammar unit.  The kiddos enjoyed using them.

The older guys have continued their 4-H rifle club on Friday nights,

and during the day continue to work through Algebra II, World History and more.  They are also taking a tractor safety class and will be driving for the first time this Saturday.  I will be sure to take some photos.  In addition, Saturday is a big day for Kiddo #4.  She has a table at the township's craft fair and will be selling her beautiful bracelets.  I sure hope she does well.  She has worked so hard!  :-)

Lent begins next week and we will continue with our academic work, but will change our focus, as we do every Advent and Lent, to the meaning of the season.  We will read special books, attend and participate in Lenten services, make special crafts and try to do some meaningful activities, that not only stress sacrifice, but more importantly, doing good for others.  Keep tuned in.  I will share our Lenten journey with you on these pages.

Have a wonderful weekend!  May it be blessed and beautiful!  :-)



Some of my posts from this week include:

You're Invited
Triple Chocolate Cookies
Try a New Recipe Tuesday (a lot of delicious recipes were linked up.  Come and check them out!)
Hearts for Home Blog Hop (over 80 link ups about all things home.  Have you seen them?)



Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection and Family Fun Friday and T.G.I.F. Linky Party and Let's Homeschool High School and This Week



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Hearts for Home Blog Hop- February 27

Welcome to another great week of sharing all about our homes- homeschooling, homemaking, recipes, DIY, crafts and more!

The post with the most views from last week's hop was:

Hands-on Learning About Space from Chestnut Grove Academy

Three of my favorites (they were all wonderful!) were:

Teaching Money the Fun Way from The Arrowood Zoo

Family Dinner Conversation Starters Cards from My Joy Filled Life

Robert Frost Study in Words and Crafts from Campfires and Cleats

If you were featured, feel free to grab the "I've been featured" button to place on your blog!  :-)

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.upsidedownhomeschooling.com/hearts-for-home/" title="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r505/upsidedownhomeschool/HFHFeature_zpse5060e68.jpg" alt="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 

Are you ready to share your posts this week?  Let's go!  Use the form below to enter your links.  Posts can be anything that shows your heart is for your home: homeschooling, homemaking, parenting, marriage, faith, family, crafts, etc.  Please just kindly link back to this blog or display our Hearts for Home button in your post or on your sidebar.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.upsidedownhomeschooling.com/hearts-for-home/" title="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r505/upsidedownhomeschool/HFH150_zpsf22ef64f.jpg" alt="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 

An InLinkz Link-up

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Try a New Recipe Tuesday- February 25

Welcome to another week of wonderful recipe sharing!  :-)

Thank you all for the kind words, wishes and prayers last week for my hubby.  He is doing much better and was back at work last Friday.  :-)

This week, I tried a brand new recipe and made some changes and tweaks..  I call them "Triple Chocolate Cookies."  I have them linked in the first spot below.  They are made with almond flour.  It is the first time I have used that in a recipe.  They were SO good.  :-)

Now for this week's features:

Going for the Gold Cookies from A Class of One 

(just love these.  how perfect to honor our athletes!)

Toffee Pecan Shortbread Bars from Tastes of Lizzy T

these look SO good!

King Cake French Toast from Lamberts Lately

I love breakfast any time of the day!  :-)

An InLinkz Link-up

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Triple Chocolate Cookies

Friday night we were invited to our dear friends' home for dinner.  Our older boys were all in a 4-H meeting making casseroles for a homeless shelter.

I wanted to make something special to bring to dinner.  I found a recipe that I had never made before.  I made some changes, tweaked a few other things and came up with the Triple Chocolate Cookies.

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (I omitted)
2 1/2 cups almond flour (I used Trader Joe's 'Just Almond Meal')
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup mini white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degress Fahrenheit.
Sift cocoa powder into a medium bowl.  Stir in almond flour using a wire whisk.  Cream butter and sugar until very light.  Add egg and vanilla and beat until incorporated.  Add salt and baking soda and mix well. Mix in cocoa and almond flour mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Place a teaspoon full of batter at a time on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until puffed and cracked.

Allow to cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy!  They were SO good!  :-)

Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Claire Justine, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and  Tuesday How to Party and the Tried and True Recipe Party and Kids and Mom in the Kitchen and Family Fun Friday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop andAll My Bloggy Friends and Hearts for Home Blog Hop and Foodie Friends Friday and Family Fun Friday and TGIF Linky Party and Food on Friday andHip Homeschool Moms, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home andGood Tastes Tuesday and Thriving Thursday and Friday Flash Blog Hop 


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Hearts for Home Blog Hop- February 20

Wow, February is almost over!  Time is flying by.  We have had some record cold and snowy weather here in Southeastern PA.  Looking forward to spring.  :-)


The most viewed post from last week was:

Studying Geography with Regional Foods: Russia from Education Possible

Are you ready to share your posts this week?  Let's go!  Use the form below to enter your links.  Posts can be anything that shows your heart is for your home: homeschooling, homemaking, parenting, marriage, faith, family, crafts, etc.  Please just kindly link back to this blog or display our Hearts for Home button in your post or on your sidebar.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.upsidedownhomeschooling.com/hearts-for-home/" title="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r505/upsidedownhomeschool/HFH150_zpsf22ef64f.jpg" alt="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 

An InLinkz Link-up

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