In my clear out the pantry, cupboards and freezer efforts, I ran across a half used bag of herb seasoned stuffing. Must have been leftover from the holidays. (Side note - I highly recommend spending 4-6 weeks each year, doing a "pretend like you are moving" clean out of your pantry and freezer. Highly. Recommend.) Every so often this bag of half used stuffing would give … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce
Batch cook your Marinara Sauce in your slow cooker...love this idea and measuring tip from Jackie at Mom on a Mission! Be sure to add that to your list for your next batch cooking session, freezer cooking day or the next time you make spaghetti sauce. Photo Credit … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken
Truly the easiest way I have found to feed my family of seven is to put the slow cooker to work for me. Whether I am out for the day or busy with homeschooling our age range, I can serve up slow cooker deliciosity. My slow cooker history will prove my love: A few of my slow cooker recipes here on $5 Dinners. Chicken, steak, hummus, yogurt and more. We enjoy Erin’s Slow … [Read more...]
Batch Cooking: Biscuits
Few things in my stretching-the-budget and filling-tummies career have made as big a difference as biscuits. Do you remember how much the canned variety costs? Oh, I dearly love the convenience. But I don’t like paying for it. Especially when I have to get so many cans to feed the seven of us. And that’s where batch cooking homemade biscuits comes in. But here’s the trick. … [Read more...]
Cream of Chicken Macaroni and Cheddar
Ever have one of those nights when you can't seem to figure out what's for dinner? Maybe you are in - between grocery shopping trips and the cabinets are getting empty. This macaroni dinner is the perfect solution. It is quick, easy, filling and inexpensive. All you have to do is cook up some macaroni elbows, then toss the rest of the ingredients in the pan. Mix until … [Read more...]
Curried Lentils & Rice with Caramelized Onions
Balance. This dish is all about balance. Balance of flavors. Balance of textures. Balance of sweet and heat. Cooking these lentils in the sauce, as opposed to cooking the lentils, then adding in the sauce, really makes a difference in the depth of the flavor of the entire meal. I thought about adding another teaspoon of curry powder (cuz I love me some curry!), but I … [Read more...]
Spinach Orzo Soup
The pantry sweep out and the freezer sweep are almost complete. I've emptied the freezer and it will be making its way to its new home here in Dayton tomorrow. And I'm almost finished clearing out the "back shelves" where I store most of my stockpile items and non perishable pantry items. My goal is to have that cleared out by the end of February. This moving thing is really … [Read more...]
Marvelous Meatballs
We do LOTS of bulk cooking because our family of seven always seems to be eating but momma doesn't always want to be cooking, and it's important to us (and to our budget) to prepare home cooked meals as often as possible. Our five kiddos are pretty picky and all seem to have different tastes so it feels a lot like hitting the lottery when we find a dish that always … [Read more...]
Dutch Oven Pulled Beef with Onions
This is one of those "oops...I forgot to start the slow cooker" meals! I had the roast, I had planned to slow cook the roast. (This is the meal I was intending to make!) But I forgot to put my slow cooker on the counter the night before...so I completely forgot to get our dinner started. I've learned that about myself over the past few years...if I can have a "clue" out … [Read more...]
Buffalo Chicken Blue Cheese Enchiladas
I have distinct memories of blue cheese lingering on my taste buds. The flavor has been lingering for a few weeks...every since the Spicy Chicken Chili. In clearing out the freezer, I found 2 baggies of chicken breasts that I had frozen with Frank's red sauce as a marinade. Trying to figure out how to use it up in a fun, clever way wasn't too hard. These blue cheese memories … [Read more...]