Homemaking on the Homestead

This week's menu is another simple week. Lot's of things to do and easy is the word for my week! Today we are having leftover fish sticks and mac & cheese. I made a big batch yesterday so we could have the leftovers. I'll also be sharing my mac & cheese made in the Instant Pot later this week! The rest of the week is looking like this... Sub Sandwiches Warm weather is in the forecast and sandwich night with fruit is always an easy go to meal. Pizza It's been a while since pizza was on the menu. It was sounding pretty good to me! A salad on the side makes it a great meal. Burritos A yummy flour tortilla filled with refried beans, seasoned hamburger, salsa, cheese and sour cream. Fresh fruit along with tortillas and extra salsa will round out the meal. That should do it for the week!! Happy menu planning!!

Rice is super easy in the Instant Pot (IP). I know a lot of people have rice cookers but I got rid of mine a long time ago. It was not worth it to me to have an extra appliance to store just to cook rice with. It was one of those appliances that collected more dust than it ever got used.  So I gave mine away and just cooked my rice traditionally on the stove top... until now. The Instant Pot makes amazing rice! And it's so easy to do. I posted a couple days ago about my “roasted” chicken dinner and I served this rice pilaf with it. I used Jasmine white rice as it is our favorite. Different types of rice take different rice to water ratios. The little booklet that comes with the IP has more info on this. The first thing I did was chop up a small onion and about a ½ cup or so of celery. I turned the IP on “Saute” and waited for it to get hot. It will display “HOT” when it is ready... While the IP was heating up I measured out 2 cups (the little cup that...

I'm excited to share some recipes with you using my new Instant Pot. The first one is “Roasted” Chicken. I put roasted in quotes because it is not actually roasted but tastes like it is. This chicken turns out falling apart tender with amazing flavor and moistness. I served rice pilaf with it, also made in the Instant Pot. I'll share that recipe next time. For now here is the step by step on the chicken. After a few uses with the IP I found it super easy to use. But it does take a bit to get the hang of it. First of all I gathered together my spices for the rub. The recipe will be posted below. Measured them out and mixed it all up.. Rub the mixture all over the chicken. Let this sit in the fridge for an hour or more. I made the rice while it was sitting and dry brining. Now it's time to cook the chicken. Turn the IP on “Saute”. When it is ready it will show “HOT” on the screen. Add a scoop of coconut oil and let it melt. Then...

I asked my son what he would like to see on the menu this week and a couple of this weeks choices reflect that. He's pretty easy to please! Ha, ha..  I also want to keep on cooking with my Instant Pot as I'm loving how much time it saves.  I'll be sharing a couple recipes this week for use with the Instant Pot.  My week is shaping up to be busy so this menu works well with that. Today is grocery shopping and errand day and I'm not usually home until later in the day. So today will be dinner thanks to Costco: Asian Orange Chicken & Egg Rolls. I'll make some chow mein or rice when I get home and throw in a salad. Costco sells a great Asian salad mix that I buy every now and again and it will go great with this meal. The rest of the week is looking like this... Tacos Easy son request. I'll serve tacos with all the typical trimmings and add tortilla chips and salsa on the side. Pulled Pork Sandwiches This one is my choice but he...

I am slow to come around to kitchen gadgets. I like to keep things simple. I've heard of to many “must have” gadgets in the past that I bought only to be disappointed and have them sit unused on the shelf collecting dust. Eventually I would give them away or take them to Good Will. So a couple years ago I heard that the Instant Pot was all the rage. I read a bit about it. I liked the idea but was just not sure it was worth the money. I was not going to spend that much on a kitchen gadget to have it just sit on the shelf. If you are not aware of the Instant Pot I'll tell you about it. It is an electric pressure cooker. But it is actually more than that. Mine is a 7 function, 6 quart pot. Not only does it cook food under pressure, but it can also be used as a slow cooker, a rice cooker, it will brown and sauté your food before cooking, you can make yogurt in it and use it as a steamer and warmer. A friend of mine purchased one a few months ago. She started sharing...

After a couple busy weeks this week should settle down. The rain and cloudy weather is back and I'm already missing the warm sunny days we had. But I'll make some cool weather comfort food to get us through the gray and wet. Here is what is on my plan.. Pork Loin Roast I'll serve this roast with rice pilaf and a salad. It's a pretty big roast so there will be plenty for leftovers or lunches. Beef Stroganoff A yummy comfort food that is quick to put together. I'll serve it with my last jar of home canned green beans and dinner rolls. Lasagna I'll serve this lasagna with french bread and a nice green salad. Chicken n Dumplings Yet another comfort food for the gray wet days. Broccoli sounds like a good side dish for this meal. That should do it for the week! How's your menu planning coming along?  

I want to share what a wonderful job my sister in law did, once again, in helping me create another guest room in my home. As my kids have moved out I've found myself with unused, extra bedrooms. A couple years ago she came and turned one of them into a guest room. You can see her talented work here: http://homesteadinghomemaker.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-guest-room.html This year it was time to do another room. So at the beginning of the year I called her, because she has the biggest heart ever, and asked if she would come and help me. She was all over it. But weather and other issues kept her from coming here (she lives in Montana) until this month. She came with totes full of decorating stuff and the motivation to paint and turn this room around! The room previous belonged to my daughter Leanne. She had painted it her favorite color combo several years ago, red and brown. Now it was time for it to be repainted. I picked an tanish white color (the same I've us...