Pancakes and turkey sausage

What's for dinner? Pancakes and turkey sausage

My favorite pancake recipe

1 1/2 c flour

1 T and 1/2 t aluminum free baking powder

1 t salt

1 T sugar

1/3 c powdered milk

1 T ground flax seed

1 1/2 c water

3 T butter or EVOO

Mix dry then add wet ingredients. You can make up a lot of mix and store then just add water. I love to use brown sugar and walnuts or pumpkin with spices or chocolate chips.

Turkey sausage is my only option. Once a year Aldi has 10 turkey breakfast links for 89 cents. I stock up for our brenners (breakfast for dinner).

Santa Fe Chicken

What's for dinner? Santa Fe Chicken

2 cans black beans rinsed and drained

2 cans corn drained

1/2 c salsa

4 chicken breast

1/2 c salsa

8 oz cream cheese

Mix beans, corn, and 1/2 c salsa in crock pot. Top with chicken then the other 1/2 c salsa. Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove chicken, dice it up and throw it back in. Top with cubed cream cheese. Let cook another 1/2 hour. Stir and serve over rice.

Hint: I make the beans and corn for a side dish often. I just let it cook on the stove for a while so the salsa permeates the beans. Stir in cream cheese and serve.

Cold Desserts

What's for dessert? Something cold!

Here are two recipes that will cool you down in the summer heat.

Strawberry Chantilly (allrecipes)

1 c flour

1/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c butter (that is one stick)

1/2 c chopped walnuts or cashews

2 egg whites

1 c white sugar

2 c fresh strawberries finely chopped or whirred in processor for a second

1 small cool whip

If you use frozen strawberries use 2/3 c sugar and 10 ounces frozen strawberries.

Mix flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly. Add nuts and place 2/3 of the mix in a 9/13. The other 1/3 put in another oven proof dish and bake at 300 for 20 minutes

In a large bowl whip egg whites, sugar, and strawberries on high for 10 minutes. Then fold in cool whip. Spread over crumb mixture and sprinkle with the crumbs from the other dish. Freeze for 6 hours or overnight.

Lemon Fruit Freeze

2/3 c margarine

1/3 c sugar

7 c rice crispies or rice chex crushed to 3 c

1 14 oz can sweet/condensed milk

1/2 c lemon juice

1 small box lemon pudding

cool whip

Melt marg, stir in sugar than crumbs. Set aside 1/3 c for garnish, pat crumbs in a 9/13. Bake at 300 for 12 minutes, cool.

In a large bowl mix milk, lemon juice, and pudding mix. Pour over cooled crust then top with cool whip and garnish with crumbs. Freeze 4 hours. Remove 20 minutes before serving.

Pesto and Biscuits

What's for dinner? Pesto and Biscuits

I had 9 basil plants 2 years ago that yielded me enough pesto to freeze that I am using the last of it today. What bits is that none of the basil I planted made it to now. So, I will need a new source for my freeze supply.

The pesto has whole wheat shell pasta, pesto, fresh diced tomatoes, and diced rotisserie chicken.

The biscuits are those yummy cheddar bay biscuits, like at Red Lobster. There are a lot of recipes on the internet. I dont use Bisquick so I made some up since it is the base.

I know it a shocker that I bought a cooked chicken. If I am going to do that I will get 3 or 4 meals out of it to make it worth it. Always buy them at Costco so you get the biggest bird for your money. Here is my meals with the chicken.

1 breast and back meat for pasta

1 breast split in two and served with a baked potato

1 leg and thigh for buffalo pizza

1 leg, thigh, and wings for salad

Review on Camp Post

The couscous salad was really good. I thought it would be good made ahead of time but the reviews said it was best fresh. I only had it fresh and it was really good.

Aldi no bean chili made with beef and TVP is good and did not upset my stomach. We had dogs with left over hot dogs, I was kinds opposed but they were good.

In the future I will have rain/emergent meal(s). We had rain twice and praise the Lord my in laws had a camper to retreat to. We would have been fine in our tent but our food would have been hard to prepare. I made quick meals up for Guy's backpacking so in the future I will have a one of those ready to grab. Also, tuna salad on the go packs would have been good for this problem as well.

We did eat out for 2 meals so we had a lot of food left over at the end of the weekend. I had a feeling this would happen. I had to throw some food away which I HATE! I will try to foresee a bit better.

Altogether our trip was about $25o. That is 4 nights of camping site split with Heather, 2 lunches out, duck tour in Branson, gas, a lot of ice, and a trip to Wal-Mart. The pontoon boat my in laws paid for which was a great treat. In the future I would be willing to go in on it to make it happen. It was a lot of fun!

Camp Food

What's for Dinner- Camp Food!

This summer the Bailey family will be spending some time camping on Table Rock Lake. I think it just as important to save money and limit chemicals on vacation as well as at home.

Breakfast:

Whole wheat bagels with neufchanel cheese.

Cereal

Eggs with fresh shredded hash brown and turkey bacon

Pancakes (Mix up your own at home with powdered milk and ground flax seed. Put in a shaker bottle. When ready to make all you have to do is add water!)

Lunch:

Sandwiches/ Wraps

Chili Dogs

BLAT's (avocado instead of mayo)

Dinner:

All beef hot dogs and corn on the cob

South Dakota Taco Salad

Steak with salad, potato/onion packet, and no bake cheese cake

Fish with Greek couscous salad

Dessert:

Banana boats (the best part of camping in my mind)

Smores (I prefer fudge shop cookies and roasted marshmallows)

This picture is the closest I can find to our way. I just use chocolate, no PB or mellows. Rap in foil and throw on the fire. When squeezable soft remove and enjoy.

Snacks:

Stove top granola in large pieces for granola bars

Cliff bars

Trail mix (smaller granola pieces, M n M's, cranberries, almonds)

Fruits

Chips (tortilla and Sun Chips (MSG free))

Recipe for South Dakota Taco Salad

1/2 lentil taco recipe

lettuce

red onion

1 can kidney beans

tomato

avocado

cheddar cheese

tortilla chips

thousand island

Mix everything together in a bowl but the chips and dressing. Layer chips, salad, and top with dressing.

Greek couscous salad

1 box parmesan cheese couscous

1 can chick peas

diced cucumber

diced fresh tomato

finely sliced red onion

goat/sheep feta

EVOO and balsamic to taste

Hot Dog Buns

Tip of the day- Hot dog buns!

I absolutely love when there are leftover hot dog buns. You may think to just let them sit until they are stale or moldy but I would say you are missing out! Here are some ideas,

Croutons- Cube them and let them sit on a cookie sheet over night. You can toast in the oven but why waste the energy when nature does it for free. Store them in a airtight container. When you are having salad lightly toast them in the skillet with a little EVOO. Then toss with italian seasoning and garlic powder. You dont want the seasoning in while toasting because they will burn, yuck.

Bread Crumbs- Let sit out until dried out, you can cut them up a bit if you like. Then whirl them through the food processor. You can season them but I leave them plain for more possibilities.

Garlic bread- Split open the bun and brush with EVOO and top with garlic, italian seasoning, and parm. Toast until the broiler, watching close.

Meatball sandwiches- Make the garlic bread above then top with meatballs and marinara for a delicious dinner. I use froze meatballs so this is a quick and tasty dinner.