Baked Nachos

Lunch is one of those meals that I tend to struggle with. I spend most of my effort on breakfast and dinner, so lunch leaves me wondering why my family needs to eat so often and if it is really my turn to feed them again.

When my kids were smaller, I usually had leftovers from dinner that we could eat the next day and then we'd fill in the gaps with sandwiches, so I didn't have to think about it much. These days, I still have leftovers, but not enough to feed everyone, so I've been forced to think about lunch a bit more.

Being a homeschool mom and having children that do their best work in the morning, means that lunch can't take a lot of time to prepare. These nachos take about 15 minutes from start to finish and my children gobble them up.

For the basic recipe you'll need:
1 bag tortilla chips
1 can black beans
1 1/2 TBSP ground cumin
1-2 C Mexican cheese blend

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Cover the bottom of a large jelly roll pan with tortilla chips (this may or may not take the entire bag).
Rinse and drain black beans, then put on top of the chips.
Sprinkle cumin over the beans and chips.
Top with cheese and bake 5 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!

To make a more balanced lunch, add diced peppers before baking, then serve with avocado and fresh salsa.

What's your favorite quick and easy lunch?

Homemade Instant Oatmeal: 4 flavors

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is that I can take the time to ensure my family is getting a good breakfast to start the day. That being said, I can't spend the entire morning cooking, so I still cook the same things I did when my kids went to public school. One of our favorites is this create your own easy oatmeal. Life would be just as easy if I made a big batch of oatmeal in my rice cooker or on the stove top, but not everyone wants the same flavor.

I begin each bowl with 1/2 C instant oats then add one of the following sets of ingredients

Almond Joy
2 TBSP shredded sweetened coconut
1 TBSP sliced almonds
1 TBSP mini chocolate chips (add after oats are cooked)

Raisin and Brown Sugar
1 tsp brown sugar (more or less to taste)
1 heaping TBSP raisins

Cinnamon and Sugar
1/8-1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp brown sugar

Plain
smidgen salt
1/2-1 TBSP granulated sugar

If I'm just making one or two bowls, then I add enough liquid to cover the oats (water level should be at the very top of the oats, but not much higher) and then microwave for 1 minute.

If I'm prepping for the whole family, I boil a kettle of water and allow the hot water to cook the oats. I aim for the water level to almost cover all the oats (as in the picture shown).

I don't have water measurements for you, because my family has different preferences when it comes to the thickness of their oatmeal, so I imagine everyone else does too. If you don't have enough liquid, you can always add a little more, but if you know you prefer thin oatmeal, I suggest adding more water than I've described.

What's your favorite way to eat oatmeal?

Easy Homestyle Donuts

A couple weeks ago, when I posted a picture of these donuts on instagram and my private facebook page, I got multiple requests for the recipe. So naturally, I made them again to share on here.

Unlike a lot of my recipes, these are nowhere near healthy, but healthy eating is all about balance and sometimes it's nice to have a treat.

 Start by heating your oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Prepare premade homestyle buttermilk biscuits, by cutting a hole in the middle- this is important to ensure the donut cooks through all the way. You'll need to be very careful with cooking if you don't add the hole.

 Your oil is the proper temperature when a drop of water causes a light sizzle. If it crackles and pops, turn the heat down and wait to add your donuts. Allow for plenty of space when adding the donuts.

 Allow dough to cook to a medium brown (about 1 minute), then turn to cook the other side (about 1 minute more).

 As your donut finishes, the bubbles will get slower, but won't completely stop.

When they are finished cooking, transfer them to a paper towel lined plate to cool for about 30 seconds.

After the donuts have cooled enough to handle, coat the donut in granulated sugar or whatever you prefer.

Enjoy (in moderation).

What's your favorite donut flavor and topping?

Classic Pancakes

My kids love pancakes! They will eat just about any pancake I throw in front of them. I, on the other hand am a little more picky. I have this theory that a great pancake doesn't need syrup. I have also been convinced for quite some time that a great pancake recipe can use either refined flour or whole wheat flour. This recipe does just that. We have enjoyed it numerous ways, I prefer the whole wheat or at least a mix, but admittedly David still prefers the refined flour. He douses it in syrup anyway, so who cares what he thinks, right? ...Actually I do, so that's why I compromised and am sharing this recipe with half of each.

 This recipe yields about 24 medium pancakes. Click here for the printer friendly version.

 Melt 6 T butter and whisk together with 3 C milk and 2 eggs.

If you don't whisk the ingredients fast enough, you might get little clumps of butter that are solidified after touching the cold milk. This isn't a big deal.

 Whisk together 1 1/2 C each whole white wheat and all-purpose flours, 7 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp salt, and 2 T sugar.

 Whisk together the wet and dry mixes until incorporated and the batter begins to bubble (it won't take long). Allow batter to rest while you preheat your griddle.

 Grease the griddle and pour about 1/4 C batter onto the preheated griddle. Allow to set until edges are slightly firm and the centers have bubbles. (The above pancakes are all ready to flip.)

 Enjoy!
Click here for the printer friendly version.

How do you like to top your pancakes?

Baked Oatmeal

We've been on a baked oatmeal kick around here. There's something about winter that makes me eager to start my day with some nice hot oatmeal. If you aren't so sure about eating oatmeal, try this recipe. This is the base recipe for the following variations: Nuts About Oatmeal Muffins, Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins, Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies. I have been making this recipe for years now and have tweaked it a bit, but I originally found it on Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Click here for a printable version.

 Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine 3 C oats, 1/2 C brown sugar, 1/2 C applesauce, 1 C milk, 2 beaten eggs, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 T baking powder, and 1 tsp salt.

 Mix thoroughly.

 Add 1/2-1 C raisins or any other desired add-ins.

 Place in a baking dish and about 20-25 minutes, until top is lightly toasted and does not look wet. Slice like cake or scoop it out into a bowl and enjoy!

Click here for a printable version.

What's your favorite comfort breakfast?

Merry Christmas plus an Easy Holiday Treat

I love this time of year and am happy to report that I aced my classes this semester. Why I thought that going to school full time and paying attention to my family would be easy, I don't know. Next semester I'm only going half time so that I can spend less time being the crazy lady that is always worrying about the status of her grades.

If finishing up my classes last week wasn't enough, my family decided to move too. We've known about the move for awhile, so it's not like it was last minute. The hardest part about moving was having to give up our animals since they aren't allowed. Fortunately, a family friend close to our new home has a little farm, so we still get to see him when we go over there. The animals have actually been gone since before Thanksgiving and I miss the fresh eggs. The move has gone mostly smooth so far, aside from a little stomach bug that we're currently passing around. 

If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen the pictures of our simple Chritmas craft treat. The treat is super quick and easy.

Christmas Tree Pretzels

Ingredients:
1 part green candy melts
2 parts almond bark
pretzel rods
mini candy coated chocolates

Melt candy melts and almond bark together over a double boiler or in a chocolate melter (affiliate link to the one I have). You can just use one or the other, but i prefer the consistency of the 2 put together
Place pretzel on wax paper covered flat surface.
Drizzle melted candy across the pretzel as desired and decorate with mini candies.
Allow to dry completely -about 15 minutes and enjoy!


Wishing you and yours a healthy and happy holiday!

Chicken and Sweet Pepper Quesadilla and Tasty Tuesday Linkup

I love quesadillas. I mentioned in my Chicken and Broccoli Quesadilla recipe, that I made and ate them a lot back in college. These days, I make them when we need a quick meal. The kids usually love them and I can sneak in quite a few things without anyone really noticing or caring. I finely diced the peppers in these and it took several bites before David (aka: Mr. I don't like peppers) noticed and he ended up not even minding. Score one for me (aka: Mrs. eats peppers like candy).

The ingredient amounts are suggestions. When I make quesdaillas, I just grab the ingredients and put them on until it looks good. I rarely measure anything.

2 8-inch tortillas
1/2 C shredded colby jack cheese
1/4 C chicken, shredded or diced
1/4 C sweet pepper, finely diced
1 T medium taco sauce 

Preheat a 10 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Place 1 tortilla on a clean, flat work surface.
Sprinkle half the cheese evenly over tortilla.
Evenly sprinkle chicken, peppers, and taco sauce.
Top with remaining cheese and 2nd tortilla.
Place on skillet and allow cheese to melt.
Flip the tortilla after 2-3 minutes or when bottom tortilla is lightly browned.
Quesadilla is done when cheese is melted and both outer sides of tortilla are lightly browned.
Enjoy!

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20 Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

 I realized last week that my new schedule with school is a little nuts, so I need quick and easy meals. I compiled this list as both a reference for me and a list for any of you needing quick meals too. Honestly, not all of these recipes would appeal to my family at this time, but I included them anyway, because they might be your thing.

 Quick and Easy Chow Mein

 Pizza Sticks

 Enchilada Ravioli

 Creole Chicken

 Strawberry Salad w/ Balsamic Vinaigrette

 Chicken and Broccoli Quesadilla

Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Quick N Easy Chicken Parmesan (from Three Different Directions)

Tomato and Macaroni Soup from (from Seven Thirty Three)

Pasta with Bacon and Brussel Sprouts (from Suburbia Unwrapped)

Thai Coconut Soup (from Turning the Clock Back)

Chicken Pasta Florentine (from Thrifty Jinxy)

Parisian Sweet Pea Soup (from Lavende & Lemonade)

Taco Cups (from A Mitten Full of Savings)

Shephard's Pie (from A Mitten Full of Savings)

Easy Chicken Casserole (from A Mitten Full of Savings)

Tator Tot Casserole (from Become A Coupon Queen)

Chuckwagon Wraps (from The Gracious Wife)

Pizza Bagel (from Just 2 Sisters)

Tuna Burgers (from Just 2 Sisters)

 What are your favorite 30 minutes or less meals?