Tater Tot Casserole

This was an easy dish that was actually really tasty!   I added more cheese than it says plus I grated it myself because I feel that it is more moist that way and tastes fresher.   I put a little on top about 5 minutes before it was finished baking also to add a little more. It was fantastic!

 

1.  1lb hamburger
2. 1 bag tots
3. small bag shredded cheese
4. 2 can cream of  mushroom soup
5. 1 onion
   

• Brown Hamburger, drain.
• Mix hamburger with soup, cheese, and onion in baking dish.
• Top with tater tots.
• Follow baking directions for the tater tots.

 Enjoy!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

I found a fantastic recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies on allrecipes.com. I tried it out and it is fabulous! This is my only chocolate chip cookie recipe now. Plus it makes a LOT of dough. I rolled some up and it is in the refrigerator now. After these are gone, there will be more fresh cookies coming!

1. 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2. 2 teaspoons baking soda
3. 2 cups butter, softened
4. 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
5. 1/2 cup white sugar
6. 2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
7. 4 eggs
8. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
9. 4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
10. 2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

•  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown

 ***I also added about a teaspoon of salt, just because every chocolate chip recipe I have tried has used salt.   I did not add nuts because my kids will not eat them also.    I also used real unsalted sweet cream butter (the great value brand). I used the cheap version of everything, including the pudding.   I made larger cookies. I fit about 6-8 on a cookie sheet instead of 12 so as to give enough room so they didn’t stick together in between. These cookies came out extremely fantastic and they looked just as good! These are a hit with my family, I am sure they will be with yours too.  *FYI  Make sure to use a big bowl. There is a lot of ingredients to mix in this one, and like I said before, it makes more than the normal recipe. Happy baking! Enjoy!

Home Organization and Storage Bins

Storage bins are not all created equal. When I first moved away from my mom into an apartment I bought a few gray storage bins to keep some random junk in. I didn’t even put similar junk in each bin. I just filled it and left it. I got married and we combined our junk, so I got more gray storage bins to house some of his unnecessary junk. Over the years with 2 kids, lots of birthdays, holidays, and unnecessary purchases, we have accumulated even more bins in various colors, currently stacked in our basement. At this point, there is still hope, but if I had known then what I know now, it would have saved me a lot of time and money.

First of all, get clear bins. When I bought gray ones it was because they were a little cheaper and larger. However, because I don’t want to write on them with a sharpie, I have to open each one when trying to find something. Sometimes I don’t even think about looking in those bins so I buy something because I don’t realize I already have one. Clear bins just make more sense! If these are bins you are storing in your basement, it doesn’t matter what junk is in those bins.

Get specific bins for specific needs. Don’t buy all of the same size bin. Get some bins for under-bed storage. I have my sons keep those (on rollers) under their beds to put sentimental things in like paintings, poems, pictures, or anything like that from school.  Under-bed storage is good if you have limited space too. You can use it for winter clothes, clothes in general, shoes, etc. I just bough a few small clear bins specifically for Cd’s. I needed them for the CD Roms for our computer. We had accumulated so many that we kept misplacing them. The CD bin holds quite a few and it is clear!

When purchasing storage bins, take into account where they are being stored. Don’t buy enormous bins for a small space. Measure if you have to. There are so many options available that you will find exactly what you need.

Picture boxes are great to store things in an office or craft room too. If you are like me, most of your pictures are stored on your computer or on CD Roms. I don’t have many pictures that aren’t already on my wall or in albums.

Many people say that some thrifty solutions to storage are items you already have like shoe boxes, used butter tubs that have been washed, cool whip containers, etc. However, while they are a little cheaper, in my opinion, unless you are crafty and can make them look nice, they can be unsightly. If you have to do that at first it is understandable. You can slowly replace them as you can afford it.

In my opinion a space isn’t organized until it feels organized. I know my O.C.D. kicks in when something feels cluttered. If you feel cluttered it will make you uncomfortable. That is just my opinion. Also, butter containers were made just for that, butter. Yes, I could fit some CD Roms in there, but then I couldn’t see that they were CD Roms. I would have to open all of the containers just to find them. 

I am currently in the process of trying to reorganize my home and I am using these plans as a guideline. I think they are great points and I intend to use them. I hope you have gotten some information that can help you organize your home too!

Lasagna

I, literally, just made this yesterday for my husband’s Father’s Day dinner. Everyone seems to enjoy it. I hope you do also. Here is what you will need:

1. 1 box lasagna noodles *not the oven ready
2. 1 small container of small curd cottage cheese
3. 1 container of ricotta cheese
4. 1/4 – 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
5. 1 pound chunk mozzarella cheese
6. 1 jar of ragu spaghetti sauce, whatever flavor you like
7. 1 can diced tomatoes
8. 1 pound roll of either Italian sausage or hamburger, your choice.
9. 2 large eggs

 

• First, cook noodles as directed.
• While noodles are cooking brown meat in a skillet over medium heat. Make sure to chop as it cooks into small pieces with spatula
• Add tomato sauce and tomatoes to the meat.
• When noodles are finished, remove from heat, drain, rinse, and set aside.
• To make cheese mixture combine cottage cheese, Parmesan, ricotta, and 2 eggs in bowl. stir until combined.
• Grate entire pound of mozzarella. Add about 1/2 a cup to cheese mixture. Set the remaining aside.
• In a 13×9 inch pan add a light layer of sauce. Add a  noodle layer on top, spread a layer of cheese mixture, add a layer of noodles, add a layer of meat sauce mixture. Continue this until ingredients are used. It takes 3 noodles per layer, so estimate by the amount of noodles you have. Add mozzarella cheese all over top. Add a little sprinkle of parsley if you have it on hand.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes or until cheese on top is melted and browning.

This makes about 16 pieces of lasagna.

Delicious Chicken Pot Pie

This is a family favorite!  My 8 year old son loves this one! Chicken pot pie is one of his favorite meals. My 4 year old eats some of it, but he cannot stand carrots. We have a little compromise during this meal. Hope you enjoy!

1. 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
2. 1 box ready made pie crust (generic is fine)
3. 1 1/2 cups frozen peas (generic is fine)
4. 1 1/2 cups fresh carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
5. 1-2 cups chicken broth (if you cook the chicken in the crock pot like I do, just use 1-2 cups of the broth from there).
6. 1 small onion diced
7. flour (about 3 heaping Tablespoons)
8. milk (any fat %, about 2 cups, possibly a little more)
9. butter (enough to saute onion)

• First of all, I cook my chicken in a crock pot on low all day until I am ready to finish the meal. I fill it with water, add the breasts, then leave it.
• When it is done, get the broth from the crock pot. (if you cook the chicken on the stove in a frying pan, you will need to use store bought chicken broth).
• Cut the cooked chicken into pieces. Set aside.
• Cook peas and carrots in a pot with the chicken broth until tender. (about 15-20 minutes on medium high).
• While they are cooking, saute onion and butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. When they are nice and browned, add flour.
• Let the flour absorb the butter. Add the milk. Let simmer over medium low heat and stir constantly until thick.
• Place one layer of crust in 8×8 or 9×9 dish. Add chicken, peas and carrots, then pour onion gravy over top.
• Cook as directed on pie crust box.

This makes about 9 servings. It is a fantastic leftover!

Everyone flips over this pot pie. It has a lot of steps, but isn’t really very difficult. Plus it is fantastic.

Smoked Sausage, Green Beans, and Potatoes

This is as simple as it sounds. I think many people already make this, but I have been told that mine is better and so I am posting how I do it:

1. 2 pkgs smoked sausage (I use eckridge)
2. 2 cans of cut green beans (any brand)
3. about 4-6 medium potatoes peeled and cut into chunks

• Boil potatoes until soft.
• Add both cans of green beans and cook thoroughly.
• Slice smoked sausage into about 1 inch slices diagonally.
• When potatoes and green beans are hot, add some salt and pepper to your liking, then add smoked sausage.
• Let cook on medium heat for about 3-5 minutes until smoked sausage is hot.

In my house this serves about 6-8 people or for us 4 with leftovers.

This is a very simple recipe. I think the mistake a lot of people make is letting the smoked sausage overcook and get dry. Also, I have tasted some with too much pepper. I think light on the pepper is best, but I am also not a huge fan of peppery things. Enjoy!

Sausage and Kidney Beans

Believe it or not, this is a meal my kids will eat. It tastes great. It isn’t the most nutritious thing in the world, but it isn’t bad on the budget and it is very easy. What you need:

1. one pound roll of sausage (I use Old Folks Country Sausage)
2. 2 cans of dark red kidney beans

• First of all, fry the sausage in a frying pan, do not drain.
• Shake the cans of kidney beans before opening. Open and add to the sausage.
• Let simmer over medium heat until hot.

Serves about 4-5 depending on your preference of serving size. The sausage is about $2.50 plus about $1.00 for the kidney beans. That is about $.88 per person.  

I like to serve this with bread and butter. The kids love it.  You can have a side to go with it too, but we always have it alone.

Trying not to become “That Sports Mom”

You know who I am talking about… There is always one mom or dad that gets a little over emotional or too mad when his or her child is called out, gets in trouble with the coaches, or doesn’t get the main position. Usually the kid is really good at the sport so the parents just expect him or her to see a lot of play time, always more than they get.

My case is somewhat different. My son tries very hard. He loves baseball very much. He isn’t very coordinated though, and has his good and bad games. He is really nice, a little too nice sometimes.

Today was a tough game for me. His team is full of 8 year old boys. Most of these boys are very boyish and into sports. They are what you would say is the “typical boy”.  David, on the other hand, is not. He doesn’t like to be rough. He isn’t really into cars, trucks, playing in the dirt, or picking on girls he likes.

Well, as he gets up to home plate, he doesn’t realize his cleat is untied. The person behind home plate tied it for him because David didn’t even notice. A kid from David’s team started picking on him and calling him names because of this. David didn’t defend himself and the kid’s parents didn’t say a word.

As I kept getting more and more angry that this kid was not disciplined I noticed that David throughout the game was not himself. He seemed less happy all the time. He didn’t hurry like he normally does. He wasn’t laughing.

All this time I keep wondering how he feels and why no one made this kid apologize. After the game I talked to my husband who helps with the team and he said he didn’t hear the kid say anything at all. He said he didn’t want to say anything because parents will get angry, which I completely understood being as angry as I was at the time.

I was able to talk to David and let him know that he needs to stand up to anyone who bullies him. This is not the first time that this particular kid has bullied kids on the team. I explained that if he lets people do that, they will do it all his life.

The point is, had I said something, he may have gotten picked on more than before, and I would have been known as “that sports mom”.  I think that in certain situations it is okay to say something, but in others, I think it will help your kid develop and grow within themselves. By letting him fight his own battles, I am hoping he grows up to be the more mature, stronger kid.

These are just my experiences. Yours may be different.

Budgeting in a Bad Economy

Believe me when I say that I know budgeting can be difficult, especially at this point in our economy. How can you budget for gas and food when prices continue to creep higher?

It is more necessary than ever that you budget your money. Consider all of your needs: Food, Clothing, Shelter. Do you need the $4 Latte every morning? If you skip the Latte all week (Mon.-Fri.), you will save $20.  That is approximately $1040.00 a year you could save.

You have to budget for necessities. You need food. Budget your groceries according to your area and family needs. We use about $100 a person in my household per month. That should include out to eat dinners also. Try eating at cheaper places or eating in to save money.

Keep all of your receipts in a box or basket for an entire month. Keep paycheck stubs, top portions of bills, gas, grocery, and any other purchase receipt, including clothing, gas station convenience store trips, and everything else. Keep track on a sheet of paper anything you don’t have a receipt for.

At the end of the month, figure how much you spent vs. how much you make. I bet you will be surprised. Take into account any bills you need to pay also. If you are spending more than you are making, you need a better plan. If you have money leftover, then you need a savings, retirement, college fund, investments, or something that will help you draw interest  on that money instead of just keeping it for a rainy day.

These are all my personal opinions. I am not an expert, I have just recently realized how important it is to budget accordingly to live a better, lower stress lifestyle. Hopefully, you try my suggestion, if for nothing else just to see what you spend.

Starting College with a Family

So, after considering all of my options, I have decided to start college. I have 2 children ages 4 and 8, and a husband of almost 9 years. I am currently a stay at home mom, which I love. I find nothing wrong with being a stay at home mom. I love it so much. It is rewarding more than any job to me. However, reviewing our finances a few days ago, I know that I can help with sending our kids to college, retirement, and having breathing room if I get a degree. By the time I am finished, my kids will be a great age for me to work.

It is definitely a scary things. First off, I have only applied, so I haven’t been accepted. While I expect my high school transcript to be acceptable to them, I have been out of school 10 years. I am not sure what exactly colleges expect for adult learners. I did call, and am expecting a return phone call soon.

I know this is best for my family and myself. It will definitely be hard work, but I expect it to be a great experience that I will remember. I expect it to inspire my children, and I expect it to bring a new closeness between my husband and myself. This is a new chapter in my life, and I feel I am ready to start.