Rum and Garlic Spiced Pork Chops Recipe - A Discovery

Today was Columbus Day.

Yet another reason to celebrate in our Cuban American household.

If you know your Cuban history, you probably know that Columbus landed somewhere in Holguin, Cuba, in October of 1492, and declared that it was "the most beautiful land human eyes have ever seen."  (My grandmother was from Holguin and this was one of her favorite things to quote.)  Columbus also decided to call the new land "Juana" in deference to Ferdinand and Isabella's son, Juan, but it was already called Cubanacan,  so the "Juana" thing never really caught on and the name was eventually shortened to Cuba.

We'll go ahead and ignore the fact that he was a bit geographically challenged.  But he had all that pressure to discover a new route to the East and make the Spanish queen look good, and yes, he did make that quick declaration that he had indeed landed in India and henceforth all native peoples shall be known as Indians and wow, did that one ever stick, (!!) but that's not important right now.

The important thing was that he discovered Cuba, Pearl of the Antilles, "the most beautiful land human eyes have ever seen."  And that's good enough for me. =D

So I created a pork dish with pork and brown sugar and lots of garlic and RUM (in honor of that whole Pirates-of-the-Caribbean-portion of Cuban history) and I discovered that if you get the rum glaze just right, you will have the "most beautiful piece of pork human eyes have ever seen."   ;-)

"But why is the rum gone??"

~ Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl

Marta's Rum and Garlic Spiced Pork Chops Recipe

• 8 large garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 yellow onion, quartered
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup chili sauce
• 1/2 cup dark rum
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• Juice of three large limes (or 1/2 cup lime juice)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 -3 lbs. pork chops (the fat, boneless ones)
• garlic powder

1) Put the garlic, onion, salt, pepper, chili sauce, rum, brown sugar, and lime juice in a food processor.

2) Process until finely chopped, then drizzle with olive oil and pulse gently to mix.

3) Sprinkle pork chops with garlic powder and brown in a bit of olive oil.

4) Put chops in crockpot and pour sauce over them - it should just cover them.

5) Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

OR 15 minutes on high pressure in a pressure cooker.

Why we homeschool - reason # 4,285

He's almost twelve and in the sixth grade.

He has grown about two inches this past summer and is not showing any signs of slowing down.

He is constantly hungry and regularly has second and third helpings of whatever we're having for dinner and about an hour later is on a food hunt once again. 

He eats practically one of everything in the fruit bowl . . . every single day.

He is sleeping about ten to twelve hours a night, easily.

He is also reading voraciously and his imagination has kicked into high gear. He's currently reading a fabulous (450 page) novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson called "Peter and the Starcatchers."  He can't wait to tell me what has happened in the latest chapter he's read.  He gives me a painstaking description of the action and describes the characters in detail, including his opinion of what motivates them. 

He tells me just enough of the plot to interest me, but he doesn't give it all away.  He acts it out and mimics the voices and then loudly exclaims: "You've just got to read this for yourself, Mom."  The unbridled enthusiasm with which he says this makes it extremely compelling.  None of this is solicited.  He is just so excited about what he's reading that he must share.  The enthusiasm comes directly out of his heart so much so that it can be felt.

(NOTE TO SELF: Put 'Peter and the Starcatchers' on my reading list.) ;-)

Because he's (obviously!) in serious growth mode right now,  I am not pressing him to do too much academically.  His twelve year old body and mind are competing for all of his energy.  (The body is winning. =D)  I'm so glad I don't have to explain this to a teacher.  I can gauge where he is and what he needs right now because I. KNOW. HIM.  And I'm not worried at all.

This is what the California State Standards have to say about what he's supposed to be doing:

2.3 Deliver oral responses to literature:

a. Develop an interpretation exhibiting careful reading, understanding, and insight.
b. Organize the selected interpretation around several clear ideas, premises, or images.
c. Develop and justify the selected interpretation through sustained use of examples and textual evidence.

2.4 Deliver persuasive presentations:

a. Provide a clear statement of the position.
b. Include relevant evidence.
c. Offer a logical sequence of information.

Which is really just Educationalese for: "Is he getting it?"

I think the answer is a great a big YES. =D
 

I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

NOTE: This post will make sense to die-hard Tolkien fans and LOTR uber-geeks (and you know who you are and in which case you'll love the links on this page) and will merely amuse the rest of you. =D

In September of 1973, the author J.R.R. Tolkien died.  As usually happens with notable literary or artistic figures, after their death there is new interest in what they did in life. (I'm noticing this now with the recent death of Pavarotti.)

Meanwhile, back in 1973 . . .

I had just graduated from high school and my sister, Miriam gave me the gift pictured here.
It's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.  (can you say, "prized possession?")

What, you are asking yourself, are they doing on the table??
And what, you ask again, are those little figures on top of the books?
Or maybe you are thinking, the uber-geek strikes again!  and that would be totally true.

I read the books for the first time in 1973 and was completely captivated by the amazing story and characters.  (This was the Harry Potter of my day. =D)  I still read the entire trilogy about once a year.  I have read them aloud to each one of my kids.  Yes, the entire trilogy.  Out loud.  Multiple times.  And I never get tired of it.  And yes, I take full credit for turning my family into Hobbit-lovers and Elf-friends (and uber-geeks).  =D

But why are there books on the table?

Because, today is Bilbo and Frodo's birthday.  And every year on September 22nd we have a party. 
No way!  WAY.

I usually make some kind of beef with a side dish of mushrooms. 
There is usually a basket of small apples (for Bill the Pony, of course) and an assortment of Lembas bread.  (I warned you that I can be an uber-geek, didn't I??) 
I make placecards with our Elvish names on them. (I'm Ireth Vanimedlë in case you were curious. =D)
And we play Lord of the Rings Trivia (the little figures are from that game).
Amy helps decorate and always brings her life-size standee of Legolas.
We always watch the first movie, The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended version, of course), and clap loudly when Bilbo says,

"It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life."

We take a break at that point to have cake (it's a birthday party, after all).  ;-)

Why all this nonsense?
I started doing this about six years ago as a homeschooling exercise for Lucy and Jonathan, but it was such fun and we all got so into it, we continued doing it every year and even began inviting friends (mostly Adam's friends, who thought the whole thing was so geeky that it was cool) and family (Hi Nat and Katie!).

Because as goofy as it all sounds, it has become A Tradition.  And it is our traditions that set us apart as A Family. 

And for that, I'm completely unapologetic.

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

Happy Birthday, Bilbo and Frodo. =D

How to measure success. . .

This was our first week of school.
And I am sick with a bone-achy-feverish flu.  (sigh)
Coincidence? ;-)
Don't know.
But I stumbled downstairs and gave them assignments and they did everything that was on their schedules.

Including this.
We were thinking we'd get Jonathan a piano tutor this year, but it appears he has already found one.  In fact, it seems they are learning more and more independently each day.
I'll just go back to bed, I guess.
Looks like I may be out of a teaching job pretty soon. 
But is that a bad thing? ;-)

Walk. Don't run.

The engine light came on in Eric's car, so he asked if he could take my minivan to work and meetings. (Of course, I drive a minivan. I think it's federally mandated in our county, but that's not important right now. =D)

Before I had time to answer, Jonathan said:

"Of course it's okay, Dad.  We can just walk to school."

Cracks me up every time I think about it.  But then, you know I'm easily amused.  ;-)

What's wrong with this picture?

It's my same Lucy-girl in both pictures.

In one she's starting Kindergarten.

In the other she's starting High School.

I can't tell which is which.

She looks exactly the same to me.

Deep breath.

Heavy sigh.

Welcome to our first day of  high school.

(I'll have this whole Kindergarten/High School thing cleared up by recess, I'm sure.  My meds will have worn off by then. =D)

End of summer blues

School starts next week. Even for homeschoolers like ourselves.

We need to get all our summer vacation relaxation in before next  Monday.

Because come Monday, boy, we are back to our regular homeschool schedule.

And of course, you know what that means, don't you?

It means we will have to leave for the beach at around NOON.   =D

(I love my life.)

Don't know much about history..

No. I have no idea what it actually says on the box or how to pronounce it.
I'm going to guess (based on my knowledge of the contents) it says tea glasses. And that there are twelve of them. (um... that one was a no-brainer.)

When I talk about homeschooling, I always like to point out that it is more of a lifestyle than anything. Here's a perfect example.

We had friends over for dinner the other night who live in Macedonia.

You are probably asking, "where in the world is Macedonia?" (or maybe you weren't, because you know stuff, especially about geography, in which case, you would get extra credit. =D)

Well, it's just north of Greece, on the Balkan Peninsula and bordered by Albania and Serbia. Formerly known as the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.  It's easier to picture when you pull out the atlas and see that it is just to the east (right) of the boot of Italy, across the Adriatic Sea next to Albania. (ooh, look how she knows stuff! Well, I didn't until we.... pulled out the atlas ourselves.)

We had a wonderful evening with our friends (who shall remain nameless for safety reasons, but whom Eric has known since college - by way of explanation). They regaled us with tales of life in Macedonia. They live and work and are completely immersed in life there among the Muslims (our friends are American Christians).  I made homemade pizzas for dinner figuring (correctly) that it is something they don't get to have much of in the Balkans.

At the end of our meal, they treated us to fresh tea from Sri Lanka, (atlas time again!) to which an entire ritual is attached. 

They explained (as they demonstrated) how the women will disappear into the kitchen to brew the tea in a special double boiler type of device. And that sugar takes up most of the room in the little tea glasses and that you must drink it hot while you hold the spoon out of the way with one hand.

They fill up on the sugary tea because they often skip meals since the economy hasn't yet recovered from communism.

They left us with a set of the little tea glasses so that we can re-create the ritual.

Once you've had your fill, you place your tea spoon upside down over your glass to signal the hostess that you've had enough.

Subjects we covered?
Geography, History, Social Studies, Language. (if you click on any of my links and are so inclined, you can learn so much more.)

None of us will forget this particular lesson in Macedonian life. 
Because learning, we have found, happens in the context of real life.

Have you had enough? ;-)

Pomp and Circumstance

If you had met my sweet Lucy a few years ago, your impression would probably be that she was a quiet girl.
You might even be tempted to use the word, shy.
But, I'll just put all speculation to rest.
All my kids have very BIG personalities.
But Lucy does fall into the "quiet" category when you first meet her or don't know her very well.

I got a glimpse of what she was capable of when she took a turn as Gertrude McFuzz in the CHEP production of Seussical earlier this year.

But, graduation showed us yet another side of Lucy.
The homeschoolers that come under the Community Home Education Program in Orange County get an entire commencement ceremony.
It was held this year at the Bren Events Center at UCI. And the graduates numbered 185 from 4 different sites.

The kids took over for the night.
Lucy and her friend, Ivan were the Masters of Ceremonies. And they did an AWESOME job.
Their poise was evident as well as their preparation.
(We voted that Ivan will grow up to look like an improved version of JFK - what a good looking kid!)

They introduced performances by their peers, including piano pieces, poetry, and songs. They introduced the big-wigs from the Department of Education. There was a get-your-hanky slide show of all the families with their graduates then and now. Lucy got to introduce her best-friend, Alison who's song, "You Raise Me Up"  brought down the house.

The diplomas were handed out to the students by their Master Teacher - that's who we parents answer to.  Then they were congratulated by the Principal and by the other Dept of Ed hotshots. All very proper and beautifully done.

Now, I don't know when it happened, but my sweet and quiet Lucy took that stage and OWNED it. She walked out there confidently (rockin' that guayabera dress,  I might add) and thoroughly enjoyed herself. 

Everything that I have recounted happened that night, but this was all I saw:
Everything else went blurry.
Except for my beautiful girl.
I had eyes for no other.
My heart full to bursting.
Emotion blurring my vision.
Pride?
Fear?
Nostalgia?
All of those.

My Cubanita starts a college theater course next week and I am chugging along breathlessly behind her just trying to keep up.

I cut together a short video of the on-stage transformation from Pomp and Circumstance through to when she first got intoxicated by the cheers and applause. And finally when the Superintendent of Orange County schools welcomes them all to high school.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Ay Dios Mio!

Cuban Racing Monkees

Before I jumped into homeschooling, I did tons of research.

I researched different types of homeschools, curriculum, schedules, and learning styles.

Because I, personally, am primarily a visual learner, I read every book I could get my hands on and then I read everything I could find on the web. I took copious notes and made diagrams and flow-charts. I prefer my information in writing, and illustrated, if possible. That's one of the reasons I like to post photos on my blog as I tell stories. They are more compelling to me with a visual attached.

So, learning styles.
There are technically three:

1. Visual Learner - likes their information relayed visually: diagrams, illustrations, flip-charts, videos. They literally have to "see to believe."
2. Auditory Learner - likes to listen: verbal lectures, discussions, talking things through and listening to voice, pitch, speed and other nuances of verbal communication.
3. Kinesthetic Learner - must touch, must move, MUST DO STUFF.

Most of us are a combination of these, but we all prefer one style over another.
Me? Visual and Kinesthetic.  I have to read the information. See the illustration.
But then . . . I like to PLAY!

So it stands to reason that my teaching style is to encourage exploration and imagination. And frankly, I didn't even really think twice when Jonathan asked me if he could borrow my camera (which is pretty expensive and which I love more than my right arm, but that's not important right now) and my tripod.

He obviously had SOMETHING. HE. HAD. TO. DO.

Welcome to the mind of my creative and kinesthetic eleven-year-old . . .

UPDATE: He took 198 still digital photos with the camera and tripod. He story-boarded this event before it happened, too. It took him about 2 hours to actually film the race scene. Another two, editing in Windows Movie Maker.