Love is

spending time with your cousins. One thing I like about being back in Texas is that the kids can know their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I never had that growing up.
Happy Love Thursday!

Once upon a time there was a sweet lion named Bodhi. Bodhi was an active little lion and often got into sticky situations. Now he wasn't a troublesome lion, yet trouble found him.


One day Bodhi was foraging for food when he stumbled across a sleeping monkey.

Desmina, the monkey, was under a deep spell. Desmina had a voracious appetite and ate everything in sight including sleep inducing berries. One bite was all it took.

When Bodhi saw the sleeping monkey, he went to investigate. As soon as Bodhi approached Desmina he was hit by a great force. No matter how hard he tried, he could not go near the monkey.

Then he heard a booming voice. "Stay away!"
Bodhi ignored the voice and rushed at Desmina.
Woosh! Once again, Bodhi found himself on the floor.
"I said stay away! Desmina belongs to me!"
Bodhi looked around for the voice.
"Hahahah. You won't find me. And you will not rouse my Desmina!"
"Why is she sleeping?" Bodhi said bravely.
"Because I want to keep her! She is mine!" screamed the voice.
"I just wanted to play with her," Bodhi whimpered.
"Play?" The voice sounded perplexed.
"Yes, play. Don't you know what that is?" Bodhi answered.
There was a pause. Then a soft whisper, "I never played before. Is it fun?"
"Yes!" Bodhi roared excitedly. "Can I show you?"
"Well," The voice hesitated. "Okay."
"But you have to let Desmina play too. The more people the better!"

The wind blew and the leaves rustled. Desmina, the monkey woke.
"Hinkle hinkle." This was monkey talk for, "What happened?"
"I wanted to keep you as mine so I tricked you with sleeping berries."
"Hinkle hinkle."
"Sooo what is this thing called play you both keep talking about?" asked the voice.
"Let's show him!" roared Bodhi.


Bodhi and Desmina played ring a round the rosie, tag, London Bridge.
"What fun! Desmina, I'm sorry I tricked you. I just wanted to keep you."
"Hinkle. hinkle. "
"You two can go now. But will you promise to come back and play some more?"
"We will! Hinkle. Hinkle." Bodhi and Desmina said in unison.

The end

How to make a pumpkin pie

adapted from this: http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/9598
Pick the perfect pumpkin.


Decorate your pumpkin.


Slice pumpkin in half. Bake faced down in pan with a bit of oil on 400 for 30 to 40 minutes. Don't forget to wash the paint!


While you are waiting for pumpkins to cook. Prepare crust.
Crust
2/3 cup unbleached flour

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons soymilk plus 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
3 to 4 tablespoons water
In medium bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. In small bowl, mix oil and soymilk mixture. Pour liquid mixture into dry ingredients and mix with a fork until it holds together in a ball. If it is too dry, add some water, a little at a time, until dough is moist enough to roll. (If time allows, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.)

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin forming an 11-inch circle. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the dough. Flute or crimp the edges with your fingers or a fork. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
Puree




Make sure you have eyes on the back of your head or else this can happen



Add pumpkin and all this:
1 cup low-fat soymilk or rice milk (I used half coconut milk. Next time I'm going to use all coconut milk.
3/4 cup granulated sugar cane syrup or corn syrup
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 tablespoon dark molasses/maple syrup or to taste
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice



Bake on 450 for 10 minutes. Turn down to 350 and continue to bake for 50 minutes or until it sets.

Let cool then put it in the fridge overnight.

Pumpkin time (Wordless Wendesday)

Good for the milk soup

My good friend Wendy made a variation of this soup after I had Bodhi. I passed it onto to my friend who just had her baby girl. It was a big hit for the family!

1 butternut squash
3 or 4 sweet potatoes
onions
garlic
2 yellow squash
2 green zucchinis
1 big can of tomatoes
1/2 c of peanut butter
1 cup uncooked barley
handful of peanuts
paprika
pepper
salt
lemon
one can of coconut milk

Saute onions, garlic and butternut squash. Add sweet potatoes and vegetables. Add tomatoes. Add 2 canfuls of water. Let cook until everything is almost soft then add barley. Cook for 15 more minutes. Add PB, coconut milk and peanuts. Spice it up!

You can also use quiona or rice in place of barley.

I stand up against corporal punishment in Texas schools

I may be homeschooling so this law does not effect my children. But I still would like to stand up and make a difference and try to change the law. Studies have shown that more African American children are getting paddled in school. I also have dug up some numbers and I don't think it's a coincidence that the states that permit corpol punishment in school have the lowest graduation rates. Perhaps if teachers didn't have to take time away to spank then they could utilize their time in the classroom better for their students. Sorry if that sounds abrasive, but it just hurts my heart that our state still allows spanking. Whether I homeschool or not, sign a piece of paper does not stop this from happening to other children in school. I may not be able to protect them in the home, but at least I can try to protect them in the school .

If you oppose whether or not you are a parent, home schooling or even doing private school your voice still can be heard! Join
my group and spread the word. I will update you on the status of the current bill in motion. We can share the letters we write to our state legislators.