Cleaning Tip

For quite a while I've use vinegar to clean. Its pretty much unbeatable for water spots, grime, and buildup without counting harsh commercial chemical cleaners. I always have a spray bottle of it in my kitchen for easy access. When I read you can make vinegar smell like citrus, I was quite excited. It worked, too! I steeped mine for two weeks and I just cleaned my house entirely with vinegar...you can't even tell! Give it a try. I bet you'll like it! 

Citrus Vinegar

Canning Jars

Vinegar

Grapefruit, Orange, and Lemon peels

Fill jars almost to the top with peels. Add vinegar. Cap and let sit for 2 weeks. To use: dilute by half with water. 

My favorite part about this, though, is taking a roll of good quality paper towel, cutting it in half with my bread knife, manipulating the cardboard roll out of it, and putting one of the halves in a baby wipes container. Dampen the paper towel with this vinegar/water solution and you have quick cleaning wipes for a fraction of the store cost! It really works. I promise! 

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

This morning I wanted to try something new to accompany my crustless quiche for breakfast. I had never made baked oatmeal before so I decided to give it a whirl. With the apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg it was really tasty. I topped it with maple sugar and frozen vanilla yogurt. Yum!! 

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup softened butter or coconut oil

1/2 cup brown sugar or succanat

2 beaten eggs

3 cups oats

2 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

3 apples, sliced paper thin

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs. Mix in oats, baking powder, and milk. Lightly grease an 8x8 pan. Put sliced apples on the bottom. Top with oat mixture. Bake on 350 for 30 mins. Top with maple syrup and frozen yogurt for best experience =) 

BBQ Chicken Pita Pizzas

One of my favorite freezer meals is pita pizza. I like mine topped with fresh mozzarella, olive oil, garlic, basil, and roma tomato. The kids and Craig like bbq chicken. I make all the topping in the crock pot so it's very easy to assemble in mass production. I freeze them in foil and then ziploc bags and bake from their frozen state on 375 until the cheese bubbles. Not very scientific, but it works! 

BBQ Chicken Pita Pizza

This recipe for bbq chicken

10 slices bacon

shredded mozzarella cheese

12 100% whole grain pitas

Make chicken. Crisp and crumble bacon. Add to chicken mixture. Top pita with chicken and cheese. Wrap in foil. Freeze. 3 easy dinners for my family! 

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This is one recipe from my childhood that brings back memories of thinking I was going to barf because I was eating zucchini, but actually fell in like because it was SO awesome. Super moist, just sweet enough, and even has a few servings of veg! Do yourself a favor and make a batch.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

1 cup butter

1 cup oil

1 1/2 cup evap cane juice or sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup sour cream

5 cups whole wheat flour

8 tbsp cocoa

2 tsp salt

2 tsp soda

1 tsp cinnamon

4 cups pureed zucchini

3 large 85% cocoa chocolate bars

Cream butter, oil, and sugar. Whisk in eggs, vanilla, and sour cream. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in zucchini and chocolate. Pour into 4 greased loaf pans. Bake on 350 and start checking center for done-ness at 50 minutes. Whole wheat flour takes longer to bake than white flour, so depending on what you use, it'll bake up differently. Loaf is done when a knife inserted in the center comes out with no batter. Melted chocolate is not to be confused with batter =). 

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

I found this recipe via this blog. I didn't even tell my kids what the secret ingredient was. They just automatically assumed they were little sugar cubes. Works for me!! I actually despise cottage cheese with an intense passion but was pleasantly surprised that theses were amazing with maple syrup!! I'm just going to copy and paste from her blog as that's much easier. They froze and thawed/toasted up quite well, too. Who would have thought?! 

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

3 Eggs
1 Cup Cottage Cheese
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Tbsp Honey or Agave
1/2 Cup Flour
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp Salt
Butter, Oil or Oil Spray

1. Place the first 4 ingredients in a bowl and whisk.
2. In a separate bowl whisk the dry ingredients.
3. Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture and stir until just combined.
4. Heat a large sauté pan or griddle over medium heat, lightly coat with oil or butter and pour about 1 tbsp of the mixture onto the griddle for each pancake.
5. Cook for 2 minutes on each side or until pancakes are set and golden.

Layered Bean Dip

My dad's famous layered bean dip. At every Christmas, New Years, and family game night, pretty much! It never lasts long =) I made it in a big storage container and stored it in the fridge, adding lettuce only when serving. It sure didn't last long, though. Already making another batch again today..! 

Layered Bean Dip

add desired quantity of each in this order...

refried beans

1 package taco seasoning sprinkled on top

guacamole

sour cream

green onions

lettuce (unless storing, add on top..)

cheese

salsa

green onion

cheese

Pretty basic, but all the flavors together make one yummy treat! 

Apple Pork Chops

This was the first time I made freezer meal pork chops so I was a bit nervous, but the whole family loved them! It just seems SO weird to me to be making apple pie (pretty much), and then add...pork?! But...all strangeness aside, it was good so I was happy! 

Apple Pork Chops

8 pork chops

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

4 apples, sliced paper thin

Combine all ingredients in ziplock bag and mix thoroughly. Put in freezer until ready to cook...

Cooking day: dump contents into crock pot. Bake on high for about 4 hours. 

Honey Butter Popcorn

So last night I made up a whole pan of this stuff and it was deemed "blogworthy" beings one pan lasted roughly 30 seconds. A healthier version of kettle corn, this has that slightly sweet, slightly salty, with a good crunch taste.
Pure Eire had the recipe posted on their facebook (they supply my milk for my awesome raw milk yogurt recipe) and I made it immediately.

For those who can't have dairy, coconut oil worked perfectly, too! I made it both ways just to test. ;-)

The best part, though, was that I could use our very own home grown "strawberry popcorn". See?

We grew this last year and it is by far the best popcorn I've ever had. It doesn't taste anything like strawberries and it pops up the fluffiest white with a pink center. So pretty! We have loads of fun taking the kernels off cobs. It's actually quite addicting once you get started. One night we had three huge baskets full of dry cobs! Something about sitting around the table telling "corny" jokes... haha..get it?

 I well know that not everyone has home grown popcorn sitting around, but any kind will do. I just wanted to share pictures of our pretty stuff!

Honey Butter Popcorn


About 8 cups popped corn
1/4 cup butter or coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
salt

Dump popped kernels into a 9x13 or cookie sheet. Drizzle with melted honey butter mixture. Sprinkle with salt. Bake on 350 for 7-10 mins or until a crunchy base forms.

That's pretty much it, folks. If course you can up the honey or butter or whatever depending on how you like it. =)

Taco Shells

Hands down our new favorite dinner. I don't know why I haven't made these before!! I should totally have doubled the recipe because there's no way these are going to last very long in the freezer! Maybe a night? If I'm lucky?? 

Taco Stuffed Shells

1 lb beef

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 package cream cheese

1 can diced green chiles

1 box jumbo shell pasta

3 tablespoons butter

  

Assembly ingredients

salsa

taco sauce

shredded cheese

Toppings

crushed tortilla chips

sour cream

Start by browning beef with the taco seasoning. Drain fat if any. Stir in chiles and cream cheese until well combined. Meanwhile, cook pasta shells according to directions. Drain and toss with butter. Fill shells with beef mixture. At this point, you can layer shells in a freezer safe container separating with foil.

To make:

Pour some salsa into the bottom of your pan. Put shells on salsa and top with some taco sauce. Add shredded cheese. Bake (thawed) on 350 covered for 15 mins, and then uncovered for 10. If frozen, bake 30 mins covered and 15 mins uncovered. Once baked, top with tortilla crumbles, sour cream, etc. 

this photo from pinterest shows the BEST way to fill shells =D Seriously genius!

Ready for the freezer!

Pure. Delicious. 

Hot Beef Subs

I love being able to send meals with Craig to work where he has the ability to warm them there. It makes lunches SO much easier to not have to make something every single night for him to take to work. He tried these out the other day and was very impressed. A switch up from burritos and soups!

Hot Beef Subs

1 sweet onion

1 lb lean beef

3/4 cup ketchup

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 clove garlic

Cheese (I like provolone) 

6 sub buns

Cut onion in rings. Saute in pan until tender. Add beef and brown. Once meat is fully cooked, add ketchup, salt, pepper, and garlic. Mix well. Divide meat evenly between the sub buns. Top with preferred cheese choice. Wrap in foil. Freeze.

To bake...bake in foil on 400 for 30 mins OR take out to thaw the night before and bake on 400 for 15 minutes. 

Super easy recipe to add to the freezer stockpile! Even the kids liked them. 

Sweet and Sour Kielbasa

Perfect side dish to macaroni, my mom always made this kielbasa when we were kids. I loved it and subsequently, so do my children! Volworths is the absolute BEST kielbasa in the world but unless you're fortunate enough to live in the good 'ole U.P. of Michigan, you won't be able to try it. Make sure you use all beef kind as the other stuff is kind of mangled road kill stuffed in a tube. In my opinion, anyway.... =) appetizing, eh? ;-) 

Sweet and Sour Kielbasa

2 rounds kielbasa

1 jar apricot preserves

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tsp dijon mustard

1/4 tsp ginger

Pan fry (brown) kielbasa on both sides. Drain out grease. lay kielbasa on paper towels to finish draining while you make sauce. In same pan, heat rest of ingredients just until they simmer. Stir kielbasa in. Bubble 5 mins. Serve warm.

Baked Macaroni

When I made this the other day, Aerro boldly proclaimed, "Mom..you can make this every day for me, ok?" With it being so easy, I might consider once a week =). This was the first time I froze and re-baked macaroni and with this recipe, it worked great! The sauce is pretty soupy before you bake it, but once it's baked (or frozen and baked) it ends up being perfect. Not dry at all. 

Baked Macaroni

1 box whole grain pasta noodles

1/2 c butter

1/2 c flour

5 cups milk (I always use whole)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I use sharp)

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Melt butter in a large saucepan on med-high and add flour whisking until fully combined. Add milk and whisk constantly until it boils. Reduce to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in cheddar, salt, and pepper. While sauce is simmering, boil noodles 1 minute under the recommended "done" time. Drain noodles and stir in cheese sauce. Pour in buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake on 400 for 10-15 minutes. 

To freeze: pour into buttered foil pan. Allow to reach room temp in fridge. Seal well. I use foil and then a few layers of saran wrap. Freeze. The day you make: take out of freezer in the morning and allow to thaw in fridge. Bake on 400, covered, for 15 minutes. Uncover and let bake until heated through (about 5-10 more minutes)

Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada

The only chicken enchiladas I've ever made are a White Chicken Enchilada but I really wanted to try a red sauce version. I made this recipe today and I loved it! I'm back into making a lot of freezer meals so stay tuned for other varieties =). This recipe was super simple to whip up in the morning and serve by dinner. I'm sure you could just make the sauce part and stir in pre-cooked chicken, but simmering the chicken in the crock all day made a super tender and flavorful chicken that fell apart. I couldn't hardly get it out of the pot to shred it! 

Craig's take on this? "It tastes really authentic.." That's a plus!

Red Sauce Chicken Enchilada

(makes four servings of 7 burritos each) 

1 onion

1 red pepper

1 green pepper

1 tablespoon diced green chiles

1 small can tomato paste

1 cup chicken broth

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp dried pepper flakes

1 tsp salt

1 large (or two small) clove garlic, minced

5 chicken breasts

(tortillas, cheese, and salsa for prep and sour cream, guacamole, etc for toppings)

Blend onion, peppers,and chiles in a food processor. I did it to a pulp because we are anti large-chunks-of-onions around here. Dump into crock pot. Add tomato paste, broth, and spices/seasonings. Stir well. Add chicken breasts. Cook on low all day or until chicken is done all the way through. You could do it on high, too, for quicker cooking, but I just had it simmer all day on low. Once chicken is cooked, shred and stir back into the pot. Fill as photos suggest. Bake on 350 until cheese is melted. 

 

Aboslutely best served with this Raspberry Ginger Ale from the Northwest Food Hub!  

My favorite~

Breakfast Muffins

I found this fabulous photo via Pinterest and was instantly inspired. It's no secret that 99% of my pins are food related on that website! What can I say..I like creating edibles. 

credit

I did change it up a little bit by breaking the yokes and seasoning the eggs with salt and pepper. We don't like gelacious yokes around these parts. 

So. Lightly grease your muffin tins. Crack one egg per well. Bake on 350 for 20 minutes for a well done egg. Remove from pan immediately. I sliced each egg in half because they were quite thick. A giant muffin tin would cook these better but I don't have one. 

While eggs are cooking, toast your muffins and prep all your fillings. Around here, the staples are:

 

Once eggs are done, stack muffins and wrap in foil. Store in fridge or freezer. I put them in the freezer then the night before, into the fridge to thaw. You can microwave them or oven warm them. I prefer the oven as it makes the muffin crispy again.  Reheat on 350 for about 15 minutes, checking after 10 for desired warmth. 

Super easy, super good. Craig has yet another portable breakfast food to add to the fabulous collection in our freezer!

Man Sized Omelet

Craig's favorite "omelet". He calls it a "square meal". So comical, he is! My favorite fillings would be tomato, peppers, onions, bacon, cheese. I'm not a ham or sausage freak. I make these up ahead of time and wrap them in foil and put in the oven on warm. I didn't take a photo once the shredded cheese or salsa was on top, sorry, but that's how we serve omelets over here! For this size omelet, I use 4 eggs, lightly beaten and seasoned with onion, garlic, salt and pepper. 

Photos! 

 

Best served with some fresh salted coffee and a huge stack of whole wheat pancakes. If you're a man that is. I can't even come close to putting down even half of one of these things!