Mashed Potato Hot Dog Casserole

WARNING: This meal is extremely kid friendly..

I know what you're thinking. Sheesh, does this girl cook anything besides potatoes?

Yes, yes I do cook other things. I know a lot of people are struggling, and new cheap recipe ideas are always helpful.

We didn't have much money growing up so my mom cooked a lot with potatoes. This, like the Potato Soup recipe, are childhood favorites of mine.

While this is a cheap and filling meal, it's not necessarily a "quick" meal. It takes about an hour from start to finish but it's totally worth it.


Ingredients:

• Potatoes
• Hot Dogs
• Yellow Mustard
• Paprika
• Cheese optional

Directions:

1. Prepare a batch of mashed potatoes as you normally would. (I made 5 pounds of red potatoes for this batch)

        2. Cut hot dogs down the center lengthwise and lay them open filling a  casserole dish (I used 17 Hebrew National Hot Dogs in 2 casserole dishes)

     3. Squirt the mustard onto the hot dogs

4. Spread the mashed potatoes over the hot dogs
5. Sprinkle Paprika over the top

6. Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. At the end of 30 minutes turn on a low broil for about 5 more minutes (if you only have 1 broil temp, just do 3 minutes). At this time, you can sprinkle cheese on the top before you broil. 

Caution: It's really HOT!!

Organized Packing and Moving

I have moved several times in my life, and each time, I adopt new practices to make the move easier and more organized. Recently we had to move our 7 member family. We actually are moving twice within a short period of time.

This system has proven to be very useful but, especially since we are not unpacking all of our stuff while we're in the interim house. I tried a very different approach to moving this time. Usually I'm pretty organized as far as packing all of my boxes and writing which room they belong to on the outside. But, I still always face the problem of "which box did I put the ________ in?" and thus begins opening every single box marked KITCHEN until it's found. This.....is......a.....big......fat......pain!

Supplies you will need:

Moving Boxes all different sizes (way more than you think)

Packing Tape (more than you think)

Scissors

Pencils and pens

Colored markers

Address labels

Lined index cards

Recipe box

Colored paper like construction paper

Tissue paper/News paper (unprinted is better)

TIP- It's best to have a special box or basket for these items. Your moving box will help keep your supplies organized, especially if your husband thinks your new cool pack of colored Sharpies all belong to him.

If you know ahead of time that you are moving it's will be a little easier to pack and move this way. It's a little bit of extra work but it will save you A LOT of time on the other end. Actually it can even save you a lot of time before you actually put the boxes on the truck. Even packing with a tight time frame you can still do this. I packed about 65% of our boxes using this system the day before we moved.

Using the colors of construction paper assign each room or area  a different color. Here was our list.

Living Room including Coat & Hall/Linen Closets - ORANGE

Kitchen - YELLOW

Bathroom(s) - PURPLE

Little Girls Room - BLUE

Big Girls Room - RED

Our Room - GREEN

School Room - LIGHT BLUE

Garage/Shed Storage - BLACK (this is the only color I didn't attach to the box)

Each box you pack will need a color and a number. The first box you pack will be #1. Cut the colored paper into 4ths or 8ths. 4ths work well for larger boxes but 8ths will save more paper. Write the box # on each colored paper and tape it to each side of the box.

 Next, Labels. Lots and Lots and Lots of labels. Like with boxes and tape you need more labels than you think. I ended up with about 110 or 112 numbered boxes. I didn't number the boxes that we already had in our attic before the move. I only numbered the ones I packed. Print several sheets of labels for each room. The larger rooms will need more. I had to go back and reprint more because I under-estimated. Each box will require 4 labels. Put one label on each side of the box in the upper right corner. You will find the colors will be easier for you to identify the the boxes, but if you have helpers moving you the labels will be easier for them. Be sure not to forget to print FRAGILE labels,  and put on on each side of the box with the fragile items. TIP - if two people share a room, print both names on the labels, this will save on labels. For the boxes that belong to only one of those people, underline that persons name on the label. 

 Most of my colored papers are not cut evenly or straight. It would take way too much time for this. If you have a child old enough to cut this is a great job for them. Most if it can be done ahead of time. My 4 year olds were able to help put the labels on.

Boxes. The rule for boxes is, "You will need more boxes than you think, it's better to have too many than not enough. I figured I would need about 60 boxes and I ended up with over 110 numbered boxes, plus the extra empty ones for moving day. Before you go and buy boxes you should try and get them for free. I didn't buy any boxes. In our town the businesses have large dumpsters behind the building for cardboard only. I was able to find most of my boxes this way. I also put a wanted post on Freecycle.org for moving boxes. I did get some this way too. TIP- if you have a BevMo or liquor store near you, the liquor boxes are excellent for packing fragile items such as glasses and vases. They have dividers in them and it saves a lot of time not having to wrap these items in paper.

You will need a package or two of index cards and a small container to keep them in. I found my index card box at Wal Mart for $1.00 in the office section and the index cards were about $0.75 cents. 



Each box will have it's own card. At the top left corner of each card draw a colored square. The color should be for the room that the box belongs to. The top right of the card will have the number of the box. As you pack the box, write down everything you put into it. Now, for certain areas I didn't write down each item. For my nightstand stuff, I only wrote "Kimmie's nightstand stuff" I know what is in my nightstand. But for the kids school boxes, I was very detailed because I had 6 identical sized boxes.

 It's okay if you end up with the colors all mixed in. I didn't pack each room one at a time. I would have 3 blue cards 2 yellow cards then 3 oranges etc. As long as they are all numbered in order and the contents are recorded they can go in any color order. 

I took this one step further and created an Excel spread sheet and put the Box #'s and contents in the spread sheet. It's alot easier to click find and type in the item and have the program jump right to the box number than it is to flip through 100 cards. I did keep the box of cards. What if my computer crashes?

When I couldn't remember which box I packed my 3 hole punch in, it was awesome that I could hit find in excel and type 3 hole punch and it told me that it was in box #37. This was before we moved and it would have not been fun to open all the packed orange boxes to find the hole punch. 

After your box is packed be sure to tape it closed. Taping it will make it stronger and better able to sustain boxes stacked on top of it. 

I'm jumping out of order here but I'm sure you can keep up. The next picture is of an index card for a box that was only partially unpacked. The unpacked items were crossed off and at the top the location of that box was written. We are not fully unpacking and this box had games and toys for the little girls. I don't want these all out. The box is being stored until we move again.

 
Pack a suitcase or a small box for each family member with stuff you will need right away, tooth and hair brushes, a change of clothes for a couple days etc. You will be very glad you did this. You think you will get that stuff unpacked right away and most likely it's not going to happen. You will be exhausted. It's very easy also to put all the bedding for each bed in a large garbage bag and keep that with you too. When the bed is set up it's easy to remake it. Or you can use sleeping bags for your first night.


It's also very helpful to have a few "we need it now boxes". You can give these boxes a special color or use a laundry basket and keep these boxes with you or have them be last on the truck. If you need your shower items and kitchen frying pan first thing the next morning, you will be glad you did this. Oh and keep your cleaning supplies handy, you will need them at both places.


Be sure sure to keep a few empty boxes around, there will always be extra items that weren't packed and you will need these.

At the new house, decide whether nor not you are going to place boxes in each room or in one designated place. If you want them taken to each room hang the paper for the color of that room in a place that's easy to see, so those carrying boxes can just find the color. You can also put the label for that room on the colored paper. You should designate a spot in each room for boxes pick a wall or something. Hang another colored paper there and write BOXES HERE on it.


BIG TIP - If you choose to have one designated room for boxes tape up the colored papers so that each color box can be stacked under the coordinating color. Write on the yellow paper YELLOW BOXES HERE, and on the orange paper ORANGE BOXES HERE etc. Now, I didn't do this. I had a room for boxes, but not specific spots for each color. As I was digging through looking for GREEN box #65 that was behind a stack of 80 other boxes, I realized that having them stacked by color would have been a whole lot easier. I will be doing this on our second move for sure.



I must say that we were glad over and over again that we had numbered boxes with lists of the contents. We used it several times. It also helped to decide which boxes needed to be unpacked right away and which ones could wait a few days, or go to be stored. As I unpacked boxes completely I took the numbered card out of the card box. I was going to throw them away but decided to put them in a ziploc bag and hold onto them. I may end up repacking the boxes with the same items when we move again.

TIP - I put labels on the dressers and such so the helpers would know which rooms to take them. They were very hard to get off, so I don't think I'll do that again.

This move was very organized and easy. It's never a good idea to be packing the day you are moving. This aggravates the nice men who come to help out of the goodness of their hearts. Lets face it, no one really likes helping you move, they just want to get it over with and go home.

TIP: Make sure you feed the very generous people who are helping you move. Buy pizzas or something quick and easy. Pizza is very easy and doesn't require dishes or a lot of garbage. Have plenty of water bottles on hand too. Full bellies will keep your helpers happy and working. My husband once helped someone move and he didn't get fed. He came home feeling unappreciated, starving and grumpy. I doubt he will help that person move ever again. Men like food. Feed the men who are moving  you.

I promise this makes you life easier. I have been so happy I took a little extra time and made this move organized. 

Last TIP: DON'T LOSE YOUR CARD BOX! 

If you have questions I'd love to hear them.  

Old Time Dr's vs Today's Dr's

Dr. Rudnick was a family Dr. in San Lorenzo for years and years. He worked alone, without a nurse. He had a receptionist. He had two exam rooms where he did exams himself. The extent of his hearing test was putting his hand in front of his mouth and whispering "can you hear me?". His office visits were cheap. He gave medicine samples and didn't charge $200 for tylenol. He saw children and adults alike. He didn't have fancy machines to do simple things. Probably he was in practice for at least 60-70 years. I believe he was my grandmothers Dr. when she was a child. He was my mothers Dr. and he was mine also. You did not need complex insurance plans to see this Dr. in fact you could be seen for less than $60.00. Total.

Today's Dr.s have fancy hearing machines, scores of nurses, expensive equipment to test simple things. Don't get me wrong, advancements in medicine and medical equipment are a blessing. The use should be limited to necessary cases. If the physicians could step back a little, perhaps 80 years back, and simplify their practices, people would be able to afford Dr. visits.

I have had several people tell me they were charged hundreds of dollars for just a few tylenol. While viewing a bill to an insurance company one woman said her insurance was billed for 16 hospital chairs. She certainly didn't have these in her home. I don't think all Dr.'s are crooks, but some of them are. They are also advocates for pharmaceutical companies, and will 99% of the time try and push some type of drug on you.

I don't think it's the answer to have our government step in and save the day either. The voice of the people can be very powerful. If we can all stop being such wimps and stay away from the Dr. when we have a simple cold, flu or tummy ache, they wouldn't make any money. If they aren't making any money, they will have to lower their rates, and rethink their business. Common sense. People have allowed Dr's and insurance companies to take advantage of them. Just because a Dr. says you need something, doesn't mean you do. You're better off getting a Rx and filling it at Target for $4, than paying $200 for their meds in the Dr office.

Sometimes things are just simple. I don't know why everyone wants to make everything so complex that we need the government to save the day. Hello this is America. It's a government for the people, by the people. Government has no business being in business.

Think next time, do you really need to go to the Dr? Or is it just because you think it only costs you $5.00 out of your pocket? Adam and I have not seen a Dr, in over 4 years, and yes there have been times where we have considered it. The kids have gone only once or twice in the last 2/3 years, and this was only after 6 days of fever or because the emergency room was necessary for an injury. Kids don't need to be seen everytime they are sick. Kids get sick. We are the ones fueling the fire for these Dr.s and insurance companies. Most illness can be prevented with a healthy diet, exercise and vitamins.

Just say NO to running to the Dr. with a hang nail!

Secondhand Shopping Awesomeness

I think thrift stores get a bad wrap. Or maybe my old childhood fears of someone saying "Yo mama shops at the Salvation Army, Kmart & Payless Shoes" still haunt me. Ha! Of course after I was laid off and decided to stay home we went from really well off, to one small income, I had to re-learn how to shop.

Another reference to the Duggar family in the same day. Their family motto is "Buy used and save the difference". They rarely ever buy anything new, and they pay cash for everything. They have no debt, none, not even mortgage debt. Anyhoo, thrift store shopping is how they clothe and shoe their 19 kids. They are always nicely and modestly dressed.

Our town has about 5 or 6 secondhand stores. Some are better than others. The chain thrift stores like Goodwill tend to be a little expensive. Who wants to pay $10 for a used kids dress? Um, not me. I go there sometimes, and have found great deals, but I prefer to give business to the Church run stores.

Clothing a bunch of kids can get expensive. Especially with the smaller ones seem to grow out of clothes faster than they can wear them out. I have found some super great items. In fact most of what I find are expensive brand names. I have purchased two Janie & Jack items with combined retail price of $93 plus tax, in like new shape for only $4.00. This also helps our environment by reusing and not creating more trash. We should all be good stewards of the earth God has created for us.

This week I purchased 9 items from my favorite Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch Thrift Store (Saturday's everything is 50% off). For the little girls, 2 dresses, 2 skirts and 1 sweater. For the big girls 1 skirt and 1 dress and 2 skirts for myself. Not that I really care too much about brand name items but sometimes it's exciting, especially when you know how much someone else paid for the item you just bought for a dollar. The little girls clothes were all Gap, J&J, Gymboree & Old Navy, all places I can't afford to shop. The big girls items were nice quality brands too. All the items were in just like new condition.

I LOVE LOVE figuring out how much money I saved. I added up the approximate retail price for all 9 items purchased yesterday. It was roughly $345.00, including tax. I paid $18.11 (less than an hour of work for Adam), including tax, averaging $2.01 per item. Saving my husband $326.89 approximately 2 days of hard work. He should be so proud of me. haha!

I took pictures this time, because I'm a nerd like that. I'm missing the black skirt I got for the big girls. I think Kiley wore it today. It's a long, mid calf plain black skirt.

We be Bakers

We have been baking a lot lately. It's been so much fun. Adam is a total cookie monster so we have to bake and bake and bake all the time. E, J and I baked 5 dozen chocolate chip cookies on Saturday and they were gone by Monday night. Adam had his pouty I need cookies look today, so back into the kitchen we went. E and J are big helpers, they pour all of the ingredients into the bowl and lick the spoons. YUM!!

Today we made two dozen peanut butter cookies (Adam's favorite) and two loaves of Banana Bread aka Nana Bwead.


Eating the peanut butter



Aggghhh! (insert Cookie Monster voice) COOOK-EEE!!


They love the mixing part

Learning to squish the cookies down


The results. SO YUMMY!

I've got to get a K, A, H post in here soon. =)

Valentine's Day with no money.

Lack of money has really taught us to be creative. This year for Valentine's Day, "K" and "A" both made all of their own Valentine's to hand out to their class, 32 each. It was really sweet and very creative.

I usually buy them all kinds of goodies and give them to them in the morning. This year, we are pretty low on money so I decided to just skip the goodies and do nothing. I felt bad about this all day the day before Valentine's Day. After all 5 girls were in bed, I dove into my craft and party boxes. I found cute little paper doily hearts, a pink plastic table cloth, red & pink construction paper and a bunch of cute ribbon. I put the pink table cloth on the table, cut out tons and tons of paper hearts in all different sizes, and scattered them around the table. I kind of got paper heart crazy and started taping them everywhere and even hung some from our light fixture. I made a card for each girl ("K" and "A" making thier own cards gave me the idea for all of this). Adam came home with 5 valentine bags and some candy and two little toys that were given to him. PERFECT!!

When the girls woke up they were so excited and thought it was the best Valentine's day ever.

The finished table

"E" and "J" loved the hearts so much they wanted them all to be on their bedroom door. It's so cute. They brought me the tape and took all the hearts one by one and taped them to the outside of their bedroom door.

"J" with her heart door

"E" and her heart door





I will have to say I thought this was one of the best Valentine's day too. The kids loved it. They had a blast all day with my home made paper hearts. "K" can't remember one thing I've ever given them for Valentine's Day, actually neither can I, but she said she'd never forget this one. It's amazing the "remember when's" you can make with no money and a little love.