Kid friendly meatloaf

Always looking for ways to have the kids help with meal preparation. This mini meatloaf idea will not only cut back on cooking time, but will allow the children to get in on the fun of ooey, gooey meatloaf mushing. Easy to freeze, also.

Weekend Preparation

Our weekends always go so much more smoothly when I have meals planned ahead of time. That does not happen all of the time, but I have tried to make a habit of organizing at least 3 meals (one crock pot dish for Sunday lunch) and having all necessary ingredients on hand. This weekend we will have lasagna roll ups, meatball soup, and chicken enchiladas. mmmmm. Now, if I could just find someone to make them all and clean up afterwards. :O)

Yummy Spring Meal

We had the yummiest, freshest spring meal this weekend. I made Salmon Turnovers, which were super easy. It is pretty much canned salmon mixed with cream cheese wrapped in crescents. We had a delicious fruit salad with apples, strawberries, oranges, pineapples, kiwi, and grapes. Don't forget the veggies...a juicy tomato, cucumber, and onion salad. Rich's foster mom used to make this all of the time and he loves it. Everything just complimented each other so well. Praise the Lord for colorful and tasty food.

Easy Bacon

I cannot believe that I have cooked bacon for my family for 11 years and have never tried broiling it on a cookie sheet until last Friday. I have always cooked bacon in a skillet and we have actually opted out of eating BLT's very often because cooking the bacon became so time consuming. I was able to broil a whole pound of bacon in less than 10 minutes and it tasted just as yummy as frying it in a skillet. YAY for another kitchen time saver.

Ham bone soup follow up

The soup turned out fantastic. We wound up adding a total of 3 cans of black eyed peas and about 3 cups of white rice. It was simple, hearty and healthy.

Ham bone soup

This is something I would have never tried had a not been married to Rich. He is all about these great ideas that I have to carry out. :O) He wanted me to make soup with the ham bone from last Sunday. Those of you who know me know that I am all over canned broth and canned beans. The quicker the better when it comes to these 2 food items.
Here is what I came up with. I really needed to keep it simple due to the excess amount of cooking that has gone on while he has been on break. I took the ham bone, added 3 quarts of water, and a can of black eyed peas (hubbies request). Let the bone simmer for a few hours, removed meat from bone and added salt. We are going to feast on that tomorrow after church with a yummy loaf of Panera Bread.
Hope it turns out good.

Yummy First Ham

Rich decided that he wanted to have Ham for our Resurrection Dinner. I have never cooked a ham before, so was a little resistant. I did a bit of research before and was only more anxious. There was just so much information out there that it was overwhelming. To complicate the idea, Dante really does not like sweet ham. He never has.
I read an article from an AWESOME magazine that I subscribe to about putting your homemaking/keeper of your home skills in the hands of the Lord and he will provide. He will guide you, even in the kitchen. As long as you are willing to start or take that first step, God WILL fill you. So, this article encouraged me to just go with my gut regarding our first family ham. Let me tell you...it turned out fabulous. It was extremely easy to prepare and cook and everyone loved it. The 8lb ham cooked for 3 hours at 325 degrees with a foil tee pee. I flipped halfway through cooking and VOILA...a super yummy moist ham with lots of leftovers. Rich wants me to find a good ham bone soup. AHHH, the next kitchen challenge. Thank you, Lord for helping guide my hands in preparing a delicious meal for my family. You are ever faithful.