Berry Ice Cream

4 cups frozen berries
1 teaspoon stevia
1 tablespoon vanilla
Whole milk

Place first three ingredients in blender.  Pour in enough whole milk to cover berries.  Blend.  Enjoy!

Our blender broke the other day.  It made me think how rarely we have problems with appliances, vehicles, computers,etc.  Heavenly Father has really blessed us.  So many things could go wrong but don't.  I think that is one of the blessings of paying tithing.  I'm not saying nothing ever breaks down, but I do believe it happens less because we are blessed for paying a full tithe.  Hopefully, we can fix the blender this evening & make berry ice cream for family home evening treat. Yum!

Split Pea Soup

4 cups split peas
12 cups water

Pressure cook until reaches to setting than turn it off and let it sit until pressure down.  You could simmer on the stove if you don't have a pressure cooker for about 40 minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Simple & delicious.

You can complicate the recipe by adding chicken bouillon, onions, carrots, ham, and/or potatoes. Oh, it's so yummy & warm & comforting!

Wheat Tortillas

Wheat Tortillas

5 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup shortening

2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 cups boiling water

flour for rolling

In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup all-purpose flour, the whole wheat flour, and salt. Rub in the shortening by hand until the mixture is the texture of oatmeal. Make a well in the center, and pour in the boiling water. Mix with a fork until all of the water is evenly incorporated. Sprinkle with a bit of additional flour, and knead until the dough does not stick to your fingers. The dough should be smooth.Make balls the size of golf balls. Place them on a tray, and cover with a cloth.

Let stand for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours.

Heat a griddle or large frying pan over high heat. On a lightly floured surface, roll out a tortilla to your preferred thinness. Fry one at a time. Place on the griddle, as soon as you see a bubble on the top, flip the tortilla over. Let it cook for about 30 seconds, then flip and cook the other side for another 30 seconds. Repeat until all of the balls have been cooked. Tortillas can be refrigerated or frozen.

For years I've tried to make wheat tortillas that weren't crisp. For a while I thought it might be impossible to make wheat tortillas at home, so we bought the very expensive store-bought ones. They were also loaded with additives. The key is the boiling water and letting it sit and kinda cook and soften. I love when Heavenly Father makes it possible for us to come upon an idea or recipe that saves our family money and improves our health. I love how He doesn't give us everything at once, but let's us experiment, search, and try. Then when we are given the answer we value it even more.

Burritos

Burritos

2 cups cooked pinto beans

2-4 tortillas (whole-grains with legumes make a complete protein)

Garlic Salt

Cumin (If you like it)

Optional Ingredients:

Salsa

Shredded Cheese

Shredded Lettuce

Sour Cream

Cilantro

Mash pinto beans. Add garlic, cumin, and salt to taste. Add salsa to taste if desired, but not necessary. Spoon these fresh refried beans into tortillas. Add toppings if desired. Roll tortilla.

Serves 2-4

Spring 2011 we decided we would try to follow the Word of Wisdom better by being vegetarian except in the winter. It was a lot of fun and we felt great! I'm grateful Heavenly Father has blessed me with a testimony of the Word of Wisdom.

Beans

Beans

3 cups dried beans

9-10 cups water

Method 1: Place in pressure cooker. Bring to 15 pounds pressure (or if you have settings, the highest setting). Then turn off the burner and allow to stay on burner while coming down in pressure. This method takes about 60-90 minutes.

Method 2: Place ingredients in pot. Bring to a boil. Turn down temperature. Simmer all day or until soft. This method takes about 8 hours.

Beans are a nutritional power house! I just love 'em! So easy and cheap! Heavenly Father has blessed us with quick, easy ways to keep our families healthy and full!

Butter Crunch Popcorn

Butter Crunch Popcorn

1 cup unpopped popcorn

Pop it!

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup corn syrup

salt

Mix, dissolve, and boil. Let boil for 5 minutes without stirring. Add vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Mix. Pour over popcorn. Put onto a cookie sheet and bake at 250 for 15 minutes.

This is my Aunt Marilyn's recipe. Aunt Marilyn is a Washington DC lawyer. She taught me, when I was about 10, it was not polite to ask people how much money they make. I was just curious; I didn't know I was being rude. Live and learn!

Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles

2 cups sugar

1 cup butter

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 3/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 cup cinnamon sugar

Cream the eggs, butter, sugar, and vanilla. Then add all the rest. Mix well. Roll into balls and dip top of ball in cinnamon sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

We were about to make these tonight. But we realized we are out of eggs and butter for the next two weeks until we shop again. Oh well! We will make caramel popcorn instead for a Sunday evening treat. It's such a good feeling to figure out ways to stay within our budget and goal for once-a-month shopping. It's a great game!! We are going to win and save tons of money and build a bit of character in the process. I'm grateful Heavenly Father lets life test our resolve in little and big things. It's a thrill to stick to a goal!!

Rice

Rice

6 cups brown rice

13 cups water

½ teaspoon salt

Cook on medium high (8) until boiling. Turn down temperature to low/medium (4) until soft and fluffy. This takes about 20 minutes for white rice and 45 minutes for brown rice.

Serves 10

Great for cereal with cinnamon sugar and milk, rice pudding, and stir fries. Cheap and easy!!

Pancakes

Pancakes

2 c. wheat flour

2 c. oats

1 T. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

4 c. milk

1/2 c. oil or melted butter

(Note oil is cheaper & healthier)

4 eggs

Mix until smooth. Cook on griddle or frying pan. Top with syrup, yogurt, jam, or fruit. Top with ground flax seed for a super flavor, nutrient, and fiber boost.

Leftover cereal, mashed beans, pumpkin, chocolate chips, blueberries, coconut, etc. can be added to the batter. Have fun!!! Remember if you have this recipe, I love you lots and lots!!!

Serves 4-6

Pancake Mix

16 c. wheat flour

16 c. oats

8 T. baking powder

4 t. salt

8 c. powdered milk

Mix dry ingredients. Store in air tight container.

To make batter:

5 c. pancake mix

4 eggs

4 c. water

½ c. oil or butter

Mix until smooth. Add more water if needed. Cook on griddle or frying pan. Top with syrup, yogurt, jam, or fruit. Top with ground flax seed for a super flavor, nutrient, and fiber boost.

This blogging my recipes is a great blessing and convenience. When the kids need a recipe they don't have to sort through books, clippings, cards, magazines, etc. They can just come here. Not only that, it's made me go through each recipe and modify the original to how I usually make it (less fat and sugar, bigger batches, more fiber, etc.) This way I can easily make cooking books for when they leave the nest. Heavenly Father has made so many things a convenient and easy and fun. I hope I can use my extra time carefully to build up His kingdom and scatter sunshine along the way.

Cracked Wheat Cereal

Cracked Wheat

6 cups cracked wheat

13 cups water

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup brown sugar

~ 4 cups milk

Place first three ingredients in huge, oven-safe dish. Cook in oven overnight at 250ْ. . Or bring 10 cups water to a boil then stir in cracked wheat. Stir while cooking on low for 10-15 minutes. Mix in sugar and milk. Great, healthy breakfast for busy mornings!

Serves 10

Heavenly Father has told us wheat is for man. I'm grateful for this knowledge and that it tastes so good and is so filling. Aunt Amber's grandma doesn't put milk and sugar in it; she just adds vanilla ice cream. Fun! By the way, I'm so glad Heavenly Father let such a great lady like Aunt Amber be in our lives.

Bread

Wheat Bread

6 cups hot water (not scalding)

½ cup sugar or ¼ cup honey

2 heaping tablespoons yeast

Mix and let sit for about 10 minutes until bubbly.

½ cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons salt

8 cups whole wheat flour

Mix for about 3 minutes until smooth.

6-8 more cups whole wheat floor.

Knead until dough cleans off the side of the mixer. It should be slightly sticky but smooth and hand-formable. Mold into four loaves. Or make cinnamon rolls, pizza crust, orange rolls, dinner rolls, breadsticks, etc.

Bake loaves at 350ْ for 30 minutes. Bake rolls at 350ْ for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy fresh out of the oven!

Heavenly Father has always given us our daily bread for which I'm so grateful. He has also blessed me with contentment in knowing I don't live in a museum. So I will take pictures of messy kitchens because that is life. And life is messy and wonderful!!!