Foodie Friday ~ Easy and Tasty BBQ Sauce

I love to cook. And I love to eat. I don't like to spend a lot of money on good food. Sometimes that's not so easy. The price of food is going up . . . way up. Besides that, I don't like to eat a whole lot of processed foods or foods with a lot of preservatives in them.

Well, long story short, I decided I wanted to try my hand at making BBQ sauce. Some that I could put in a jar for future use. I found a recipe in The Everything Slow Cooker Cookbook and decided to try it. I modified it a bit and my family (and our guests) loved it!!

Worcestershire sauce and pepper not pictured . . . LOL!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups ketchup (original calls for 2 cups)

1 8oz can tomato paste (subbed for other 1/2 cup ketchup)

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

2 Tbsp molasses

2 Tbsp prepared mustard

1 Tbsp BBQ seasoning (I think I doubled this)

1/2 tsp pepper

2 tsp liquid smoke (I doubled this too)

1 Tbsp hot sauce (I doubled this too)

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a slow cooker. Mix well. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Store in covered container in fridge for up to 3 months.

I'm sure you could do this on the stove top as well, but this worked great for me. The original recipe called for 2 cups of ketchup and no tomato paste, but I've read lots about homemade sauces being a little on the thin side. I like a thicker sauce, so I experimented with it . . . it turned out great! Hope y'all enjoy! (One day I'd love to learn how to make some of the ingredients for this sauce . . . hmmmmm.)

It actually made 3 jars, but we've already used one! :)

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

Foodie Friday ~ Sandwich Bread

I am trying to rely less and less on the grocery store for things that I can make at home. Like bread. Especially since they just shut down the Mrs. Baird's Thrift Store here in town. That is where I would buy my bread several loaves at a time and freeze them. When you can get a loaf of name brand (good) bread cheaper than the store brand, why wouldn't you? My hubby isn't happy about them closing the store because that's his favorite bread...and the only way it's gonna make it into this house...LOL!

Anyhow, I've been wanting to try to make my own sandwich bread for a while now. I've dabbled in baking rolls and specialty breads, but not every day sandwich bread...until this week that is. I pretty much followed this recipe. The Frugal Girl is a veteran baker, so I fully trust her recipes! I subbed some of the white flour with wheat flour and it turned out pretty good! I think my yeast is getting old, but I really don't want to throw out half a jar, so I'm trying to use it up. :)

We had grilled cheese sandwiches made with this bread for dinner on Tuesday and the whole family liked it! I will definitely continue to play with the recipe to find the way my family prefers. Hope you guys enjoy! And don't forget to check out The Frugal Girl...she has tons of great recipes and lots of other great tips!!

Not bad for my first try! It's tasty!

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:9

Foodie Friday ~ Eating Out

We used to be that family that practically lived at McDonalds. I mean, we ate there so much that my girls' toybox was literally overflowing with Happy Meal toys. Now, however, not so much. I'm not sure why we stopped eating fast food or even at sit down restaurants so frequently, but you won't hear me complaining.

For one thing, our budget is saying a big ole, THANK YOU! For another, my waistline (while not shrinking as much as I'd like) says thanks too! But most of all, my heart says thanks.

Not my actual beating-in-my-chest heart, but my other heart. Sitting around the dinner table with my family every almost every night has done so much for our family. It has brought us closer to one another and to God. I couldn't ask for more . . . except for maybe a personal chef to do the cooking once in a while. Ha!

Besides the heart healing, it eases my mind that I know what is going into our food . . . because I put it there. We haven't quite gotten to the point that I make all of our breads and other miscellaneous ingredients, but we are slowly moving to that point. (Maybe I'll look into doing some container gardening this summer)

How about you? How often do you and your families eat out? Is that something that you'd rather do more or less of? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:35,37

Foodie Friday ~ Freezer Breakfasts

As much my girls love cold cereal, I'm sure they get sick of eating it every morning. This is why when I make pancakes, I usually make a double batch and put some in the freezer for quick other-than-cereal breakfasts on school mornings. This doesn't cost me much extra time or money . . . which makes me happy. I mean, have you seen the price of a box of 12 pancakes at the store? The off brand costs $2, Lord knows what the name brand costs these days!

The girls also love French Toast . . . and French Toast sticks. So, whenever I go to the Mrs. Baird's Thrift Store, I pick up a few loaves of Texas Toast. I usually take a couple of hours on a Saturday and make those loaves into French Toast. Again, it doesn't cost me much extra time or money . . . whoop! Here are some pictures from the last time I made French Toast.

After I make them, I cut each slice into thirds.

After they are all done, I put them on a cookie sheet and into the freezer they go. Once they are frozen solid, I put them in a zipper bag, and viola! The girls have a quick, cheap non-cereal breakfast!

Anyone have other go to non-cereal breakfast ideas you'd like to share?

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1 Corinthians 16:2

Foodie Friday ~ Ice Cream Sandwich Alternative

I don't know about you, but when I'm watching my calorie intake, I crave all kinds of junk. Some time ago, I found this alternative for ice cream sandwiches and I thought I'd share it with you. They aren't exactly the same, but they will do in a pinch!

Ingredients:
Graham crackers (chocolate, if you can find them)
Whipped cream (light is great to cut down on the calories and fat)

That's it! Just put as much or as little whipped cream between 2 halves of the cracker and freeze. The moisture will soften the crackers just a tad and the whipped cream has just about the same consistency as ice cream. Yummy!!

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6

Foodie Friday ~ Cake

Well, actually cupcakes, but who's checking? Big Girl's birthday was Wednesday and we had cupcakes to celebrate. I brought some to her school to share with her class and we also had some here at home as a family. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from then. Enjoy!

The best part of helping in the kitchen!

Never too old to blow out candles!

My silly girl!

My gorgeous hubby!

My Angel

She's crazy!

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13

Foodie Friday ~ Yumminess

If you remember last week's 'Foodie Friday' post, I was on a mission to find 5 new recipes to clear out my freezer. Well, today, I am here to share one that was absolutely divine. As in, it may just be my new favorite recipe! I know there are some out there who are vegetarian and those who choose to not eat pork...and if that's you, I'm sad to say that this is not a recipe for you. Sorry, I'll do my best to put things up that are for you, too. Until then, this one is for you my carnivorous friends!


Sage pork chops from Allrecipes, aka deliciousness! Oh, I usually don't follow recipes to the tee, but the only thing I changed was I used prepared chicken broth vs. water and bouillon...because that's what I was using for my side dish. These pork chops were sooo tender...my hubby requested them again...just in a larger quantity! LOL!


If you have a favorite recipe you would like to share, feel free...I do love food...and I love to cook!


"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8

Foodie Friday ~ Inventory

After reading some really great blog posts this week, I was inspired to do some inventorying. (Does that look like a strange word to anyone else but me?) I started with my pantry, because, let's face it, it was much less daunting than the freezer(s). Then, after a short (ok long) break, I tackled both of the freezers. What I found surprised me a bit. I mean, I knew I had lots of meats in there, but enough meats to cook 28, yes 28, dinners for my family of 4!?! Well, looks like I will be cooking from my freezer for at least this pay period. Which is a good thing, considering there aren't that many good sales on meat this week.


But what to cook? Not really sure on that one yet. I want to try to step outside the box a little bit and try some new recipes that are not only healthy, but tasty, too! So, my goal for today is to find at least 5 new recipes to try in the next couple of weeks. I've got to finish today so I can make my list and head to the grocery store tomorrow. If anyone has suggestions, please feel free to comment. :)


Here are some pictures of the 'after' of both the freezers. Didn't get a before because I just thought of it. Maybe next time. :)

Much more room now!

Lots 'o room and I know what's in there!

Do you hear an echo, echo, echo?

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:20-21