Eating Well in Hard Times - May 11

1 Thessalonians 3:12   May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mothers

My brood said they would bar-b-que if I purchased the food.  We decided on hot dogs and hamburges.  The “girls” (daughter-in-laws) offered to do sides, but I told them I would do them.  One of them is bringing an ice cream pie for dessert.  It is raining and very blustery here today.  We were not sure if we could grill or not.  Put the brats in with the beer and boiled them.  Hamburgers, hotdogs and brats were bar-b-qued.  I opened some cans of baked beans and I made some macaroni salad yesterday.  The boys prepared the sliced/diced onions and tomatoes.  I also made some homemade chili for the hotdogs. Of course I made Mac and Cheese for the GKs.  We had a lovely meal.

Leftovers included:   Macaroni Salad - will eat this week - the kids took a lot home.   Baked Beans, Hotdogs, Hamburgers, chopped onions and hotdog chili.

Leftover uses:  Baked beans with sliced hot dogs for homemade “Beanie Weanies”,  Leftover chili, onions and add beans for Chili for the week.  Hamburgers could be chopped up for the chili or used for casseroles, frozen for later use, etc.  The leftovers buns, if not used for eating the leftover hotdogs/hamburgers are great frozen for dressing.  You can also use them for breakfast sandwiches - use the hotdogs buns for sausage links, eggs, etc. and the hamburger for bacon/cheese/egg or sausage/egg/cheese sandwiches.

Try to never throw any food away.  Most things can be “re-reciped”  (re-gifted), frozen or eaten later in the week with another meal 

The bread crumbs comment is great and they can also be stored in the freezer.  You can also use the leftover buns for buttered/broiled garlic bread, etc. 

 

Cookbook #2

1 Timothy 6:6-7  Godliness with contentment is great pain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we take nothing out of it. 

I self published a cookbook several years ago:  Family Favorites.  I had 500 copies published and I am almost sold out.  I have been amazed.  They have been sold to:  family, friends, on e-bay and at a local bookseller.  Of course a good cook does not just cook the same things over and over, but develops new recipes.  I have several more that would be great addiitions to the cookbook. 

I made a post several months ago about doing a new cookbook and got some encouragement.  I am definately going to  publish another cookbook.  I am still trying to work out the details for what to include in the cookbook.  I have developed a lot of menu plans, how to cook once and eat several meals, money saving ideas, etc. 

If anyone has any ideas on what would be beneficial to them I would love to hear them.

 

Modern Day Miracles

1 Samuel   2:8   God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heep; he seats them with the princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.

Our church has just recently dedicated a new addition to our church.  It is over 13,000 sq. ft. and has a large Community Center, commercial kitchen, new youth rooms, new children’s rooms and Sunday School rooms.  The project is a 1.4 million dollar addition.  This happens all the time, “right”?  Not in our church. 

We began the journey many years ago, but most recently about 6 years ago.  A group of leaders felt called to expand the church.  Our attendance was declining and our pastor was not the right fit for our church.  We proceeded.  A financial consulting firm told us we would have to do 3-4 captial campaigns to be able to finance the builidng.  We proceeded. 

Two capital campaigns raised almost enough to pay for the building.  A new pastor was assigned to the church and the attendance began to increase.  The new building is now open, a true MIRACLE.

The evil one does not like it when God’s people succeed.  The purpose of the new center was to reach out to the community in ways that have not been heard of in our county.  We are again facing facts that seem impossible.  The rising cost of living, gas pricies have forced family to rethink their giving.  I know that God will again prevail and supply the necessary funds for us to do the ministry that he has planned. 

Don’t think that miracles happend today !!!! Think again.  I know they do and trust that they will again. 

Life is Hard  -   Pray Hard.

 

Church Dinner Recipes -Upside Down Pizza

Proverbs 22:4   Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.

Great for Church Pot Luck or a family night dinner.  This could easily be multipled to feed more.  Use a 9 x 13 pan that has been greased or sprayed with Pam.  This should feed about 10 people.

1 1/2 lb. ground beef

1 medium onion chopped - brown beef and onion together and drain fat

1 (15 oz.) jar pizza sauce

1/2 t. garlic powder

1/4 t. oregano or italian seasoning - combine the garlic, seasoning with the pizza sauce

8 0z shredded Mozzarella

Layer ground beef/onion and then top with the pizza sauce/seasonings and spread on Mozzarella

Mix together:  2 eggs, 1 C. milk, 1 T. oil, 1/2 t. salt, 1 C. flour

Pour over the meat mixture and top with 1/2 C. Parmesan cheese

This would be great with a green salad and garlic bread for a lowcost, tasty meal.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. 

 

 

Eating Well in Hard Times - May 5

Proverbs 21:21  He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. 

Tomorrow’s Menu has changed.  I purchased some ribs on clearance and froze them.  I thawed them today to cook tomorrow.  They have a “funny” odor.  I don’t know if it was the crab boil that I used to parboil them or the meat, but I am going to throw them out.  I don’t want to take a chance on the grandkids, pregnant lady or the rest of us getting food poisoning.  I really hate to throw them out since they were kind of expensive, even on clearance, but better safe than sorry.  I routinely buy meat that is outdating that day and either freeze it or cook it that day.  This is only the second time in about 15 years I have had a problem. 

Meat - as yet to be determined but probably a Pork Roast which I will purchase on the way home from Church

Potato Salad - I made this on Saturday so the flavors could marry together

Corn on the Cob - bought fresh and shucked on Saturday - GK #3 requested this for Sunday

Mac -N - Cheese for the GKs - they don’t really like potato salad

Green Beans - seems like we have these every Sunday, but everyone likes them and besides the GKs like to play the “Green Bean Game”, they challenge each other to see who can eat theirs first, very FUN.

There will probably not be many leftovers to transform this week.  I am sure the corn will disappear and there is not much you can do with leftover potato salad except eat it again.  I love it so that should not be a problem.  The meat can be used for:  Bar-b-que, soup, etc. which I have already posted on this site.

Since Hubby will be home all week I will be cooking more.  When he is gone I usually do very simple dishes.  I will let you know what other leftovers I have this week and how we used them.

Church Dinner Recipes - Cabbage Roll Casserole

Psalm 145:13   The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. 

This would be a economical dish that has all the ingredients of old fashioned cabbage rolls without all the work.

1 small head cabbage - chopped

1 small onion - chopped (brown with the ground beef)

1 lb. ground beef - browned and drained of the fat

1/2 cup uncooked rice

1 C. water - cook rice in the water until slightly softened - it will continue to cook in the casserole

1 jar spaghetti sauce

3/4 cup water - add to the spaghetti sauce and mix

salt and pepper to taste

Place chopped cabbage into a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Mix rice, ground beef and onion along with the salt and pepper.  Layer this over the cabbage.  Pour the spaghetti sauce/water over this mixture.  Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.  Add additional water if needed.  You could also top this with cheese if you desire about 10 minutes before serving.

This should feed about 10.  This recipe can easily be multipled to feed more.  This would be great served with cornbread and a potato dish.

Church Dinner Dishes - Cheese Strata

Psalm  25:10    All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenent.

I have had so many searches for “Church Dinner Recipes” that I have decided to start another tag on this blog.  Many of the recipes that I have can be used for Church Dinners, but what I am going to post here are dishes that are meant to feed 25-100 people.  I am embarking on a “feeding program” for our county which will include a free meal offered to the public.  I have been doing a lot of research for economical dishes that will feed the multitude.  These dishes will be nutritional, easy to prepare, economical and taste great.  If you have any ideas/recipes I would love to have feedback.

This is a great dish to use up leftover bread (buns, rolls, biscuits, etc.) 

Cheese Strata - 25 servings

24 cups of bread - cubed like you would tear up for dressing

2 lbs. of cheese - cheddar, american, etc. - sliced or shredded

16 eggs

10 cups milk

2 t mustard

1/4 cup minced onion

4 t salt

1/2 t pepper

Arrange half the bread in greased baking pans to a depth of 2 inches.  Cover with cheese.  Top with the remaining bread.  Beat the eggs, milk mustard, onion, salt and pepper.  Pour over the bread/cheese mixture and refrigerate overnight.  Bake uncovered for approximately 50 mintes at 325 degrees. 

This is great as a side dish for ham, meatloaf, etc.  You can add vegetables (asparagus), meats (ham or chicken) as well as mushrooms, peppers, etc. for a main dish.  You can also add bacon/sausage for a breakfast casserole. 

This has been a great hit at our Wednesday Night Dinners.  Hope you enjoy.

Eating Well in Hard Times - April 27

I Corinthains 10:13    God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can beat.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 

Sunday Dinner today was Meatloaf, boiled/buttered potatoes, green beans and cheese/garlic biscuits.  When making the meatloaf you can double the normal loaf so that you have leftovers and the same is true of the potatoes.  There is a meatloaf recipe post on the blog (feel free to add oatmeal, or other meats to stretch the loaf).  In this meatloaf I used 2 parts ground beef to one part ground pork.  Both were on clearance a few before.  I had them frozen and then defrosted to make the meatloaf.  You can use ground turkey, chicken or a combination of all of the above.

Leftover Meatloaf is WONDERFUL!!!!  1.  Meatloaf sandwiches, 2.  Use for the base for chili, 3.  Use for the base for Spaghetti Sauce, 4.  Use for the filling for Tacos, or 4. Use as you would any cooked ground beef in casseroles, etc. 

Leftover Boiled potatoes:   1.  Potato Soup, 2.  Potato Salad, 3. Fritattas, 4.  Potato cakes, 5.  Reheated, fried , 6.  Corned beef hash

Leftover green beans:  1.  Freeze for use in soups, 2.  Green bean casserole, 3.  Reheat for another dinner

Leftover Cheese Biscuits:  (If you have leftovers)  1.  Breakfast sandwich (sausage, bacon, egg, etc.), 2.  Slice for Ham sandwich for lunch

Anytime you have time to cook, take advantage of it.  If you don’t want to use the leftovers in dinners this week freeze in meal size portions.  Potatoes do NOT freeze well, so use them this week. 

More new recipe posts this week, I promise.

 

Eating Well in Hard Times - April 21

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for God who promised is faithful.

Ham was on sale this week so I purchase a bone in ham for $.99 per pound.  I placed the ham in a slow cooker after we returned from church and let it simmer on 200-250′ for about 4 hours.  I did add some water - about 2 cups so it would not be dry.  I baked potatoes in the microwave to make Augratin/Scalloped potatoes.  Fresh Kale was also on sale so I bought a bunch (the men in the family love this and so do I).  I also had a craving for “Three Bean Salad”.  This makes a bunch so plan on sharing with friends or “really liking” this salad.  To round out the meal we had corn and cornbread.

Leftover ideas for Ham:  sandwiches, ham salad, casseroles, bean soup with ham - ham freezes well so if you don’t have the time to cook the now just freeze the ham for later use.

Leftover ideas for Potatoes:  Reheat, add milk and mash for potato cheese soup

Leftover ideas for Corn:  Corn casserole, save for vegetable soup, mix into casseroles

Leftover ideas for Kale:  Mix into soups - many ideas:  Italian Wedding Soup, etc.

Leftover ideas for  cornbread:  Top casseroles, save for dressings/stuffings for poultry or green peppers.

The ham, kale, cornbread and corn freeze well.  Potatoes do not freeze well unless mashed.

 

Eating Well in Hard Times - April 13

Proverbs 16:6  Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.

I didn’t cook the usual large Sunday meal today.  Hubby had to leave for Illinois, Son #1 exhibited at the Home and Garden Show so I decided to take a “time out” and not cook.  However I did cook some Pinto Beans on Saturday. 

Pinto Beans, Cornbread, Sauerkraut with hot dogs. 

Leftover Pinto Beans:  1.  Drain the liquid and freeze the beans to use in chili or use in chili within a few days, 2.  Enchilada Bean bake - recipe on the blog which is a great meatless casserole that freezes well.

Leftover cornbread:  1. Make dressing from the cornbread and use to stuff cornish hens, pork chops, etc. 2.  chicken casserole:  dressing in the bottom of the casserole (use less moisture), place on top chicken breasts and then top with cream of chicken soup and bake, 3.  mexicali casserole with beans, corn, pasta, ripe olives, chili, etc. and top with cornbread.

Hope this gives you some ideas for using your leftovers.  If you don’t want to make these dishes this week and have time to assemble then make them and freeze.  Always great to have a few casseroles in the freezer.