Reading Report

Last week at the library, I picked up a book that I had as a child. I remember reading it over and over again, so I thought that my kids might like it too. All three of my kids enjoyed reading it. And, all three of them read it multiple times. But, best of all, it created a desire for them to pop popcorn together and eat it as a family. Quality time together indeed!

The Popcorn Book written by Tomie de Paola

This is a fun book that teaches kids about the history of popcorn while incorporating the fun of how to pop it at home on top of the stove. The facts are understandable for pre-school children and yet interesting enough to hold the attention of upper elementary school kids. And, the foible that the kids find themselves in the end makes this book both educational and entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to draw their kids into the kitchen for some fun family time; or, to anyone that would like to integrate educational value into story time.

The second book that I would like to tell you about is one that I received for free as a review copy from Bethany House. Please know that I have not been compensated by this company to write this review; and, all opinions expressed here are my own.

The Messenger written by Siri Mitchell

This book is a work of historical fiction that takes place during the Revolutionary War. The main character, Hannah, is a Colonial spy. Along with her partner, Jeremiah, they diligently work together to free a group of prisoners. Among these prisoners is Hannah’s brother. However, Hannah’s Quaker faith creates a moral dilemma within her soul that causes her to battle fiercely with her understanding of right and wrong.

Although I enjoyed this book, I found it difficult to dig into at first. It was a quick read and the story was compelling; but, I probably would not have picked this book up had I not been offered a review copy. However, I would certainly say that Siri Mitchell is an excellent writer and that if you are looking for a quick read, with entertainment value, this would be a good choice for you.

To learn more about this weekly reading report, click on the tab above.

Muesli

While living in Germany, my husband fell in love with Muesli. It was an inexpensive breakfast or snack. However, when we moved back home, we found that Muesli was very expensive. So, it became a rare treat. When I started thinking about birthday gift ideas for my husband, Muesli was one of the first things that came to mind. I did some online research and made a list of ingredients that I remembered to be in the Muesli that he loved so much and I came up with this recipe. When I put it together, I made myself a bowl right away to taste it. Well, I ate two bowls full and decided to make another batch because I knew that my husband would devour it in no time flat.  And, I was right. He enjoyed it so much that I have made yet another batch since then.

Muesli

4 cups old fashioned oats

2 cups unsweetened puffed wheat

½ cup sliced raw almonds

½ cup chopped pecans

½ cup flax seeds

½ cup sesame seeds

½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

½ cup raisins

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup dried chopped dates

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 10 cups. Serve as a cold cereal with milk, or over yogurt.

This post has been linked to Try New Adventures Thursday.

Bacon Grease

Although we love bacon, we don’t eat it very often. The price tag seems a little high to me; especially when you consider all of the fat that is left over after cooking it.  So, it has become an occasional treat at our house. However, when I do cook bacon, I always save the grease. The last pound of bacon that I cooked rendered ¾ cup of grease! While still liquid, I pour it into a glass bowl and refrigerate it for later. I then use it as a cooking fat for searing pork chops or other meats. It is also great to use when making gravy. (I’ll tell you more about my gravy technique next week.)

Being mindful of food waste is a way of life for our family. However, for many this is new and unfamiliar. If you are learning to cut down your grocery bill, you may want to click on the Something for Nothing tag (located on the sidebar in the list of recipes) to see other recipes for kitchen scraps that you might typically discard. Or, click on the Frugal Tips tab above to learn some other ways to cuts costs on your food budget.

If you have a Something for Nothing tip, please share it in the comments below. I would love to learn what works for you!

This post has been linked to The Thrifty Home Penny Pinching Party.

5 Grain Hot Cereal

I have always loved multi grain hot cereals. However, they can be quite pricey at the grocery store. This is a homemade version that is simple, nutritious, and economical.  It is naturally sweet, so be careful not to add too much sweetener at first. I like mine topped with cream, but it would also be good with nuts and/or dried fruit sprinkled on top.

5 Grain Hot Cereal

1 cup old fashioned oats

½ cup brown rice

½ cup barley

½ cup white whole wheat flour

½ cup corn meal

Add the oats to a blender and process until it becomes flour consistency. Pour into a quart sized Mason jar. Repeat with the brown rice and pour into the jar. Repeat again with the barley and pour into the jar. Add white whole wheat flour and corn meal to the jar and shake to combine. Cover and store in an airtight container. Yield: 3 cups

To serve: To a sauce pan, add 1/3 cup cereal and 1 cup water. Turn heat to medium high. When it begins to boil, turn the heat to low, simmer and stir until desired consistency (3-5 minutes). Serve with sugar or honey and cream or milk to taste.  

This recipe has been adapted from the one found here.

This post has been linked to Frugal Tuesday Tip.

Triple Berry Crisp

We have had a lot of festivities over the last week. We have celebrated a graduation, a birthday, a piano recital, Mother’s Day, and a farewell dinner with friends. Our time is short here in Texas and we are finishing up with all of our commitments and are beginning to say our farewells. Although we have only lived here for a year, we have found true friends and neighbors that we will sorely miss.

For my husband’s birthday, we had this Triple Berry Crisp. Because my husband is not a big fan of cake, he always requests a fruit dessert for his birthday. This recipe is a little different in that it has a crisp layer both under and on top of the fruit. During berry season, you can use fresh, but I have also used a one pound bag of frozen mixed berries and it has turned out well.

Triple Berry Crisp

1 cup white whole wheat flour

1 cup old fashioned oats

¾ cup raw or brown sugar

½ tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

½ cup butter, softened

¾ cup blue berries

¾ cup raspberries

¾ cup blackberries or sliced strawberries

In a large bowl, add flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and butter. Using a pastry blender or a fork, combine until crumbly. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of a pie plate. Top with the berries. Evenly sprinkle the rest of the topping onto the berries. Bake at 350˚ for 30-35 minutes or until the topping is crisp and the fruit is bubbling.

Note: This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9X13 pan to serve a crowd.

This post has been linked to the Ultimate Recipe Swap & Mop It Up Mondays.

Play With Your Food

This week I got something a little different from the library.  A book filled with pictures of food that look like animals. Surprisingly it was located in the cookbook section and I have to say, I am glad that I found it!

Play With Your Food written by Joost Elffers

This is a picture book highlighting fruits and vegetables that look like animals. The author/artist has scoured farmer’s markets and road side stands to find unique looking produce that has animal like characteristics. He searches specifically for pieces that only need minimal alterations in order to appear life like. He then adds eyes, or ears, or legs to enhance the look. The author uses vegetables like peppers, sweet potatoes, and squash. And, he uses fruits like pineapple, cherries, and pears. These he turns into mice, elephants, insects, and birds.  And, after having fun with the food, he eats it!

This book was enjoyable to look at. My kids have poured over it many times in the last couple of weeks. And, I think that it would be a great idea to take my kids to the farmer’s market to allow them to choose a piece of fruit or a vegetable to turn into their own animal creation. Finicky palates just might be more willing to try something new if it looked like a turtle or a teddy bear. So, if you have young children or picky eaters, you would enjoy this book. And, what a helpful tool to get your kids to eat their veggies!

If you would like to learn more about this weekly reading report, click on the tab above.

Toad in the Hole

I have a confession: my kids and I are not in love with eggs. We eat them on occasion, but not regularly. Now, my husband is another story. He loves eggs and has, at times, eaten them every day for breakfast for weeks on end.  But, eggs are a versatile and frugal food, so we decided to try this recipe out. It is so simple it can hardly be called a recipe.  I made this for myself earlier this week for lunch. And, since it turned out to be so quick and easy, I decided to serve Toad in the Hole for dinner last night.  My kids definitely loved the name and the way this looked on their plates. Although this recipe did not convert us all into egg lovers, I will certainly make it again.

  

Toad in the Hole

1 slice of bread

1 egg

Butter

Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat a skillet to medium high heat. Add a small amount of butter to the pan, coating the pan evenly.  Cut a hole in the center of the bread, using a cookie cutter or a small glass. Place the bread in the skillet. (You can also cook the bread circle that you cut out, to serve on the side.) Crack open the egg and gently pour into the hole in the bread.  Cook until the egg has set. Then flip and continue cooking until desired firmness (less time for a runny yolk, more time for a firm yolk). Salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

This post has been linked to Try New Adventures Thursday.