For the end of the "school year", our Homeschooling Group decided to do a progressive dinner. We chose our country's geography as our theme. Each family was to pick their favorite state, which for most was the state they claim as home. Being on a military base, there are people literally from all over!
We had these great posters to start the kids off on their research, and they had a lot of fun filling in the information about their states and coloring in all the pictures. We did Georgia (of course!) and the girls learned all about state info like the capital, state flower, state song, etc. We also learned a little about the history of Georgia, and found pictures of famous landmarks, people, and foods from the region. Hazel did a great job drawing the state flag, and Daisy designed a postage stamp with a big juicy peach on it!
At the progressive dinner, each family had a chance to present information about their state, and then we enjoyed foods representing each as well. Our appetizer host did California and served orange slices and dried fruit and nuts. The co-host brought chips and salsa and guacamole to represent Texas. We then moved on to the main course host's home, where we learned about Florida and ate potato skins. One co-host brough Moufalata sandwiches to represent Louisiana, and we brought Fried Chicken, Sweet Tea, and fresh squeezed Lemonade to represent Georgia.
It was my first time to make real fried chicken, and it was a big hit! I searched the web and found a recipe from Family Fun Magazine, so I knew it would be easy to do and good as well. It did make a big mess of my kitchen, but it was very tasty. NOT what one might call health food, but very good for an every once in a while treat. We have a little more chicken and buttermilk left in the frige, so we will be enjoying this again this week. After that it might be a while before we indulge.
The lemonade is a recipe we have been using for a while, and it is really really good. Sweet Tea on the other hand, is something I do not make very often either, but it turned out well. We have enough tea bags to make 7 more gallons though, so we are not sure what we will do with all of that. I guess we will make a bunch of it when Jason's brother and family come to visit us this month. I know they will drink it!
The girls did a great job on their presentation, and everyone enjoyed looking at the poster they made about Georgia. They really learned a lot and had fun! We used the internet as our main source of information, but also a few books about Georgia as well as our road atlas. We are all excited about going back one day soon and seeing some of the things we learned about! Namely the Big Chicken. The girls have never seen the Big Chicken in Marietta, but they thought it was a great landmark and can't wait to see it!Click here and here to see details of the girls' work on their poster!
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade:
1 3/4 cups sugar
8 cups water, divided use (see below)
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil
and stir to dissolve sugar.
Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until
chilled.
Squeeze lemons and remove seeds from juice, but leave pulp if desired.
In a pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice and remaining 7
cups water.
Note: If you want to add fizz to your lemonade, use seltzer water,
low-sodium club soda or sparkling mineral water in place of the
remaining 7 cups of water.
Makes just over a half gallon.
Sweet Tea:
Bring 3-4 cups of water to a boil. Add a pinch of baking soda to the
water and add 3 family sized tea bags (I used Lipton). Remove from
heat and cover. Allow to sit for at least 10-15 minutes. Pour into
gallon pitcher and add sugar. Then fill with cold water. Refrigerate.
*the soda takes out the bitterness and darkens the tea....this small
amount doesnt change the taste.
Makes one gallon.
Awesome work! I love the Georgia peach postage stamp and the Highway 20 sign. Your girls are super!
ReplyDeleteYou girls are tremendous! Pops
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