April Fools...

For some fun recipes for April Fools visit FamilyFun.com.
I am making Faux Fish Sticks with peas and Colorful Cupcakes. We will see how they turn out. Have some fun!

Blender Wheat Pancakes

These are very yummy pancakes! (Very different from the traditional pancake.)
They are healthy too.




1 C. Milk
1 C. Wheat Berries
Blend 4 minutes in blender
2 Tbs. Honey
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Baking Powder
2 Eggs
4 Tbs. Oil
Blend all ingredients together and pour on hot skillet. Cook until bubbles begin to appear and flip. Top with light butter and real maple syrup. We also like fresh strawberries.


*You can get wheat berries in bulk at Winco or from any health food store.

Spring has Sprung

My Tomato seedlings have sprouted. Hurray! We will see if I can keep them alive. I have thinned them. There is only one sprout per cup. Some of them are starting to get their first real leaves. (This is a new concept to me. The first leaves to appear are the seedling leaves.)






My wonderful husband built garden boxes for our garden area. I have completely planted one of them. I read through Square Foot Gardening. This is different thinking for us. I am excited to see how it turns out.

The Best Burger Ever

3 Pounds Ground Beef
Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
1 Egg
4 Tbs. Brown Sugar, Divided
1 tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Ground Pepper
1 Red Onion, Sliced
Crumbled Blue Cheese
Kaiser Rolls or Onion Buns
Real Mayo
Your Favorite Lettuce
2 Tbs. Butter, plus some
Place the ground beef into a medium mixing bowl. Add salt and pepper. Add a few dashes of Sriracha and Tbs. brown sugar. With your hands, mix the meat and seasoning well. Set aside. Next, for the onions, heat a medium skillet over low heat. Add in butter. Dump in the sliced red onions. Add the remaining brown sugar. Combine well. Allow the onions to caramelize over low heat for about twenty minutes, tossing occasionally. Meanwhile, make the spicy mayo by combining ¼ cup mayo into a small bowl and add a few drops of Sriracha. Stir together and test to taste.
Next, slice the Kaiser roll and spread each half with about ½ Tbs. butter. Place them face down on grill. Grill until lightly brown.
Form meat into patties and place on a grill. Grill over medium heat. Cook for about 3 minutes and then flip. Cook until cooked through. To put the burger together, spread each roll with spicy mayo. Add the burger and add a large helping of caramelized onion followed by a generous helping of crumbled blue cheese. Top with your favorite lettuce. I like to use spring mix.

This is a modified recipe from Pioneer Woman.

Pound Cake

Spring is here! I past by our produce stand and I saw that they had strawberries on sale. They were pretty good for being so early in the season. What better to go with fresh strawberries than a yummy pound cake.




Here is the Recipe:

The Perfect Pound Cake
3 Sticks Butter
1-8oz. Cream Cheese
3 C. Sugar
6 Eggs
3 C. Flour
¼ tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Vanilla
1 Container Cream Cheese Frosting (melt in the microwave)
Soften butter and cream cheese. Cream together. Add sugar and mix well for 5 minutes. Add eggs one and a time and mix after each one. Add salt and vanilla and mix well. Next, add flour 1 cup at a time mixing well after each. Pour into a prepared bunt pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes. When finished cool slightly and pour melted frosting over top. Serve with fresh berries.
From the kitchen of Katie Banz

Freezer Meals

I started to do some freezer meals yesterday. Today, I have continued. Our family schedule right now is a little crazy with baseball season upon us. Practices are right during prime dinner making time. The Solution -- Freezer meals. Sometimes I will just spend a day cooking and other times I just make dinner as usual; but I will triple or quadruple the recipe so I have some in my freezer. I either use good freezer bags or disposable tins. I will cover the tins with several layers of Ceran Wrap and then foil. I write with a Sharpe marker right on the foil. If you have any freezer meal recipes send them to me at masedas5@sbcglobal.net. I will give them a try and post them on IN THE LIFE OF A MOTHER. Happy Spring!

Freezer Meal Recipes

Enchilada Stuffed Shells
15 Uncooked Jumbo Pasta Shells
1 Pound Ground Beef
1 Can (10 ounces) Enchilada Sauce
¼ tsp Dried Basil
1 Tbs. Sugar
½ tsp. Dried Minced Onion
¼ tsp. Ground Cumin
½ C. Refried Beans
1 C. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In a nonstick skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in Enchilada Sauce and seasonings; set aside. Place a rounded teaspoonful of refried beans in each past shell, then fill with ground beef mixture. Place in a baking dish coated with non-stick cooking spray. Cover and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Yield: 5 servings. Note: Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef.

To Freeze: Make according to the instructions. Top with cheese and wrap with ceran wrap and then foil. To eat, thaw in refrigerator for a day and bake according to the instructions.

Freezer Meal Recipes

Cranberry Chicken
10 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
15 oz. Whole Cranberry Sauce
1 Envelope Dry Onion Soup Mix
8 oz. Catalina Dressing
¼ C. Dried Cranberries Fresh Rosemary
Preheat Oven to 350. Mix onion soup, whole cranberry sauce and Catalina dressing together in a bowl. Place chicken in the bottom of the baking dish and pour the cranberry mixture over the chicken. Sprinkle a little fresh rosemary and dries cranberries over the chicken. Cover the dish and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the cover and bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes.

To Freeze: Follow the recipe. Do not bake. Wrap up and stick in the freezer. When you are ready to eat just take the meal out of the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator for a day. Cook as follows.

**We like this chicken with mashed potatoes. The sauce makes a yummy gravy.

Spring Cleaning

It's about that time. It is a beautiful day in Northern Cal. I have my windows open and there is a comfortable cool breeze blowing in. I love this time of year.
I started some cleaning. With 4 kids, I feel like I am Spring Cleaning all year long. I did notice something that needed to desperately be clean -- My Lamp Shades.
They are awful. Here is some helpful hints for cleaning those dusty lamp shades.

Step1
Dust the lampshades weekly. This will decrease the amount of times you will need to wash them, thus prolonging the life and beauty of the shade.
Step2
Remove the shade from the lamp.
Step3
Buy a cleaner specified for lampshades or mix 1 tsp. of dish soap with 5 cups of water.
Step4
Soak a soft cloth in the soapy mixture.
Step5
Wring out the rag well and wipe the shade softly, but with enough elbow grease to clean it.
Step6
Wipe it again with a clean, wet rag.
Step7
Wipe the lampshade with a dry, clean towel.
Step8
Hang it up to drip dry or place it on a clean surface for drying.
Step9
Place it back on its stand and turn the light on to continue drying the shade.

Gardening Anyone?

Last week my kids and I planted Tomato Seeds and Today we planted Peppers. Our tomatoes have started to come up. I am trying to have enough tomatoes to can. Two years I canned tomatoes and I haven't even had to buy one can at the store. I sill have some left too - about 10 jars. I planted 50 tomato plants for under $10.00. This would be way to expensive to buy already started so that is why we are trying our own starts. I will let you know how it goes.





I also started some fresh herbs in small clay pots : Cilantro, Basil, and Oregano. Herbs can be so expensive and you can't use them all before they get dried out. I plan to use the Basil for homemade Pesto which is also $4.00 a container. I use Pesto in my Lasagna and other pasta recipes.

What to do with Ground Beef??

Here is an idea for ground beef. My kidos love these. They get so excited when I tell them that 'Russian Hamburgers' are for dinner. There is some healthy stuff in them also.

Russian Hamburgers
1 Lb. Ground Beef
1 Medium Onion, Chopped
¼ tsp. Garlic Powder
½ tsp. Seasoned Salt
Dash of Pepper
2 C. Shredded Cabbage
2 Carrots Shredded (optional)
2 C. Monterey Jack Cheese, Shredded
1 Box Pillsbury Roll Mix (found on baking aisle)
Cook ground beef until pink is gone. Add chopped onion and seasonings; cook for about 5 minutes. Add shredded cabbage and carrots (if desired) into meat mixture; put on lid and steam for 5 minutes. Make dough from Pillsbury mix and roll out to 15x15 inches. Cut into 5” squares. Put ¼ Cup meat mixture and 1 Tbs. cheese in the middle of each square and pull up 4 corners and pinch to seal together. Turn dough over and place pinched edge on bottom of greased pan. Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes.

**This Recipe is from the kitchen of Caitlyn Otterstrom

One Pot Wonder!

This was a good recipe that I haven't made in awhile. It was nice to only dirty one pot. It had everything needed for a meal. Add some garlic bread and you will be set.

Lemon Chicken Stir Fry
8 Ounces Uncooked Bowtie Pasta
1 Sm. Yellow Squash, cut lengthwise and sliced
2 Lg. Carrots, Peeled and Sliced (1 Cup)
1 Sm. Red Bell Pepper, Cut into ¼ - inch Strips
½ Pound Asparagus, Trimmed and Cut into 1-inch lengths (about 1 ½ Cups)
1 lb. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, Cut into 1-inch Strips
2 tsp. Vegetable Oil, divided
¾ C. Water
2 Tbs. Lemon Juice
¼ C. Fresh Parmesan Cheese – grated
1 Envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and keep warm in a casserole dish. . Meanwhile, using Crinkle Cutter, Slice yellow squash in half lengthwise; cut squash and carrots into ¼ inch thick slices. Cut bell pepper into ¼ inch strips, asparagus into 1-inch lengths and chicken into 1-inch strips. Heat 1 Tbs. Of the oil in skillet over medium heat until hot. Add chicken; stir-fry 5-6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove chicken from skillet and transfer to casserole dish with cooked pasta; cover and keep warm. Heat remaining oil in same skillet. Add carrots and bell pepper; stir-fry 2-3 minutes. Add asparagus and squash and stir-fry 1-2 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Whisk water, lemon juice and soup mix in small bowl; add sauce mixture to vegetables. Reduce heat to low, simmer, covered, 5 minutes or until sauce in thickened. Add pasta and chicken to skillet and toss to coat. Grate Parmesan cheese over pasta. Serve immediately. Serves 6.

One of My Favorite

This is one of my most favortie salad recipes. I make it often. Enjoy!!

Chicken Salad
4 –5 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts fully cooked and cubed
1 Bag European or Spring Salad Mix
½ Pound Cooked and Crumbled Bacon
1 Bag Baby Spinach
1 C. Craisens
1 C. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
½ Cup Sugared Almonds*
* ½ C. Almonds to 3 Tbs. Sugar over High heat, stir quickly to coat almonds, pour out of pan immediately to cool.
Dressing:
½ Red Onion
2 C. Sugar
4 tsp. Mustard
2 tsp. Salt
1 C. Red Wine Vinegar
2 C. Vegetable Oil
Put red onion, sugar, mustard, salt, and vinegar in blender and mix. Slowly add oil. Toss with salad. The recipe of dressing is about two times more than you need. It should be enough for two salads.

Quick Eats!

This is a family favorite. It is so quick and easy.

Meatball Sandwiches

Frozen Meatballs (I get mine in a big bag from Sam's Club)
1 Jar of your Favorite Spaghetti Sauce (I usually spice mine up)
French Rolls
Provolone Cheese

In a large pot combine meatballs and sauce. Heat through. Place on French Rolls and top with Provole Cheese. Supper Easy!! Throw together a salad and you have a quick dinner that everyone will love.

PARENT - Job Description

This is hysterical. Good thing that there are endless blessings to being a parent,
otherwise we might not of signed up!

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
permanent work in an
often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment i s due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Easy Whole Wheat Bread

I made this this morning. It was so good. My kids ate a whole loaf when they came home from school.


4- 8x4 in. loaves
7 C. Whole Wheat Flour
2/3 C. Gluten Flour
3 Tbs. Yeast
5 C. Steaming Hot Water
2 Tbs. Salt
2/3 C. Oil
2/3 C. Honey or 1 C. Sugar
2 ½ Tbs. Bottled Lemon Juice
5 C. Whole Wheat Flour

2- 8x4 in. loaves
3½ C. Whole Wheat Flour
1/3 C. Gluten Flour
1¼ Tbs. Yeast
2½ C. Steaming Hot Water (120-120 F)
1 Tbs. Salt
1/3 C. Oil
1/3 C. Honey or ½ C. Sugar
1 ¼ Tbs. Bottled Lemon Juice
2½ C Whole Wheat Flour

Mix together first three ingredients in mixer with a dough hook. Add water all at once and mix for 1 minute; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Add salt, oil, honey or sugar and lemon juice and beat for 1 minute. Add last flour, 1 cup at a time, beating between each cup. Beat for about 6-10 minutes until dough pulls away from sides of the bowl. This makes very soft dough. (one day I had to add a bit more flour till it pulled from the side)
Pre-heat oven for 1 minute to lukewarm and turn off. Turn dough onto oiled counter top; divide, shape into loaves and place in oiled bread pans. Let rise in warm oven 10-15 minutes until dough reaches top of pan (Ours raised a little higher). Do not remove bread from oven, turn oven to 350 and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks.
Important Note: To make a 2 loaf recipe of this bread every other day for 1 year (1 loaf a day) you need 275 lbs. of wheat ground into flour, 4 gallons of oil 46 lbs. Of honey or sugar, 8 1 lb pkgs. of yeast, 61 C. of gluten flour, 3 2/3 qts. of lemon juice and 7.3 lbs of salt.
If you do not have a mixer with a dough hook and are kneading this by hand gradually add last cup of flour to keep dough from sticking to counter, you will add more flour when kneading by hand than when using a mixer simply to be able to handle this moist dough. With wheat bread, always add the least amount of flour possible to keep bread moist. Knead 10 minutes, shape into loaves.

*I sprinkled my bread with Zoom before I baked it.

Roasted Tomato Soup

It would be a perfect day for this today since it is pouring down rain.


3 Lbs. Tomatoes
1/3 C. Olive Oil, Divided
6 Garlic Cloves, Minced
2 Tbs. Chopped Fresh Thyme (2 tsp. Dried)
2 C. Chopped Onion
¼ C. Minced Fresh Basil (1 Tbs. Dried)
1 Can Chicken Broth
1/3 C. Half-and-Half Cream
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1 Tbs. Sugar
Core tomatoes; place in a roasting pan. Drizzle with ¼ C. oil; sprinkle with garlic and thyme. Bake uncovered, at 350 for 1 hour, turning occasionally. In a large sauce pan, sauté onion in remaining oil until softened. Add roasted tomatoes and basil; Cook for 5 minutes. Puree in a blender and return to pot. Add broth; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Stir in half and half, sugar, salt, and pepper.
We topped ours with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.