Fall in Love with Lakeshore Learning Toys and Homeschooling Resources #homeschool

* I received toys to review for this post from Lakeshore Learning, all opinions expressed are my own.

As a homeschooling mom I am constantly looking for new ideas for teaching my son. Lakeshore Learning has a fabulous Free Resource area on their website for lesson plans, craft ideas, printables, word searches and a create your own section with flash cards, award maker and more. I found so many ideas and printables that we will be using for school.

Check out this fun and festive Lakeshore Learning free October writing prompts to help kids celebrate autumn while sharpening their writing skills http://bit.ly/OctoberWritingPrompts I know I will be using these for my son's daily journal writing this month.

I am a big believer in learning should be fun and interactive. I keep that in mind when selecting toys for my son. Shopping at Lakeshore Learning my needs are met for fun and educational. My son loves it when I will do STEM style learning with him. The science of things fascinates him. With that in mind I selected 3 toys that would encourage his love for science.

Young Scientist Chemistry Lab

My son loved this kit! He wanted to do every experiment in one day. He loved following the directions and measuring out the parts needed. His favorite one was the Rocket Ball experiment and I loved the Glowing Ice Spheres. It was so enjoyable to spend time with my son doing a hands on learning toy that we could make into a memory together. We learned and bonded.

Real Bugs Discovery Kit

This toy has been absolutely great! My son has loved using a magnifying glass to inspect each bug. This has led to conversations about more bugs, googling facts about the bugs and trips to the park to see what other sorts of bugs we could find. I had so much fun learning with him!

Fascinating Facts Human Body Game

As soon as this toy arrived my son declared it must be a 2nd grade toy since it looks a little too scary for him. I laughed a bit to myself but respected his wishes for the toy to be hid in the closet until he is older request. I did check it out for myself, when he was asleep of course and it looks like it will be a very cool and valuable learning resource for when he is ready for it.

You can shop online for Lakeshore Learning and also in store. We have one here in Roseville that you can shop in store off Douglas Blvd. Plus of you are a teacher you can sign up for their Teacher's Club and get 15% off. I will need to find out of they offer discounts to Home Schooling families.

Lakeshore Learning shares ideas for learning and more of their products on social media. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Have you shopped online or in store with Lakeshore Learning? 

Do you have any must check out items that you recommend?

Post by- Laura

Apple Cream Torte Recipe

One of the best things about fall is the abundance of delicious apple recipes that I love finding and making. Of course, I love baking and cooking with pumpkins this time of year too, but there is just something about apple desserts that I find cozy and comforting.

I've never gone apple picking, but judging by all the pics on Instagram I've been seeing, there are a lot of people that do. It's definitely something I want to do one of these days, and preferably in a beautiful orchard with a plaid blanket and gorgeous picnic, and wine, and... ok, so not everything on Instagram is the way it appears, but dang, they make it look so good!

Anyway, back to this delicious Apple Cream Torte that I found in the September issue of Sunset Magazine. A cream torte is like a cross between a cake, a custard, and a Dutch baby, according to the magazine, and I completely agree with them. It's absolutely more custardy than a regular cake, and that's one of my favorite things about it.

The recipe calls for 3-4 thinly sliced apples, and I went with four and think that's the perfect amount for this torte. I love, love, love how the slices of apples bake on top of each other for this gorgeous effect you see when you slice into it. You can use a variety of different apples like Cameo, Fuji, or Gala, and I used Gala just because they are so easy to find. But next time I make this torte I'll try a different kind to see if it makes a difference in taste.

I made this for dessert for my family one night and they all loved it. The recipe is a keeper for sure, and one that I'll be sure to make again and again. If you wanted you could add a little crème fraiche or whipped cream on top, but I thought it was perfect without it.

Recipe for Apple Cream Torte

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. (3 or 4) tender sweet apples, such as Cameo, Fuji, or Gala 

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon table salt

powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and generously flour a 9-inch spring form pan. Shake out excess flour and set aside.

Using a paring knife or sharp corer, core apples from stem down through seeds and base to remove in one cylinder. Peel apples and slice crosswise into 1/4-inch rings. Set apples aside.

In a large bowl, using a mixer with whisk attachment, beat eggs and granulated sugar on high speed until pale and slightly thickened , 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and add cream and vanilla. Beat about 30 seconds more to blend. Add flour, baking powder, and salt and blend on low speed until evenly combined.

Add apples (including any uneven end pieces) to batter and stir gently with a spatula to coat, separating slices. Pour mixture into prepared pan and arrange apples flat.

Bake cake until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into center of cake (rather than an apple piece) comes out clean, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Let cake cool on a rack 20 minutes, then run a slender knife between edge of cake and pan. Remove pan rim and cool cake at least 10 minutes more.

Serve warm or at room temperature, dusting with powdered sugar.

-Post by Patricia



Pumpkin Bread With Chocolate Chips

When we lived in the Seattle area, there was no doubt when fall had arrived. Rainy days, the trees changing to orange and yellow, and the need to pull out our warm coats and sweaters was the clear sign that it was the fall season.

Here in Nevada, nothing much has changed as far as I can tell. It is cooler on my morning walks and I really do appreciate that, but nothing dramatic at all to indicate it's a different time of year. The dessert landscape is definitely different than anything I've ever know, but I'm slowing getting used to it, and it is beautiful in it's own way.

Since it is officially fall, I thought I would welcome in my favorite season with some delicious Pumpkin Bread. Something about pumpkin bread seems so homey and comforting, and I think it's my favorite way to use pumpkin. I had a hard time finding canned pumpkin here in the last couple of weeks which I thought was really strange. I checked three different stores, including Trader Joe's which always carried it in Washington, and they all said they didn't have it in yet. But I finally found some and bought a dozen cans, which I have no doubt will all be used for my fall baking.

Ok, so on to this pumpkin bread. It's a super easy recipe and you don't even have to pull out a mixer to make it. It's fabulous on it's own, with nothing added, but is even better when you add chocolate chips, or nuts. You could even use dried fruits like cranberries or raisins.

It's super moist but holds together really well for slicing. Double the recipe and give a loaf to a friend and they will think you have mad baking skills. It really is that good!



Recipe for Pumpkin Bread With Chocolate Chips

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup solid-pack pumpkin

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl, whisk together until mixed.

In another medium bowl, whisk together pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and oil until well blended. Add to flour mixture, stir just until moistened, do not over mix. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let sit in pan 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool.

-Post by Patricia 

Fall Snack Mix For Kids Made With Goldfish® Crackers

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MixMatchMunch #CollectiveBias

My grandchildren started their new school last week and I'm thrilled to say that they love it! They had never moved before, so we weren't sure how they would feel about attending a much bigger school and having to make new friends. But it all went well, and I couldn't be more relieved.

They came home with lots to tell us, and of course after a long day, hungry for a great afterschool snack. Since they love Goldfish® crackers so much, I thought I would put together a snack mix that included them with a bit of a fall theme.

My grandkids love hearing about when their mom was a little girl and that she loved eating Goldfish crackers just like they do. I always get lots of smiles when they're eating them and listening to stories about her.

It's really so easy to put together a great tasting snack mix with your favorite ingredients. I like to make a big batch of it and store it in a covered container so that it's ready right when they get home from school.

This fall snack mix includes Goldfish crackers colored variety, dried cranberries, golden raisins, sunflower seeds, stick pretzels, and white chocolate chips. The kids really love it, and I get cool Grandma points!

I'm so proud of these three, how brave they have been with the move and adapting to our new hometown. I love being able to offer them an afterschool snack that they love and I know they won't waste. Goldfish crackers are always the perfect solution for my grandchildren's snacking needs.





I find the 30 count packs really convenient, and it includes three of our favorite flavors. Sometimes I'll pick up the bulk boxes too, just so I know we have plenty of crackers on hand.

You can find the bulk boxes on the rollback price of $5.98 at Walmart. It's a great time to stock up and make sure there are plenty of Goldfish snacks on hand for your little ones.

Ingredients:

2 cups Goldfish crackers

2 cups stick pretzels

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

In a big bowl, put in all ingredients and give it a big stir. So easy!

You can change up the kind of chips you add to your snack mix, too. We really like the white chocolate kind, but semi-sweet chocolate, or butterscotch would also taste great.

You can find Goldfish crackers in different sizes and varieties at your local Walmart. I found the 30 count packs in the aisle of other multi-packaged products.

Look for this in-store offer that may be available at your local Walmart: Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) Bolthouse Farms® 10 oz. Baby Carrots or Bolthouse Farms® 11 oz. juice when you buy any ONE (1) Pepperidge Farms® Goldfish® crackers 30 oz. or larger.

With school back in full swing for the kids, I know we'll be making more after school snack mixes with our favorite kinds of Goldfish crackers.

Have you ever made a snack mix for your kids before? What ingredients would you use to make a delicious snack mix that you know your kids would love? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Banana Pecan Loaf Recipe From Taste Of Home Fall Baking Magazine



Banana bread has always been one of those recipes that I make again and again. I've used several different recipes to make it through the years, and I'm always open to trying a new one. I usually put walnuts in it, but I'm sort of going through a pecan faze right now, so I was happy to find this recipe that included them.

I found this new recipe for Banana Pecan Loaf in the latest edition of Taste of Home Fall Baking Magazine. The fall issue is always my favorite and inspires me to start thinking about the yummy and cozy treats I want to bake. Nothing says fall to me more than baking for my family when the weather turns cool and it's time to pull out our warm sweaters and jackets.

We always seem to have those bananas on the counter that turned brown because nobody ate them, so if that happens to you, it's the perfect time to make some banana bread. And if you have any leftover, I can't think of anything yummier than a slice warmed up and spread with butter. Perfect with an afternoon cup of tea or coffee.

Recipe for Banana Pecan Loaf

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

3 medium ripe bananas, mashed

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, and add to creamed mixture. Fold in pecans.

Transfer to a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

-Post by Patricia