Coconut-Oatmeal Cereal

I wasn't too sure about this stuff. My kiddos really haven't had any type of coconut, so I didn't know if they would like it! They know what a coconut is, they just haven't really had it! The hubs is NOT a fan of it and I'm, well, it's not my fav, but if it's cooked or in something, just a little bit of it, then I'll eat it. But to have it all over a cake just sprinkled on, most likely I won't eat it...

So that being said, I went for it making this oatmeal cereal. It's really easy to make and you just store it in a zip lock baggie.

I've been trying to make more cereal and oatmeal (and other things) for the kiddos for breakfast lately. I mean, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You do need to start your kiddos off on the right foot, right?

I'm not gonna lie, mornings are pretty tough around here. Granted, they are getting oh so much better! My little man was getting up at 5 and wouldn't go back to sleep... I don't roll like that! Now if coffee would work for me, then maybe, but I was only getting about 2 to 3 hours of sleep a nite, he was up during the nite too. I would have to rock him back to sleep...

Now he's getting up around 6 to 7, but mostly around 7, which in my book is AWESOME!!!! So, I've been wanting to get up earlier to do some exercises, then do my devos, then shower. That way I'd be ready for my little munchkins and could fix them that nice hot breakfast that they so deserved! Now, I just have to get up earlier... ;) Easier said than done....

Ok, back to the recipe and breakfast...

So this isn't a hot meal, but it is a homemade oatmeal. And it is super easy to make, and the kiddos can pour their own and then put their milk on.



I used half white and half wheat flour


Add the coconut


Then the oatmeal


Then the sesame seeds


Then I added the sugar


Then the water and oil together. Again, I didn't think it was enough water, so I just kept adding a little bit of water at a time. I think I used about 1/2 cup of water and then only 5 tablespoons of oil.... But I honestly don't remember if it was that much water or not.... :\


Here it is after it's been baked. I know, totally yummy looking here, but it really is! The kids LOVED it and it was gone within 3 days! They ate it 3 days in a row and now I guess I better make some more! :)



Coconut-Oatmeal Cereal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine in a large mixing bowl:

3 cups white or whole wheat flour
2 cups flake coconut
2 cups quick oatmeal
3 tablespoons sesame seed
3 tablespoons water
3/4 cup sugar
5 tablespoons oil
Mix well. Bake in 2 or 3 shallow baking pans until browned, about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to produce crumbles of desired size.
Serve as cold cereal.

*I forgot to mention this is from More-with-Less cookbook... ;)
I used half white and half wheat flour
I used more like 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup water, I didn't think it was sticking together enough... So, start out with the 3 tablespoons and just keep adding a little bit til it sticks together a bit...
I used 1/4 cup of sugar and that was plenty! I may not add any the next time...
I also used coconut oil instead of oil
I also used one baking pan, it was kinda full, so I recommend using the 2 pans! ;)

Fruit Dumplings

This is sooooo good!!! What an easy fall recipe!!! If you like apple dumplings, then you will LOVE this!!! It's just a little bit different, you roll it up and pour a sugary sauce over the top, yummo!!! :oP My mouth is watering just thinking about these! I am thinking I may even have to make more. You sure, I made these a few days ago and they are gone! ;)


I used 2 large granny smith apples


Flour, baking powder and salt


The shortening


Then added the milk (you could use rice milk)


Stir it all up with a fork


Nice round ball, place on somewhat floured surface so it doesn't stick when you roll it out


Roll it out to a nice long rectangle


Place apples on the rolled out dough


Roll it up


All rolled up


Cut and place in baking dish (I used my 9x13 Pampered Chef stone)


Making the "syrup".. sugar, water, cinnamon and flour, bring it to a boil, then....


... dump it over the cut up dumplings


They will kinda swell, smells soooo good! Place in preheated oven (don't cover!!!)


All baked, oh my, I sooo wish this was a scratch and sniff picture! My mouth is watering, I think I need to make another batch of these bad boys!!!


Up close of it.... ;)


The inside of the fruit dumpling



Now with a bit of milk. I honestly didn't think I would like it with the milk, but I really did! As a kid, I never added milk to my apple dumpling, my dad and mom would, but I didn't like soggy things, but ya know, this was just perfect! :)





Fruit Dumplings

Prepare 2-3 cups finely chopped fresh fruit, like apples, peaches, rhubarb, etc... Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare 1 recipe biscuit dough (it's at the bottom)
Roll dough into a large rectangle, cover thickly with fruit. Sprinkle with cinnamon and roll up and cut into 1 inch rings. Place in greased 9x13 inch pan.
Combine this in saucepan:
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup cold water
Let it come to a boil and pour over dumplings. Bake 45 minutes. Serve warm with milk.

Basic Biscuits

Sift together in a bowl:
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cut in:
1/4 cup shortening
Add all at once stirring until soft ball is formed:
3/4 cup milk

Turn dough onto floured surface and knead lightly 20-25 times.
(then do the rest like the recipe says at the top!)

*I didn't add the cinnamon before rolling, I put it in the sugar mixture I made.
This was really easy and it tastes soooooo good!!!!
Don't let the biscuit intimidate you, it is so easy to make!
I used apples, but would love to try it with other fruits!!! Even a apple and raisin combo!
I also used coconut oil (go figure huh? haha) instead of shortening. It worked GREAT!!!
You could also use Rice milk instead of regular milk. I am not sure about Almond, it may give you a different flavor...

Hay Stacks

Yeah, we eat Hay for dinner out here!!!! If we still lived in Iowa, you might actually believe that, but we don't live there anymore, so... ;)

This must be a Indiana meal, because I've had a TON of peeps from Iowa and Maryland ask me, "what int he world is Hay Stacks?"!!!

It's basically anything you want it to be. You have a base of rice, then meat, then the toppings are endless!

I use jasmine rice, then a sloppy joe type of meat mixture, then had lettuce, all colors of peppers, green and black olives, onions, shredded cheddar cheese, tomato, and crushed up Doritos. But again, you can add or take away anything! You could used salsa, or you could use melted cheese sauce instead of the shredded cheddar cheese. You could use more of a taco meat instead of the sloppy joe meat. I've also thought about making guac to put on top as well, and omit the tomatoes....

I used my sloppy joe recipe for the meat base. (you can find that sloppy joe recipe here http://mandysboxofrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/01/sloppy-joes.html)

While the sloppy joes are cooking, you can start chopping up whatever toppings you would like to add. Most of these things you have one hand, so it doesn't require any special ingredients. And the cool thing about this is if you don't have one of them, it's ok, it's not gonna matter! It's kind of a whatever you have on hand recipe! ;)

I don't think I mentioned this in the sloppy joe recipe, but you don't have to put it in the crock pot, you can keep it in the skillet on the stove for about 30 minutes. And if it don't want to wait that long, then that's fine, just make sure it's heated through! :)

here's my sloppy joe version, I added a bit of bbq sauce to it as well... You want this to be a bit saucy...


Yummy!! :oP


Start with rice, then meat, then add whatever you want! And add however much you want! It can be filling though! ;)


Hay stacks with home made applesauce! Super good and super easy!!!



Here I mixed it all up...

Hay Stacks

Ingredients to make sloppy joes :


2 pounds hamburger
1 onion
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Make as recipe says.... ;)

Rice (as much as you need to feed your family)
Lettuce
Green and Black olives
Chopped onions (we use the purple/red onions - you could use green onion, the stick ones if you want)
tomatoes
Shredded cheddar cheese
Crushed Doritos

Again, add or take away whatever you want!!! Let me know if you added something and how you liked it!! ENJOY!!!!!!!! :D

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Okay, so this is pretty easy to make... When my oldest was a baby, I used to buy the pre-packaged apple cinnamon oatmeal. I got it because it cooked fast, and it was pre-measured. I thought I didn't have time to make it from scratch, but now with 4 kids, I make it from scratch! ;) After a few months of giving her the pre-packaged stuff, I realized it had way more sugar in it than I should probably be giving her. So from then on, I would just make it. It really isn't that hard. Just takes maybe an extra 5-10 minutes to pre-pare.

The best thing about this, YOU control how much (if any) sugar you put in this! I don't put any sugar in the kiddos, but I will put a little bit of local honey on it and mix it up. When my hubs eats it, he puts browns sugar on it.

I buy Oats in bulk at BJ's! Love making homemade granola and we will be going through more oatmeal now that it's getting cooler out. Plus my youngest girl is no longer fussing that she has to eat oatmeal, she actually likes it, or likes that I put honey on it, I dunno which one! hahaha ;)

You can pretty much make it any way you want, you can add or take any certain fruits...

This is the way I've made it the last few times, but will change it up next time. ;)
(like peaches and cinnamon- apples and bananas, will add the banana's after it's done cooking-craisins and raisins, you can also add nuts... the possibilities are endless!! ;))



Water and oats cooking


Add the chopped up apples before it comes to a boil

Bring it to a boil


Stir and cook until desired consistency (I already added the cinnamon and vanilla)



Now that it is all cooked, I added the raisins, kept adding til I thought it was enough and stirred it around....

Put them in their bowls, and drizzled a bit of honey on top. Now this pic looks like there is alot of honey, but there really isn't! ;) I also found some local honey, helps out with your allergies... Take a teaspoon everyday for 2 weeks, should help you out a bit... ;)



Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

1 cup oats
2 cups cold water
half of an apple, chopped (you decided whether to keep the skin on)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
honey or brown sugar to taste (optional)

Put oats and water in a pot and bring to a boil. You can add the cinnamon and vanilla at this time as well.
(here you decided whether you want slightly soft or crunchy apples. If you want the slightly soft ones, you add the chopped apples now... If you want the crunchy apples, then you add them right before eating your cooked oatmeal)
You will continue to cook and stir until the water is absorbed and the oatmeal is the consistency you want it.
It usually takes me about 15 minutes to cook these. But I have to double this recipe!
I also use a whole apple. I also need to peel the apple because my youngest can't eat the peeling very well. Not enough teeth yet! ;)
I also don't really measure the cinnamon and vanilla, those are things you can omit if you would like. But I like the flavor that they add.
I've been adding raisins after it's done cooking, right before serving. I don't measure, just dump! ;)

Kusherie

I've already had a few people on Facebook ask me what this is and then for the recipe... So instead of waiting any longer, here it is! ;)

This is from More-with-Less... Kusherie is an Egyptian meal that has rice and lentils in it.. Ok, that's pretty much all that's in it! ;) It may look a little bit hard, but it's not. It's pretty easy!

There is a note next to the recipe that says that in Egypt plain yogurt is served as a side dish.
(I didn't do that part of it...)


Left over lentils from the previous post...


Lentils and rice all cooked


This is the sauce with everything in it...


The onions browning for the topping


Layer the cooked rice and lentils on a platter


Then layer the sauce on top then the onions on top of the sauce


Here it is all mixed up, super yummy!!! :oP



Kusherie (Egyptian Rice and Lentils)

Rice and Lentils:
Heat in heavy saucepan or covered skillet:
2 tablespoons oil
Add:
1 1/4 cup lentils

Brown lentils over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring often.

Add:
3 cups boiling water or stock
1 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper

Cook uncovered 10 minutes over medium heat

Stir in:
1 1/2 cups rice
1 cup boiling water

Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 25 minutes without stirring.

Sauce:
In a sauce pan, heat together:

3/4 cup tomato paste
3 cups tomato juice, tomato sauce, or pureed tomatoes
1 green pepper, chopped
chopped celery leaves
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or crushed red chili's to taste
Bring sauce to a boiling, reduce heat, and simmer 20-30 minutes.

Browned onions:
Heat in a small skillet
2 tablespoons onions
Saute over medium heat until brown:
3 onions, sliced
4 gloves garlic, minced

To serve, put rice-lentil mixture on a platter. Pour tomato sauce over. Top with browned onions.

*Again, a few things I did differently.
I used the lentils from the last recipe, so they had already been cooked for 20 minutes...
I used boiling water
For the sauce:
I also used 1 can of tomato paste
I used tomato sauce
I used a heaping teaspoon of cumin
I just sprinkled crushed red chili's
For the browned onions:
I used 1 onion and diced it
I also used 2 cloves of garlic and just diced it really small

While I was stirring the lentils, I put the water in the microwave to bring to boil.
While the 3 cups water and lentils were cooking for 10 minutes, I mixed up the sauce.
So that way when the rice and lentils were done, the sauce was done too.
Super good and super easy! :)

Skillet Beef With Lentils

This was very good! I am really lovin the More-with-Less cookbook!!! Super easy and super good, and super healthy! ;) (sorry about all the "supers" in that sentence! ;))

The kiddos gobbled this one down as well. I fixed this with acorn and butternut squash, just to make the plate look a little bit more colorful!



Cooking the lentils in water

Frying up some onions and garlic


Added the browned hamburger (this isn't a full pound of it, but I NEVER use the full amount of meat, I always cut back a bit!)


Add the "broth"


This is how I saved my lentil water. I used the Pampered Chef strainer and bowl set. First time I've used it like this! I always use the bowls of the strainers, but never together! But you can do it however you want, as long as you save the water! :)


The somewhat cooked lentils!


Now I added the spices to the water, beef, and onions


Then I added the lentils... ;)


It's all cooked! Stir it up a bit....


And there ya go!!! :)


Here's the acorn and butternut squash cooked! I probably should've put the acorn squash in another pan, but oh well! ;) (I cut the squash in half, took the seed out, put them in the pan, put about a cup of water in the bottom of the pan, covered it with foil and cooked at 350d for 3 hours. It was done, so I just put the oven down to 200d, depending on how big your squash is, it may take longer. One more hint, I just put one little cut down the middle of the squash and pop it in the microwave for a a minute or two and I can cut it much easier! Makes the skin a bit softer!)


I know, not too yummy looking, but it is really good!


Here is our supper! The lentils and both squashes!



Skillet Beef with Lentils


Bring 1 quart water to boil in saucepan.
Add:
1 1/2 cups lentils, rinsed
Cook 20 minutes. Drain, reserving liquid.

In deep skillet saute:
2 tablespoons margarine of butter
2 medium onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced

Stir in:
1 pound ground beef

Brown well. Dissolve in 2 1/3 cups reserved liquid
2 beef bouillon cubes

Add liquid to meat mixture, cover and simmer 10 minutes.

Stir in:
reserved lentils
2 tablespoons long-grain rice
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 30 minutes, or until lentils and rice are tender and liquid is absorbed (add more if necessary). Check seasonings and stir in:
1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Top with parsley (dried or fresh)

*A few things I did a bit differently, go figure huh? ;)
I only used about half of the lentil, I wasn't sure how it was going to taste... I wanted to make sure the kids were going to eat it! ;) (I saved the lentils for a recipe I used the next nite!)
I used coconut oil instead of the butter or margarine
I used one onion and 2 gloves of garlic (I also chopped the garlic instead of mincing it)
I didn't use the beef bouillon
I also used 4 tablespoon rice
I also forgot to add the cider vinegar at the end (opps)
I also used the same pot for cooking it all in. My cast iron skillet doesn't have a lid, so I just cooked the lentils, then put them to the side to drain and then did everything else in that pot! (One less pot to add to the dishwasher! ;))