Baked Oatmeal

1/2 C applesauce, unsweetened (may substitute oil if no applesauce)
1/2 C oil
1/2 C brown sugar
3 eggs
1 Tb baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt (1 tsp will work if wanting to cut back)
6 C quick oats
2 C milk (may substitute with milk powder/water or water if unable to have dairy)
cinnamon/sugar

-Mix applesauce, oil and br sugar.
-Mix eggs in 'til well blended.
-Sprinkle over bk powder and mix with fork or whisk until no lumps remain.
-Stir in oats, then milk until blended.
-Pour into buttered 9x13 pan.
-Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar. ( I use a shaker and shake 'til the top is covered).
-Bake at 350 for ~30-35 minutes, til golden, lightly browned.
-Serve warm and top with fruit (canned peaches are sooo yummy) and yogurt (homemade plain is the way we role) or milk, and sprinkle with a little bit more cinnamon/sugar, honey or maple syrup as desired.

Y: This would depend on your family appetite:)...it usually lasts our family of 3 three breakfasts. Cover and refrigerate between servings.

After much trial and error using three different starter baked oatmeal recipes, I'm sticking with this one. We love it. The base is from my friend Auntie J in Guinea. Interestingly, Africa is where we first had baked oatmeal. It is such a filling, fiber and protein-rich breakfast. I've seen many variations now of sugar/oil content. I appreciate using the applesauce in place of the original 1C oil called for and leaving the sugar low. I prefer it less sweet and enjoy just sprinkling a little sugar on top if needed. Hope you enjoy!!

Just in case...I took all other baked oatmeal recipes off the blog as this has proved to be our favorite by far!

Aunt Kathie's Monster Cookies

Had to repost this old 2007 one, as I finally have pictures with it!

1 lb butter, softened
4 C white sugar
5 C brown sugar (2 lb)
1 Tb vanilla
1 dozen eggs
8 tsp bk soda
3 lbs peanut butter (6Cups)- I like to use smooth pb
18+ C quick oats
1+ lb M&Ms**
1 lb semi sweet choc chips**

-Cream butter and sugars and vanilla in very large bowl (standard sized bowls will not work - split recipe in half if you don't have a massive bowl).
-Mix in eggs one at a time.
-Sprinkle in bk soda.
-Mix in peanut butter, then slowly add oats.
-Stir in M&Ms and chips. Add more candy if it looks to skimpy.
-Add more oatmeal if recipe seems too gooey ( I think we added 1-2 more cups last time).
-Drop by tablespoons on sprayed* cookie sheets and bake at 375 until golden brown for approx 7-9 min.



*After using cookie sheets once they will probably not need to be sprayed again.
**Can substitute with less chips and dried cherries or raisins for a little bit healthier recipe.

Yield: Approx 20 dozen

These cookies are a favorite of my mom and mine to make in the fall. They freeze super well and hardly need any thawing to enjoy out of the freezer during the winter. My mom has an extremely large bowl that her mom used to make bread in that barely holds all these ingredients. These are a family favorite and get a 10/10!

Homemade Marshmallows

These were really neat to make...science in action! Who would have thought marshmallows can be made at home - neat! Very easy, very messy, and very highly recommended. Check out the recipe at Taste of Home's website. I used just a touch of almond extract, since I didn't have clear vanilla. A little went a long way.

I preferred them with chocolate instead of a sugar coating. I melted on low:
-2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
-2 Tb shortening

...stirring frequently til smooth. My favorite were the ones totally covered instead of just a drizzle...but oh was that hard to achieve! I'd like to try using a small paint brush next time and "paint" the marshmallows a lil' bit brown...if you know what I'm saying.:) Mmmm! 10/10!!

Monster Pancake

I struggled to get a decent picture of this! The recipe is one we brought back from Guinea, from Auntie J. So simple, so yummy! A new family favorite...Abraham loves getting to shake on the powdered sugar:)

1/2 stick butter (4 Tb)
1 C flour (can use all whole wheat)
1 C milk
4 eggs
Cinnamon (couple dashes)
Powdered Sugar

-Turn oven on to 375. Place butter in 2 small or 1 large pan (I use a 10x14 pan) in the oven to melt. Check on butter in a few minutes!
-Whisk together flour, cinnamon and milk til smooth.
-Whisk in eggs til well blended.
-Remove pan from oven once butter is melted (try not to let it brown).
-Pour batter over butter in pan. It will mix in with the butter a bit...that's fine!
-Bake at 375 for 20 min.
-Serve with powdered sugar to top!

We sprinkle powdered sugar on individual pieces, and heavily! Don't be shy with it, or you probably won't enjoy this very much!:)

Gladys's Apple Streusel Muffins

2 C flour
1 Tb bk powder
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/2 C butter, softened
2 C peeled or unpeeled, chopped apples
1/2 tsp lemon peel (dried)
2/3 C milk
1 egg
2 Tb sugar

-Mix flour, sugar, bk powder, salt and cinnamon.
-Cut in butter until crumbly.
-Reserve 1/2 Cup for topping.
-Mix egg and milk together.
-Add to dry ingreds along with apples and lemon peel until just mixed.
-Spoon into greased muffin tin.
-Sprinke with reserved topping mixed with 2 Tb sugar.
-Bake at 425 until golden brown, approx 20 min

Thought I'd repost this one now that I have a pic - and it's apple season! I tried this with a bit of whole wheat this time, and it was nice. This is from our church cookbook with a few minor changes...yummo 9/10!

Homemade Velveeta Cheese

I really like this recipe. Why?
1. Unique
2. Given to us by Amish friends
3. Never in my life imagined my husband and I would be talking cheese with a local Amish family.
4. GREAT for toasted cheese sandwiches.
5. Supports the dairy industry:)
6. Fast and fun
7. Love using recipes from friends - a lil' bit of fellowship mixing into the food.

1 Gallon Milk
2 tsp Citric Acid*
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4C Butter
~ 1/4C Cheddar Cheese Powder (to taste)**
Salt (to taste)

-Heat 1 Gallon of milk to 140 degrees.
-Add 2 tsp citric acid (*found near canning supplies, **bulk food stores...)
-Stir gently 'til separated.
-Drain off whey (I use a fine metal strainer - don't use one with large holes).
-To curds add 1 tsp soda, 1/4 C butter, salt, cheddar cheese powder and 1/4-1/2C milk
-Heat together, stirring briskly 'til lumps are dissolved.
-Keep in a cool place (we prefer the fridge!:))

The cheddar cheese powder and salt I just added slowly. I found a 1/4 C works and then a little salt for our taste. I've also been using the ccpowder to make mac and cheese. Tastes very similar to Kraft and is cheaper! I have only found it at a bulk food store in our area.

Crisp Carrots

Tried something new with carrots the other day...flash freezing, of course! I think I'm really becoming a flash freezin' nut!:) After peeling a bit haphazardly (just enough to get the strings off mainly), chunking/dicing, and blanching our garden's carrots for 3-4 minutes, I threw them on a couple trays and popped them in the freezer. Tomorrow I'll let them sit out for 10 minutes or so, then toss them into labeled ziploc bags in the freezer.

I've tried freezing carrots twice before and also canning them. Our family is a bit picky...we've learned we don't really care for the extra big carrots at the end of the season. Their flavor just isn't that good! Canned ones are fine, but I didn't feel like washing jars. And freezing them in pint bags does work, but they will freeze as a clump. So, my hope with flash freezing them is that I'll be able to scoop out a cup if that's all we need!

Grab some out of the freezer, cook a few minutes, drain, and toss with a little honey...should be a yummy winter!

Fun in the Mailbox

The last couple weeks we've been having fun going to the mailbox. I've become a bit more intentional about signing up for certain free samples on the money-saving blogs I check. First of all, it's fun to get free granola bars in the mail:). Secondly, they often come with high value coupons.

For instance, the little Kashi cereal sample came in a box with a "$2 off 1 box" coupon. Last week when Kmart was doubling coupons I used it on a $3 box to get it for free! One envelope came a couple weeks ago from Star Foods, and I am really excited to try its coupons...5 "Up to $4 off 1 product" coupons! I had completed a very short survey on their site. That's like $20 of free high quality olive oil. Wow. This was especially neat to me as I passed on buying olive oil during my last bulk buying trip because it was so expensive. Thanks, Lord:).

So, I want to encourage anyone trying to save on your food budget to check out some of these sites. Only sign up for totally free samples on things you will actually use or give away...otherwise it becomes clutter - yuck!

Money Saving Mom - my favorite coupon/free sample/ home stewardship ideas site
And Freebies for All - I just ignore the ones not pertaining to our family.
Common Sense With Money - Some overlap, but also a nice site.
Right at Home - Supposed to be getting free ziploc bags:). Also, great coupons for Glade/ziploc.

The fastest way to check these (first three) for me is by subscribing to them on Google Reader. I just recently set up Google Reader upon Jonathan's encouragement. Great idea!!! It is so handy to just scan post titles instead of scrolling through page after page.

Peppers!

Who wouldn't pay $3.50 for this beautiful bouquet?

The peppers, that is!:)

My mom found me a great deal at her farmer's market Saturday...20 peppers for $3.50! What a blessing!

So beautiful, even chopped up. I love the colors God uses all around us in Creation!

After chopping them all up, I threw them in some freezer ziploc bags and popped the peppers in the freezer. I did flash freeze one bunch on a cookie sheet overnight before bagging to see if they are easier to get out of the bag that way. It seems they will be, but the bagfuls with a little squeezing also seem to be just fine. The peppers broke apart decently (no chisel needed:)). I'm really excited to use these on pizza, in omelettes and stir-fries, etc., this winter. Should save on the produce budget! Before going to Guinea I thought peppers gave me heartburn. I discovered there that they don't, and I like the zip they bring to food!
20 peppers ~ 5.5 qt bags full

Freezing Sour Cherries

Just a little bit of summer fun...

Freezing Cherries:
-Wash, then pit cherries ( we use a mechanical pitter) and drain excess juice.
- Lay out on a cookie sheet in a single layer.
-Place in freezer overnight.
-Remove from freezer and let sit a few minutes until able to break apart.
-Scoop up cherries (we used a metal spatula), throw into a labeled freezer bag, and freeze!

Substitute these for fresh cherries in recipes, plop some into a smoothie, or chop up some for Auntie J's Breakfast Cake!

Blueberry Muffins

6 Tb butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
2 large eggs
2 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp bk powder
1/2 C milk
1 1/2 C blueberries
2 tsp sugar

-Cream butter and sugar well.
-Add eggs and beat well.
-Mix dry ingreds. Add to creamed mixture, alternating with milk.
-Chop1/2 C berries.
-Mix into batter.
-Fold in remaining berries.
-Pour into greased muffin cups and sprinkle with sugar.
-Bake at 375 for ~25 min (until golden).

Y: 12 regular & 12 mini-muffins

Recipe adapted from Beverly Farms Bed & Breakfast Inn

Note: I just adapted this recipe by dropping the sugar way down and chopping instead of crushing the berries. Really good! No need for the original 1 1/2 C sugar!

A Coupon Addiction

Okay, this Kmart $2 Double Coupon special is getting to me...I think I'm addicted. I went with my sister-in-law today and here's what I got (I'll post hers when I find her pictures)...

Purchase #3:
Total pre-coupons: $8.98...
Total out of pocket: $1.23!!!!!
-Used Free Milkbone coupon and $5 off next purchase coupon, both of which printed after Purchase #2 (Catalina coupons).

Purchase #2 (Ignore the Lotrimin and Milkbone biscuits - see above)
Total pre-coupons: $35.46
Total out of pocket: $0.16!!!!!!!!!
-Used $3 off next $20 purchase from Purchase #1 (done on Monday), $2 off 2 Axe shower gel from Purchase #1 (Catalina coupon), along with Internet coupons found through Money Saving Mom, coupons from In-store Kmart coupon booklet (deodorants), coupons from Kmart website (rubbing alcohol, q-tips), and by the way - the mouse traps I traded with my sister-in-law for 2 free packs of Trident gum I got on this purchase:). Too fun!

Purchases #1, 2, & 3
Total pre-coupon:$69.62
Total out of pocket: $6.85
+a $5 gift card (cereal rebate - I'll be checking my mailbox:)) and (2) $3 off next purchase coupons!

I am just very excited about this! In my other post here on Purchase #1 I explained that I really only wanted to purchase what would be free. I feel I came very close to doing this, especially since I needed to buy Itchy Feet cream:) for my Hubby Farmer. That alone was $5.99 (on sale).

God has blessed us with much to stock our pantry! This is by far the most serious couponing I've ever done. With sites like Money Saving Mom and experienced friends (thanks Elizabeth and Arin!) to learn from, it really wasn't hard! Just took some time and fun!

Please, please share how you did too, if you went to Kmart this week! And if you're new to couponing, check out the Money Saving Mom link above!