Half-pint Academy

Willow

My favorite thing about Christmas morning last year was our breakfast and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eating Jewish apple cake for breakfast. I really needed to find the recipe and found it so here it is :

The GFCF Recipe Experience: Jewish Apple Cake

I love this recipe because this cake is one my Mom has made since I was a child, and to me it is wonderful to be able to gfcf a family recipe. I think the gfcf version tastes just as good as Mom's, and Mom's is usually devoured immediately.

Oh, and I would be remiss without passing along my Chemist-Father's instructions - measure all ingredients accurately.

Ingredients

3 cups gfcf flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
6 large eggs
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 tsp gf vanilla
3 tsp gf baking powder
4 - 6 Granny Smith apples, pared and sliced thin
sugar and cinnamon for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 325.

Place all ingredients except apples into a mixing bowl. Using a mixer, blend for 5 - 7 minutes, starting a low speed until a thick batter is obtained, then raising to medium speed.

Grease or spray a tube pan with cooking spray.

Pour 1/3 of the batter into the tube pan. Place a layer of apples on top of the batter, then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Add another 1/3 of the batter and another layer of apples, sprinkling with cinnamon and sugar. Add the remaining 1/3 of the batter and the rest of the apples, sprinkling cinnamon and sugar over top of the apples.

Bake at 325 for 1 1/2 hours; test with a cake tester. If still wet, bake an additional 15 minutes.

Willow

I love school supplies sales! However there is a BIG damper on my enthusiasm this year. Staples. I love Staples for school supplies and tell my friends all about them. I am a big fan of Staples. For many years, Teachers and Homeschoolers can get 25 of the penny deals which are limited to the general public to a certain number generally 1 or 2. This has helped many teachers get supplies for classrooms where the parents can't afford supplies for their students. It has also helped plenty of homeschoolers stretch their pennies and spend a little on yearly school supplies so the big money can be spent on books and other supplies. We have donated quite a bit supplies from what we get from Staples and it's been a win win. As a matter of rewarding them for their generosity I shop Staples first for what I'm looking for during the year(still for the best price, but I go there first).
Recently I started looking for the teacher deals from Staples. It turns out there was an email sent that states they have changed their policy. Now they will be giving full rewards later on. Um, so NOT helpful.

It's not really a great deal. You first spend the five dollars to get the first two items for a penny. After that, you can get 23 more items at regular cost. In August or September, you will be sent a rewards coupon for the amount you spent to be used at Staples however it is not usable for everything that you might want to purchase.

So therefore if I wanted the 23 other packs of pens, I would spend 1.99 a pen and therefore spend around 50 dollars to get the pens that originally only cost me a quarter. I don't really have the extra money to put out to get it back later and that is if I remember to use the coupon!

SO NOT HELPFUL! I get they have the right to make their own sales and policies, but this is a bad policy. They have driven many teachers away from their store. I've heard that and I know it's true for me.

And besides all that, I'm just bummed. We have a super busy summer and we are moving. I was going to make sure to get to Staples any way. Well now Walmart is getting my money. I don't love Walmart, but I don't hate it either. This week I've finished my weekly shopping for schools supplies and Walmart was the choice. If I can stretch my homeschool supplies $ their and I can't at staples, well then, sorry Staples you've lost a valuable consumer and supporter. Staples, I'm loyal and if you change your ways, I'll be back, but you need to do it fast. I'm not sure I'll even go to Staples at all just on principal. The other better school supplies sales are looking MIGHTY inviting to my little ole dollar.

Willow

Here's the list of my supplies for Walmart prices this week. Not as good as Staples last year, but still decent.

The first list is my stock up price. The rest I'll be waiting for better deals. Or I don't need any (Pencils and index cards from staples still are plentiful)

1 subject notebooks, wide or college ruled, 70 sheets – .17

I got 5 I didn't love the covers. I may go back and just change the covers :)

Elmer’s Glue Stick, single pack – .10
I got a lot. I may go back and get more

1 subject notebooks with design covers, 70 sheets – .47

Elmer’s Glue Stick, vanishing purple, double pack – .50
CraZArt Glue Sticks, 3 pack – .25 (I didn't find these at the Walmart I went to)
Fiskars Scissors – $1.47

Kids Scissors – .50

Elmer’s School Glue – .50
Crayola Large Washable Crayons, 8 pack – $1.88
Crayola Washable Crayons, 24 pack – $1.97
Crayola Crayons, 24 pack – .50

CraZArt Crayons, 24 pack – .25

This is a stock price if you don't care about brand. We don't do crayons- they melt in the dryer!

Large Pink Erasers, 2 pack – .50

Crayola Colored Pencils, 12 pack – .97

I also found Crayola Markers both thick and thin for .97 cents.
I spent $48 and am more than halfway done. However I don't have as much to donate as I did last year ( from my Staples sales)

Here are some more deals that might be good if you dont' want to wait or need these items.

Expo Dry Erase Markers, 4 pack, black or colors – $2.50
Sharpie Thin Highlighters, 4 pack – $1.74
Sharpie Permanent Markers, 3 pack – $1.54
Sharpie Thick Highlighters, 4 pack – $1.47
Pencil Sharpener – .88
Pencil Erasers, 24 pack – .88

BiC Mechanical Pencils, 10 pack – $1.47
Dixon #2 Pencils, 20 pack – $1.12
Dixon #2 Pencils, 8 pack – .47
Watercolors – .50
Crayola Colored Pencils, 24 pack – $2.97

Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils, 12 pack – $2.97
CraZArt Colored Pencils, 12 pack – .50
Scotch Transparent Tape Twin pack – $1
Mini Stapler – .97
Post-it tabs – $1.97

Enjoy the sun!
Willow

Willow

These won't be up long, but wanted to share with a friend!