Is your method of Discipline working? AND Yummy Foods

by | May 11, 2011

We have gone from some beautiful cool Spring days to very hot and humid, this could be a hot, hot, hot summer at this rate.  The sky is blue though and I am ready to tackle some Spring cleaning today!  🙂

Are you frustrated with one or all of your children? Are you counting for them to decide over the next 3 seconds whether or not to obey?   I remember when our children were young taking a course in Raising Children God’s way and it taught me how to discipline in ways that didn’t stress me out!  After all, I wasn’t the one in trouble so why should I be the one stressed right?  First things first, if you have ever watched the old version of the movie, “The Parent Trap” you probably remember those words of the wise older woman running the camp, “let the punishment fit the crime”, yes exactly right, let the punishment fit the crime!  I sat down and figured out what problems I was dealing with and set a discipline for each one for example; Direct disobedience – I told them to do something or not to do something and they did the opposite and knew they were doing wrong, in my book deserved a spanking.  Running in the house – they sat in time out.  Talking back or using inappropriate words brought out a bar of soap.  The answer was not always the same for everything.

Then there was a method called Reality Discipline where they learn responsibility for their actions and behavior, Bill and I even use this one now with our son Ryan.  His job is to take the trash can out to the end of the driveway on Thursday after school so it can be picked up on Friday.  When he doesn’t do it instead of taking it out myself we leave it and the next day he can load all of that smelly stuff into the back of the truck and we drive him to the dump where he can unload it all.  With a smaller child it can be as simple as this;  they throw a fit about coming in the house from playing outside so as you watch them from the window you grab a popscicle and start eating it and when he comes in asking for one you say, “if you had come in when I told you to without throwing a temper tantrum you could have had one but now you will have to wait.”  These methods are not always easy because it takes a while for your child to adjust but they teach life long lessons that are very valuable.  To read more I would recommend the book mentioned in the next paragraph:

In Have a New Kid by Friday, Dr. Leman writes, “Show me a mean teacher, and I’ll show you a good one.” If you find that you are a permissive parent who is afraid of “pulling the rug out from under your child” as Dr. Leman suggests, remember that Reality Discipline is not unkind. Instead, when it’s motivated by love to help your child mature into a responsible adult, it’s a very good gift.

Cheese Stuffed Shells

Prep Time: 35 Min        Bake: 50 Min    Servings 12

Ingredients

  • 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup 4% cottage cheese
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
  • 24 jumbo pasta shells, cooked and drained

  • SAUCE:
  • 1 can (29 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

  • In a large skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the spinach, cream cheese and egg. Add 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and cinnamon if desired.
  • Stuff pasta shells with sausage mixture. Arrange in two 11-in. x 7-in. baking dishes coated with cooking spray. Combine the sauce ingredients; spoon over shells.
  • Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Yield: 12 servings.

White Chocolate Strawberry Torte

Prep Time:  20 Min  + Chilling   Servings: 10-12

Ingredients

  • 1 cup crushed vanilla wafers (about 30 wafers)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds, toasted
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 12 ounces white baking chocolate, melted
  • 3 cups whole medium fresh strawberries
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup thawed orange juice concentrate
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon baking cocoa
  • Additional strawberries, halved

Directions

  • Set aside 2 tablespoons wafer crumbs. Combine almonds, butter and remaining crumbs; press onto the bottom of an ungreased 9-in. springform pan. Spoon 5 tablespoons of melted white chocolate over crust; sprinkle with reserved wafer crumbs. Arrange whole strawberries, tips up, over crumbs.
  • In a bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, juice concentrate and vanilla. Beat in remaining white chocolate. In another bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Stir 2 cups into the creamed cheese mixture; mix well. Fold in remaining whipped cream. Spread between and over strawberries. Cover and chill for 3 hours or overnight.
  • Carefully run a knife around sides of pan to loosen. Remove sides. Arrange four 1-1/2-in.-wide strips of waxed paper over top; sprinkle cocoa between strips. Remove waxed paper. Place halved strawberries between cocoa rows. Yield: 10-12 servings.

I hope you enjoy a wonderful Spring day today!

God Bless,

Janet Scott

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