State-by-State Baking :: Ohio Buckeyes and Cincinnati Chili

For the state of Ohio, our 17th Sate, the girls read B is for Buckeye: A Ohio Alphabet and then worked on completing their Notebook Pages, as usual.

Ohio Notebooking Pages

by Twinkle Toes (L) and Chiquita (R)

Of course, we had to make Buckeyes for this state, and with a spice packet straight from Ohio (Thanks to a dear blog visitor, and author!) the girls also made Cincinnati Chili!   We made sure to serve it with all the suggested additions, and everyone seemed to prefer it differently... Hubby, the older boys, and I all loved it "All-the-Way", Twinkle Toes and Chiquita liked the "4 Way" with beans (no onions), Rose loved the "2 Way", and Snuggles wanted it "No Way! I'll just have spaghetti with cheese, thank you very much!" 

"B is for Buckeye,

Ohio's nickname and tree.

Its nut looks like a deer's eye,

early pioneers would all agree."

~ B is for Buckeye: An Ohio Alphabet

Ohio Buckeyes

Ingredients:

3/4 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar. The dough will look dry. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (to be used later as the handle for dipping) and chill in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler. (We used the microwave.) Stir frequently until smooth.

Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.

Cincinnati Chili

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean ground beef
6 cups water
4oz. of tomato paste
1 packet of Cincinnati Style Chili Seasoning

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in pan.
2. Stir mixture with fork and bring to a boil.
3. Cover pot and boil for 3 minutes.
4. Uncover pot, reduce heat to medium, and continue to boil until desired thickness (approx. 25-35 minutes).  Serves 8.

Serving Suggestions:

2 Way
Cincinnati Chili served over spaghetti.
3 Way

Cincinnati Chili served over spaghetti and topped with mild cheddar cheese.
4 Way
Add onions or red beans to the 3 Way.
5 Way (Should be called All-the-Way!)
Spaghetti with Cincinnati Chili, red beans, onions, and mild cheddar cheese.  

Resources we used for this State Study:

B is for Buckeye: A Ohio Alphabet

B is for Buckeye Teacher's Guide (pdf)

Ohio's Notebooking Page from United States Maps

United States Coloring Book (Dover)

State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book (Dover)

The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From All 50 States

Other Posts of Interest: 

State-by-State Scrapbook

State-by-State Scrapbook :: Ohio

State-by-State Scrapbook :: Louisiana

P is for Pelican
The Pelican is a funny bird - 
It catches its food in a pouch,

and when it's stuffed with a heavy load,
I'll bet that poor bird says "Ouch!"

  ~ P is for Pelican: A Louisiana Alphabet

.: Louisiana by Captain :.

.: Louisiana by Rascal :.

*The links to the worksheets used for these notebook pages can be found here, and here is the link to all of our State-by-State Study posts.

State-by-State Scrapbook :: Ohio

"B is for Buckeye,

Ohio's nickname and tree.
Its nut looks like a deer's eye,
early pioneers would all agree."

  ~ B is for Buckeye: An Ohio Alphabet


.: Ohio by Captain :.

.: Ohio by Rascal :.

*The links to the worksheets used for these notebook pages can be found here, and here is the link to all of our State-by-State Study posts.

State-by-State Baking :: Tennessee Iris Lollipops

The girls studied the state of Tennessee, the 16th State in our State-by-State study, last spring while their Daddy was on his three week training over in Tennessee!   Since that was when things got especially crazy around here, and both girls had pneumonia, we never did get around to making a recipe to go along with the State (the same thing happened for Ohio and Louisiana).   Over the past couple weeks the girls went back, reviewing those few states and choosing a few recipes to make.   After Tennessee, I still have three states that I need to post about and I'll be caught up to Illinois, which all the kids will be studying next week!   (I hope you don't mind seeing a whole bunch of State posts over the next couple day!)  

Tennessee Notebooking Pages

by Twinkle Toes (L) and Chiquita (R)

Originally we were going to make "Gold Medal Cookies" during the summer time tying in the Olympics and Wilma Rudolf (who was born in Tennessee) but since we never did get around to that we ended up deciding on Iris Lollipops, tying in the state flower!

"I is for the Iris,

Some think it's kind of weird:
our state flower has no hair,
but yet it has a beard!"

  ~ V is for Volunteer: A Tennessee Alphabet

"The iris was selected as the state's cultivated flower in 1933. Iris blooms come in several different colors, but the Purple Iris is commonly accepted as the state flower.  The fuzzy part of the bloom is called a beard." 

I had purchased this Iris Candy Mold a couple years ago, and have been meaning to tie it into one of our Marian celebrations, since Our Lady is also symbolized by an Iris.

"Iris (old-fashioned names were "flag" or "sword lily"): the deep-blue color symbolizes Mary's fidelity, and the blade-shaped foliage denotes the sorrows that "pierce her heart". The iris flower is the "fleur-de-lis" of France. This symbol of the Blessed Virgin is also the symbol of the cities of Florence and of Saint Louis." - Source

The girls really enjoyed making the lollipops - they each made three, each choosing two siblings to make one for, in addition to one for them - while wearing their Tennessee T-shirts that Daddy bought them, of course! 

Tennessee Iris Lollipops

Supplies:

• Iris Candy Mold
• Yellow, White, and Purple Candy Melts
• Lollipop Sticks

Directions:

Melt Candy according to directions.  Mix until smooth.  

Fill molds with various colors of candy, as desired.  Tap against counter to try and remove all air bubbles.

Let harden in refrigerator.  Pop out of candy mold and enjoy! 

(These could have used a little more tapping, to remove the rest of the air bubbles... I was on the phone when Twinkle Toes was making hers - the three on the left - and don't think I reminded her of this step. Still, I thought they turned out really pretty and I'm looking forward to making a Blue version for Mary!) 

Resources we used for this State Study:

V is for Volunteer: A Tennessee Alphabet

V is for Volunteer Teacher's Guide (pdf)

Tennessee's Notebooking Page from United States Maps

United States Coloring Book (Dover)

State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book (Dover)

The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From All 50 States

Other Posts of Interest: 

State-by-State Scrapbook

State-by-State Scrapbook :: Tennessee

State-by-State Scrapbook :: Tennessee

"V is for Volunteer.
It's important for you to know
when help is needed anywhere,
Tennesseans are sure to go."

  ~ V is for Volunteer: A Tennessee Alphabet


.: Tennessee by Captain :.

.: Tennessee by Rascal :.

*The links to the worksheets used for these notebook pages can be found here, and here is the link to all of our State-by-State Study posts.

State-by-State Baking :: Banana Berry Pancakes with Real Vermont Maple Syrup

The state of Vermont was the 14th State to join the Union. For this state, the girls read M is for Maple Syrup: A Vermont Alphabet and then completed their Notebook Pages.

Vermont Notebooking Pages

by Twinkle Toes (L) and Chiquita (R)

Even though we made "johnnycakes" for Rhode Island, we just had to make more panckes for Vermont!  How could we not, when it meant we could justify ordering some REAL Vermont Maple Syrup?!?   I grew up only eating real maple syrup on our pancakes and apparently I've turned into my mother - carefully guarding that liquid gold and insisting on pouring it for everyone!  For years I would cringe every time I would see my Mrs. Butterworth's lovin' husband pour way too much maple syrup on his own pancakes... He now prefers maple syrup too, and helps (conserve) pour it for the kiddos! ;)

"M is for Maple Syrup,

a yummy treat that farmers stir up.

In winter, they tap the sugar maple tree,
for sap to make maple syrup for you and me!"

  ~ M is for Maple Syrup: A Vermont Alphabet

We usually just buy our maple syrup at Costco (Kirkland Brand) but for this state we decided to try something new and order some real VERMONT maple syrup.   After our taste test, everyone agreed that the Vermont syrup (we tried the Hidden Springs Grade B) was the best - full of flavor simply amazing!  

"Vermont farmers boil sap collected from sugar maple trees in buildings called sugarhouses until the sap is the consistency and sweetness of syrup.  About 40 quarts of sap are needed to make 1 quart of maple syrup."  ~ The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts from All 50 States

Banana Berry Pancakes 
with Real Vermont Maple Syrup

adapted from The United States Cookbook

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 small ripe bananas
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 cup fresh strawberries (or frozen sliced strawberries, thawed and drained)
• butter (or cooking spray) 
• Vermont maple syrup

Note:  We ended up making a double batch - the girls each made their own!  One batch wouldn't have been nearly enough for our family!

Directions:

Combine the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. 

 Stir until well mixed.

  

Break the bananas into small pieces and blend at high speed until smooth.  Add the milk, eggs, and vanilla to the bananas in the blender. Blend again on high speed until smooth.  Pour the banana mixture into the bowl with the flour. Stir gently until just moistened. 

Add oil and stir. Fold in strawberries. 

Grease pre-heated griddle with butter or cooking spray.   Place 1 heaping tablespoon of pancake batter on griddle for each pancake.  Cook for about 2 minutes or until the surface of the pancake is bubbly. 

Flip the pancakes and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until golden brown. 

Serve hot with Vermont Maple Syrup! 

Resources we used for this State Study:

M is for Maple Syrup: A Vermont Alphabet

M is for Maple Syrup Teacher's Guide (pdf)

Vermont's Notebooking Page from United States Maps

United States Coloring Book (Dover)

State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book (Dover)

The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From All 50 States

Other Posts of Interest: 

State-by-State Scrapbook

State-by-State Scrapbook :: Vermont

State-by-State Scrapbook :: Vermont

" Capital comes with the letter C.

Here laws are made to keep us free.
On the banks of two rivers, sitting pretty,
Montpelier is our capital city."

  ~ M is for Maple Syrup: A Vermont Alphabet

.: Vermont by Captain :.

.: Vermont by Rascal :.

*The links to the worksheets used for these notebook pages can be found here, and here is the link to all of our State-by-State Study posts.