Simple Meals ~ Cream of Wheat

I must be the only person in the world who loves Cream of Wheat.

At least, in our house, I am.

With all this blistery cold Wynter we're having, it's a perfect meal.

Plus, it fills me up, so I'm not snacking all day while stuck inside.

I have found that HOW you make it makes all the difference in the world.

I had a friends in high school, a brother and sister, who's MoM

knew how to handle the Cream of wheat.

But it's so simple.

I use the milk option when cooking mine.

That makes all the difference.

Also, to constantly stir it while cooking.

Whisk it really.

1 1/4 cup milk {I used 1%}

3 tbls Cream of Wheat

Whisk

Butter

Sugar

Cinnamaon

splash of Milk

Heat the milk to just boiling,
and while pouring the Cream of Wheat in, whisk it.

It only takes 2 minutes to cook so I whisk the whole time.

Pour into bowl,

add to taste:

Sugar

Butter

Cinnamon

Splash of milk

Let set for a couple of minutes,

stir it all together,

Eat.

yumm.

Simple Meals ~ Crepes

 We LoVe Crepes!

Haven't made them in years,

then both the Boy Fruits said

"hey, let's make crepes"

So we did.

I found this recipe on line,

and it was perfect.

Many many great reviews.

Here's mine:

Simple recipe.

I made the 8 serving batch

and it was A LOT!

Next time, I will use the 4 serving.

If you prefer a little sweeter crepe,

add some extra sugar.

Recipe Ingredients:

* 1 cup all purpose flour

* 2 eggs

* 1/2 cup Milk

* 1/2 cup Water

* 1/4 teaspoon Salt

* 2 tablespoons Butter, melted

  
We mixed ours with 
wet ingredients 
and then added the dry.






Eggs, Milk, Water, Butter ~ whisk together.

Add Flour,and Salt.

I let mine set for about 10 or 15 minutes.
Heat a medium to large skillet/pan; lightly oil. 
We used our 1/4 cup measuring cup to dip and pour the batter into the skillet. Quickly, twist the pan so the batter spreads thin.
Cook about 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown and flip. Cook til golden brown. 

Although I'm not a big fan of canned cherry pie filling, 
it will certainly do in a pinch, and I had some.
Carefully! and on low heat, heat the Cherry filling in a pot.
It's thick, and it's bubbly pop, it will burn the hell fire out of you.

Also, Lemon Curd...um, yum.

Once the Crepes are cooked, just fill and roll.

These particular Crepes would be 

super~licious with a savory filling. .

 After we filled the Crepe with Cherry filling, we rolled it,

and sprinkled the magical Powdered Sugar. 

nomnomnom...

Crepe recipe (we mixed ours differently}

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/basic-crepes/Detail.aspx

Simple Meals ~ Salmon Patties

This is one of those meals from my childhood. 

A favorite.

A very simple meal, really nice for the last day of a Holiday HoHo Vacation.

{and even more so, if you have left overs

to make sandwiches on the road tripp home the next day}

Salmon Patties quickly became one of
The Chook Man and The Womb Fruits favorites too.

I prefer mine the next day, cold, 

made into a sandwich on fresh white bread and mayo.

Yum.

Cans of Salmon

1 Egg

Mayo

Mustard

Salt & PePPer

I used three cans and it made just enough for 5 adults

and 2 kiddos.

No left overs.

Open the Salmon and dump into a bowl.

Clean it up a bit,

by taking out the skin and round backbone bits.

It doesn't have to be perfect, just the bigger pieces.

With Salmon, I once again keep the Spices & Flavorings, simple.

It's similar to making Tuna, when you add your Seasoning.

I say be careful with your Mustard and Salt,

 because too much seems to throw off the taste of the Salmon,

and it's a bit salty in the first place.

Add your Egg, to help hold it together.

Mix well and form into patties.

I use  a non~stick pan, with no oil.
Just cook until holds together, and nice dark golden on both sides.
Add sides to make a meal,
or let cool and make sandwiches.


Score another one for the Happy Campers on Holiday!

Simple Meals ~ Steak and Salad

My DaDDy could coOk a Steak. 

He taught Me how to cOok a Steak....

Plain and Simple.

My DaD was a true Steak man.

Breakfast, 

Lunch or 

Dinner.

Especially fond of adding home made Hash Browns for a 3am meal.

Or Fried eGGs for Breakfast.

If He was to use any condiment, it might be A1.

Ketchup?

Blasphemer!

I've tried it marinated in Italian salad dressing.

I've tried it covered in Tony Chachere's 

{No Thank You. Leave it for The Crawfish}

I've tried it Blackened, which is just burnt meat.

Nope. Let's just stay with the tried and true Simple.

*****

Salt

PePPer

Garlic Powder or Fresh Garlic

Soy Sauce {low sodium}

Decent Steak ~I always get a T~Bone. Make sure it has a bit of fat, it doesn't have to be over loaded with fat. If it's too dry its just beef jerky, right?

 

Broil for at least 10 minutes on one side.

We like a Bit of RaRe in our Steaks, 

so approximately 5 to 7 minutes on the flip side. 

I always use The Womb Fruits steak to cut and test, cause, I'm gonna cut it anyway.

I am bleSSed with A Family who really does LoVe Fruits and Vegetables. That's one big reason I hope Our Gardening takes off.

Salad Mixologist Ingreeds

*****

LeTTuce

Red Onion

Tomato {your favorite will do}

Cucumber

Feta Cheese, crumbled

Olive Oil

Lemon juice

Salt & PePPer

With Lettuce in a Bag, its super simple. A bit pricey maybe, but worth a splurge once in a while for convenience. 

Throw in and layer some diced Red Onion, chopped Roma Tomato, sliced Cucumber, generously shower with Feta Cheese, squeeze of Lemon, Salt & PePPer, capful or two of Olive Oil and Voila!

  A nice Mediterranean type salad. 

Most of the Time, I'll have enough left over Steak and Salad for a light Lunch the next day, which makes it even beTTer, Taste wise and economy wise.

and No matter what sides You add, 
the Simpler the steak, 
the beTTer it is

My DaDDy could coOk a Steak!

Simple Meals ~ Hamburgers

Hamburgers were meant to be Simple.

Simple shape

Simple taste

Simple to make

They are even simple to make ahead, and freeze

{cook or uncooked}

And they are great for a nice backyard dinner picnic.

For My Family peEps, I use

2~ 3 pounds of Ground Beef 

{Ground Buffalo is quite excellent as a burger:

But cooking time differs for it is drier than Ground Beef}

For My Flavorings, I use

Salt

Pepper

approx: 3 tbs. either Soy Sauce {low sodium}

or Worcestershire sauce

For My Fixins, I use

variety of chEEse slices 

red onion

pickle slices {Essential for The Kiddos}

and of course any condiments you prefer.

HAMBURGER BUNS

{really, what's the point if you don't use buns, Hun}

I prefer the Seasame seed kind.

Broil the shaped Hamburger.

Drain grease off  when flipping over.

It takes a total of 20 mins or less to

Shape

Cook

Dress

a Simple Hamburger.

yum.

Ground Beef and Colby Jack
Ground Buffalo and Gouda
Ground Turkey and Bacon Apple Cheddar

{And since You control what kind of Meat, Bread, Toppings,
and PROPORTION

its much healthier and cheaper to do it at Home.}

Simple Meals ~ Mac & Cheese

We just don't do fast food that much.

Holiday Road Trip,

Holiday shopping,

Occasional wEEkends,
maybe 5 times the whole year.

Other than than, if We eat out, its usually a restaurant.

If you think about it, fresh foOd is just as easy, 

and once you get in the habit, its quick.

Bonus: Kids can help, Kids love to help, Kids want to help.

Got to start with the simple stuff.

Mac and Cheese is about as simple as it gets.

The only thing simpler and easier is eating an apple.

Ingredients:

Pasta ~ get all different shapes. We like Shells, Twisties, and Spaghetti {which is great for baked mac&cheese}

Grated cheese ~ we use medium sharp

Timer

Big Pot

Boil the pasta according to its directions on package 

{angel hair will cook a lot faster than shells} in Big Pot.

TEACH YOURSELF AND THE CHILDREN TO TURN HANDLES TOWARD BACK OF STOVE!!

Set your timer!

While pasta is cooking, grate the cheese.  

Make sure and grate a bit extra for kids to eat, cause, they will.

Divide pasta into bowls and sprinkle grated cheese over pasta.

Add cut up apple or applesauce {or other fruit~ veggie choice}.
as a side.

Enjoy.