Refried Beans

Here is another recipe that serves more than one  meal. I'll make  this recipe about once a month and let me tell you it makes a lot. A crock pot full in fact, this would be perfect for pot-lucks. I actually get three meals from this one batch of beans and each is different. Before I mash my pintos I remove 4-6 cups and reserve for later. So our first meal is re fried beans and I'll serve with taco's, taquitos, or chimichangas. Then we'll have beans and cornbread with fried potatoes and smoked sausage on another night. Lastly, we have simple bean burritos with chips and salsa on Sunday before church. I found this recipe on Pinterest or click here.

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs pinto beans( I found mine at Dollar Tree...cheap trick)
1 large onion, chopped (I used onion powder since my family doesn't care for onion)
4 Tbsp. jarred minced garlic (Also found at Dollar Tree)
*Up to 2 1/2 Tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp cumin
10 cups hot water

* You can use as little as 1 Tbsp. It depends on how you like your beans.

Pantry Reorganization

I found this old Krylon Spray Paint display in my Pa-Paw Joe's barn and thought it would be perfect for storing my canned goods. Pretty neat huh?

I love these Rubbermaid drawers.

Peaches and Cream French Toast Casserole

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams

1 - 8oz loaf French bread, sliced
8  large eggs
2  cups whole milk
1/4  cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 - 15oz cans sliced peaches packed in juice, drained
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup heavy cream (I used about 1 cup instead)

Preparation

1. Butter a 9 x 13 inch pan. Arrange bread in a tight, flat layer in a dish.

2. In a large bowl, whisk eggs with milk, sugar and vanilla until blended; pour over bread. Arrange peaches on top and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

3. Remove baking dish from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pour cream into a small pan; bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Drizzle over peaches and bake, uncovered, until casserole is lightly browned on top and just cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. 

Recipe is from here. I love, love, love this recipe and I just want to add how well it reheats over and over too.

Taco Soup To-Go

1 lb browned ground meat
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
1 pkg fajita seasoning mix
3 cans pinto beans
1 family size can corn (drained)
1 can chili beans
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can Mexican stewed tomatoes
1 can Rotel

Throw everything in a crock pot, stir and cook on high for about two hours. This is a really easy recipe, my favorite kind. Now, here's what I do differently...My husband doesn't care for tomatoes so I take both cans of stewed tomatoes and the Rotel and blast in my blender for a few seconds. It doesn't take long at all and he doesn't even know their in there...sneaky huh? He also doesn't care for soup, picky right? So for this little quirk I drain his soup and serve with tortilla chips for a thick and hearty "taco dip." Now, for the to go factor I put a cup of soup in a mason jar (my new obsession) and top with half a cup of cornbread batter. I use Marie Calendar's it is quick, moist, and yummy. Plus, all you have to add is water. Bake in oven following the directions for corn bread muffins. Insert a toothpick to see if the cornbread is done and screw lids on to prevent spilling. Lastly, I called my delivery boy, Colton and his sister Ashley-Pie, to come pick up my picnic basket and take jars to everybody on the farm(my parents, grandparents, and my aunt, uncle, and two children). I had plenty to share plus I have four lunch size servings left too.

Conquering the Coconut

This morning we opened a coconut for the very first time. What a challenge!

There are three holes(tender spots) on one end of every coconut and Google said to drive a nail in each hole and drain the liquid. It was wonderful. We strained it through a coffee filter to remove all the little hairy particles.

After the liquid is removed wrap coconut in a towel and whack with a hammer.

The kids each took turns until it opened up. I must say the inside is a gorgeous white that has remained completely protected and unblemished from the rest of the world. At last we tasted the meat...yum! All in all this was a fun little project for the kids to do together.

Home School Rooms For Inspiration

Spacious

Organized

Globes...I love globes and I have a bunch.

Track lights

Annette will like this one for the books. I like the ceiling too.

Calm

This one would be good for A.C.E.

 

Cheery

Sophisticated




 

Neat and organized




A table for group classes.



Summer Trip To Robber's Cave

This is the rock at the entrance to "The Devil's Slide"

One of the caves.

It was well over a hundred degrees everywhere but here and it was probably sixty right there.

Definitely a slippery slope. However, this was truly an amazing family experience.

Kim, Sam, and Tommy.

Mr. Adventure

I nearly had a heart attack watching them.

The view half way up.

Looking down into one of the caves.

My boys climbing down in there. I did not follow.

Jerry on the top looking down at all of us.

Another beautiful view.

Now to get back down, hmmm!

Lovely!

Uncle Harley

Look at Maddi go.

This crack goes all the way through and you can see people at the bottom, creepy.

I loved all the scenery.

Bubba

A skinny escape.

I didn't like the tight quarters in there but, it was the only way out.

"Don't let go Layne"

We spent Saturday at Robber's Cave in Oklahoma. It is the legendary hide out of Jesse James and his outlaws. There was so much to do there for both young and old. You could swim, putt-putt, fish, camp, grill, paddle boat, canoe, hike, bike, or visit their nature center. Then enjoy a snow cone. We will be going again for sure.