Budget friendly meals - Butterbeans

The butterbean aka dried lima beans is a  Southern classic that often gets overlooked.  Butterbeans can be cooked any way you like and many people have many twists on their favorite recipes.  I'm going to share with you my favorite way to cook butterbeans. We are having them for dinner tonight with some hot water cornbread. 

Put 1 lb. of butterbeans in a pressure cooker.  (I am using the small ones but any size is ok.)
Add in 8 cups water, 1 1/2 tsp. salt & 1/4 tsp. black pepper.
About an hour before serving turn pressure on for 20 minutes.
Check for doneness.  If not done yet turn back on for about 5 minutes. (They do not take as long as some other beans.)
When done add in 1/4 cup of butter.
Stir & serve!

You can also do this on the stove top or crockpot. Just adjust cooking times.

Stovetop- approximately 1 hour, if soaked before
Crockpot- approximately 5 hours

Butterbeans make a great main dish or side dish.  Left-overs freeze well and they also taste even better the next day for lunch.

Enjoy!

Whole wheat blueberry pancakes

Makes about 6 medium sized pancakes.

1 egg
1 c. milk
1/8 c. coconut oil

1 c. freshly ground whole wheat flour (or could use white)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

blueberries

Whisk wet ingredients together & then whisk in the dry until no lumps.

Cook on griddle and dot with blueberries.

Flip and when done enjoy!

This recipe can easily be doubled if you need more pancakes for your family.

My Version of Taco Soup

My crock pot is a kitchen tool I really wouldn't want to be without. On days where we plan on being busy it is so nice to come home to a nice, hot meal simmering away.  Another plus is if I'm out later than dinner time the members of my family that are home can go ahead and eat if they want to.

This recipe could easily be cooked on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker.  I just usually make it in the crock pot.

Taco Soup

1 lb. ground beef, turkey, or pork (your preference)
2 c. cooked black beans
1 cup corn
2 c. tomato sauce
1 c. diced tomatoes w/green chili's (or just use plain diced tomatoes if you're not into spicy)
2 T. taco type seasoning
1 T. chili powder
1 tsp. onion powder (or could use 1/3 cup chopped onion)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Brown your meat & drain off any fat.  Then pour everything else into the crockpot.  Add in just enough water to where everything is just covered.  Cook on low for about 7 hours or high for about 4.

You can serve this as is or you can pour some over some tortilla or frito chips. Then sprinkle on a little shredded cheese.

This is so easy & you can adapt pretty much any of the ingredients to suit your taste.

This makes about 7 good sized bowls.

A Short Word:

The Good Old Days:

 

God says:

  To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

      ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

It's all right to remember and treasure things from the past,

but God always wants us to enjoy each new day and live it to the fullest,

with gratitude.

What's up doc?

My daughter & my son's girlfriend hard at work peeling away!

Do carrots really help you to see better?
Sure they do.  Have you ever seen a bunny wearing glasses?
My son used to love that joke.

We finally got some rain last week so we went out, in the rain, and pulled up all of the carrots that were left in the garden.
Carrots are mostly tops so with the tops we had 2 laundry baskets full of carrots.

Sunday after church we sat out on the porch and cut off all of the tops & ends.

Then brought them in for a through washing & peeled them.

After we set all of the small ones in a pile and cut the others into coins.

The stove was busy.  Some of the carrots here waiting to be blanched and some tomato sauce cooking on the left.
 

Blanched them for about 3 minutes and then allowed them to drain & cool.

Then we packed them up in freezer bags & in the freezer they went.

We ended up with 10 bags full.

So now we've got plenty of squash & carrots put up!

I really appreciated the help I got from the family or I'd have been at this all day. With everyone helping it took us about 2 hours from start to finish.

As for all the green tops & peels they didn't go to waste. The chickens loved them.

Thanks y'all!

(You can easily can carrots, I just personally don't like the texture of a canned carrot)

Happy Pigs on the Homestead

We have 4 pigs on our homestead.  2 Hampshire & 2 Berkshire. 
Not much here goes to waste. All of our vegetable and fruit scraps go to the animals.
Yesterday after peeling all of those apples the pigs really enjoyed them.
They also got their mud holes filled up so they are muddy, but very happy! 

Apple Butter

Yesterday we picked a bushel of apples from the only apple tree on the homestead.  They are a green, granny smith variety.   They are much too tart to enjoy just eating plain but they make really good apple butter & applesauce. 
This year it was a family affair.  I really appreciated the help & it went much faster & we ended up with a delicious result!

I have 2 crockpots an oval traditional type and then I have an electric pressure canner that can also function as a crockpot. 

We used the apple corer, peeler, slicer and then handed that off to the next person who used a paring knife to cut off the remainder of the skin & any bad spots.  Then the next one filled up both crockpots with the slices. 

To each pot we added 2 cups of sugar, 4 tsp. of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. cloves, and 1 1/2 cups water.

Now time to wait! 

Put on the lids and cook for 8-12 hours.  Depending on your cooker.  Stir every couple of hours.  I let it cook over night.

The apples will turn to 'mush' and when they are all tender and dark it's done. 

If you like it a little chunky then leave it alone.  If not use a stick blender & smooth it out.  (I did)

You can store it in the refrigerator or freezer.  If you make a lot, like we did, you can also can it.

To can your apple butter place it in pint or half-pint jars. 

Canning time is 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

(Please look up canning procedures if you have never canned before & you do so at your own risk.)

Homemade Meat Sauce

We are fortunate enough have a big garden every year & I can all of my own tomato products. --Except ketchup.  Well, I actually have made homemade ketchup but my daughter really prefers the store bought kind so I do buy ketchup.

So now on to the sauce...

Homemade Meat Sauce

3/4 - 1 lb. of ground beef
1 quart or 4 c. tomato puree
1/4 c. tomato paste
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 T. chopped garlic
1 T. basil
1 T. parsley
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Brown beef & drain off the fat. ( I add some salt & pepper to the beef while browning.)
Then add in all of the rest of the ingredients.
Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes.- About as long as it takes to boil the water & cook the noodles.

That's it. Serve over pasta, vegetables, etc.

*I do not add sugar to my tomato puree or paste when I make them myself. If you are buying them in the cans taste the sauce before adding in the sugar. You may not need it.

Super Easy Oven BBQ Chicken & Roasted Veggies

Last night we had a really healthy & delicious dinner of oven BBQ chicken & roasted veggies.
The best thing about this recipe is the prep is very easy & you just throw it all into the oven for about an hour.

Oven BBQ Chicken, Roasted Veggies, & Green Beans
 

Oven BBQ Chicken:

Any chicken pieces you like.  Boneless or bone-in.  (I used chicken thighs & pulled off the skin)
BBQ sauce- any flavor
Cooking spray or non-stick foil

Spray your baking sheet with the non-stick spray or line it with foil.
Place the chicken pieces so they are not touching. 
Then paint on some BBQ sauce.
Bake at 350 until done.
Baste with the BBQ sauce 2-3 more times while cooking.


Roasted Veggies:
Any veggies you like cut up into bite sized pieces. (I used sweet potato, squash, carrots, onion, & mushrooms)
Drizzle with olive or coconut oil.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, & any other herbs you like.
Toss well & bake along with the chicken.

350 for about 30 minutes - 1 hour depending on what veggies you use.
Stir half way through cooking.

I served this meal with some green beans because I had them left-over from another meal.

Start Your Day Off Right!

Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast foods. Actually we eat it for lunch sometimes as well.  Anyway...
I saw on an instagram  post where a woman makes oatmeal a lot and tops it different ways. 
I've also been trying to add in some 'good fats' to my diet. 
So this morning I made my old fashioned oats and then added in a tsp. of coconut oil, 1 T. brown sugar, 1 T. shredded coconut, 1 T. chopped walnuts, 1/4 c. blueberries, and 1/3 c. almond milk.
Talk about good!!!  I will definitely be doing this again!
Here are a few benefits of walnuts & coconut oil:

Fruity Smoothie

I threw a bunch of stuff in the blender this morning & it turned out really well.  I usually don't measure but today I did & wanted to share it with everyone.

1 c. low fat strawberry yogurt
1 c. light orange juice
6 strawberries
1/3 c. blueberries
1 banana

Blend it all up & enjoy!

Serves 2

Tres' Leches Cake

I've made this cake several times.  It's a favorite of my husband, children, and just about everyone who's tried it.  It is a Mexican dessert meaning 'three milks.' 

Tres' Leches Cake

1 box yellow cake mix (prepared according to package directions in a 9x13 pan)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 cup milk (any percentage)
1 container cool whip (or fresh whipped cream)

Prepare & bake cake in a 9x13 pan and allow to cool.
When cooled take a fork and poke holes all over the cake.
Mix up the 3 milks in a bowl.
Pour this all over the cake.
Refrigerate for a couple of hours.  You could even do this over night if you choose.
This allows the milk mixture to soak up in the cake.
Next ice your cake with cool whip.
Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

It might sound strange to have a sort-of soggy cake, but trust me it's delicious!


To make it even more traditional you could top it with some toasted coconut & a cherry.

Baby Chicks!

Well it's that time of year again where we allow some of our chickens to hatch their eggs. 

Black Astralorp Chick. When it gets feathers it will be solid black.

 

It's really easy.  You just allow your hen to 'build up' a nest of about 8 eggs and they will begin to sit on them. --Well most chickens anyway. Some have had it bred out of them & will not sit.

 

Our main layers are black astralorps.  These are the eggs that we typically eat.

We also have some silkies & bantum  chickens.  The silkies especially are great sitters/moms.

 

We took some of the astralorp eggs and allowed the silkies to hatch them out.

 

We have done this a few times now & it works out great. They have no clue that they aren't really theirs & will teach & protect them well.

 

 

 

 

Maleficent

Yesterday a couple of friends & I took our children to see Maleficent in 3D.  I have to say I actually enjoyed this movie.  I love the twists on fairy tales type of thing and this did not disappoint. 

It did have a few 'spooky' looking characters & big action/fight scenes and some deaths so maybe think twice if you have a really young child that is uncomfortable with those types of things.

There were 2 scenes where there is a kiss but not inappropriate at all.

I don't want to give away too much but I've also read where people are actually saying this lifts up the devil and things by her costume, etc.  Well, I didn't see it that way at all. She is a fairy and that is why she looks as she does & also she is not always evil.  Really, I get a little tired of everyone trying to distort everything to their own advantages.  It's a movie, it's fiction,  & it's entertaining. I personally did not have a problem with anything here going against my personal beliefs. 

I would definitely recommend this movie & give it 5 stars!

If you like fairy tales too I also suggest watching Once Upon a Time.  It is on ABC and past episodes are available on Netflix streaming. 

Grain Free Pancakes Using Coconut Flour

Let me first say I have a canister of coconut flour & I've tried a few different recipes using it and none have turned out well until today.  I have come to know that coconut flour is expensive, soaks up all the moisture so you have to add extra of that.  It also makes things 'crumbly.'  So if you have read, as I have on several pinterest boards & blogs, that it replaces regular flour in recipes that is just plain not true. 

Anyhow, being as I'm not one to let things go to waste I gave this recipe a try this morning & it is pretty good!

3 eggs (separated)

Add yolks to a bowl or blender

Add whites to separate bowl and set aside

To the yolks, add:

1 1/4 cup almond milk (or other milk)

1/4 cup melted coconut oil (or other oil)

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp truvia (or pinch of stevia powder)

1/4 tsp salt

Blend then add:

1/3 cup almond flour

1/3 cup coconut flour

1/3 cup ground flax

1 TBLS Baking Powder

Set aside.

Beat Egg whites for several minutes until stiff peaks form when removing betters.  (This step is optional but it is the secret for fluffy pancakes so I recommend it.)

Gently fold batter into egg whites, stirring g-e-n-t-l-y just until combined.

 

In the meantime, preheat your griddle to a medium heat.  You know it is ready when drops of water sizzle when they hit the pan.  You want to cook these slowly to make sure they are done on the inside.  

pulled pork, coleslaw, Texas toast, chips & dip

soft tacos & Spanish rice
smothered steak, mashed potatoes, salad
blackened tilapia, parsley potatoes, squash, cherry pie bars
oven bbq chicken thighs, roasted vegetables, rolls
pinto beans, rice, cornbread
egg casserole & sausage

More About Potatoes

I had a couple of questions about the potatoes we harvested Saturday.

Kind- New Red Potatoes

When to plant- It depends on your area but here in Louisiana Jan-Feb.  You can also re-plant right now but we usually just till up that ground and plant something else.

When to harvest? When the plants seem to wilt/ begin turning brown & dying off.

How many did we get?  We did weigh them and ended up with about 180 lbs.!!!

Storage- We dust them off somewhat and then put into bags.  Burlap & crawfish sacks work great and that's what we use. We then put them in our large pantry.  You want them kept cool-room temp and dark. The burlap helps with that.    If you have a root cellar or basement & live in a less humid climate you would store them there.  (I saw where you can take a plastic tote and drill some holes to allow air to flow through & then store like that.  Looks like a good idea but I've not tried that.)

I check the potatoes about once a week. Look for any fruit flies & sour smells. If you have that you will need to search out the culprit potatoes & remove them immediately.

DO NOT store in the bags any potatoes that are wet or cut. They will rot & cause the others around them to rot too.  You can set those potatoes aside and use them first. 

You can also dehydrate & can potatoes.

What do we  do with all of them?  Eat them.  LOL  There are so many things to do with potatoes: fried, boiled, mashed, potato pancakes, potato salad, scalloped, etc.

We did grow a lot of potatoes but if kept properly they will last our family a long time.

I saw yesterday at the grocery store a 2lb. bag of small red potatoes was selling for $6.99!  So this year we are saving big!!!

Potatoes

We harvested our potatoes today. 

We will store them & they should last us through winter.  :)

Gardening is a lot of work but it's worth it!

Homeschool Co-ops

We are members of a homeschool co-op.  The children of all ages meet 1x a week during school and attend 3 classes and also get a recess. We also have other field trips & activities throughout the year.
This has been such a blessing for us.  It has also been, at times, challenging.   Through it all it's been a great learning experience. 
A blessing because it's helped my daughter to come out of her shell.  She's more outgoing & engaging.  The main blessing is that she, and I have made some really great friendships.  That was really my goal going into this so it's been achieved.  :)
Challenging because just like anything in today's world there are good & bad influences. Gossiping, social media issues, etc. are all still present whether you are a homeschooler or not. 
I've prayed on it for a while now & have decided that the good far outweighs the bad so we will be continuing with the classes.
My daughter & I both really enjoy the fellowship & it gives us something to look forward to all week.
There are several choices for her age group for the coming school year.  I think the difficulty in that will just be having to choose her favorites.
All of the mom's are required to either teach or help. I will be teaching a cooking class to the older children. I'm very excited about this & have been looking up recipes this morning to try to decide which dishes to make.
If you are a homeschooler & have wondered if co-op classes are for you I encourage you to seek one out & give it a try.

Menu

I'll start my blog back up with our menu plan for the week. I will go back to doing this on Monday's after today.  :)

Sunday- We ate out at Chili's after church
Monday- BBQ chicken leg quarters, tossed salad w/homemade ranch dressing, stuffed jalapenos, & watermelon
Tuesday- Saucy turkey meatballs, roasted vegetables (sweet potatoes, tomatoes, & mushrooms)
Wednesday- Spaghetti, green beans
Thursday-  Chicken & vegetable stir-fry, rice
Friday- Hamburger & cabbage pot
Saturday-  Soft tacos & Mexican rice

Take two...

There have been so many changes in our families lives the past few months that it's been difficult to find time to blog. Blogging & me have a strange relationship anyway. Sometimes I feel like I've got so much to say & share, and then other times I feel like it's no one's business about anything in my life & that most don't care anyway. 
With summer here & most of the 'issues' resolved or being resolved I think I will try again.

Happy Easter! Hallelujah!

Watch this video and sing along with these lyrics.  I challenge you to keep a dry eye!  Happy Easter everyone!

1. Lyrics To Hallelujah by Kelly Mooney
2. Adapted to the music of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah
3.  
4. A crown of thorns placed on His head
5. He knew that He would soon be dead
6. He said did you forget me Father did you?
7. They nailed Him to a wooden cross
8. Soon all the world would feel the loss
9. Of Christ the King before His Hallelujah
10.  
11. Hallelujah x4
12.  
13. He hung His head and prepared to die
14. Then lifted His face up to the sky
15. Said I am coming home now Father to you
16. A reed which held His final sip
17. Was gently lifted to his lips
18. He drank His last and gave His soul to glory
19.  
20. Hallelujah x4
21.  
22. The soldier who had used his sword
23. To pierce the body of our Lord
24. Said truly this is Jesus Christ our Savior
25. He looked with fear upon his sword
26. Then turned to face his Christ and Lord
27. Fell to his knees crying Hallelujah
28.  
29. Hallelujah x4
30.  
31. Took from his head the thorny crown
32. And wrapped him in a linen gown
33. And laid him down to rest inside the tomb
34. The holes in his hands, his feet and side
35. Now in our hearts we know he died
36. To save us from ourselves oh hallelujah
37.  
38. Hallelujah x4
39.  
40. Three days went by again they came
41. To move the stone to bless the slain
42. With oil and spice anointing hallelujah
43. But as they went to move the stone
44. They saw that they were not alone
45. But Jesus Christ has risen Hallelujah
46.  
47. Hallelujah x4
48. Hallelujah x4

Annoying Homeschool Questions!?

I have homeschooled my children for the past 10 years.  My oldest started after completing 4th grade at a public school. (I have several reasons for homeschooling but I'm not going to get into that right now.)
Over the years we have gotten many questions.  Truthfully most of the time I'm more than happy to answer them or give any information. The one main thing I do is I never try to push homeschooling on anyone or make them feel guilty for not homeschooling their own children.
I saw a video earlier on annoying homeschool questions & thought this would be a fun thing to post about.
Here we go.

1.  Shouldn't they be in school?  Well, they are here with me in Wal-Mart, park, etc. so no.

2.  When are you planning on sending them back to real school?  Umm.. never.

3.  Is it legal?  Yes, right now homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. There are different rules in different states but it is legal. 

4.  What about socialization?  We're probably more social than many kids in school. We actually have to turn things down just to be able to fit it all on our calendar.

5.  Do you have a teaching degree?  Nope.

6.  How do you know they are learning? I am the teacher and if they don't get something we do it over until they do.

7.  What about report cards?  Don't need one they always get A's. (refer to #6)

8.  What about high school activities like prom?  I find it very odd that in the 13 years of school that most of us attended 'prom' seems to be the high point for so many.  There's a great number of homeschoolers in our area and they do have dances and other high school type activities, including prom. 

9.  Do you get to sit around all day in your pajamas?  If we want to.  :)

10.  How can you stand to be around your kids all day? Usually followed up with the statement, "I'd kill my kids if we were together all day."  This one is really disturbing to me. I know no one really means they would literally kill their children, but they are your children. Sure, especially as teenagers, you need alone time.  Go to your room for a while, take a walk, etc. You should still love & want to be a good mother.   If you can't stand to be around them it's probably a discipline problem that you have caused.

So there you go. My true feelings on the top 10 questions I seem to get most often.  Most of the time I just smile and nod, but I'd like to answer them like that.  :)

Back to Basics: How to boil an egg

Place eggs in a pot. Cover with cool water.  Place on stove and allow to come to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and allow to set for 10 minutes.  Rinse in cool water & peel.
It's that simple!

Turkey Sloppy Joe's

1 lb. lean ground turkey
1/4 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. chopped bell pepper
3/4 c. ketchup
1 T. brown sugar
1 T. yellow mustard
1 tsp. garlic powder
salt & pepper

In a skillet brown the turkey, onions, & bell pepper.  Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt & pepper. When cooked through add in the ketchup, mustard, & brown sugar. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Taste & adjust salt & pepper to your taste.

Serve on your favorite bread or rolls.

Makes about 6 -8 servings.

*This recipe freezes well!

Menu Monday (on a Tuesday) LOL!

In no certain order...

Breakfasts: Oatmeal, homemade granola, eggs, waffles

Lunches: left-overs, salad w/boiled eggs & avocado, baked sweet potatoes

Dinners:
Chicken & Dumplings, peach cobbler
Turkey sloppy joes, layered salad
Crockpot pinto beans, rice, homemade tortillas, fruit salad
Spiral ham, potatoes, green bean casserole
Breakfast casserole w/ham, fruit salad
Southwest burritos, Mexican rice
Sushi (homemade with cooked crab & veggies)- no raw fish here! :)

Updates 2014!

I can hardly believe it's already February 2014. I've been really thinking this year about what is important to me & my family.
About every other year we seem to get really involved in outside activities and then the next year pull back a little to keep up with more around the home.   Finding a balance can be tough. 
Some changes around here are our ducks are now laying eggs and we are enjoying them very much.  Also we got 2 Hampshire hogs to raise up.  Saturday we are going to get a pair of Berkshire hogs to raise & hopefully breed when the time comes.
This spring we will also be adding something I've wanted for a long time, dairy goats.  I hope to use the milk for drinking, cheese making, soap making, etc.  I'm very looking forward to this!
It's time to plant potatoes & the garden is tilled up but we've been having lots of rain recently.  I'm hoping to have them planted by Valentine's Day.
We've also been starting to think of what we will plant in our garden this year.  The usual, but I'd also like to plant some green peas. I'm also making plans for a small herb garden in the front yard. I want to make it like a little raised, decorative bed by the porch.
It's been really cold here for Louisiana lately. The central heat is running like crazy.  This makes for some high propane & electric bills that we usually don't have much in our mild winters. So when we can we are using our fireplace & freely using the dryer and forgoing the line. (I don't think the clothes would dry well in this cold anyway & the dryer also helps to warm the house a bit.)
On the homeschooling front we decided to change curriculums after the Christmas holidays.  My daughter is now using A Beka 9th grade materials, except for math.  For math we're sticking with Teaching Textbooks.  As much as I liked the concept for the Far Above Rubies, it just wasn't working well with her learning style & I felt like a lot was being left out.  I will say I adore unit studies for younger grades but with her being in 'high school' now I feel like preparing for college is more of a priority. I would never want my children to come to me and feel like I didn't prepare them well if they chose to go.  We are still both enjoying the co-op & science classes and will continue that until the school year is over.
I'm guessing that's about it for updates at the moment.
I really hope everyone out there is having a great 2014 so far!

Back to Basics: How to make scottish oatmeal

3 c. water
pinch of salt
1 tsp. coconut oil (optional but it gives a great flavor & prevents sticking)
1 c. Scottish oats


In a pot with a lid place 3 cups water and a pinch of sea salt.
Bring to a boil.
Add in 1 cup Scottish oats and 1 tsp. coconut oil. (This helps to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot.)
Bring to a boil and then cover.
Turn the heat to low & allow to simmer for 10 minutes, covered.
Stir 2 or 3 times during cooking.

Serve as you would any oatmeal.

My favorite is 1 tsp. coconut oil, 1 T. brown sugar, and a little almond milk.

This yields about 4, 1 c. servings.