Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

I always love ordering a bowl of French Onion Soup when we go out to eat. The broth feels  so good on my throat and something about that bread and cheese on top is just. delicious.

But I have never felt capable of making it at home because I have none of the adorable, personal sized crocks to use and none of the fancy G cheese that I can't even pronounce.  Until now!

I found this recipe from one of my favorite Slow Cooker blogs ever.  If you haven't heard of her, be prepared to have your world rocked:  she cooked in her slow cooker every day for A YEAR. NO REPEATING. Yeah. So, let's just say her blog is where I go when I feel like I'm out of ideas in the kitchen...she has unique and surprising recipes that are usually super simple and quick to throw together.

Best part:  I learned something new about my Slow Cooker!  It can be used as a giant crock in my oven.  (Some of you are like duh that's why it's called a Crock Pot).  And now I,too, realize that :) Although that is not the way I chose to do this recipe, I loved reading her original post to see that I can do that in the future!

So, here ya go! Try it out when you buy those bags of yellow onions buy-one-get-one-free and then you think how am I going to use all these onions?!  It's even great warmed up throughout the week.

Recipe: French Onion Soup
From: The Home Stretch (www.schemmerhomestretch.blogspot.com)

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
2 yellow onions, sliced in rings
2 boxes beef broth
1 tablespoon sugar
kosher salt to taste
3 tablespoons butter
garlic powder, oregano, parsley
1 loaf "Everything" Italian Bread from bakery
Sliced Provolone cheese

Directions:
1. Heat crock pot to HIGH while you slice the onions in rings.
2. Separate 3 T of butter and melt in bottom of hot crock pot.
3. Separate onion rings and place them in hot butter, stirring with spoon to coat.
4. Add beef broth, sugar and salt.
5. Turn crock pot to LOW and cook for 6-8 hours or until onions are translucent.
6. Set oven to LOW BROILER option.
7. Slice loaf of bread into 1-2 inch pieces.
8. Melt 3 T of butter in microwave and add dash of garlic powder, oregano & parsley when melted.
9. Brush butter mixture on one side of each piece of bread.
10. Place 1 slice of Provolone cheese on top of each buttered side.
11. Place slices on baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes or until cheese starts to brown.

To serve, ladle soup into large bowl and place one piece of garlic cheese bread on top of soup.

If serving as left overs, you can remake the bread fresh and add to "old" soup or even just place the bread in the toaster for an easier option!

Crossover Post: Teacher turned Stay at Home Mom

**This post was originally published on my teaching blog "Language Is Influence".**

Maybe you're like me.

Your life is changing directions very quickly.  

You're a young wife and teacher.  You are learning new things in the classroom and you love pouring your energy into getting better and trying new things.

You're looking for your first house and you search online for something that could be part of your future.

And BAM.  One day you find out your pregnant.  And your life priorities and energy and five year plan sorta kinda goes down the toilet...as you knew them, anyway.  Perhaps you go back to work after having your baby.  Or perhaps, like me, that wasn't a sustainable way to live for your family.  So, for now, you are no longer the young wife and teacher who loves to learn new strategies for formative assessments and search for inventive new apps.  Maybe you are now the young wife and mother who goes to baby music classes and says "please don't play with the trashcan/outlets/cough syrup/permanent markers" a lot lately.

Maybe, like me, you still feel like that young teacher.  You still have a heart for teaching and learning and traveling and languages and students.  You're not ready to be DONE but you are choosing something different (and better, for you) for now.  You've been wondering things like How can I keep using and improving my target language? How can I keep a foot in the door in my local school corporation?  How can I keep connected with students I've invested in?  How can I stay involved?

I've been there.  Actually, I'm still wandering around there a little bit.  But, here are five ways I have found to stay connected to Spanish teaching, even while staying at home with my baby.

1. Social Media:  While teaching I created a "teacher account" on Twitter and Instagram.  Even now, I re-tweet articles I have found about traveling, jokes in Spanish or resources for students.  Sometimes I post pictures of my daughter or things I'm doing with Spanish captions to engage students in reading a bit...and often times they will comment me or message me, which keeps those lines of communication open, safely and professionally.  Plus, I participate in Twitter chats where I'm still interacting with teachers and administrators in this area and learning what is going on in their classrooms.

2. Group Tutoring Classes:  I had heard people say before that companies might hire a tutor for their employees to learn Spanish, but I actually had better success within the church.  A local church and organization sends missionaries to the Dominican Republic and they were looking for a teacher to help them learn what they need before going on short term and long term trips.  One night a week, 1-2 hours at a time, and ADULT LEARNERS who are very motivated.  Hello, dream job.

3. International Travel:  I had planned and enrolled students in both my Peru and Spain trips before deciding to stay at home.  So, I kept my word.  Education First (EF) has been amazing at helping me prepare for meetings, communicate with parents and make a near flawless transition.  One meeting a month, a few emails in between, and a bit of organization.  EF does not require you to be a teacher to lead these trips, so if there isn't a program in your area...consider heading it up. I get to promote my tours in the schools, meet new students and travel. to. other. countries.  So.

4. Individual Student Tutoring:  I sent an email to all of my teacher/friends in the Spanish department at two middle schools and the high school, letting them know they could pass my information on to students and parents who needed additional tutoring.  I meet one night a week for an hour at Starbucks and help the student re-learn what they missed.  It's ideal for me (additional income & practice), the teacher (ain't nobody got time for that), and the student (additional reinforcement).

5. College Supervising Teacher:  The Christian college in my area has a strong education program and sends many prospective teachers into the public schools to complete their student teaching.  I get to observe them 5 times throughout the semester, evaluate them, mentor them and then eventually recommend them to pass student teaching if I feel they have earned that. It's entirely on my own schedule and allows me to not only know what is going on in the area public schools, but also keep up to date with what is expected of prospective teachers.

I didn't include the reading, ESL volunteering, conference attending and other ways I have enjoyed practicing Spanish and learning how to improve my teaching.  Obviously, you find options that work best for your family and passions.  I have loved my decision to step back from full time and even part time teaching "officially" and spend this time learning and growing "unofficially" as I soak up every minute possible with my precious daughter.

If you're like me, maybe you can find ways like this that you didn't know existed and enjoy some of your favorite aspects of classroom teaching...without the actual classroom, for now. 

What ways have you stayed involved in your temporary, or long-term, absence from classroom teaching?

Christmas Cards Rethought

I absolutely love decorating the entire side of my fridge with all the Christmas cards that come throughout the entire month of December.  When you're my age, your friends are always having babies so it's fun to see their tiny faces change and grow.  Plus, it progressively gets you into the "Christmas Spirit" as you open another letter and oooohhh and aaahhhh over it and make space next to the rest.

I remember as a child reading Christmas letters that families would type up and mail out every year.  You found out all the major milestones of their family members, and you felt like even if you hadn't been in contact regularly you knew the big events that they had gone through.

But, I'm not a person that can get a Christmas card, letter, picture...or gift for that matter...made, bought, and sent in time for it to be enjoyed.  Calling it a "Christmas Card" in fact, sorta stresses my procrastinating side out.  That's a tight time frame!

So, for the past two years our family has re-thought and re-vamped the idea of traditional Christmas cards ever so slightly.

Presenting: The New Year's Card!

I know, it's not that different.  But, it is to me.
Because...

• You can send it practically anytime within the month of January and not feel too guilty about it.  For me, that is critical because between out of state Christmases and chronically late family pictures, I just need the grace period.  
• Plus, when people place them on their fridge all year...it is STILL 2016.  Whereas, when I'm looking at my yearly Christmas cards in March, I feel like tossing them in the garbage even though I really want the pictures.  
• Websites like Vistaprint and Shutterfly tend to have really great sales on online prints and designs right after the holidays.  I saved 50% this year waiting until the second week of January to order!

Two years ago I included a Bible verse that I wanted to reflect our year.  My hope was that friends and family who need the reminder and encouragement would see Scripture on their fridge throughout the year.  This year,  I did a mini-Christmas letter idea on the back (thanks, VistaPrint).  I included an update about our daughter, my husband and myself. If it feels too Christmas Card-esque on the front, you can flip it over and read about our family....which isn't necessary for every person I know, but for family members we are trying to reach out to again after a long time, I think it is a nice touch.

Also, who doesn't want precious little baby faces on their return address labels that match their design?  Check out the baby cheeks from last year and the TODDLER that appeared out of no where this year!  *jaw drops*

Did you send Christmas cards this year? Why or why not?