We received a GIANT cabbage the other day…. like bigger than a LARGE watermelon.   So we've been having plenty of coleslaw, and my mom suggested this easy casserole.   Super delicious,  and easy…   cabbage rolls without all the work!   The kids loved it too (and I remember them not liking regular cabbage rolls).

 

Now if only there was a way to photograph a casserole nicely….   sigh..   don't judge it by looks!

 

 

Cabbage Rice Casserole

1/2 head of cabbage, shredded (small head or 1/4 large)

3/4 cups long-cooking rice, uncooked 

1.5 cups boiling water

1 lb of ground beef

1/2 onion, chopped finely

Bay Leaf

 

Sauce:

1 can tomato soup

1/4 cup vinegar

1 tsp sugar

1/4 cup ketchup

*mom says you can use sweet pickle juice instead of vinegar and sugar

 

Preheat oven to 375 F

Brown beef with onion.

Place cabbage in bottom of a greased 13x9 dish.   Spread rice on top.  Pour 1.5 cups boiling water over rice.   Spoon beef over top.   Pour sauce evenly over beef, and poke down to bottom with utensil to make sure sauce doesn't overflow, and to get the flavour into the cabbage layer.   Place bay leaf in the top of each dish.

Bake covered  for 1.5 - 2 hours.

 

*if using brown rice… cook for closer to 2 hours

This dish freezes very well, so we made 2 when we made it!  

Enjoy!   I don't know if I'd ever make real cabbage rolls again!

These were tasty and a great use of zucchini and pumpkin.

Pumpkin Zucchini Chocolate Chip Bread and Muffins

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

2 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

2 sticks of butter, softened

4 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tbsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups grated zucchini

1 15oz can of pureed pure pumpkin

 

Preheat the oven to 350F

Cream butter, and add eggs one at a time.   Add milk and beat.    Add in pumpkin and zucchini.

In separate bowl, mix dry ingredients.  

Add to wet ingredients, being sure not to over mix.

Pour mixture into 2 greased bread pans, or into greased muffin pans.   

Bake  for 45-60 minutes for loaves and 25-35 minutes for muffins (or until toothpick comes out clean.

 

 

*I felt this recipe could use a little extra spices…. maybe a smudge more cloves and cinnamon, but otherwise very tasty.

Rich, moist, and super delicious!

 

Zucchini Brownies

1/2 cup canola oil 1 1/2 cups white sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 cups flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups shredded zucchini 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (I omitted)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and vanilla until well blended. I found it was best to mix by hand, this mixture ends up being so dry, that the stand mixer was no good, and ended up doing it with a spoon after anyway.

Stir in the dry ingredients. Fold in the zucchini and nuts.

The mixture will seem dry… but don't worry, as it mixes, it moistens up, and will hold together in the pan.

Gently press the dough/batter evenly into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until brownies spring back when gently touched or a toothpick comes out clean.

After cooling, top with icing!

Chocolate Icing

1/4 cup butter (room temperature) 2 cups icing sugar 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup milk

I will be the first to admit, I don't follow a recipe for icings…. so you may have to play with the amounts a bit. I always sat art with 1/4 cup butter, and mix in icing sugar and milk until the right consistency is made… then add cocoa til it's flavoured just right. If I need more than is mixed up, I typically just add icing sugar, and milk until it's enough for whatever I'm making. So keep your ingredients nearby to make the perfect icing.

These brownies were delicious… no sign of zucchini, but it's there! :)

Butter

Butter is very easy to make, and it is cheaper to make than to buy it.

 

I bought my whipping cream for a little bit less than you pay for a brick of butter in our area.   Of course I had a coupon though, which was additional savings for me, but that is not factoring into my assessment.  

One of the best things about making butter… you get butter milk as well, to make pancakes with! :)   That's where you're saving!

See that? 1 litre of whipping cream, you get 2 cups of butter and 2 cups of buttermilk!

The process is simple! There's so many ways to make it.

I make mine in the Vitamix (here are directions for this):

Vitamix

You can also make it in a food processor (there's many of these directions out there.. this is just one example):

Food Processor

You can also make it in your stand mixer:

Stand Mixer

Or you can just pour it in a mason jar and SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE (if you need to keep your kids busy while you make dinner)!

You can also customize your butter with salt levels (we do unsalted), but also with different herbs, or other flavours!

Only takes a few minutes (well unless you do the shake method).

Even if you don't think it's something you want to do regularly, you should try making your own butter… just once!

Bucket list

I have a bucket list for 2013.   Most are items I want to make from scratch!   I've taken a step back from my crochet/sewing business, so that I have more time with my kids, and more time to try new things, and create (without pressure).  

I'm so excited about it!   So many things I've been meaning to do for years, and never getting to.  This freedom also allows us to do more whole foods as a family, as we have time to make things from scratch.

Here is just a few of the things I'd like to make (or make on a more regular basis):

-butter (done before, but want to do more often)

-buns and bread (just want to make more often)

-mozzarella cheese (made this last week… post to come)

-ricotta cheese

-tortillas

-beans (instead of using canned)

-can pickles

-jam

-can peaches

-salsa

-mayo

-peanut butter

-cottage cheese

-cheese curds

-fresh pasta

 

…..  that is just some of my list….   but keep an eye on this blog, as I'll be updating it as I do things.  Hopefully I can tackle most of it before baby arrives!

 I'll hopefully have my butter post up tomorrow….   since I made it on Saturday again, and took pictures!   I just wanted to do a cost comparison, before getting it posted.

As far as other cooking/baking I plan to do.    I've been challenged to do a week of muffin tins…..   breakfast, lunch and dinner all prepped in muffin tins.    I'm going to spend a few weeks prepping and brainstorming for this exercise, but I think it will be fun!  :)   Ideas so far are individual lasagnas, mini meat loaves… etc.

 

January 2013

I can't believe how busy the last half of 2012 was.   I feel like I can finally breathe again!

I finished up my January meal plan a couple of days ago.... and got my groceries this morning (just a milk/produce pick up mid-month).

Can you believe it's 2013???    Crazy!!

This month we don't have much going on in the evenings, so I had a lot of freedom in my planning.   We do have a vegetarian house guest the last week of the month though, so I did factor that in when planning, as well as travel (eat out) days.  I also want to use some of that meat had has moved towards the bottom of the freezer.   I try to do that every 6 months or so, so nothing gets too old in there (saves on the grocery bill for a month too).  Due to changes in our Christmas plans, I didn't end up cooking Christmas day, so we are now having a turkey dinner this month (I cannot wait!)

 

January Meal Plan:

1- Baked Salmon, Rice, Broccoli

2- Cabbage Rolls, Spaetzle, Sausage, Salad (husband is cooking)

3 - Beef Stew*, Buns

4 - Shepherd's Pie*, Salad

5 - Beef & Broccoli**, Rice

Source: weightwatchers.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

 

6 - Belgian Waffles, Fruit

7 - Steak, Roasted Potatoes and Carrots*, Salad

8 - Pork Chops, Broccoli and Rice Casserole*, Salad

9 - Chicken Stir Fry, Rice

10 - Spinach Lasagna Rolls, Salad

11 - Homemade Pizza*, Raw Veggies

12 - Turkey Sausages, Eggs, Homemade Hashbrowns, Toast

13 - Roast Beef, Yorkshire Puddings*, Roasted Carrots and Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Corn

14 - Cheese Ravioli, Raw Veggies

15 - Beef on a Bun, Raw Veggies, Asian Coleslaw**

Source: homeiswheretheholmansare.blogspot.com via Judy on Pinterest

 

16 - Baked Butter Chicken, RIce, Stir Fry Veggies

17 - Balsamic Pork Loin*, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli

18 - Burgers, Fries, Raw Veggies

19 - Fish, Dill Sauce*, Rice, Asparagus or Broccoli

20 - Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Corn, Broccoli Divine*, Yorkshire Puddings, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce

21 - Leftovers

22 - Turkey and Rice Casserole*, Salad

23 - Beef Stew, Buns, Salad

24 - Leftovers

25 - ~Dinner out~

26 - Tuna Pasta, Peas

27 - Stirfry, Rice

28 - Homemade Pizza, Raw Veggies

29 - Supreme Green Spaghetti, Salad

30 - Homemade Soup*, Buns, Raw Veggies

31 - ~Take Out~

 

*Recipe to share

**Trying new recipe... will share

Burgers

I've come a long way in the last couple years. I used to not be able to touch raw meat....blech.. disgusting. I used to cook all meat from frozen.

But now, I can do it without too much yuckiness (exception is cuts of meat that are fatty, or tendons... I still don't usually cook meat with bones (or skin)). Progress!

Another fact... I rarely buy meat at full price. I prefer to do my grocery shopping first thing in the morning, right after all the mark downs go out! I pretty much always find the meats I need marked down, and I stock up if I see them when I'm not doing my regular grocery shop. 30% off stickers are my best friend (and 50% off stickers in the bakery section).

The other day I scored six 500g packages of extra lean ground sirloin marked down. I didn't even clear them out.... i just stuck with the 6 and left. What does that scream to you? BURGERS! I love to make a big batch of burgers for the freezer and pull them out as we use them.



This is the first summer I've ever made burgers.... ever! But they're delicious, easy, and a great freezer stocker for bbq nights. Gone are the days of pre-packaged frozen burgers that I always used to buy.

Here is my step by step.... I don't know any real recipes.. I read that you can make burgers with just beef, nothing else mixed in.. but we like a few extras.

First step... cut pieces of wax paper (or parchment paper) larger than you plan to make your burgers (these will help you separate the burgers when you take them out of the freezer later)



Next step... put toddler in high chair with some food that is fun to play with and will entertain them (spaghetti today). You just know you'll have to deal with them when your hands are covered in raw meat.... better to put them in a contained place with something to do.



Here's my recipe:

Beef Burgers

1500g lean ground beef
1 cup bread crumb
2 eggs
1/2 cup bbq sauce
seasonings of choice (I used Mrs Dash today.. but have used taco seasoning, italian seasoning, even curry).

Put it all in the bowl and mix together (spoon works.. but you'll get a more even mixing if you use your hands (you're going to have to get them in there to form burgers anyway.. so you might as well).



Once it's all mixed evenly, form patties to whatever size you like and place on a square of paper on a plate. Place another square on top and stack another burger... keep going (start a new stack when it starts getting high). Your kids might want to help... I let her put the papers inbetween layers for me... and she also took my photos for me!

*my husband just reminded me (yet again) that you're supposed to put a thumb indent in the middle of each burger for more even cooking. I forgot.. again. Maybe you can remember ;)*





I like to make slider size ones too (since the kids like these size burgers):




Wash up, transfer the burgers to freezer bags (or containers). When it's time.. just take out however many you need, and grill them up!

This recipe made 14 large burgers, and 12 sliders for me. I made 2 batches of this size, so I am stocked with burgers for a while now!

This recipe is very flexible.. throw in what ever you want! Onions, sauces, herbs, whatever you feel like adding! :)


This is just one of the recipes I do when I stock up on discounted ground beef. I actually use this same recipe for turkey burgers as well. When you buy discounted meat, you have to deal with it (prep to freeze, or cook with it) within a day or two, so always good to keep a few things on hand for mixing with them. I might have to post some of the other recipes I do when I get meats on sale. :)