For Claire in Australia:)

Hey Claire! I don't think people really look at this but hopefully you'll see this.  I've been making some super easy and cheap meals lately just because I'm super lazy!

Here's the links.
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/01/baked-chicken-fajitas-recipe.html


http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/06/easy-ravioli-and-cheese-bake.html


I just made both of these within the last couple of weeks and we really liked them (especially for how easy they were!)

Hope that helps!

And ps I miss you guys!
Sarah

Cheap, Easy Meals

I don't know if anyone still looks at this blog, but I am looking for some cheap easy meals.  I didn't bring a cookbook to Australia and the food here is pretty expensive.  If any of you have some good ideas, will you please post them?  Thanks!! :)

Bread Recipe

AHH! I hate this new blogger. It will never format my posts right! Someone help me!

This is my go-to recipe that I make about every other week. I love it. And it's basically like yummy vitamins because of all the grains and seeds in it. :) I tried adding shelled pumpkin seeds to it today, so I will post a pic later on and tell you how the pumpkin seeds are in it.

 Bread

2 c warm milk

 3/4 c warm water

1 T salt

1 T yeast

1/3 c olive oil

1/3 c honey

2 T + 1 1/2 t wheat gluten

 6-7 c fresh ground flour ( I usually do 5-6 cups wheat and 1-2 cups ground oats)

 I add flaxseed, poppy seed and toasted unsalted sunflower seeds along with the flour--not sure how much, just what looked like a good amount. Probably about 1 T poppy seed, 2 T flax seed and 1/4 c sunflower seeds.

 Grind your wheat while your yeast is activating in water and salt. After you have ground your wheat your yeast should be activated. (5 minutes.) Add remaining ingredients one at a time.

 Add flour 2 C at a time. When flour pulls away from sides then stop--too little is better than too much. Add 3/4 c more flour and mix dough for 8 minutes on medium speed.

 Let rise until double, then punch down, form into loaves, and let rise in pans. Cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes in pans, then let finish cooling on a rack. Makes 2 large loaves.

Monster Cookies

I've probably eaten 12 of these cookies just in the last three days (and these are BIG cookies, too).  Everybody loves a good monster cookie.  This recipe was given to me by a lady in California that Johnny met on his mission.  She was kind enough to let us stay at her house for a couple of days on our trip back there a few weeks ago.  Even kinder, she made a batch of her famous monster cookies for us to enjoy on our 2,000 mile road trip!  Kindest of all, she just sent me the recipe so I can make them as often as I want to! Thanks Jeannie!

Monster Cookies

6 eggs

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups white sugar

2 cubes butter (1/2 lb.) Don't even consider margarine.

about 1/2 Tbs. corn syrup (I halved this recipe for your convenience, and the corn syrup doesn't need to be exact.  Don't worry - it makes many, many cookies.)

1 tsp. vanilla

3 cups Skippy crunchy peanut butter (this is no time for healthy peanut butter)

Cream all of this in a really big mixing bowl with a hand mixer.  It will be too much for a stand mixer.  Then add your dry ingredients (you may need a good ol' fashioned wooden spoon from this point on):

9 cups Quaker Old Fashioned Oats, the quick kind.  I like the old fashioned for a chewier texture, but the other would do in a pinch.

4 tsp. baking soda (which is why there is no salt in the recipe)

2 cups or so chocolate chips

2 cups or so plain M&Ms (I don't measure these, I just go until I get the desired amount of color)

I use 1/4 cup dry measuring cup that is sprayed with Pam to get the cookies the same size.  Lay them out on an ungreased cookie sheet and press them down a bit.  I usually fit 6 on a sheet.  You will have to spray more Pam on the measuring cup occasionally, but that or an ice cream scoop that releases help the cookies stay uniform in size.  Sometimes for Fathers' Day at church I make them bigger.  Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes.  Your oven may need a few more minutes, but I like them to still be softer and a bit chewy.  Enjoy!

You have to make these cookies!  They're basically super healthy, too, which is always a plus.  At least they have oatmeal and peanut butter so we can tell ourselves that.

Thai Fried Rice

This is such an easy recipe that is great the next day as well.
Ingredients:
White rice
Thai rice seasoning (found in the asian food section at walmart) I use the "Sunbird" brand I think- its a yellow envelope and costs about $1. This will have the amounts you need for the green onions, soy sauce, eggs and veg. oil.
Green onions
Soy sauce
2 eggs
veg oil
Raisins
cashews
pineapple chunks
Choice of meat- I usually use about 1 lb of raw shrimp


Cook the amount of rice that you need to feed your family. This recipe will be for 4 servings of rice. When I double the recipe I use two packages of Thai rice seasoning.
After the rice is cooked, spread it out on a cookie sheet that is lined with wax paper. Allow the rice to reach room temperature.
Then using the directions on the Thai rice seasoning packet- add oil to your skillet and stir fry the rice and green onions. Follow the directions on the packet as you add the soy sauce and eggs. Then I usually add my shrimp and make sure they get nice and pink.
Then add whatever other add-ins you want. I love to use raisins, cashews, and pineapple chunks. Fry it all up together and enjoy!
Even my really picky toddler loves this stuff!

Vegetarian Recipes

Since Nathan had a little scare with his blood pressure and cholesterol, I've been trying to cook a little healthier. He requested more meatless dishes and foods that help lower cholesterol. I tried both these recipes lately and LOVED them.

Black Beans and Rice Don't be fooled by the simpleness of this recipe. It has really good flavor and is very filling, and what's cheaper than rice and beans?

Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna This recipe is pretty easy as far as lasagnas go.

Nathan had his cholesterol and blood pressure checked again recently, and they are back to normal. I'd like to think I had something to do with it...

Who's In?

Hello girls! I've been thinking about the fact that I'm sick of cooking the same meals all the time. I thought maybe this would be a good way to share recipes and get some new ideas. Last month I made green enchiladas for an Allred sibling party at Jeanette and Aaron's, so I thought I'd start things off with that recipe.

This is from my lovely Aunt Lynnette:)

Green Enchiladas

Ingredients:

1 large can of green enchilada sauce

1 small can of green enchilada sauce (we like to use two different brands to add some variety)

1 bunch of cilantro

small package of fiesta cheese

corn tortillas

1 rotisserie chicken (deboned and shredded)

Directions:

Wash cilantro and trim the bunch about 1/2 inch from the stems

Blend together enchilada sauces, cilantro bunch, and a handful of cheese for about 15-20 seconds

Cover bottom 9x13 pan with sauce (just a thin layer will do)

Reserve a tall glass of mixture to pour on top of enchiladas once assembled in pan

Mix the rest of the enchilada sauce mixture with shredded chicken
Heat up a few of the tortillas at a time in the microwave because they're much easier to work with that way

Roll up enchiladas (tortilla + chicken/sauce mixture), place in pan

Cover pan with reserved sauce and then sprinkle with leftover cheese

Back uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted and enchiladas are warmed through

Then eat them and love them! This is such an easy recipe and my family absolutely loves it.

Okay, now you guys post away! I'm going to try to include pictures of the recipes in the future, but I don't have one of these enchiladas right now. So, instead I'll post a picture of my nephew, Tanner.

He is the inspiration for the naming of this blog. He calls all food "num nums" and I think it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen. I hope that when he gets older and starts saying more words, he still calls food num nums:)