Instant Oatmeal (Big Batch)

I have been making a big batch of "Instant Oatmeal" for the kids.  I keep it in a tupperware container, they can just scoop out 3/4 - 1 cup of oats and add some milk or water (typically almond milk) and pop in microwave.  Then they cut half a banana in it and viola!  Breakfast is served!  Easy peasy.

I'm getting ready to mix up a few batches, one for the container and one for the freezer, so once container is empty, the next one is ready to go!

Since this lil babe is giving us a run for our money by taking his/her time coming, I have more time to do a few more meals for freezer and get this batch made up! :)

This is REALLY easy to make and you can omit raisins and just keep it plain and then add whatever toppings you want.  You can add more or less sugar as well.  Or keep it sugar free.  I do add a little bit to this big batch, still WAY healthier than the store bought packages...  Cheaper too.  ;)

 Using dry (container) Vita-Mix to grind up the oats into oat flour

Ground up oats...  :)

Add oats...

Cinnamon, raisins and brown sugar

All mixed up and ready to eat!  :)



Instant Oatmeal Big Batch

6 cups oats ground into oat flour
6 cups oats (I use the quick cooking)
1 cup brown sugar
dump cinnamon in (atleast 4 tablespoons for this batch)
dump raisins to how many ever you like- or omit and then just add whatever topping you want once you make it!

Stir to combine in big bowl and place in large tupperware.  Scoop out 3/4 to 1 cup per serving, add just enough almond milk (or liquid of your choice) and pop in microwave for 2 minutes.  (I put two bowls in at a time for 2 minutes and it's usually right now, but adjust to your microwave)
Top with sliced bananas- or if you have no raisins in your batch, add whatever toppings you wish!  I'll sometimes add some sunflower seeds after it has been cooked, or peanuts/walnuts/almonds...

You can make this into a smaller batch if you need too...  But this batch lasts my 6 kids 3 servings, so 3 days of breakfast...  And that is with the 3/4 to 1 cup per serving per each time they make it.

Updated Laundry Soap

I've been making our laundry soap for over 6 years now!  LOVE IT!!! And it has saved my family some money!  I've tweaked it a bit these last few months...  Added an ingredient..

Why make your own?  Well, you only need 1-2 TEASPOONS per load!  It doesn't cost that much to make...  I think I have about $20 total- maybe...  But it lasts FOREVER!  I have 3 boys and 3 girls and another baby on the way... We do a TON of laundry in this house.  I love that it makes our clothes clean, and it lasts a really long time for even us!

I use white vinegar for the fabric softener!  Ew you are thinking right?  Nope.  It does NOT make your clothes smell like vinegar!  I PROMISE!!!  If you know me, and have been around me or my kids, you know we don't smell like vinegar! ;)

Here is my updated version of the laundry soap...  It is powder, and yes it is safe to use in HE washers!  You could omit the oxy clean, but I like adding it...


1 box borax
1 box washing soda
3 bars feels naptha soap (grated)
2 large boxes baking soda or 4 small boxes (check prices, do whatever is cheaper...  When living in Maryland it was cheaper for me to get the 2 large boxes, but now I buy the big bag from SAM's club and just dump!)
1 large box oxy clean (I get the largest box which is usually around $10)

I dump everything in a large 5 gallon bucket and stir with a large wooden spoon.  Then dump it all into a tupperware container with a lid.  Keep a plastic spoon in there and use 1-2 teaspoons per load.  Towels and heavy jeans I will usually use 2 tsps.  Everything else is just one tsp.

Super easy and lasts!  My kids are usually involved in making this!  I usually let them grate the bars of soap..  ;)  Aren't I a nice mommy?  heehee  They really do enjoy helping me make this!  :)

Mango Peach Crock pot Chicken

I actually made something in the crockpot BEFORE church started and it was ready to eat once we got home!!!  :)  I have been just making sandwiches and then a nicer supper, but this week decided to try this recipe out...  As soon as I opened the door, you could just smell this, so.good.

Again, I really didn't measure, I just kinda dumped, but have some aprox amounts...  ;)

I did put this on high, and it was cooking by 8 and was done by 1:30.

Mango Peach Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas

-Chicken Breasts (as much as you need for your family- I also have been using chicken tenders instead of the full size chicken breasts. They seem to cook so much easier and faster.)
-2 mangos diced
-1 peach peeled and diced
-1 onion diced
-6 cloves of garlic minced
-pinch of red pepper flakes
-1/2 tsp chili powder
-3 tsp honey
-4-5 TBSP rice vinegar (i had the garlic flavor one, so that's what I used)
-handful of sugar
-1 red bell pepper diced

Dump in all ingredients, give it a stir and cook on low or high till done.  On high it took about 5 hours, but I bet it was done at 4, just wasn't home to check it!  :)

You could add some rice to this (cook in separate pot, but if adding to this, you will need a little more liquid depending on how much rice you put in crock pot), put a little bit of rice in tortilla and then this yummy chicken goodness!  I seriously wish this was scratch and sniff because this smelled soooo good!

We just put a spoonful on tortilla, added a little bit of sour cream and cheese and viola!

I'm also sure you could put this in the freezer and then pull out when ready to cook!  I only had 2 mangos or I would've made one for freezer and just placed in gallon size freezer bag.  If frozen, keep in mind that it will take a little longer to cook in crock pot.

You could also cook this in the skillet, just cut the chicken and cook that first, then add everything else.  You may not need as much vinegar either.

Hope you enjoy this as much as my family and I did!  Def gonna make this again!

Before it was cooked....  )

After- so very good!!!! The chicken was perfect and just fell apart and shredded!

ENJOY!!!!!

Oatmeal Packets

I usually let my kids help put these together, but today when I was ready and had the energy to do it, they were working on school work and then had 2 others were making my laundry soap...  So I just did it.  Here is the basic that I used this time:

3/4 cup oats (they are the quick cooking, I bought a big 50 lb bag at the Amish Store in Maryland before leaving...)
1 teaspoon oat bran (you can also use wheat germ)
1/2 teaspoon chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon hemp seeds (I had some that were whole and some that were ground, so I used whole in some bags and ground in others)

I wanted to add flax seeds but I was too tired to get my Vita Mix out to grind them!  HAHA...  I also figured with the hemp and chia seeds, there was enough for now!
You can also add sunflower seeds or ground peanuts...

Here are some of the extras I added:

*Freeze dried strawberries and dried bananas
*Chocolate Powder Peanut butter and dried bananas
*Powder Peanut butter and dark chocolate chips
*Dried marshmallows and chocolate chips (I usually add some broken graham crackers, but didn't have any)
*Dried blueberries
*Dried mixed berries

I think that's all I made this time..???  ;)  I'm going to mix up a big batch of cinnamon raisin oatmeal tomorrow that I store in a tupperware.  The kids just scoop some out and then add hot water or put the oats in bowl and add milk and heat in microwave.  Easy peasy...  Healthy and good as well...  :)

All these bags of oats are the snack size baggie. You can add less oats, but my kids eat. A lot. Pretty soon I'll have to go up a size and use the sandwich baggies size!  Haha!!  You can also store in glass jars with lids and just add hot water, sir and sit and eat...  Or even tupperware containers.   But I wanted to mix up enough to last for atleast a week if they ate these everyday for a week...  But have some other ideas up my sleeve for them for breakfasts!  :)

Enjoy!!!

Chinese beans and Meat

FINALLY got some meal planning done...  Only about a week and half worths, but still it's something!  I even went to the grocery store and got the stuff I needed, AND I made 4 freezer meals! Woot!  But man was I pooped that evening!!!  Haha!!  :)
Actually 5 meals if you count this one as well....  I quadrupled the batch so I would have leftovers for the freezer.  I found this recipe on Pinterest, but I didn't fully follow it because I didn't have all the ingredients, and I don't ever fully follow a recipe.  Let's face it, I wing it.  ;)

Heres what I did:

*Ground beef (you could also use turkey, whatever you prefer) I had about 3 pounds here
*2 onions diced
*2 full garlic (seriously drawing a blank on what it's called!  It's not just a clove, but the whole thing..  Sorry... pregnant brain...  ;))
*1 small can tomato sauce
*ground ginger
*soy sauce
*frozen green beans (I had bought the huge bag from SAM's Club, and there are 4 smaller bags inside, so I used 2 small bags... You could also use fresh)
*Garlic seasoned rice vinegar (plain would also work just fine, but I had garlic, so I used that)

Brown the beef, onions and minced garlic.  Drain if it needs it, mine didn't.  Add the tomato sauce, ground ginger, and soy sauce to the beef mixture.  Cook for a few minutes, add the green beans.  Cook until the beans are to desired tenderness.  Then add the rice vinegar.  Cook for one more minute and then serve over rice.

It is really easy.  I don't have exact measurements for the ginger, soy sauce, or rice vinegar...  I just dumped.  It's really what you prefer.  Start small and add more if needed.  Same thing with the meat and beans, if you want more or less, go for what fits your family!  :)

This is pretty filling with the rice.  You could also use quinoa if you don't eat rice, and also the cauliflower trick...  But with the price of cauliflower and how many I need to make it into rice, we don't do that very often!  :)

Hope you enjoy and let me know if you have any questions or if it doesn't make any sense!

Oh, I just took the other half we didn't eat, put in gallon size freezer baggie, labeled it and threw in freezer.  All I will have to do is cook some rice and re-heat this mixture!  Super easy!

Homemade Foaming Handsoap

I finally got an empty bottle to make my own foaming Handsoap! Have been wanting to make it, but never went to look for the right kind of bottle...

I had put a bottle of foaming Handsoap that my mom had gotten for me from bath and body. Then it very quickly got empty because my kids prefer the foaming soap! :) 

I've seen recipes for this, but, ahem, I didn't fully follow it. ;)

Here's what I did:

Cleaned out empty bottle of foaming Handsoap...

Added about 3 tablespoons Bronners castile liquid (non-smelling) soap

2 teaspoons coconut oil

20 drops of thieves essential oil

Add water, but not too full because you sill need to add the top!

Add top and shake gently. Viola. So easy!

I decided to use thieves this time since we are dealing with cold season and already have had the snotty runny noses and coughs.

You can use other oils as well.

Super easy! Give it a try!

Homemade Toothpaste

 Yes that's right.

You read it right.

No, you don't need your eyes checked.

It says homemade toothpaste.

I did it.

I've made my own deodorant, laundry soap, dishwasher soap... 

I've always wanted to try toothpaste, but wasn't sure I was fully ready for it.

Well, when you completely run out and have squeezed EVERY last possible drop from the tube, and you really don't want to drive into town for a tube of toothpaste... You FINALLY bite the bullet and make it! :)

I now have the right kind of oils to make it, the ones that are safe to swallow. I had NO excuse.

So I looked up a few different DIY recipes and found one that I liked.

I may go back and add a bit of xylitol. It's a sweetner. A lot of recipes call for stevia or this xylitol. From what I've read, the xylitol would be better for your toothpaste. 

The only reason I would get the stevia, is becasue I can say stevia. 

I want to be able to say all the ingredients in my toothpaste. ;)

I had two medium sized empty baby food jars that I used. But had an idea. You know those squeeze bottles they use for melting chocolate and putting into molds? That would be way cheaper than a squeeze bottle from Amazon.. I think I'm gonna get two of those and put it in that. You would still be able to squeeze it to mix it up...

Right now I have two plastic knives on top of each jar.

Here's my recipe:

3 tablespoons baking soda

3 tablespoons coconut oil

15 drops young living essential oil (now you don't have to use young living, it's just what I use, and LOVE it! Just make sure the essential oil you are using is safe to be taken internally. If you need some YL oils, let me know and I can order it for you! ;) ) you can also start testing at 8 drops to see if it's right. I like 15. :) I wouldn't do more than 15 for one recipe. 

I used orange for one and peppermint for the other. Some kids wanted orange and others wanted peppermint. Why not try both?

Just mix it up and use right away or put lid on til ready to use. :)

I'm going to make another one once I get my new bottle of theives and make a theives one! :)

How did it taste? Honestly, salty. A little more than I was expecting. But it wasn't horrible. Half of the kids wrinkled up their noses and hurried through their brushing, but they liked the flavor of the oil. They also said their teeth felt cleaner than before! (WIN!!!) pretty awesome when your KID notices that their teeth feels cleaner!

I will check the prices on xylitol and stevia and will prob add a bit to help the saltiness....

I think though after a few brushings, we would all get used to it...

Mine was a bit runny right after making it and then having two more showers from keeping it in bathroom... But it has thickened up tonight. It really only takes a very small amount to brush. 

I'm excited about this because I can say everything that's in it! :) and it's realllly cheap to make! And easy!

Let me know if you have any questions or need some essential oils! :)

Let me know if you try it and how you like it!

*note: even after eating all day and not brushed my teeth yet before bed, they still have a nice clean feeling. :) I've read that using YL Orange oil helps whiten teeth...

Enjoy!!!