I suppose the title makes you think that I am going to talk about how we use recipes in math at our house.....but it isn't. 

I am struggling with math decisions at our house.  My oldest ds is in 10th grade.  We have used Abeka, Mathusee and now ACE.  We like Abeka, but I don't feel that I can teach the highschool levels, nor do I have the money to rent their dvds (tried that one year...ouch!).  Mathusee is great....but again, not independent enough for highschool and I don't have time to figure it all out.  So on to ACE.  It is working for oldest DS.  He is doing their geometry PACES with the dvds.  Great.  BUT next years Algebra 2 with DVDS will cost us over $250.  Yes we can keep the dvds....so at least I can pass them on....but still.  So we are leaning towards Saxon with DIVE.  We watched the sample cd and he thought it looked good. 

Dd age 13....loves her ACE....probably won't change unless I decide to switch all to Saxon with DIVE.

Ds 10 is struggling.  Gets great grades but is only one fourth of the way through his 5th grade PACES.  And he says he really isn't understanding it.  Did great last year in MathUsee.....maybe we need to go back.  He also thought the DIVE cd was understandable. Hmmmm....just not sure what to do.  The PACES are easier for us to take with when we travel in the spring.  Ugh.  Do we start a new program now?  We start traveling in 2 months.  Or do we keep plugging along?  It is mostly fractions/decimals that he struggles with.  But it is also that he thinks he needs me to answer everything!  I really think I should put him back into mathusee...but then we will switch again come Algebra! 

Any advice welcome.....

Ds 6 is almost done with 2nd grade.  He wants to keep going....but mom isn't sure that I have the $ to order more books!

Now...on to recipes.......I promised someone to post our favorite easy recipes.  Here is what we did for dinner tonight:

Noodles with a white sauce. (serves 8-10) So you can half butter for a smaller amount.

1 stick butter (melt in large saucepan or dutch oven)

Press cloves of garlic (or add minced garlic)....as many as you want . We LOVE garlic....I also add some whole cloves.

Saute garlic in butter. 

Add 1/2 cup of flour to butter.  Stir to get out lumps.

Keep heat on medium so as not to burn.  Slowly add milk.  Stir as you add it.  It will thicken as it cooks.  Keep stirring so it doesn't burn!  I have never measured how much milk.  We just keep adding.  Stopping once and awhile to let it thicken.

I usually add garlic salt too.....or at least salt.  Like I said, we LOVE garlic.

You can add chunks of cooked chicken breast if you like.

Serve over noodles....any kind!

Great with salad and garlic bread.  Or broccoli!