Menu!!!

Ok, so here it is! I planned out my menu for a week! So this is from tonite until Monday nite the 28th. I planned out breakfast, lunch and dinner! I am gonna be honest, the breakfast and lunch part very well may change! There are mornings where my littles get their own cold cereal and then I come later and fix them a smoothie! ;)

Tuesday the 22nd

Supper:
Garbonzo Beans in hard tacos

Wednesday the 23rd

Breakfast:
english muffins with pb and a smoothie (I am going to ATTEMPT to make the english muffins the nite before, but if I fail to do that, I have some store bought ones! ;))

Lunch:
Hummus Tacos and fruit

Supper:
Basic Baked Beans and a Salad

Thursday the 24th

Breakfast:
Granola and smoothie (hoping to make this before Thursday morning! hahaha)

Lunch:
chopped up broccoli and carrots inside a soft taco and fruit

Supper:
Caribbean Beans and Rice

Friday the 25th

Breakfast:
Graham Gems and smoothie

Lunch:
PB and J with fruit and/or veggies

Supper:
Crusty Mexican Bean Bake

Saturday the 26th:

Breakfast:
Whole Wheat Pineapple Muffins and smoothie

Lunch:
Hummus tacos with veggies

Supper:
Sweet and Sour Lentils over Rice

Sunday the 27th:

Breakfast:
Nut-free Granola (we have too many kids at our church that are allergic to nuts, so will make a nut-free granola so they can eat that before church!) and a smoothie

Lunch:
Turkey, apple, and cheddar cheese in a pita

Supper:
Stacked Tortillas

Monday the 28th:

Breakfast:
Apple-Walnut Pancakes

Lunch:
PB, J and Banana panini

Supper:
Honey Baked Lentils (prob served with rice)

So there ya have it!!! It is so easy to make a menu! Well, sometimes not so easy with me, because I am always trying to find new and fun things, easy too! But yet, things that I already have so my grocery list isn't a mile long!

The thing about this week is, I only have to get 5 ingredients! Yes, just FIVE!!! i have all the other things already! I have been buying bags of beans when they are 10 for $10! ;) But as promised, I will go to the store and price everything out, just so you can see how much my menu is this week! You will see just how much you can save by eating beans, but still the get the protein and it isn't going to bland! :)

Will be posting as much I can this week these recipes as I make them! My hubs is in Guatemala for the week, so will see how fast I get them up here! My mom is almost here and will be here until Thursday... so I "SHOULD" be able to get them up here, but about the time I say that.... ;)

Again, let me know if you want one of these recipes before I post, I will get it to you! :)

Bean Week!

Ok, so I'm gonna do it! I am going to have all bean recipes this week! Atleast for supper! I am not sure about the lunch part yet! ;) But we may have leftovers, so therefor it will be for lunch as well!

I just can't get over how CHEAP they are! You can get the canned ones, if you need something fast... But I HIGHLY recommend buying the bag of dried beans and soak them and cook them! They really aren't that hard!

I know need to go and figure out everything I am making this week! I am hoping to get some MUCH needed things done! My mom is on her way out!! She will be here for a few days! :)

Once I figure out my menu, I will post it and then if you want to know the recipe before I post the recipe, e-mail me, or post a comment on here and will get it to you!

I think for the Friday nite or Saturday nite menu, it will be a Mexican type pizza using beans instead of meat! ;)

Scrambled Eggs with Cheddar, Avocado and Sauteed Onions

I wanted to make something for my kids this morning for breakfast, other than cold cereal.

I had not been feeling so hot the last few days... Ok, I'm gonna take that one back, it's been since Wednesday of last week that I fixed them a nice hot yummy meal. I woke up Wednesday with a really bad head-ache, which was basically a migraine, then by Thursday, I was toast. To top things off, my hubs was gone, so, that never helps things! My oldest daughter loves to help in the kitchen, and her way of helping is getting some cereal out and getting the milk for all the kids. Don't get me wrong, it's GREAT! And I soooooo appreciated her help! But I knew it was time to make something for them. I am still so very tired, but this is pretty easy to make!

I was also itching to use my fresh farm eggs that I got Saturday at the Farmer's Market. PERFECT opportunity to use them! Well, half of them anyways! ;)

Let me just say one thing. Farm fresh eggs are THE best! And I am not joking on that one! They are soooo much bigger, fresher (well duh!), yellower, they are just way better!



One avocado mashed and ready (I am going to apologize for the pics, they are dark... I was in a hurry to get this up, so I didn't take the time to go through all of them and lighten them up! ;))


My lil man helping to break an egg!


My oldest really concentrating on her egg breaking! ;)


Saute some onions in some coconut oil


Here are my yummy farm fresh eggs!!!


I whisked the eggs, then added the cheese


Pour your eggs and cheese right over the onions


Cook and stir so they will be scrambled! yummy!


Turn off heat, add your mashed avocado


And viola! Yummy!!!



Scrambled Eggs with Cheddar, Avocado and Sauteed Onions

1 avocado
1 small onion, chopped
6 eggs
1/2 - 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Take your avocado and mash up in a small bowl, set aside.
Place a little bit of coconut oil in a skillet big enough to hold your eggs. Saute the onions until tender. While onion is cooking, break eggs in bowl and whisk. Add your cheese and stir. (You can add some salt and pepper here if you would like).
Add your eggs to the skillet and cook until desired tenderness. Keep stirring to get the scrambled eggs! ;)
Turn off heat and add mashed up avocado. Stir to combine and serve hot!

*You could also dice your avocado and stir it in gently to your cooked eggs.
Add a splash of hot sauce, or red pepper flakes if you want it a bit more spicy. Or you could add a hot cheese instead of a cheddar cheese.

Black Bean and Hummus Wraps

So this is kinda a take off of what I've already posted, but I've added one more ingredient...

Black Beans!

I had made up a 2 pound bag of beans the other week and mashed them puppy's up and just used them when I needed too!

Which, reminds me, I need to rinse and soak some more tonite before going to bed. I'm going to need them this week!

It's CRAZY how CHEAP a bag of beans are and really how EASY they are to fix! They are all packed proteins and all sorts of good stuff!

Navy Beans and Pinto Beans have 15 grams of PROTEIN in them! Also about 10 grams of fiber in them too! Wow!

Black Beans have 15 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber!

Chick peas (what you use to make hummus) has 14 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber!

This is just to name a few! I mean, you can TOTALLY make a DELISH meal out of beans! I've posted some in here, where you don't need tortillas to make it a dish...

I'm thinkin' a week of just bean recipes should be in order.... I am going to post how much I spent on that one week just by using all bean recipes! For atleast suppers, maybe not lunch, I dunno, will have to see how that plays out... I can't do it the week that my in-laws will be here, he's not a fan of any type of bean... Maybe next week I will do that....? My hubs will be out of town, not that he doesn't like it, but it would be a good week to try it on the kids first! Maybe try to do lunches as well... I am actually getting excited about this one! I mean, seriously!!!

Now granted, not all the prices are going to be the same for you. Be on the look-out for bean week! I'll post in advance and warn y'all that it's coming! I will seriously try and do it next week! ;)

Ok, back to my recipe at hand, yet again, not the first time where I've gone a stray... So sorry... I am tired.. Maybe I shouldn't post when I am tired?

My kids LOVED these just as much as they loved the regular hummus ones! The only thing different, add a layer of black beans! Really, you could add any kind of bean... But like I said, I had made up some black beans already, so that's what I used. And if you are all into the whole color scheme of things, the black looks really good with the light color of the hummus! ;)

Place some hummus on your flour tortilla


Then add your black beans... since I soaked mine and cooked them, they are kinda mashed... but you don't have too!



Just a bit of shredded cheddar cheese on top...

Roll it up... I put a TEENY amount of coconut oil over the top and bottom and fried them up! YUMMY!!!! :)


Here it is! SOOOO good!!! I know, maybe green beans aren't the greatest veggie to eat with the wraps, but that's what my kiddos wanted! (I watch for those frozen veggies that steam in your microwave to go on sale... Then it's a fast veggie that I can add to their lunch! ;))



Black Bean and Hummus Wraps


Ok, you know what, I am not even going to really write this out. I have NO clue the measurements on these items that you need! Because you know what? You can put in how much ever you want!!! It also depends on the size of tortilla you get!
So here's what you need:

Flour tortillas
Black beans, rinsed if you are using them from a can, or if you have a bag of them, make sure you soak them overnite, and then cook until soft...
Hummus (your choice of flavor, etc...)
Shredded cheddar cheese, or Mexican cheese

Take a tortilla, layer a little bit of hummus on it, then a layer of black beans, then your cheese. Roll that bad boy up, fry it up, or pop it in the microwave for a few seconds. You could even eat it cold if you wanted to! It's however you wish! ;)

ENJOY!!! :D

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Ok, so I am hoping this week will be MUCH better than last! ;) It was a roller coaster to say the least! ;)

I am hoping to get some pretty easy and fast recipes up this week!
Again, sorry for the delay, I REALLY am trying!!!

Have a Happy Valentines Day everyone!!! <3

I'm REALLY trying!!!

Ok, so here we go again... Once again, I've got tons of pics and recipes, but it seems like my days are getting shorter? Wait, I thought spring was on it's way, aren't days supposed to be longer? I must've missed something! ;)

Anyways... This week is already been a bit crazy! The hubs is away for a DM Conference, where lucky him gets to preview 2 Christian movies that aren't out yet! AND they are REALLY good ones! Sigh, oh well, the downside is being in meetings all day for a few days...

So the fact that he is away, and I do it all, makes for a sometimes long week! The kids always test me more too when he is gone! I don't know why, but they do! Plus 2 of them were starting to get sick, then one of them is cutting teeth, so it's been a bit crazy! Trying to comfort 3 of the 4 kiddos, while the 4th one feels left out, so she acts up a bit! I just can't win!! hahaha ;)

So with that all being said, I am "HOPING" to get one posted while they are "napping", in between my 20 loads of laundry too!

Ok, I really don't have 20 loads, but some days it feels like it!!! ;)

I hope y'all have a GREAT day and keep checking back, I PROMISE I will get them posted!!!!!!!! Thank you for being so patient with me!! :D

Dried Apples

These smelled sooooo good while baking! I have a good dehydrator and have used it many times this summer with fresh strawberries and apples this fall... But I've never made it in the oven.

For a few reasons I tried it in the oven...
1- I wanted to see how long it would take...
2- See if it tasted any different - and
3- Well, I was just curious! ;)

It is easier to do it in the oven because it didn't stick to my stone at all! Now, if you use anything else, or a stone that isn't as seasoned as mine, it may stick a bit more.. I really don't know. You could always use some parchment paper on the pan before putting your apples, or whatever fruit you decide to do...

I tried making some fruit leather with banana's, strawberries and orange juice, I blended it all in my Vitamix. I poured it on my parchment paper on a stone, (the bar pan it's called). I didn't like how it turned out, so will change the temp setting and how long I keep it in before I post it all. Not only is fruit leather healthier for you, it's WAY cheaper! You have the option of putting sugar, if ANY in it! I chose not to put any in, you don't need any! The fruit is soo good by itself, and if it a bit tart, just add some banana's or something that would mellow it all out!

Ok, not that I have kinda gone away from the dried apples... ;)


Dried Apples

2 Apples of your choice (I used Macintosh, GREAT flavor! I think Honey Crisp and Granny Smith would be awesome as well!)
Lemon juice, only if you want your apples to not turn a brown color right away... ;)

Grate your apples and spread them on a cookie sheet.
Place them in a 280d oven until dried and slightly crispy.
Take off pan if you have any left by the time they are done! ;)
And store in an airtight container or baggies, and ENJOY!! I am telling you, they won't last long at all! I recommend making more than one batch at a time!!! :D SUPER easy and SUPER healthy! You can do thin slices if you want! ;)
(Hopefully this makes sense and if it doesn't, call, e-mail or leave a comment and will talk you through it! But really, it's soooo easy!!! I think I baked mine for about 5 hours? not 100% sure on that one though! :\)



Peel, core and I cut mine in half, your apples


Grate your apples onto a pan


Here they are... They turned kinda brown, but it's ok! Thin it out as best as you can! You could put them in a bowl and sprinkle lemon juice over the top and stir a bit before placing on a pan to help prevent them from browning...


Tried to take a pic of how thick it is... ;)


Here they are, all nice and brown and PERFECT!!!!!! :D


I seriously ate half the pan before they were even done! The kiddos really didn't get much! But, I got some more apples and will make some more for them! I can see these going REALLY fast!!!!

Fruit and Oat Muesli

Once again, I am back! It's been crazy! I can't believe it's already Thursday! Not only that, but FEBRUARY!! What happened to January?

My lil man who got the black eye is doing soo much better! I am tellin ya', if I wasn't putting that arnica on it, it would be way worse!

We also had some company this week-end, so I put off posting recipes! But I am ready to go, and am praying that I will have the time to keep getting on up everyday!!! Ya know, running around after 4 lil ones, and teaching 3 of them, it does have it's challenges! But I LOVE it and I would NOT trade it for anything!!! :D

I wanted something easy and fast, but healthy and good for my kids this morning. My kids love oatmeal, and I still have a ton of it in my freezer, but I didn't just want to do the basic, same ole same ole for them. SO.... Got my creative juices flowing and this is what we did!

They LOVED it, I tried it, in all honesty, I am not a huge fan of it! I think it's the greek yogurt. They LOVE it, me, not so much. You could use regular yogurt as well. I am thinking if I would've used that, then I could've eaten it...


Add your orange juice....


And milk.....


And yogurt....


And vanilla to a bowl... stir to combine


Then add your oats


Stir it up to combine


Here's what it looks like after it's sat for 10 minutes!


Add your chopped, diced apples (you can peel them or leave the peeling on... For the sake of my littlest one, I left the peelings off... )


And then the chopped almonds (I got a little slap happy with my Vitamix and chopping almonds! ;))


Here it is all done! Sorry, I didn't take the time to photoshop these pics, esp this one, it's a bit orangey looking... My kitchen lighting stinks! ;)




Fruit and Oat Muesli

2/3 cups orange juice
2/3 cup milk
2/3 cup plain greek yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups quick cooking oats
2 medium peeled and chopped apples
1/2 - 1 cup chopped almonds
3 bananas

Mix orange juice, milk, yogurt and vanilla in bowl until well combined. Add oats and let sit for 5 - 10 minutes.
Add chopped apples and almonds, stir to combine. Add the sliced bananas and stir.
Serve!
Enjoy!!!!