Try a New Recipe Tuesday~Broccoli Pasta Salad

I got this recipe from my Mom.  It's a spin on the traditional Broccoli Raisin salad, with the addition of pasta and a few other things.

Broccoli Pasta Salad
1 cup bow tie pasta, uncooked
6 cups small broccoli florets
1 small red onion, chopped
1 yellow pepper, chopped
6 slices cooked, crumbled bacon
1 cup mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon sugar

*Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt and adding broccoli to the boiling water the last minute of cooking, drain.  Rinse with cold water, drain again.
*Place pasta mixture in large bowl. Add onions, pepper, and bacon, mix lightly.
*Mix remaining ingredients (mayo and sugar) until blended. Add to salad, toss to coat.
*Refrigerate at least one hour.

More new recipes:

Schoolhouse Crew Review~Christianity Cove

Christianity Cove is a leading supplier for Sunday School and Children's Church materials.  "Christianity Cove is your one-stop-shop for free Sunday School lessons, Bible games, crafts, skits and activities for Children's Church. Our blog features hundreds of fresh, fun, and creative ideas for helping your students understand the Bible and relate it to their own lives. We are firm believers that Children's Ministry does NOT have to be expensive or complicated. Just as Jesus could make an easy lesson from a nearby fig tree or a few seedlings by the roadside, our budget conscious lessons and activities make good use of what’s around us — either in the church storage closet, the garage at home, or the nearest dollar store. "

Members of the TOS Crew were able to review a variety of products available.  The materials are easily adaptable for home use.  I reviewed The 10 Commandments Activity Kit and The Lord's Prayer Lesson Pack.

My son Chad, 10, knows about the Ten Commandments but doesn't know them by heart.  The downloadable activity kit is full of activities, games, crafts, snacks, and worksheets to reinforce learning about the Ten commandments.  The regular price is $47, but currently there is an early bird special for just $27 for the first 250 who order.

The Lord's Prayer Lesson Pack came just at the right time.  For a few weeks, we had randomly been reciting The Lord's Prayer at dinnertime because it occurred to me that Chad didn't know it.  It is something that was recited regularly at both my husband's and my churches as children, so we had it memorized,  but is not recited at our church.  The downloadable Pack comes with activities, games, snacks, crafts, and worksheets.  The regular price is $39.99, but there is currently an earlybird special for the first 250 orders for only $19.99.

What I Thought: These two downloadable Activity Packs were a great fit for us. Chad learned so much (and retained so much) about the Ten Commandments and The Lord's Prayer. We would pick what we were in the mood for (craft, activity, etc.) every few days.  The crafts and activities are easy to do with items you probably already have at home, but are easy to find cheaply.  One of Chad's favorites was Fishing for Commandments(although it doesn't look like his favorite by the weird look on his face!):

I can see that these would be great products for Sunday School use.  As for the prices, they are a bit high for me and my family's budget, but would be inexpensive for church use.  They are great products though, so maybe budgeting ahead for them would work for families on a tight budget.  I suggest checking out Christianity Cove and seeing for yourself all they have to offer!

     

Book Review~The Promise Box

About The Promise Box (from the back cover): Every year, young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive ‘resident’ status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! Lydia Wyse, a book editor from Seattle who grew up Amish, returns to the small community of West Kootenai, Montana to give comfort to her father after her mother’s death.
She is drawn back to the familiar Amish ways after finding her mother’s most precious possession, a Promise Box of prayers and scripture. What her publisher sees, though, is an opportunity for a sensational ‘tell-all’ book about the Amish. Lydia soon finds herself falling in love with Amish bachelor Gideon Hooley. She wants nothing more than to forget her past and look forward to a future as an Amish bride. Will the pain of her childhood—and her potential betrayal of her community—keep her from committing her whole heart?

What I Thought: If you've read my blog before, you know I love everything Amish!  Tricia Goyer is one of my favorite authors, and I've had the privilege this year to be part of her Launch Team, helping spread the word about the new books she is releasing.  The Promise Box is book 2 in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors Series, and it is another hit by Tricia Goyer!  In case you are wondering if  you need to read the first book in the series, The Memory Jar, first, I definitely recommend you do because it is so good, but it is not necessary to be able to read and enjoy The Promise Box.

I enjoyed that the story was about a former Amish woman returning to the Amish after time in the English world.  It was very interesting to see how Lydia is treated in the community.  One of my favorite things about this book and series is the setting.  West Kootenai, Montana sounds like such a wonderful place to live high in the mountains, and the Amish are a bit more relaxed.  Once again, Tricia Goyer has done a  wonderful job with characters I felt like I got to know personally, and a storyline that is hard to put down! 

Purchase The Promise Box here.  Get more information and read more reviews about The Promise Box here. 

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

One "promising" winner will receive:

• Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
• Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)
• Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

 

 

~Wordless Wednesday~

Children's Book Review~Strangers on the High Seas

In April, I reviewed a book that we really enjoyed by Carole P. Roman called Stuck in the Doldrums.  You can read that review here.  I'm happy to report that there is a new book in the Captain No Beard series called Strangers on the High Seas(ISBN: 9781480177222).  This is the fourth book in the Captain No Beard series.

Strangers on the High Seas has all the same great characters we loved aboard their ship the Flying Dragon, with the addition of Cabin Girl Cayla. When a scary ship starts following them, the crew must work together to stay safe, and they might be surprised who saves them from danger!

My son Chad and I enjoyed this book just as much as the last. It is 32 pages, and full of adorable illustrations.  You can purchase Strangers on the High Seas on Amazon, and on the author's website, http://www.caroleproman.com/. 

Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Children's Book Review~Oh Brother! A Nico and Tugger Tale

I recently had the pleasure to review an adorable children's book: Oh Brother! A Nico and Tugger Tale (ISBN 978-1466942875), published by Trafford Publishing.  The author is Kimberly Sentek, and it was illustrated by Eumir Carlo Fernandez. 

Nico was an only dog, the center of his owner's attention.  When a new puppy, Tugger, comes to live with them, Nico has a lot to adjust to!  Oh Brother! A Nico and Tugger Tale follows the two pups as they learn to live and play with each other. It presents the story from both dog's point of view. This is a cute story to read to your kids or grandkids, or for young readers to read themselves. It would be a great story to read to a child who has a new sibling on the way! There are 28 pages, all illustrated in color.  The illustrations are cute and fun. 

My son Chad (10) and I both enjoyed Oh Brother! A Nico and Tugger Tale.  When I went to the author's website, http://kimberlysentek.com/, I learned that this is the first in a planned series, so we look forward to reading more in the series.  I also learned that the dogs in the story are based on Ms. Sentek's own dogs, Nico and Tugger!  You can go to the website to see pictures of the real dogs (cute!), as well as download coloring pages and puzzles!  There are also links to purchase your own copy of the book. 


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.