When prepared as follows, the classic comfort dishes of Smothered Steaks and Slow Cooker Beef Tips are delicious and very easy to make. Ingredients For the smothered steaks: 4 steaks (hamburger steaks, cube steaks, eye of round steaks, etc.) 2 tablespoons butter 1 package (16 oz.) mushrooms, sliced 1 large onion, chopped 2 … [Read more...] about Cook Once, Eat Twice: Smothered Steaks and Slow Cooker Beef Tips in Gravy
Keeping the Home
Easy Fall Ribbon Wreath
When I was a kid, I always thought I would highlight the seasons and major holidays by changing up the décor in my home to reflect them. Due to tight budgets, busy days, and severely limited craft skills, this has never become a reality. I’m slowly working to change this. One baby step is the creation of this fall wreath. I’ve seen a … [Read more...] about Easy Fall Ribbon Wreath
Cook Once, Eat Twice: Creamy Beefy Noodles and Cheesy Beefy Noodle Bake
I have loved having a stash of freezer meals available during the last couple of months as I’ve adjusted to life with a newborn and a toddler. Because of this, on my most recent menu I included a number of “cook once, eat twice” items that would yield freezer meals. Using affordable ingredients, this easy-to-follow recipe yields two … [Read more...] about Cook Once, Eat Twice: Creamy Beefy Noodles and Cheesy Beefy Noodle Bake
Starter Kitchen Essentials
Have you ever come across a gadget or dish in your kitchen that you’re pretty certain you’ve never used? I recently heard from a reader who would like to avoid this. Elizabeth asked the following: “My fiancé and I both grew up in homes with single parents who cooked using mostly frozen and canned foods. We’re both now learning how to … [Read more...] about Starter Kitchen Essentials
Fall 2016 Menu
Our summer has flown by so quickly! I can hardly believe it’s time to begin using a new menu. I’ve detailed the whys and hows of my menu planning previously (read about it here). In summary, I create a new monthly menu at the beginning of each season (fall, winter, spring, and summer). We use each menu for the three months of that … [Read more...] about Fall 2016 Menu
Dare to Prepare: Items to Use for First Aid When in a Pinch
We’re once again in the midst of National Preparedness Month. As I’ve done in the past years, I’m going to take advantage of this by taking a straightforward look at disaster preparedness. (Click here for links to the previous Dare to Prepare posts.) Today’s topic is both practical and fun. A good first aid kit should be part of your … [Read more...] about Dare to Prepare: Items to Use for First Aid When in a Pinch
Garden Fresh Freezer Spaghetti Sauce
Earlier this summer I had an abundance of Roma tomatoes from my vegetable garden. I decided to make spaghetti sauce with them. I don’t have the equipment to can spaghetti sauce, so I found a simple recipe for freezer spaghetti sauce. I will forever remember making this sauce for two reasons. First, my husband was somewhat doubtful it … [Read more...] about Garden Fresh Freezer Spaghetti Sauce
Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken
Today I will share a final recipe from our summer menu. Like several of the other recipes I’ve shared recently, this one is conveniently prepared in a slow cooker. No one in my household is a diehard fan of ranch flavor, so I wasn’t sure how much we would like this dish. We ended up enjoying it enough that I will probably include it on … [Read more...] about Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken
