The Meanest Mom

I have a confession to make. I am seriously the meanest mom in the world.

I make Aiden clean his room.

He also does chores(gasp) he can vacuum, dust, do dishes and put away his folded laundry.

He does not get an allowance. He lives in my house and is expected to help.

No, iPad, Xbox, TV or playing outside until homework and chores are done.

He wanted his own dog and I expect him to brush her, play with her and clean up after her.

He helps with cooking. There is nothing more annoying then a guy that can't cook.

He will use please, thank you, excuse me, yes ma'am(sir)

He will respect adults especially his teachers. 

He eats what I cook or will go hungry. No exceptions. He has never gone hungry and choses to eat everything.

By having him help and take some responsiblity he knows I can spend more time with him. Taking walks, playing games or going to movies. Plus he will be a more independent adult. 

Double duty. Black bean soup/bean and avocado enchiladas

Fall is upon us and nothing is better than a nice warm soup.

I was going to call this post two for Tuesday but like usual I am slightly late. I am telling you having kids kills your brain cells.

Both these recipes are gluten free and vegan unless you add sour cream and cheese.

Beans full of fiber and delicious. They are also cheap. Being a public servant that is also important to me because everybody knows we make the big bucks(insert massive sarcasm) Plus when I make beans I get to hear Aiden sing his lovely song. "Beans, beans the magical fruit the more you eat the more you......."Well you get my drift. Life with a boy is never boring. Let's hope he doesn't rip one in that batman costume he is wearing it could be interesting.

I digress how about the recipe

1T olive oil

1 large onion

2 stalks celery

2 carrots

1 cup organic salsa

1 T taco seasoning

1 to 2 cups veggie broth

2 cans of black beans drained and rinsed.

2 cans of undrained black beans

1 can of corn

Chop onion, celery and carrots. Pour oil into a soup pan. Sauté veggies until tender. Add salsa and taco seasoning. Cook until tomatoes start to break down.

Throw it in the blender with the 2 cans of undrained black beans. Blend until smooth.

Add 1 cup of veggie broth to the pan. Add drained black bean, corn and pureed beans to mix. Cook for 30 minutes to let flavors blend.

Copycat Pasta E Fagioli

I love a certain restaurant chains Pasta e Fagioli soup. So I tried to recreate it. I believe I came very close.

At the end you can add cooked pasta. I didn't because it is yummy all on its own.

Top with parm cheese.

Best part. Totally gluten free and only 300 calories.

1 lbs extra lean ground beef

2 tsp oregano

2 cloves garlic chopped

1/2 onion chopped

1/2 celery chopped

1/2 shredded carrots

1 28oz can chopped tomatoes 

4 cups beef broth

2 cans kidney beans.

Pepper to taste

1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce

Cook ground beef with onion, celery, and carrots, oregano, and garlic. Add tomatoes, broth, beans and spaghetti sauce. Simmer for 2 hours or longer. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Meal 1 Crock pot meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and peas

Crock pot meatloaf
2 lbs ground meat($5.00)
1 packet dry onion soup or 1/2 cup homemade mix ($0.60)
2 eggs whipped($0.20)
1 roll ritz crackers, crushed($0.50)
1/2 cup onion chopped(free from the garden)
Garlic powder
Ketchup


Mix first 6 ingredients in a large bowl until well blended. Shape into crock pot size loaf. Line crock pot with foil. Place loaf in crock pot and top with ketchup. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Simple Mashed potatoes
2.5 lbs washed,peeled, chopped potatoes($1.25)
Stick of butter ($0.50)
Milk (1/2 cup)

Boil potatoes 20 to 30 minutes until try slide off a fork easily. Drain and let rest for 5 minutes to let steam escape.
In a large bowl mash or whip potatoes with butter,milk, salt and pepper until desired consistency is reached.
You can adjust the butter, milk, salt and pepper to you taste.

Cooked frozen peas ($1.00)

Total cost $8.05 with leftovers for lunch!

The $10 challenge

I love to cook and eat. Sometimes I go way over the top with cost and difficulty. Sometimes my recipes turn out and sometimes my dogs won't even touch them.
Well for the next 20 days every supper I make is going to cost under $10. It will be real food too!
Starting with tomorrow. Crock pot meatloaf, mashed potaotes and peas,
I can do this!

Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix

5 t beef bullion granules
3 T dried onion flakes
1 t onion powder
1/4 t pepper

Mix together. Makes one packet.

Natural Hardwood floor cleaner.

This works for real hardwood and laminate floors too.
My sister once told me that a group of pugs is called a grumble. Well we have a grumble of pugs and a six year old human child who spills everything. Keeping my old wooden floor clean is a challenge. I have tried almost everything Lysol, simple green, oil soap. They would clean the floor but they would streak and dirt would stick to it easily so it would look dirty every day. Most days we just use the swifter dry and dry dust it. Some days it really needs a bit more.

1/2 gallon hot water
1/2 gallon vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice

The vinegar and water clean and the lemon juice removes residue. I hand wash it to prevent pooling.