Breakfast in a Jar

Several months ago, we downsized our 15 passenger van to a minivan. It cut our gas bill tremendously.  But, it also gave us a car payment.  We brainstormed ways to cut our expenditures elsewhere in the budget to help make up for the new payment.  One of the biggest expenditures we cut was breakfast and lunch for my hubby.  He had been eating out a lot for those meals.  So, we decided he would take breakfast and lunch each day.

One of the most common breakfasts I have been making for my wonderful, hard working man, is breakfast in a jar.  http://www.theyummylife.com/Refrigerator_Oatmeal These are so delicious.  I often whip up a batch on Sunday afternoon, and he has breakfast ready for the whole week.  Yes, I make them that far in advance, using raw milk. He likes to grab breakfast, pack his prepared lunch and head out the door.  He eats breakfast on the way to work.

This week, I got a little lazy and made a quick breakfast parfait with yogurt and frozen fruit.  I know he likes granola with his yogurt, but we were out last night.  So, I made some this afternoon.  When I make granola, I make a big batch.  Three large cookie sheets full. (Sorry, the picture is a little blurry.)

Then I whipped up this jar of breakfast parfait.  Honey Greek yogurt, frozen berries and granola.  Maybe he'll like this even better than this morning's version.

And, now the kids can eat granola for breakfast, too.  Cereal is a treat around here.  It disappeared quickly with the budget cuts. 

Now, I need to come up with some more interesting lunch ideas.

And, here is my granola recipe.  I cook it at low heat to keep it healthier.  One of my sons doesn't like it that way.  He says it's not crispy enough.  But, I think the health benefits are worth it.

                  

                                 Granola

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method

--------  ------------  --------------------------------

  10              cups  rolled oats or combination of grain flakes

  1                cup  wheat germ

  2               cups  shredded coconut

  2               cups  slivered almonds

  2               cups  sunflower seeds

  1                cup  sesame seeds

     3/4           cup  honey

     3/4           cup  maple syrup

     1/2           cup  coconut oil

  1                cup  sugar, rapadura or brown

  2          teaspoons  vanilla

  2          teaspoons  cinnamon

  1           teaspoon  salt

Combine all grains and seeds.

Mix remaining ingredients in a small saucepan.  Warm gently on stove until coconut oil is melted.

Pour over mixed grains and seeds. Mix well.

Spread on 3 large cookie sheets. 

Cook at 145* for 3 hours.

Bread, Bread, Bread!

One of the things we've done to decrease our food budget is to make homemade bread instead of buying it at the store.  It is significantly cheaper and significantly more nutritious since I make it with freshly ground wheat and usually some other grains.  And, the kids love it! Actually, that's the problem :)  They eat bread for breakfast, lunch, with dinner and for snacks.  Last Friday I made 8 loaves of rosemary bread.  The loaves were smaller than usual, but still, there were 8 of them. By Saturday, they were gone.  Sunday, I made 6 dozen rolls.  By Monday, they were gone. (Of course, we had 12 people in the house all weekend, but still!) Monday, I made 4 loaves of bread. By Tuesday, they were gone.  Guess what I'm doing today :)

Tighten Your Belt

Like most people lately, we are tightening our belts in our household.  We have had years that God has blessed us with plenty.  Prior to that we have definitely had our financial trials.  We have lost our home to foreclosure, lost our credit status to bankruptcy and eaten beans and rice for weeks on end.  But, most of our kids have only known or only remember years of plenty.  So, actually, this belt tightening is good for them.  They know what it's like to want a little bit (a very little bit, really).  They look in the fridge and they don't find the same food they used to find. Now we stick to mainly staples and foods that actually take some time to prepare.  No, praise God, we don't go hungry or anywhere close to it.  We just have to get creative.  

And then there's the allowance issue.  The kids used to get allowance every week.  They set some aside for charity and saved some and the rest was spending money.  They were required to use their allowance for toys, games, outings - any extras that they wanted.  That way I don't have to field request for the kids' desires.  Since Jim's work has slowed down, we have only gotten a paycheck once this year from our business.  I told the kids that if we don't get paid, they don't get paid.  Now they are all pretty much out of money and they are feeling the recession, too.  They can't buy the things they want, or go the places they want.  They're feeling the pinch and it's good for them to be in want a little.  

I think twice before making purchases now.  The things I bought at Trader Joe's without thinking twice now stay on the shelf.  I make minimal purchases from Amazon.  The packages don't arrive nearly as often as they used to.  It's  good discipline for all of us.  Nothing like a little incentive to reign in the finances.  It is a good reminder to be thankful in all things.  God always provides for us and we must remember to thank Him in times of need as well as times of plenty.