Tip Tuesday: Homemade Dumplings

Well, since today decided to be Winter.... even though it's SUPPOSED to be Spring... grrrr.... I decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em... and I'll go ahead and show you how we make old-fashioned dumplings.

Tip Tuesday: Homemade Playdough

 Hi guys!  After much trial and error, I'm happy to report that we have found a winner!!

Because, you know that not everything you read on the internet is true.... and that also goes for recipes. But this one is super easy and turns out perfectly!

Winter Morning Oatmeal

I've always been surprised when friends tell me that their kids "would never eat oatmeal!"  I can't even imagine that, really.  It's just one of those foods that my grandma and my mom considered a stand-by.  So, I don't even give it a second thought.  It's just so thrifty--and yummy.  If there's nothing else handy for breakfast.... oatmeal it is!

The Best Homemade Brownie Mix Ever

Don't ya just love my table setting?  

Once you make these I'm pretty sure you will agree that these are the best.
Trust me.
We're brownie conniseurs.

We used to buy brownie mix by the case and mix 'em up every time we had company stop in...and also every time we felt like having some brownies.  Which was often.  But I haven't bought a mix in quite a while.

Tip Tuesday: Homemade Taco Mix

Homemade mixes are one of my favorite cooking tips-- they not only save money, but also the annoyance of not having what you need on the spur of the moment.  You know, like at 4:30, when you're trying to decide what to make for dinner at 5:00?

Boiled Peanuts and Neck Bones

You know how I told you guys that I can see what google searches brought you to me?  Well, here's a reoccurring search.  And it really kills me to be so unhelpful and lead you down the wrong path by saying that I have no clue how to boil peanuts and neck bones and then you search how to do it and it comes to MY blog.  So, I'm gonna tell you how to do it.

Fresh Homemade Salsa!

Tomatoes & Peppers & Cilantro, Oh My!
This is one of the best things about summer.  Food wise, anyways!

Tip Tuesday: Cream of Anything Soup Mix

Ooh, you guys are gonna love this one!  How many times have you planned out the meal & gathered up the ingredients only to find that you're one can short of a casserole?

Never again!  Just mix up a batch of this super easy instant mix and you'll be back in business in no time.

The Best Dang Quesadilla

Yes, it's true.  Every single time I eat or even think about a quesadilla I also think about Napoleon Dynamite.  And pronounce it "kaysadilla."  I know, it's weird.

But these here dang quesadillas are amazing.  And easy.  And amazing.  So, you'll want to make them soon.  Because they don't heat up the kitchen much.  And the ingredients are simple.  And they're amazing!

Mahvelous Muffins

 This is my tried and true, make-em-at-least-once-a-week, everybody loves 'em muffin recipe.  I thought you might like to try it.  It is a very flexible and forgiving recipe, which is the best kind.

 I use whatever I've got handy:  wheat/white flour, eggs/ground flax, blueberries/cranberries/raisins/diced apples/bananas/chocolate chips, etc., sugar/honey, milk/water.  You get the idea.  They are always good and always gone.

Cake Mix Mix

The other day Ruthie was telling me how much she misses having cake mixes in the pantry because she would frequently mix up a batch of "cake mix cookies" on a sweet-tooth whim.  They used to be really cheap, so we were always stocked up.  Not anymore.  Every time I go to buy a cake mix, my cheap skate self comes out and I put it back on the shelf and tell myself that we can just bake from scratch...alot cheaper.  Which is true.  But not quite as convenient.  Alas, my newest frugal adventure...


Homemade Cake Mix!

Spicy Lentil Tacos

 
Lentils??  Say what? Who even eats that?  In America.  Especially in tacos!

We do.  And it's surprisingly delicious!

Tip Tuesday: Homemade Yogurt!

I have no idea why it's taken me so long to get around to doing this.  Making yogurt is easier than just about anything else we make in the kitchen, except for maybe Ramen noodles.  But it's not much harder than that!

So, here's the lowdown.

Benjamin's Whole Wheat Graham Squares

This morning Ben and I got a chance to do some baking together.  Actually, he's been sitting at the bar sounding out words for me while I bake up a batch of his favorite "graham crackers."  He cleaned the bowl for me.  : )

These are really easy and turn out sortof like a cross between a cookie and a cracker.  Just sweet enough to seem like a cookie.  Healthy enough for a snack.

Monkey Bread Gets Brownie Points

This past Sunday we decided to stay home for church.  Since 8 out of 9 of us were sick, it seemed like a pretty good idea. : )  Elijah ended up preaching and it was sweet.  But before church, we needed to eat.  So, in keeping with my Miss Motivated self, I decided to attempt to oblige Noah's request for "Monkey Bread."  I used to make this all the time back when I shopped at Aldi and bought those cheap refrigerator biscuits.  But I haven't tried it since I became an extreme tightwad.

Well, I have been seriously missing out!  This was soooooo much better!!

Easy Homemade Noodles

We just got done making a big batch of homemade noodles.  Have you ever tried it?
I used to think it would be hard to do, but...

They're really, super easy.  And cheap.  And delicious.

Lazy Man's Cabbage Rolls

By special request from a dear friend, I am going to attempt to tell you how I make this cheap and kid-pleasing supper.  It tastes like the old-fashioned pigs in the blanket that my mom used to make (I just discovered that they are actually called "galuskis" or "galumpkies"). My great grandma was from Czechoslovakia.  But that's sortof beside the point.

First I must warn you that I AM an artist.  Cooking is sortof improv for me, even though I usually start out with a recipe.  That way, if I don't have exactly the right ingredients, it's no big deal...usually something different and better results.  That's the case with this recipe.

Also, I have no pictures. I have my reasons...

1. I'm busy cooking.  I don't have the mental capacity to cook AND take good pictures.  The fact that several people are talking to me at the same time, and someone is usually playing drums or some other loud music and well, you get the idea.
2. My kitchen is dark.  It is evening when I make dinner, so there's no sunshine.  Boo. 
3. This is not a very attractive meal.  It looks like slop.  So, just use your imagination.
4. Most importantly....I'm pretty sure you can handle it without pictures.  You're smart and know how to chop things and brown meat and pour it in a pan.  That's my main reason.  : )

Here's a picture of a winking babushka, instead.  She's pretty cute.

So, here's the recipe:

Cheap Eats for a Big Family

Has anyone else been trying to figure out how to make cheaper meals, lately?

I recently read an article where a mom of two little kids was bemoaning the fact that she had a food budget of $125 a week and wasn't sure how she was gonna make it work.  Are you stinkin' kidding me?  I feed my family of NINE on less than that!  And FOUR of them are teenagers!  Yep, it's true.  Maybe that's why they're all so skinny...nah, I do actually feed them.  : )

So, what do we all eat, you ask?  Well, I'll tell ya this much... it ain't deer.

I bake a lot of bread.  And bread related foods.  Lots and lots of bread.  Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy.

So, what goes with the bread?  (besides butter, real butter, of course.)  Yeah, you can't just serve bread for supper and expect a happy family.  That's where soup comes in. 

Spicy Gingerbread Men

The Vaughn family has come to a consensus...  These are the best gingerbread men we have ever baked. (and we've tried a lot of different recipes through the years)  These actually taste good!  Nice and soft, but firm enough to stack and store.
Get a bunch of cheap candy from the dollar store.  Mix up some icing.
Make a big mess and have fun!!!

So, here's the yummy recipe:

Epic Sugar Cookies

Oh, yeah, you know you want 'em!  These are super easy and turn out alot like those big, soft grocery store cookies.  Best part...no chilling or rolling.