Two for One Menu Plan

Sourdough Pasta

My menu plan last week never made it from my brain to cyber space, or even paper (I did have one, mind you).  For the sake of record keeping and future menu planning inspiration, I'm listing our evening meals from last week before I get into my usual randomness and this week's plan. 

Sunday, 10/31
Leftover chili and pinto beans

Monday, 11/1
Chicken Divan, sourdough artisan bread

Tuesday, 11/2
Beef pizza on sourdough crust, fried cabbage

Wednesday, 11/3 
Beef stoganoff with sourdough pasta, baked sweet potatoes

Thursday, 11/4
Canada Day!
Sourdough crepes with yogurt cheese, strawberries, and maple syrup
Tourtiere (meat pie; my version had a sourdough crust, sprouted lentils & shredded carrots), poutine (french fries with gravy and cheese), and sugar pie

Friday, 11/5
Bible Study Night!
Roast beef sammies on homemade bread with homemade lacto-fermented mayo, gingerbread with spiced whipped cream

Our very first yard egg

Thursday, we finished up our two week study of Canada and marked the occasion by enjoying some really yummy Canadian cuisine (or at least my version of it).  We've also been having tea since apparently they still do that in some provinces.  We've quite enjoyed it; I imagine we'll continue to have afternoon tea whilst using our best manners (and worst English accents) every chance we get.  I guess the most exciting event of the week, though, was my husband picking up our new backyard flock of chickens Friday morning.  We're now the very proud owners of nine Rhode Island red hens and one rooster.  Yes, very soon there will be lots of fresh eggs on the menu!  Speaking of menus...    

Sunday, 11/7
Soaked oatmeal
Lunch out with friends
Beef, lentil & potato stew, sourdough honey whole wheat bread

Monday, 11/8
Toast and eggs
Chicken and dumplings, baked sweet potatoes

Tuesday, 11/9
Muffins
Lasagna, baby limas

Wednesday, 11/10
Soaked oatmeal
Fried rice with beef & veggies

Thursday, 11/11
Skillet pancakes
Crock pot ragout, sourdough artisan bread

Friday, 11/12
Eggs, hash browns
Crock pot soup

Saturday, 11/13
Sourdough waffles
Leftover buffet 

Captain Sourdough's Menu Plan for 10/24-10/30

Yep, that's me.  My 8 year old dubbed me "Captain Sourdough" the other day and cracked herself up quite a bit (she KILLS herself sometimes).  I am pretty engrossed with sourdough these days, but it's just SO fun!  I love that my 2 year old has been "making sourdough," too, or at least that's often her answer when asked what she's doing.  I mentioned last week that my older two girls started their very own, real live sourdough starter, so I thought I'd share some pics of their success.  The pictures above are on Day 3, and look how bubbly and active already!  If you're interested in the health benefits of sourdough, but haven't yet taken the plunge, let this be an encouragement to you; even an 8 and 10 year old can get a healthy starter going!  Check out the Sourdough eCourse at GNOWFGLINS if you haven't already and get started!  Did I mention that it's SO fun?  (In case you're wondering, I am not an affiliate GNOWFGLINS and have nothing to gain by recommending the eCourse...I just really love what they're doing over there!)


Sunday 10/24
Soaked oatmeal
Chinese cabbage & rice (this was on the menu last week, but we ended up having leftovers that night), baked sweet potatoes

Monday 10/25
Sourdough biscuits, fried eggs
Pork chops, macaroni and cheese, baby limas

Tuesday 10/26
Breakfast cake
Chicken & rice soup, cornbread

Wednesday 10/27
Soaked oatmeal
Pizza with sourdough crust, broccoli

Thursday 10/28
Banana sourdough muffins
Beef brisket, potato salad, squash, sourdough bread

Friday 10/29
Sourdough cinnamon rolls
Fall party with weenie roast!

Saturday 10/31
Sourdough waffles
Leftover buffet

What's Been Cooking and Menu Plan for the Week

Long time, no menu plan...

We've been kind of off routine and out of sorts since our trip a couple of weeks ago, and I've just been moseying along with no menu plan.  Even so, I thought I'd let y'all know what's been cooking lately.  I'm still loving the Sourdough eCourse at GNOWFGLINS, so of course we've had lots of sourdough goodies!  My 8 and 10 year old daughters even made their very own sourdough starter last week per Erin's instructions and they cooked up some delicious apple muffins with it over weekend!  Some other things I've made from the eCourse in the past week include:

Cheese and Herb Crackers

Ready to go into the oven

My toddler could live on these things.  They are SO addictive.

 Roast Beef and Cheese Crepe Cake

Mmmmm...beefy, cheesy, melty yummness

  
Cinnamon Rolls

Before turning them out

Here they are turned out with all the ooey gooey goodness from the bottom of the dish!

Artisan bread

Waffles

German Pancakes (a modification of the skillet pancakes shared by an eCourse member)

Pumpkin Muffins

Chicken and dumplings were requested for last week, so I made the dumplings from rolled and cut bucket dough from the eCourse.  Sourdough dumplings!  They were really good!  Also on the non-menu last week was Homemade Pizza Rolls.  I followed the sourdough cinnamon roll recipe, omitted the sweeteners, and filled with pizza sauce, ground beef, and cheese!   I also kneaded some herbs into the rolls.  Delicious!  These were a hit!

So, that's what's been cooking in my kitchen during these weeks of blogging silence.  Here's what will be cooking in the week to come! 

Sunday, 10/17/10
Sourdough coffee cake
Leftover Buffet (we've got lots of leftovers this weekend!) 

Monday, 10/18/10
Grass-fed beef sausage, soaked whole wheat biscuits
Nourishing chicken nuggets, french fries, broccoli 

Tuesday, 10/19/10
Soaked oatmeal
Sausage, veggie, and pasta soup 

Wednesday, 10/20/10
Sourdough cinnamon rolls
Slow cooker lentil brown rice casserole 

Thursday, 10/21/10
Lemon muffins
Chinese cabbage & rice 

Friday, 10/22/10
Mexican Fiesta Day*
Breakfast burritos
Homemade tortillas, various fillings, sopapillas   

Saturday, 10/23/10
Sourdough Waffles
Leftover Buffet for lunch
Hamburgers at TrueFields' Farm Day for supper...yes, we're Southern and we have supper : )

*For school we're using My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures this year, so we'll be having a different ethnic feast every other Friday as we work through the countries!

Marathon Cooking & Camping Food

1 minivan

+

1 pop-up camper

+

4 kids across 6 states and back in 7 days

+

how many meals is that?

=

1 very busy mama!   

Yep, we've got a big trip coming up in a few days and I've been cooking up a storm in preparation.  No menu plan this week...I'm winging it since we're running around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to get everything ready!  I've done some marathon cooking today and we've got lots of freeze-ahead goodies to show for it.  Here's a peak...

1

16 Whole wheat hot dog buns,

A batch of regular whole wheat buns,

2

2 dozen soaked granola bars,

   33 Coconut peanut butter cookies,

H

Homemade breakfast cereal,

and

11 hamburger patties.  

All of this went into the freezer along side a beefy enchilada bake, a magnificent casserole, a couple of toaster oven sized pre-baked sourdough pizza doughs, and pizza toppings that were already in there (I've doubled a few meals lately to have extra for the trip).  Whew!  Now, we've just got to figure out how to fit all of that food into the van! 

Menu Plan 9/12-9/18

Sourdough tortillas

 We're in the midst of a gospel meeting, so Sunday's menu is a little different.  We have a fellowship meal after evening worship when we kick off a series of meetings, so I have a simple lunch on the menu plus dishes for the evening fellowship meal.  The meeting will last through Wednesday night, so I'm keeping it simple on those nights:)     


Sunday, 9/12
Soaked oatmeal
Sourdough english muffins, eggs, grits (lunch)
Chicken and dumplings, rolls (for fellowship meal) 

Monday, 9/13
Sourdough banana muffins
Beef stroganoff (homemade sourdough noodles), broccoli 

Tuesday, 9/14
Sourdough skillet pancakes
Chicken and smoked sausage jambalaya, baby limas 

Wednesday, 9/16
Cinnamon-apple baked oatmeal
Beef stew, homemade bread 

Thursday, 9/17
Toast, eggs
Beef burritos (sourdough tortillas), black beans, fixings

Friday, 9/18
Sourdough cinnamon rolls
Chicken fried rice

Saturday
Sourdough skillet pancakes
leftover buffet

Running Behind Menu Plan 9/5-9/11

I mentioned in another post that I enrolled in the Sourdough eCourse at GNOWFGLINS, and I am loving it!  I've always used my sourdough starter at least a couple of times a week, but I'm inspired to use it even more now.  This menu plan reflects that!  Even if you don't have a starter, check out this eCourse; the first lesson will show how to start and care for one. 

Sunday, 9/5
Soaked Oatmeal
Pork chops, rice, gravy, sweet potatoes, GBC (a.k.a. green bean casserole)


Monday, 9/6
Organic grits, bacon
Chicken divan, sourdough bread

Tuesday, 9/7
Strawberry Banana sourdough muffins
Beefy pitas, hummus

Wednesday, 9/8
Sourdough English muffins, eggs 
Beef pot pie, baby limas

Thursday, 9/9
Baked oatmeal
Chicken noodle soup (made with homemade sourdough noodles), sourdough bread

Friday, 9/10
Sourdough cinnamon rolls
Mini pizzas, sourdough spice cake (bi-weekly bible study time again!)

Saturday, 9/11
Sourdough pancakes
Leftover buffet/sandwiches

9 Tips for Eating Well on a Budget

A few people have expressed to me recently that they'd like to change the way they feed their families, but a) they don't know where to start, and b) they're afraid it will be too expensive.  These are legitimate concerns that many of us have had at some point.  I've thought a lot about the "where to start" subject and I have a few suggestions, but first I want to address the cost of nourishing food.  We live on one modest income and we eat pretty well, so I feel fairly qualified to advise in this area.

•  Menu plan and budget!  This is first and foremost.  Eating well on a budget absolutely requires planning, especially if you're just starting out toward healthier eating.  Once you get into it and have a good healthy meal rotation, you can afford to be more general in your planning, but I really believe that you need some sort of system when trying to stretch quality foods and your dollars.  I won't go into any depth on money management, but if you don't already have a budget, take the time to make one and stick to it.  You won't regret it!  I highly recommend Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover.
• Swap the bad for the good.  High quality food may seem expensive, but if you consider the soft drinks, processed snacks, and boxed foods you won't be buying, $4-5 a pound for a pastured chicken probably won't bust the budget.  Start by swapping those expensive, chemical laden cold cereals for nourishing and frugal old fashioned oatmeal or eggs for breakfast (check out this blog post for tips on how to replace breakfast cereals in your kid's diet and why you should do so NOW).
• Focus on frugal, but nutrient dense food options.  These include homemade bone broth, eggs, cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, and organ meats (such as liver...I know, I know, I'm still trying to talk myself into that one, but it is very nourishing and very inexpensive).  Another great option is wild game.  If you're blessed to have a family member who hunts, you have access to frugal, pastured meat!  Just try to convince your hunter that "baiting" his game with Round-up corn is not a healthy practice (seriously, Dad, bad idea!).
• Meat:  Choosing quality over quantity and making it stretch.  Quality over quantity is especially important with meat and dairy purchases...It can also be really hard for those of us who pride ourselves on bargain shopping.  Before I knew the dangers of meat/dairy/eggs of unknown origin, I loved stocking the freezer with "bargain" meats from supermarket sales (read about the hidden costs of industrial food).  I didn't have to think much about stretching my meat because it was so cheap!  Now, I roast one pastured chicken every Saturday, debone it, use the meat for two meals during the week, and make a few quarts of broth from the bones. Similarly, you could stretch your grass fed beef by using half a pound of ground beef in chili or casserole recipes and compensate with extra beans or veggies.   
• Make it yourself.  Cooking from scratch saves a lot of money!  However, if you're new to cooking from scratch, don't overwhelm yourself.  Start by learning to make one thing that you would normally buy packaged.  Homemade bone broth is something that anyone can do and it offers so much nutritionally (The Benefits of Bone Broth).  Consider learning to make soaked whole grain tortillas.  They're frugal, easy, delicious, and much better for you and your little ones than the store bought kind.  Once you've mastered a few recipes, you can graduate to learning to bake bread.  Believe me, unless you were somehow blessed with innate baking skills, it can be a frustrating process; when faced with bread failures, take a breath, take a break from trying if you need to, but do try again.  I've made my fair share of bricks and I've got a freezer full of bricks-turned-bread crumbs to prove it!  If you're already an experienced baker, consider purchasing or starting your own sourdough starter.  Sourdough breads provide for optimal digestion and bio-availability of nutrients from the whole grains, plus not buying yeast means saving even more money.  I highly recommend GNOWFGLINS Sourdough E-course if you're ready to go sourdough (no pre-set fee is charged for the course, but they accept "pay as you can" payments).  I've just signed up this week, and I've learned so much already!  
• Make your own household cleaners.  There are so many reasons to do this; homemade natural cleaners are better for you and your family than chemical ones, they free up more money that you can put toward good quality food since they cost next to nothing, and it's so nice not having all of those bottles of products that are just for one specific cleaning job.  There's not much that plain white vinegar, baking soda, or a combination of the two can't clean.  I occasionally use oxygen bleach (OxiClean), but I don't have even a fraction of the cleaning product clutter that I used to have.  No chemicals or fumes to breathe is also a major plus if you or your kids have allergies or skin sensitivities (not to mention, you can put those little helpers to work with a cloth and a bottle of vinegar solution with no worries!).  So many pros and I can't really think of any cons, can you?  Get started with these articles for recipes and tips for frugal, natural cleaning:  Top 5 Homemade Cleaners and Simple Routines for Homemade Green Cleaners.
• Look to the Dirty Dozen, Clean Fifteen.  If you can't afford all organic (I can't), The Dirty Dozen, Clean Fifteen is a great guide for buying produce (there's even a handy iPhone app).  Stick to conventionally grown items from the clean fifteen, but avoid non-organic items from the dirty dozen.   
• Prioritize.  Make the health of your family a priority.  What's more important, a fancy gadget, a new beauty product, or nourishing food that will keep your family well?  When I'm tempted to buy another cute outfit for one of the girls or a kitchen gadget that I can live without, I have to remind myself of all the good food that I can buy with that money.  It may be hard at first, but in time it will become second nature to avoid buying "stuff" so that you have more money to invest in your family's wellness (the doctor's bills you won't be paying will be further motivation!).
• Don't stress.  Finally, don't stress about the things you may not be able to change right away, or even at all.  Do what you can when you can and rest knowing that even the smallest changes can improve your family's health in big ways.      

So, these are some of the ways that we make real food work with our budget.  If you follow some of the links to other blogs that I've included and browse around, I'm sure you'll find many more.  I realize that what works for me might not work for you, but I hope that at least something in this list causes you to have a "Hey, maybe we can manage this!" moment!  I'll follow up with a post that addresses where to start when you're ready to take the real food plunge!

This post is part of Simple Lives Thursday at GNOWFGLINS.
     

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