November Lessons from Your Mama

As it is still November, we're in the midst of these so the photos will be posted as we move through the lessons.  Our Dia de los Muertos projects were super fun.  We had a wonderful time baking bread and cutting papel picados and watching Viva Calacas!. I'll be the first to admit that teaching a 2-year-old about the election process (voting) is probably a stretch.  But I'm doing it anyway because it teaches the kid that we can vote as individuals but we are also a unit in which majority counts.  It's a family building exercise.  Thanksgiving had to be covered in this lesson and there are at least 8,000,000 possibilities for pre-k Thanksgiving crafts (I put a few in this lesson).  And last but not least, l decided one is never to young for character building.  I feel it is just as important to be charitable as it is to be grateful and I hope that my son will one day find his role in this world includes working for a better tomorrow for all.  So here it is folks, let me know what you think. Pre-K November

Abe the Babe loves Senior Calvera

Coloring a Sugar Skull Mask

Mama's Sugar Skull Mask

Skeleton Birthday Sugar Cookies - the kiddo helped with the baking!

Just some cakes and cookies we whipped up for the birthday boy

Mmmmmm... death by chocolate

Nothing like a skull cake with flaming eyeballs to say "happy 2nd birthday kid"!

TODDLER PARTY TIME!!!

Oh my, this is a hot mess... Good thing these toddlers help pick up their messes!

I told you I was teaching him about elections... (A) says map-map, bwue (blue), wed (red), and bote (vote).  I think it's a good start

 Polishing pennies during election week

 Comparing polished vs. non-polished pennies

 Before, During, and After Shot

 

Election Day!

 Turkey Shadow Matching

 Thanksgiving Flip and Find

 Matching these turkeys

 Look mom, I did it!

 Turkey Puzzle

 OK I admit I had to help a lot with this one the first few times.

The Thanksgiving Board

 T is for Turkey

  Ambidexterity in toddlers is common.  Right?

Cakes...

Well, I didn't blog for 3 months... but I did accomplish other things in the interim.  I did a lot of baking.  And, I took a cake decorating class.  Since I already knew how to whip up delicious cakes and frostings, I thought I should try my hand at decorating my confections.  It turns out that I can now make my cakes either beautiful or delicious.  I learned that I DO NOT like typical decorative 'buttercream' frosting.  It's a combination of horrible for you processed shortenings, powdered sugar, and artificial flavorings.  In Erica language: GROSS.  So basically I can now make a cake that looks pretty and will hold up to warm temperatures, but tastes like every other store bought cake. OR, I can bake a cake that tastes heavenly, is made with real ingredients, looks pretty, and melts above room temperature.  With that said, here are some pictures of delicious cakes and decorated cakes.

Dark Chocolate Cake with an Orange Curd Center & Dark Chocolate Ganache Frosting, topped with Dark Chocolate dipped Candied Orange Peels - and yes every bit of this is from scratch and might seriously be the most decedent wonderful thing I have ever tasted.

Detail of candied orange peels - not exactly pretty, but oh my they are delicious!

Homemade Strawberry Shortcakes with a Honey Scented Whipped Cream

Pre-class Cake Balls

1st try at making 'buttercream' roses

My 2nd shot at 'buttercream' florals was definitely more attractive

I was happy with the look of this cake.

Flower Basket Cake in all it's glory

Blackberry, Lemon, Ricotta Muffins - Post-class and maybe not as perfect looking as frosted cakes, but I might be in love with this recipe.

White Roses Single Layer Wedding Cake - Serves 18