This homeschoolers life

  Hi Friends,  Today I'm going to share my grandma's delicious green bean tater tot casserole. It is super simple to make, can easily be made ahead and stored in the fridge for later in the week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I love that it is easy to make, is a great comfort food (similar to shepherds pie without all the extra calories) and the options of what you add in are limitless and can be catered to around every food restriction & easily adapted to fit your families needs.  Ingredients:  ⬥1 1/2-2 cups of cooked green beans (fresh) or 1 14oz can of green beans. *They can be chopped or whole, that is up to you and what fits your families needs best.  ⬥1 can of organic cream of chicken, cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup (choice of soup is up to your preference. I tend to use cream of chicken or cream of celery soup with chicken and cream of mushroom if my meat base if beef). ⬥ 1-2 lbs of ground beef  cooked (or could swap out fo...

Tonight I concocted a new recipe and it received 5 gold stars from each of my family members & a request that I make it again next week. I'd say that makes it a hit with my fam! ;) It's such a simple recipe, takes less than 10 minutes to make and can easily be adapted to just about any preference or adjusted around allergies. Busy mommas, this recipe is bound to hit it out of the park with any bread lover in your family & help you get a delicious dinner on the table in under 30 minutes!   Since I happened to have a lot of shredded chicken leftover from a meal the other night that's what I used, however pulled pork or shredded beef could easily be substituted in these scrumptious savory rolls. Tonight I made them with a bbq sauce, but I plan to make half with ranch and half with a homemade sauce next time, to change them up a bit. What I liked most about these simple rolls is that I can make them with any meat I happen to have on hand & the topping and sauce op...

 Hi there friend, We are celebrating my son's birthday this week & his first request was for this homemade cake to be at his party. The recipe was gifted to me from my Aunt J several years ago after it was an instant hit at a family gathering. My hubby isn't a huge chocolate fan (shocking, I know!😉) so this has become his favorite desert that I make & is quickly becoming one of my kiddos faves and I think it will become one of yours as well. It's a delicious combo of light fluffy cake & creamy homemade frosting with an amazing snickerdoodle flavor.  If you love the taste of a snickerdoodle cookie this cake will delight your tastebuds and if you like baking but don't have a lot of time this is the perfect match on both accounts.  Simple to make & savory to the last bite.  It fits the bill for every birthday, holiday, special family event, is sure to be a crowd pleaser and a hit at any potluck, casual gathering & party. I hope you & your loved ...

  One of my families all time favorites on a cold winter day is home made mac n cheese. My family loves how creamy and cheesy this version is and I love how simple it is to make, that makes it a win/win in my book! ;)  When my son requested it for dinner tonight and I was all to happy to oblige after a busy day. We think your whole family will love it just as much as we do so I had to share it with you!  :) One of my favorite things about this recipe is how easily it can be adapted to your families likes. Simply add a cup of shredded chicken, ground beef, sliced pieces of a sausage, died ham or bacon and your mac n cheese will make anyone happy!  Directions:   *1 box of uncooked noodles (I prefer O Organics whole wheat macaroni, rigatoni or spiral noodles. We also love to make it with GF noodles or black bean noodles as well). *1 cup of desired meat *1 cup of water *1/2 tablespoon of butter is optional Dump all ingredients into instant pot. Starting with noodles...

 Hello Friends, Happy Wholesome foods Wednesday! (I don't know if that's a thing yet... guess I just made it up if it's not 😆). I don't know if I can think of anything better than a hot cup of homemade soup on a cold rainy afternoon, sitting curled up in a cozy blanket all snuggled by the fire.😍 This recipe is my go to when I want a yummy warm cup of soup on a blustery, cold, wet day or when one of my kiddos is feeling under the weather. It is always an instant pick me up and soothes an upset tummy or an achy, tired body and satisfies my families appetites when they are getting hangry. 😋 To make this extra filling I like to add in a mix of shredded chicken and any ground elk or beef I have on hand (that has already been cooked) for a bit of extra protein.  There is just something so satisfying about a steamy cup of homemade soup on a cold winter day that soothes my soul and warms me up quickly. My family is always so happy to gobble up any homemade soup I present the...

Hey there friends! All my pumpkin pie fans out there will love the rich creamy texture of this pie & the faint coconut flavor is a surprise twist for those who aren't regularly pumpkin pie fans. It's a slightly sweeter & creamier version that may just win over any pumpkin pie skeptics, lol ;)  This yummy pie was a huge hit today after our Thanksgiving meal & has already been requested for the next holiday ;)   Ingredients:  1/2 cup cold milk 1 package (6 serving size) vanillla instant pudding & pie filling 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger & 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves in place of pumpkin pie spice) 1 cup canned organic pumpkin 2 1/2 cups frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed (* I use coco-whip to add the slight coconut flavor 😊)  1 Keebler Ready Crust Graham Pie Crust Directions: In a large bowl beat milk, pudding mix and spice with wire whisk for 1 minute. (Mixture will be very thic...

 Hey there friends, Since it is Thanksgiving week I've been pondering the things that I'm grateful for even more, whether they are big or small. Today, I'm extra thankful for my beautiful family that I have the privilege of taking care of, that I could whip up a recipe using what I had on hand & that they can be the Guiney pigs for trying my new recipe's on haha ;)  I was flipping through recipes in my recipe box today and came across one that looked delicious but I realized I hadn't tried it before, so what better time to try it out than today right? Whelp, I got started on the recipe only to realize I didn't have half of the ingredients😅 Ooopsy!  So I did what any momma would do who doesn't want to waste ingredients or time lol and added in several ingredients that I thought would pair well with what the recipe called for and created a new version of this soup. The results: My hubby's new favorite soup! My kiddos also raved about it and the yummy ...

  Hi Friends,  If you're looking for an easy, delicious dinner that your family will love try this meal: Taco Casserole & Harvest apple salad. It is one of our fall favorites because it's so filling and feels festive with  fall colors (red & yellow bell peppers ). Enjoy!🧡 Taco Casserole:  ◇Ingredients- Filling: ▪︎3 cooked chicken breasts, shredded ▪︎1 cup onion, chopped ▪︎1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper ▪︎1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper (*any bell peppers you have on hand are fine) ▪︎1/2 bag frozen corn (*or 1 11oz can whole kernel corn, drained) ▪︎1 (8oz) can organic tomato sauce (*or homemade sauce) ▪︎1 cup shredded cheese (*I prefer a mix of mozzarella & cheddar) ◇Ingredients- Topping: ▪︎1/2 cup pancake mix (*prefer Kodiak Cakes/waffle & pancake mix) ▪︎2/3 cup 2% milk ▪︎ 1 egg, slightly beaten ▪︎2 tsp.  Vegetable Oil (*prefer avocado or melted coconut oil) ◇Prep:  ▪︎Preheat oven 350° ▪︎Spray 9×9 or 8x8 glass baking dish with coconut o...

  Creamy Chicken Enchiladas: This yummy recipe for chicken enchiladas is sure to be a crowd pleaser and be a hit even with picky eaters! It is super easy and adaptable, you can whip it up in a snap while catering to your families health needs/preferences and individual tastes :)  What I love most is that I can prep multiple dishes all at once, one for tonight and one for later in the week or to pop in the freezer for a night I am short on time and but want to provide a homecooked meal for my family (double bonus🙌).  First start with gathering all your ingredients:  -Tortillas: Either store bought or homemade ( I love to use flat out brand, 5 grain fold it tortilla's (healthier version) or Mission whole wheat or flour tortillas (my kiddos prefer these as they are a bit softer and less chewy texture).  -Meat: Chicken (or any other meat could be substituted. *I also love to use ground elk or organic grass fed ground beef, both are equally delicious) -Rice: Basmati...

 Hi friends,  If you are looking for a yummy fall treat to bake for your family these pumpkin scones will be the perfect fit! This delicious recipe comes from my aunt J who is an incredible cook and loves to bake up yummy treats to share with family and friends. A few years ago I planned and hosted a surprise tea party for my grandmothers 85th birthday and of course a tea party wouldn't be complete without yummy food! My aunt happily baked up these amazing scones along with her exposition scones (recipe and more info about the tea party can be found on my instagram @thishomeschoolerslife.   ) for the party.  They are always a big hit & devoured quickly ;)  I knew I had to get her recipe to bake them with my kiddos  :)   Pumpkin Scones:  2 Cups Flour 7 Tablespoons Sugar 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder 1/2 teaspoon Salt 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon Cloves 1/4 teaspoon Ginger *Mix all the above ingredients & cut...

 Hello friends, This is a fall favorite (but it's delicious any time of the year) in our home. My kiddos and hubby often request this hearty soup because it has great flavors and keeps their bellies full :) I'm always happy to oblige & we usually have all the ingredients on hand and it is a breeze to make this recipe.  What you'll need:   I'd suggest using an instant pot as this recipe was designed to cook in one. However, it could easily cook in a crock pot or big pot on your stove with the necessary time adjustments ;)  *Instant Pot *1 cup chopped or shredded chicken (could substitute with any meat you prefer. This is also very delicious with some added bacon bits) * 1 bag of yellow potatoes chopped (or any potato you prefer) *1/2 of 1 sweet onion (I like to use sweet Walla Walla onions) * 1 red bell pepper diced * 1 orange bell pepper diced (yellow or green also works) * 2-3 medium carrots chopped * 2-3 stalks of celery chopped * 1 can (drained) sweet corn (or...

  Hi friends, Today I'm sharing one of our favorite chicken recipes: BBQ Chicken Sliders. It is super simple and can be prepped ahead so you can take with you anywhere or prepare in a hurry to feed your crew.  1) Start by adding 6-8 frozen chicken breasts (I purchase a big bag of individual flash frozen chicken breasts at Costco) into my Instant Pot and line them side by side. (If chicken will be used only for this recipe create a delicious bbq shredded chicken with: 2 cups of bbq sauce, 1/2 cup of italian dressing, 1/8 cup brown sugar and 1 cup of water to the I.P.) 2) Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the bottom of the I.P. add lid and seal to venting.  3) Cook on manual for 14-15 minutes and let sit for another 5-10 minutes before doing a quick release. 4) Remove from I.P. and shred chicken while still hot (it should shred easily) * I like to use tongs to shred the meat by lightly twisting the meat apart.  5) Set meat aside  6) Prep sliders by slicing your chosen ro...

 Hello friends,  If your family is anything like mine they will love this super simple & delicious hearty casserole. I love that it is filling, healthy and can easily be made ahead of time or frozen to keep on hand for the busy days we just don't have a ton of time but I still want us to eat a homemade meal. :)  *Check here for link to another yummy meal I think your family will love and that can easily be made out of left over shredded chicken you didn't use for this recipe: *Preheat oven to 375 degrees 1) Start by adding 6-8 frozen chicken breasts (I purchase a big bag of individual flash frozen chicken breasts at Costco) into my Instant Pot and line them side by side. (Also can be made with lean ground beef/lean turkey/sausage or ground elk). Cook on manual for 14-15 minutes, let sit another 5 minutes before quick release. 2) Dice 1/2 of 1 onion * (while chicken is cooking) 3) Drain one 15oz can of sweet corn 4) Add first three ingredients to a large mixing bowl ...

  Hello friends,   Are you looking for a quick, easy and delicious recipe for dinner tonight, or wanting to make a special breakfast perhaps?  Then you will love how versatile and simple this recipe is! My family loves it and it is a breeze to whip up in a hurry. I think you will love how delicious & fun and how easy it can be altered for allergies and health restrictions.  Dutch baby recipe came from a small restaurant owned by Victor Manca in Seattle during the 1900's. He was an immigrant from Germany who coined the name for this recipe they served in their restaurant. The actual type of German pancake originated in Germany & has served as a staple breakfast dish throughout Germany. Dutch Baby: 1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees 2)Place  2 tbsp. butter (or coconut oil) into a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven and place into oven while it is preheating.  3) Batter In a medium or large mixing bowl combine: *1 cup flour (all purpose, gluten free, coconut,...

  One pot Chili:   I love to make chili on a cool fall or winter day. There is just something cozy about a nice hot bowl of soup that hits the spot perfectly when the temps go down.  I love that this is a recipe that I can keep all the ingredients on hand and have thrown together in less than 10 minutes. It makes for a  super simple meal that can be altered any way you'd like to appease picky eaters or allergies.  Ingredients:  1 can of corn (drained) 3-4 cans of chili beans 1 can of black beans (drained) 1 can of diced tomatoes with green chilies 1 can of garbanzo beans or great northern beans (drained) 1 can pinto beans (drained)  1 medium bell pepper (any color you have) 1 medium red or sweet onion diced  1 or 2 chicken breasts cooked and shredded *Combine all ingredients in either an instant pot or slow cooker and mix well. Place lid on, turn the valve to sealing and set your IP to 5 minutes on manual. Do a quick release and serve.  *Slow...