Char'$ Million $ Idea

Chemistry Crayons! So that when little one's (or anyone) plays with crayons they are also learning the colors that various chemicals make/are in various states! These crayons are the culmination of my nerdiness and craftiness and I LOVE THEM! So even if I don't make millions....I appreciate my time and energy!

Here's my Etsy listing for them: http://www.etsy.com/listing/53073009/educational-chemistry-crayons-complete

Edible Arrangements

For the past two months, Charlene has been helping a student pass her online college chemistry course. It was technically a pre-pre-chem class that was only supposed to eat up 15 hours of time a week, but the instructor was ridiculous and the student usually spend at least 20 hours a week at Sylvan and then several more hours at home doing work or collecting supplies for labs. Plus what was asked of the students was much more intense and in depth than necessary for this level of chemistry. In the end, the student passed with at least a "B" and Charlene filled out a scathing course review. To show her gratitude, the student bought her an "Edible Arrangement". Not a flower arrangement....but a fruit/chocolate one! DELICIOUS!!!

Thank you Andrés Iniesta

Charlene is still very happy that Spain won. She could just watch that match over and over.... well played on both sides (minus the record number of flags)... the only thing that could have made it better is if David Villa had scored and then won the Golden Boot award! But I'll survive this way too!

Red Lentil and Cauliflower Curry

Another great recipe...

This recipe just tastes delicious. The spice level depents on which type of curry powder you use so don't worry about it being spicy unless you want it to be!



Red Lentil and Cauliflower Curry

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 piece fresh ginger, grated (about 1/2 inch big)
• 1 large parsnip, peeled and chopped
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 1/2 cups red lentils, sorted and rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 1 1/2-2 lbs cauliflower, trimmed and sliced into small florets (about 1 medium head)
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Directions

1. Have all the ingredients prepped and ready to go. Heat the oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook about 5-7 minutes, until translucent. Add the grated ginger and cook 1 minute. Add the spices and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, then add the parsnip and cook another minute.

2. Pour in the vegetable stock and then the lentils. Cover the pot, raise the heat to high and allow to boil for 1 minute. Stir, cover the pot and lower heat to medium-low. Simmer the lentils for 10 minutes or until yellow and mushy.

3. Add the cauliflower florets and stir to ensure they are evenly coated.

4. Partially cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until cauliflower is tender but not mushy. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro, lime juice and salt. Let the curry sit, covered, for about 15 minutes before enjoying.
   

The Cosmos

Back to Memorial Day weekend......after spending the best morning EVER at the Ingalls homestead....we kept on heading West. We stopped in Mitchell and saw the corn palace....and didn't stay long. We made it to the Black Hills just in time to convince Char's mom that taking us out to eat was a better idea than ordering in pizza. I don't remember where we ate but it was pretty darn delicious! Then we spend the rest of the evening convincing Char's mom that we should go to The Cosmos instead of Mount Rushmore (everyone had been there but Shannon - apparently Luke has been upwards of 7 times!). We succeeded in the morning and headed out on the road...

Strang pic, eh? At The Cosmos there supposedly is a unique gravitational pull that messes with your mind. When you stand up straight according to gravity your eyes tell you you're off base!

I should have fallen down if it weren't for the special gravity!

Oh Trent....still a mouth breather...

He's floating!

The three guys had been moving around on the "T" thing and their heights would vary even though it was level. This pic was taken after the last rotation where they were all obviously surprised at how things had changed!

Garbanzo Bean Burger Recipe

Carla....eat this!

Garbanzo Bean Burgers

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup diced onions
• 1/2 cup carrots, grated
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (or 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can, drained)
• 5 tablespoons gluten flour
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (or just use cornstarch)
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped finely
• Oil for frying

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and saute the onions, carrots, garlic, cumin, celery seed, and salt over medium heat until the onions are transparent. In a food processor, combine the nuts, and blend until 1/2 are a coarse meal and the other are just cracked. Place in a large mixing bowl and add the Sauteed vegetable mixture. Add the garbanzo beans in the processor and process the same way as the nuts. Add flour and arrowroot. Add the beans and parsley to the mixing bowl. Mix everything together well until the mixture has enough body to form a patty. If the mixture is too dry or crumbly, add a small amount of water to help the mixture bind. Form the mixture into 4 burgers. Lightly oil the frying pan and fry the burgers over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until lightly browned

Food and Seating

First of all, look at this weird strawberry. This strawberry got it all backwards - the wide part is down below and the point is at the top... yeah... that's all I have on that... so weird...

Here is an awesome veggie burger recipe. It's a garbanzo bean burger. It was fantastic. For some reason I have no clue where that recipe went and Charlene is sleeping at the moment - if we make a post on that recipe it will require her to be awake...

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I finally finished my chair, and here it is! I learned a lot making my picnic table - and I learned WAYY more making this thing. There were a lot of mistakes and gaffes along the way, but that's the best way to learn and have it stick in your brain - mistakes. Most of my problems have stemmed from using a really hard wood: red oak. I found out that you will destroy screws, blades, and tools unless you use ones meant for really hard woods. Well, at least I know it won't break anytime soon. I was planning all along to put a clear outdoor protecting finish on it but all I had was a can that stained it as well - I wasn't patient enough to wait and buy the clear stuff...

So this is what it looks like. I think it looks fine - but it's not what I intended... and now I regret it.

Nonetheless it is still fantastically comfortable in comparison to the picnic table, bench, or any of our folding chairs. Now I can enjoy my yard like it's supposed to be enjoyed. My next project is to make a love seat version of this (hopefully with ben when he visits in August) and a drink table as they are included in the plans I have. I am also thinking of making a curved ottoman that fits the style of the chair, though that would need to be designed by myself.