Great Chocolate Cookie Recipe

I usually don't like chocolate/chocolate cookies. One of Carol's friends brought these to her open house and I really liked them.

Chewy Chocolate Cookies

**It is recommended to use a high quality baking chocolate. The recipe lists Callebaut Intense Dark but I used Girandelli. Also substituting light brown sugar for dark will change the flavor, so it's not recommended (same for the dark syrup).

1/2 C granulated sugar (for rolling)
1/3 C granulated sugar
1 1/2 C unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 C Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t + 1/8 t table salt
1/2 c dark corn syrup
1 lg egg white
1 t vanilla extract
12 T (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/3 c packed dark brown sugar
4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Put oven racks to upper and middle positions. Heat oven to 375. Line baking pan with parchment or I just sprayed with non-stick spray. Place 1/2 cup sugar in small bowl. Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt together. Whisk corn syrup, egg white and vanilla together. In a mixer with a paddle, beat butter, brown sugar and 1/3 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2 minutes). Add corn syrup mixture and beat 20 seconds, scraping bowl. Add flour mixture and chopped chocolate 30 seconds. Give dough a final stir with a spatula to ensure it's mixed well. Chill dough 30 minutes, but no more. Divide dough into about 16 portions, roll in sugar and place on baking pan. Do 2 pans at a time. Bake 5 minutes, switch pans (top to bottom and swing them around). Bake 5 more minutes until cookies are puffed and cracked and edges have begun to set. Don't overbake - it's ok if they look a little underdone in the center. Cool 5 minutes.

First Week's Class Done - sort of...

My first class (Fast track - Advanced Certification Program) this week was on Multicultural Education - hereafter referred to as ME because it's too long to type - is over except for the paper and the project that are due in a week. I learned more in this class than I ever imagined and was able to see answers to a lot of nagging problems I have seen over the years in my kids' classrooms. It seems that education is trying to move away from the "kids conform to how the school teaches" to one where kids' differences are viewed, kept in mind while teaching and appreciated. Amen!

Did you realize:
- Nebraska was the first state to require ME --> you probably would have guessed CA!!
- The movement was started by college students in Norfolk
- Lincoln has the only school designated as a refugee center for the state of Nebraska so they deal with people from at least 34 different nations.
- A lot of white (or Euro Americans now) would not think of themselves as a "culture"
- If you are white, "multicultural" is not just about other races and cultures - it includes you too!
- Most people think about ME as only involving race issues or ethnic differences. ME really encourages teachers to think about all differences such as economic level, male/female, kids with disabilities, different learning styles, family structures and abilities.
- Kids learn best when content is related to their life experiences within their culture, so including information from many different cultures will reach many more kids.
- ME will help kids appreciate their race or culture, but also other cultures around the world.

But one of the goals of ME is to think about the hidden stereotypes and perceptions about race and culture. If you were the only person of your race in a school and you went all year long without seeing anyone who was remotely like you, you didn't learn about anyone of your race who had done anything good for the world and you only heard how great the other race was how would you feel about yourself? This is one reason why some kids don't learn well in school. It isn't about them or "their people".

Face it, if you are white, you are in the ruling class - and this comes with many hidden privileges. If you think racism doesn't exist today, then I challenge you to read either Dr. Dalton's book, "Racial Healing: Confronting the fear between Blacks and Whites" or Lois Mark Stalvey's "The Education of a WASP". The latter takes place mostly in Omaha, NE in the 60s. Both books give you a good view of why we have the problems we have in this country and why they are not going away. Find out why Barak Obama was elected and why African Americans broke down and cried.

Do you believe in the founding principles of this country (really read these words!) - things like "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ? Is this only important for your culture? Is a black person equal to you? Would you joyfully live next to a Hispanic family (or a Catholic or Jewish Family) and treat them like your best friends? Would you hire a black worker into a upper level job? Do you correct your family or friends when they make a racial comment? Do you judge a group of people on the actions or perceived actions of a few?

How many African Americans or Hispanics would say that we have fulfilled the opening words of the Preamble for them: "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Ask a few members from other races and see what answers you get.

If you are a religious person who believes in "love thy neighbor", do people hear you make racial comments? Do you truly "do unto others as you would like them to do unto you"?

ME tries to let all children know that they are valued as people and as members of their culture. A great multicultural school is said to be one where every child will see at least one positive image of their culture somewhere on the walls of the school. The curriculum will include people of race and culture who have contributed to society. Books would not only be about their culture, but by authors and illustraters from their culture and contain positive images. Teachers will understand cultural differences and use those in forging a relationship with each child so that the child feels valued and will learn.

Most parents can tell you and research has shown that emotion is very very important to kids' learning. If they feel safe, accepted (not just tolerated) and valued, they will learn.

My kids are yelling for me. I hope all of you take this challenge. Separating yourself from other races or cultures, hating other groups of people and wanting other people to integrate but not yourself is not ever going to solve our race issues in this country. People need to be antiracist and actively work for acceptance of people who are different from themselves.

later...

A Great Day, but a sad day...

Last night we went to the final Lincoln Christian music concert. Jacob was in almost every group, as usual. The groups were very jazzed up and did a terrific job. The music leaders decided to hand out metals to all contest winners who recieved a superior rating during the year. Well, just at districts jake was 8 for 9 groups. He was loaded down, to say the least. Then they had certificates of participation for various things. Jacob had so many that he had an envelope. He lettered more than once, so he had an embroidered letter with a "Vocal" pin and a "Band" pin. He did not get one for orchestra because he wasn't in orchestra the whole year - being asked to help fill in in the percussion section before the Disney trip. He got a really cute pin for his participation in Disney contests also. Anyone know of a good display for all that stuff that would go on Jake's wall? Send me a link PLEASE!!

It was sad, too, because Jake is not returning to LCS next year and had to give up his spot in the Image group and all the others. Makes me want to cry. Mrs. Bond would like to give Jacob sax lessons and have him play with the band whenever he can. Not sure if that will work out. He has had such a wonderful year at LCS entirely due to the music programs. The leaders there are really wonderful, loving, accepting, supportive and gifted. There are definitely other wonderful things about LCS, but there is something about seeing Christian love and acceptance in action every single day- makes all the difference over the others who talk it or teach it, but really don't care to put any effort into doing it.

Jake has been wonderful about the decision. I know he is conflicted, but has been selfless in his immediate sacrifice when we sat him down and told him that we didn't think there was any way we could pay for LCS while paying for Matthew's college, mine and then Emma's next year. Unfortunely, when you have kids with learning difficulties you can just kiss scholarships goodbye - they will never "measure" up. We were very blessed with the Grace Scholarship Matthew received that covers his tuition and fees. We don't expect that for Emma.

Jake sat back and watched what happened at LCS when Emma was there. He learned very well the difference between an organization that is run and accepts what is truly "to the glory of God" and one that talks it, but is really controled by those who donate the money. At Norris the game is just different. Adults are much more accepting of differences, which can be good or bad depending on how well you are reaching your kids as a parent. But, the horrid judgemental, "My kids/family are more righteous than yours" is just not there. I doubt our family will be shunned because we have a daughter who is not mild or meek enough. I think Jake expects that none of his teachers at Norris will really give a hoot about him as a person. But, if he keeps his head down and ignores everything he can, he will be able to take advantages of the wider curriculum choices.

Jake is currently holding a 4.3 grade point average and has been 1/42 in class ranking. I think this is totally due to teachers who care about the whole child at LCS. They work with kids who are different, not just punish them for not fitting into the mold. They look for ways to help learning and growth of confidence and self-esteme. When Jacob has shown interest and excitement in areas like science, the teacher has let him run! I'm not sure Jake really knows how different Norris will be. I just hate the thought of seeing that confidence, excitement and vision of his future drop like a rock (as it did with the other kids at Norris).

But, seeing both sides of the fence really helped Matthew and Emma figure out who they want to be in life. Maybe God has a purpose in the things he has us go through - or maybe it just makes us feel better to hope that's true. Maybe some day we'll see an answer. Maybe not.

May

I don't know about anyone else, but we just don't plan anything in May anymore. The calandar still ends up filling up with all sorts of crazy things. Usually, it's school related for us.

Matthew had his Conticum Concert - the video should be out on the Sing Omaha website.
Jacob is having his concert this Thurseday. I believe he has been asked to do his sax solo and most of the other pieces that received Superior ratings at District Music (see clips on my facebook).
We had a Disney Party, where the kids got to share pictures and thoughts about the trip.
We rented a small U-Haul and moved most of Matthew's things out of the dorm. He is leaving right after finals for his South Dakota Mountain Climbing final. If they come home unbruised, they pass.
I am going to try and remember all the May birthdays with atleast cards. Today Ariana's needs to go out.
The dogs have to have their shots because we are leaving them at a kennel over Memorial Day weekend.
Oh, and then there are the grad parties that the kids want to go to. Jacob has a lot of seniors he knows from all the music groups he is in.
Emma had Prom !
Carol is buying her first home today (hopefully). After much tugging back and forth (owners were hoping the inspection didn't show that the furnace had a fatal crack in it since 2005! They did install a new one!)
Emma is job shadowing today.
We are moving Jacob to Norris next year. Unfortunately, we just can't afford to send him with the economy and tuition going up $1500! We are heartbroken that he has to give up his music. The teacher told him the other day that she ordered medals for all the Superior ratings at District and he has the most! He has just loved the music/band programs. Norris does have some advantages and it will be ok for him to try that school for a year and see what he thinks. Who knows where we will be in a year.
Alex is graduating on May 23 and we are going out for that. Jacob has school on Friday, but we'll work that out somehow.
I have 7 books so far that I would like to read before I start school on June 1. I have been reviewing math, computer and teaching subjects for months, but need to start on the textbooks.
We are giving up on bark in the front yard and have been hauling tons of rock in. The front is almost done and the rest of the rock will go out the back door. Eventually, we will rock around the back.
We replaced the 2 Ash trees that got cut down in their prime last year by straight line winds.
We are trying new edging materials to hold the rock and the grass back out of the beds.
Emma is trying to "modernize" me with a new hair style and, hopefully, some news clothes before I start school.
The kids are trying to line up jobs for the summer.
We are working on how the house will run when I'm gone for 14 hours each day! The practices are not going very well.
Need to work on something nice for Jacob. He has a 4.3 grade point average as of last semester and is ranked #1 in his class of 42 (mostly very serious, competative kids).
Emma has gotten most of her grades up nicely, but Spanish is still a nail-biter. We hope Emma will start deciding what she would like to do after High School so that we can start visiting schools.
Oh, I am working on putting all the audio and video together, atleast for the Image kids. I have had some other requests for copies.
Waiting to hear if Taylor is going to be performing in Lincoln ??

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment. So, when you wonder why you haven't heard from us, maybe that mess will help clarify it!!

Easter in the fire

Think Matthew took this photo of the bonfire at Bell's Dell.

Iowa is going green!!

I-80 out of Omaha has changed quite a bit from last fall. There are over 50 new wind generators visible from the road going east. It was shocking and very cool to see them all along the road and disapearing off into the distance. We even saw semis loaded with the pieces of a new one driving along the interstate.

Puts the 2 you see near Lincoln to shame.

Trip to Bell's Dell

We took a trip out to the family cabin over Easter weekend. We haven't been out there since last fall when we winterized it. We have been dreading going just a bit.

Last year we discovered all sorts of problems with the plumbing and ended up ripping out most of the bathroom (Jim's alter ego Demolition Dan ("DD") took over). There is just a toilet there surrounded by a privacy curtain - and the kitchen sink was still working. We have been trying to make a "long term" plan to put in a real bathroom that doesn't make you claustrophobic when you use it.

Objectives: 1. Comfortable to use, making extended stays at the cabin desireable. 2. Take up as little space as possible and utilize every spec of space.

3. Not cost a fortune.

DD had a wonderful plumber meet us at the cabin on Friday. After talking options, DD, Emma and I went off in search of materials. DD installed a utility sink by the toilet before ripping out the old kitchen sink. He learned how to use PEX and will never go back. Frustration ensued as we looked for a shower pan. Apparently, the only size shower pans deemed necessary now by home supply stores is 36" square or 48" rectangular - and those only come with a wall surround kit. So we had to leave some of the work undone. We were hoping to place the shower pan, which would determine the exact potion of our walls. NOPE. We finally tracked down the 42" we want in Lincoln and just need to decide on whether or not we are going to tile or not.

DD was resigned to the fact that the next trip to the cabin meant a cement cutting blade and a jack hammer as we got ready to sink the new drains. The plummer called today and suggested Qwik Jon sewage removal system. It requires no cutting of cement at all and is definitely worth checking out. Man would that save us a lot of work!!

Other things we are looking at: some way to soften the horrid water, small water heater solutions and metal cabinates for the kitchen. The plumber suggested IKEA - but said it's only worth it if you drive up to the twin cities and pick it up. We are very optimistic that we will make great progress this summer - especially if the Qwik Jon works out.

more to come later....

School Books arrive

I ordered 7 books - needed for 3 classes this summer. The other 2 classes use booklets made by the professor. My first class is Multicultural Education. Just in case you want to follow along, I have to read "White Teacher", The Education of a WASP" and Racial Healing: Confronting The Fear Between Blacks and Whites".

I'm hoping the class is better than the one I took in college titled "Minority Studies". The entire semester was filled with nothing but "how horrible the white race is". No kidding, I got an A in the class because all you had to do was not say a word in class (if you were white) and pick the right multiple choice answer to questions like, "All of the problems in our world are caused by white people - True/False?" You think I'm kidding, but it was really that outrageous. We had a young black man speak in class one day and the hatred that filled that room is something I remember to this day. An hour of angry, heated speach about how horrible all white people are and how racism is worse than it's ever been.

I felt so badly for that young man - and still do say a prayer for him to this day when he is brought to mind. I did learn what racism is - one definition from dictionary.com is "hatred or intolerance of another race or other races". Some people see it as a "black and white" issue. I've really always seen it as just hatred.

Kids come in one variety - they all need to be told and treated like they have value just the way they are. They all need to be encouraged and helped to find their strengths and work around their weaknesses. They all will fit in the real world just fine if they are focused on making the world better, doing something they enjoy and contributing to the kind of world they want. None of them are expendable - these are the kids who will shape the world for the next 40 years, who will raise the next generation. Disinfranchise and discourage them and just watch them go in a negative direction.

I have certainly not seen this attituded in the schools my kids have been in. I'll be interested to read my books and see what this class is teaching.

Hulu

If you have been following The Novel Coder's blog, you will have heard of Hulu. Actually, this was started by The Oracle and her hubby, Max. They infected Matthew with the bug and he used some of his summer job money to buy a monitor that he could watch tv on.

**NOTE: Hulu has free Tv shows and movies that you can watch with your computer or route to your tv. Current seasons of shows like Heroes, Chuck, 24, Monk, Bones and The Tonight Show are available as well as oldies like Bewitched, The Three Stooges and The Mary Tyler Moore Show and It Takes A Thief!!. Now where is The Carol Burnett Show?? Plz!**

Our Tv consumption is basically dish network with a DVR machine (we live in the country). We tape anything we want to watch and then watch it atleast 15 minutes later so we can speed through the commercials. We hardly ever watch live Tv anymore except for news. We don't have that many shows that we follow either, yet pay through the nose for that entertainment.

We are watching the choices available with Hulu and as soon as it really takes off, we will dump the expensive, gouging cable/dish FOREVER! Hopefully CNN, HLN and FoxNews will offer streams of their news so I will have that. Netflix is great and will soon be offering more and more live movie choices to replace HBO/etc garbage.

Kudos to those supporting a better option to see entertainment. Cable companies have had the monopoly for far too long. They have gotten enough of my money and I can't wait for them to go belly up!

My head is going to explode...

I think I'm trying to learn too many new things at once - a product of wanting to get some things done before I start school.

If you haven't been to Facebook in a while - check out Jacob's singing group "Image". They went to Orlando, FL and took all the awards at the Disney music contest. They recieved a superior rating, a best in division and best overall group. I stole the CD that Jacob brought home and uploaded the 4 songs.

I am also working on video. The boys have had the video software and have done some productions for friends and the school, but I have not been able to get them to make me CDs of their singing and concerts. I bugged Jim so that he would get some good editing software and I am trying to learn it. In order to get something useable I have to use the camera software and then Power Director to change the format and then Vegas Movie Studio to produce the actual video. Oh, then you have to find a format that Facebook accepts and that is compressed. It just goes on and on and on... I used the software to produce the Disney music songs - audio only - haven't graduated much beyond that yet. Expect some good things to come of this...

Since dumping WoW, I've been teaching myself Visual Basic.net. This is mostly due to the fact that Jim was teaching a young high school student and I just kept hearing the talk (also I might have to teach it some day). I wanted to see how much programming had changed since I was at work. It's amazing! I have been following tutorials that walk you through all the different "beginner" things that one can do with web design. So far, the tutorials are much better than the books I have checked out at the library. I'll tell you one area where we HAVEN'T come a long way - and that would be textbooks. You know you have something bad when you have a 1175 page how-to book with a 30 page index. Just name it "Visual Basic for those who love frustration!"

I'm also reading "Foundations and Fundamental Concepts of Mathemathics" - and yes it is as dry as it sounds. It was a book recommended by home school groups to kind of tie together the origins of math with what we teach today. So far, all I've read is some pretty heavy Euclidean geometry type theorums and proofs. I put the book down for other things frequently.

I am also brushing up on algebra, trig and calculus type basics. When I talked to the head of the certificate program, she asked specifically whether I would want to teach higher math like calculus. She was also very excited that I could be double certified in computer science. Kind of freaked me out - because I'm a bit rusty.

What Jake brought back for me...

Marie from the Aristocrats

Jacob is back...

Yes, the Disney trip went very well!! Image, the 20 or so member special singing group, got a Superior rating, Gold in their Division and then Gold for all Divisions!! Choir and orchestra got Superior ratings, as well. All did a tremendous job!!

Jacob was excited about the trip and all the new things he would get to do - the airplane ride being top on that list. He loves to compete musically, but once that was over, he had about a day of Disney in him! He called a couple times a day and by Saturday night, he was saying, "Hmm, I am having fun, but could come home now..." I think the amount of activity and noise was a little over the top for the boy.

Jake is simple: sleep, quiet, interesting mental challenges, food - THINK TIME! Avoid the wacky, juvinile, EMO people as much as possible. Have a safe home base where there is love and acceptance to retreat to.

He is really a very thoughtful kid - sometimes that doesn't come across when he's ignoring us and in his own world. He got me an adorable Disney animal (that I have yet to identify - and yes I almost cried) and a huge pencil. In my time, a teacher could use that to hit kids over the head with, but alas, I think I'll have to use mine for a pointer!

Cool math/computer stuff to check out...

Ok, when I start something new, I get all excited about what is out "there" that I might be able to use when I start to teach. I am going to post a few awesome things here for CAROL especially to check out for use in her classroom. (NOTE: Carol these things are not too geeky!)

I tried to go to the home school curriculum fair to look at all the choices for materials - but they wanted $70 just to get in the door. Still can't figure out why some of these groups get so exclusive - don't they want to encourage people who might want to home school?? or use good materials and methods in the school system? Wierd.

First: Free young kids' computer software curriculum (says middle/high school, but easily doable for 5-6). Diane you will love this, too. Carnegie-Mellon developed a way for kids to learn the programming structures of things like Visual Basic.net in a 3D way with The Sims. Jim didn't even know about this, but watched the promos and thinks it's way cool.
http://www.alice.org/index.php?page=what_is_alice/what_is_alice
choose demonstration of Alice video (video at the bottom of page first)
http://www.alice.org/
http://www.carnegiemellontoday.com/article.asp?aid=328

Second: supplements that are totally reproduceable for your class.
These give math practice in a puzzle format that are self correcting. If the kids solve each problem they use the answers as a code to put together at the end. Elementary not written by the same people but looks similar. Follow school standards for content.
https://www.wrightgroup.com/creative/index.html?PHPSESSID=3717cb9629877f38c7012718843ba78f&gid=79 McGrawHill Pizzazz series 5-8

Kutasoftware.com free worksheets, puzzles etc. stuff for kids with learning issues. You can create your own worksheets too. other teacher aids and sites
http://www.killerstartups.com/Site-Reviews/kutasoftware-com-kuta-software-for-math-teachers

Absolutely excellent site for teachers (mostly algebra and beyond). Has links to all sorts of free tutoring, explanations, worksheets, etc for kids or teachers. No advertising or silly sites, it says - just serious math help and practice. Articles like "How to suck up to your teacher" are great for teachers too (what standards do you have for homework, showing work, etc).
http://www.purplemath.com/

http://hotmath.com/ Has many free answers and walk-thrus of textbook problems (have to have the textbook to know what they are stepping through)

http://www.lulu.com/ This one is for you, too, Diane - a lot of home schoolers and geeky people publish their own stuff here. Wacky, cool books here. OH NO! prob not in kindle format yet, but you never know. This is where I found the Pizzazz Math books.

I better stop.

Going back to school...

Ok, so, after a few attempts at deciding what I want to do for my "second career" - defined as: something to occupy my time now that the kids are grown and help pay for years and years of college - I have been accepted into an accelerated certificate program. I am excited and scared to death about getting my teaching certificate and teaching math/computer science at a high school or junior high level.

I absolutely loved my math teacher in high school. It is really the reason I took all the math I could and was in the first computer science class offered at our school. I had little self-esteem or direction and had massive problems with anxiety that I hid by obsessing about getting my work done as soon as it was assigned. Mr. Stensaas (not even sure of the spelling anymore) encouraged me and treated me like I actually had something to offer the world. He taught a BASIC programming class when computers hit the schools. He really had no training, just a book to read from. I would go home with the assignments and my dad (worked for Control Data at the time) would show me tricks and ways to code that were a little more advanced. I would go in and show Mr. S. He loved it and had absolutely no ego problems with working with a kid. Boy did I love school.

That is the kind of teacher I would like to be. The fear comes in when I wonder if I'll be able to hold onto those ideals and dreams once I hit the "real non-real world of public schools". I have sort of a love/hate relationship with schools right now. I hate them. I love my kids for surviving so well. I have to think that God has given our family the experiences we've had so that I can be a good teacher. But, if I become one of the many egotistical, self-aggrandizing, checked-out, burned-out, filling a job spot, turn off more kids than they turn on teachers - please shoot me!

The start of something new...

My husband has decided that World of Warcraft sucks too much of our time, patience and energy - and he is right, of course - so I have to find something new to do. My hubby (The novel coder) and sister-in-law (the Oracle) both blog and have been telling everyone to try it. So here is my attempt at joining the crowd...besides, this is the only way my geeky family communicates!! It's either IMing, blogging, cell phoning, skyping, oovooing, texting, emailing or facebooking here. It's such a sad world when your kids wake up on a Saturday morning and phone you from their rooms to see if breakfast is ready!

Only the first in a long line of crazy talk....