Freezer Meal Fun

Last week for our Military Spouse Appreciation Day we had various classes that we offered to our Spouses. I taught a class on Freezer Meals. We didn't really have a proper area to actually bring in food to demonstrate so my friend and I put together a video. On the actual day, we had technical difficulty and couldn't show the video so I just had a discussion and it went pretty well. I was really pleased with the turn out and the class itself. I promised the women in my class that I would upload the clips and I thought I'd share them here on my blog as well. We really had a lot of fun making the video. Our Commanding General's wife was kind enough to let us use her kitchen since my kitchen would have been super awkward. Overall I just had fun!

Here is my disclaimer....as you will obviously see I am not a professional, I tend to roll my eyes a lot and I was not working with any script. Now that being said...I am still happy with the final product.

You can watch the intro video on here then click on the video and go to the page where the other clips are. I figured it would be easier to watch clips instead of a full 30 minute video!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

A couple months ago, a friend shared this recipe for homemade laundry detergent. I told myself I'd make some but was still a bit nervous about doing all the work and not liking it. The same friend gave me some she had made and we really like it, it cleans our clothes so well and is so much more cost efficient! We wanted to share.

Homemade Laundry Detergent.
I ordered the Fels-Naptha on line for $.99 a bar at Soaps Gone Buy, I also ordered the Arm & Hammer Washing Soda through the website but found it at the commissary too.Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.
Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.
Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

24 Hours later, this is what it looks like.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

And here is a recipe for Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Powder Recipe #1

1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

Powder Recipe #2

1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Borax

For the above two recipes:

• Mix thoroughly and store in a plastic container, use approximately 2 TBS per load.
• Use vinegar in the rinse compartment as a rinse agent to help prevent residue
• Try adding 2-3 drops essential oil

Punch Bowl Cake

I first had this cake over 14 years ago. It was my first Christmas in the Army and my first away from home so I was kind of sad. One of the girls in my section (JC) invited Kevin and I over to her house for Christmas dinner. She had this cake in an actual punch bowl (hence the name) and I was hooked! We've been making it ever since and it is SO simple!

You start by baking a yellow cake according to the box (or your own recipe if you are so inclined!). When cooled down a bit, throw pieces of cake into the bottom of a large bowl. (I don't use a punch bowl, I use my large Tupperware Thatsa Bowl (how is that for a shout out, haha).

Next add one large box of already made Instant Vanilla Pudding (bear with me, I'm a horrible recipe writer, haha...make this while your cake is baking so it will be set, but even if you forget, it's okay, it only takes instant pudding 5 minutes to set)

Next add one small can of crushed pineapple, drained.
Add one can of Cherry Pie filling
Spread softened Cool Whip on top.
You can sprinkle sliced maraschino cherries and chopped walnuts on top to garnish but I rarely do, we don't appreciate all that, so I don't bother.

What I love about this is you can change it up. I've made it with Devil's Food Cake, chocolate pudding and strawberries. You can use whatever makes you happy!

Enjoy!

Pretzels

Very easy to make!

Pretzels
1 1/2 cup warm water
1 1/8 tsp active dry yeast
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 cup bread flour
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups warm water
2 Tbsp baking soda
Course salt, to taste
2-4 Tbsp butter (melted)

Instructions:

Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve: add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Let rise at least 30 minutes.

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 Tbsp baking soda. Make sure you stir often.

After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into long ropes (about 1/2" or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzels to rise again.

Bake in oven at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted butter and enjoy!

Topping suggestions:
After you brush with butter, sprinkle course salt.
For cinnamon sugar topping, melt a stick of butter in shallow bowl. In another butter make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Dip pretzel in butter and then dip in cinnamon.

Also, you can serve with mustard, pizza sauce, cream cheese, nacho cheese, whatever!

Enjoy!

Michael's Pepperoni Pizzadillies

4 large flour tortillas
8 oz Italian blend cheese
1 tsp oregano
30 slices pepperoni
1 tomato chopped
mixed veggies (green peppers, onion, olives, mushrooms, etc) we used olives and mushrooms
1/2 cup warm marinara sauce

In small bowl, mix cheese with oregano. Place on tortilla on a flat surface. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheese mixture on tortilla. Top with half the pepperoni, sprinkle some of the mixed veggies. Sprinkle another 1/2 cup of cheese mixture and place another tortilla on top. Heat a griddle or large frying pan, spray with non-stick cooking spray. When pan is heated, place tortillas on the pan, heat until cheese is starting to melt and outside of tortilla starts to brown. Flip over and heat until all cheese is melted and both sides are toasted. Serve with warm marinara sauce. Ingredients make two Pepperoni Pizzadillies!

Doesn't he look like a true chef, hahaPreparing to serve.
Both brothers give the thumbs up!

Daniel's Lickety Split Lasagna

1 lb ground beef
1 can spaghetti sauce
lasagna noodles
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (optional)...(unless you live in our house)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees!
1. Brown your ground beef, drain and put back in your skillet.
2. Put one cup of your spaghetti sauce in bottom of your pan
3. Add remaining spaghetti sauce to your meat and stir until hot.
4. Place 3 lasagna noodles on top of spaghetti sauce that is on bottom of pan.
5. Scoop 1/3 of meat mixture onto noodles
6. Spread 3/4 cup of cottage cheese on top of meat mixture
7. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese on cottage cheese.

8. REPEAT steps 4, 5, 6, 7

9. REPEAT steps 4 & 5, finishing this top layer with the rest of your mozzarella cheese.
10. Cover your baking dish with foil.
11. Bake in oven for 1 hour.
12. Clean up utensils used while waiting for lasagna to bake.
Take lasagna out of the oven and let sit for 15 minutes with foil still on. Throw in garlic bread while lasagna rests.Dinner is served!

Neil's Saucepan Spaghetti

We have been working with the boys in the kitchen. We want to prepare them for the world as best we can. We don't want our boys to be like some of the men we hear about who can't even boil water. Someday our future daughter-in-laws will appreciate that their men can cook.

Neil's Saucepan Spaghetti

1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
2 1/2 cups water
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried basic, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 oz Spaghetti

Grated Parmesan Cheese

1. Brown meat, drain when finished.
2. In 3 quart saucepan add meat, water, tomato sauce, onion, oregano, basil, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Turn burner on high and let mixture bubble. When bubbly break the spaghetti in half, add to saucepan. Turn the burner to low and let simmer about 30 minutes. Stir the spaghetti often.
3. When spaghetti is done, serve with Parmesan cheese and garlic bread.