My 4 Chefs

We have been trying something new the last 5 or so months and it's working GREAT! 

  Everyone in our house is of an age, where they can easily (or semi easily) help to prepare food.  I wanted to take things a step further.

  I wanted the kids to help me look up the recipes to make our weekly  menu, make a grocery list, and do the shopping once we are at the store.  I want them to learn to menu plan, price compare and know how to navigate through the grocery store.  

  I also want them to learn how to prepare good meals for themselves and someday their families!  And so family meal planning began......

    For some reason, I have more meals photographed for the boys than the girls, but bear with me, we will get it all covered.

  Paxton picked an easy weekend meal of Oven Meatball Subs with a veggie platter.

  Do you remember all those yummy recipes we used to share on our old blog, the 4 little Fergusons?!  Well this one comes from there. 

​  You can head here to go check out the recipe! Easy peasy!

  Tylan, our 11 year old, spent the first few months was picking super easy things like Taco Pie, Kabobs on the grill etc.  As the months have gone on, he has become quite the chef.

  He picked, for this particular menu, Cheddar & Onion Meatloaf with mashed purple potatoes and fresh steamed green beans.  Holy amazing!

  Cheddar & Onion Meatloaf is on the 4 little Ferguson's blog as well.  The sauce MAKES IT stand apart from any other "loaf of meat" you have ever tried.  Promise!!! 

  Destiny tends to pick the most unusual dishes of our crew. 

  After a nasty run in with dish containing both cooked pasta and cubes of potatoes with no sauce, {gag} I was hesitant to let her try this one using boxed (gasp) mac and cheese, but you know what? 

   I have to let go of all that if I want them to help me menu plan.  I make them eat my dishes!  I will eat theirs happily, and you know what, it was REALLY good! :) 

​  And, BONUS, it came together quickly on Wednesday night as we were flying out the door to church.

  You can get the recipe here:
 Taste of Home Pizza Mac & Cheese

  Even Dale got in on the menu planning action, with some fresh fried crappie and steamed broccoli.....I made some butter seared crappie, as well with Old Bay Seasoning, which is my fav!

  Dale is frying in our new fryer using cast iron and local rendered beef lard.  If you are going to fry, that's the way to go!!!

  Avery was hungry for comfort food, and she picked a recipe we like to call, Man Casserole.

  Layers of seasoned beef, fresh butter sauteed mushrooms, mushroom soup, french fried onions and a yummy layer of egg washed biscuits on top, make this cozy dish.

  Do you remember this blast from the past?  YUMMO!

Click here to be taken to Man Casserole recipe.

  One of my favorites from this week, was Paxton's Barbacoa and Rice.

  We added some doTERRA amazing lime oil to our recipe.  These beautiful oils can be used for health and wellness AND cooking.  It tastes like you zested the lime and everything!  It doesn't replace juice, rather just adds a concentrated taste of lime.

  Other changes to this recipe, include using BEEF broth instead of chicken, whole can.  Then dip some of the yummy simmered beef juice out when it's time to cook your rice right before dinner, for that extra kapow of flavor. 

​  We also don't like half cans of anything leftover, so we chopped the rest of the adobo peppers and the saucey stuff, and added it to cooked rice. YUMMY!

 This was SO FANTASTIC!

  We served leftovers on tiny street tacos (tiny flour tortillas) for an easy school lunch.

  You can find the recipe here:

  Slow Cooker Barbacoa and Rice

  Lest you think I never cook, here are just a few of the things I made this past couple weeks!  :)  

  Do you LOVE cast iron? Oh man, I do.  I love how easy it is to go from stove to oven.  I love this orange sets I was gifted with my retro oven and fridge purchase!!!!

  Saturday morning, I was digging around the cute little 1950's fridge and inspiration struck....... 

  Side note: This is the most current pic of our kitchen and shed house.  I have never blogged the finished product! OOPSIE. Note to self. Photograph the apartment and blog it - asap! 

  In that fridge, we had whole bella mushrooms, some cooked crumbled bacon, ham, the amish version of Velvetta, steamed broccoli left from Dale's fish night, and a dozen eggs. 

  I decided to make an broccolli, ham and cheese oven skillet bake, and some pumpkin pancakes!

 IT WAS SOOOO YUMMY!!!!  

 On Sunday's we grew up doing Sunday night snack supper, it's a mennonite thing I think.  So this is something we have continued as a tradition in our own home.  

  I made a plate version of this 9x13, 7 Layer Dip.

  Our Dillons doesn't sell sprouts anymore, so I did romaine lettuce shredded up and my family loved it better.  We also had fresh avocados so that helps it be extra yummy too.  

  Amazing 7 Layer Dip

  One last Ty dish and then we are done. 

  Are you excited to menu plan yet?
  
  Ty wanted to grill some wings this week and serve them with mashed sweet potatoes.  He wanted them grilled, but sauced too.  So we ran out to the local butcher shop, got some wings and we grilled to almost done.  Then, tossed them in 2 different sauces.  Back on the grill they go, to seal it all in.

 OH MAN, these were so amazing and I have to say....

  This is the BEST spicy sauce I have EVER tried!  I had to get out some grape sherbet for my burning mouth but it was WORTH EVERY HOT BITE.

  There was also a second option, Thai Chili BBQ.  It was very good as well!

    Well, that concludes our first ever My 4 Chef's episode. 

​   Did this interest you?  Shall I do it again sometime?  Leave me a comment!

 Hope you are well, sorry I have been so quiet.  We have the worst wifi when we are in our apartment, and it is so many hours to first download all the pics, then create a post, but never fear, we will be back on the road before you know it!  :)  Then I will have lots of fun to share again!

Hugs, T