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Easy 4th of July Cookie Bars

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

Independence Day is a huge celebration day for our family. We love the food, the fireworks and spending time together!

If you are on the hunt for the perfect 4th of July desserts you have come to the right place!

These Easy 4th of July Cookie Bars will feed a crowd for sure. They are soft, chewy, sweet and the icing really hits the spot.

They are just perfect.

Let me show you how easy they are to make.

Everyone will be begging you for more.

Ingredients for Making Easy 4th of July Cookie Bars

Cookie Base Ingredients

1 c unsalted butter (at room temperature)
4 oz cream cheese (at room temperature)
1 ¾ c sugar
2 ½ c flour
2 large eggs, whites and yolks
1 additional egg white
2 t vanilla extract
½ t baking powder
1 t salt
red and blue sprinkles, a total of 1/2 cup

Icing Ingredients

¾ c unsalted butter (at room temperature)
1 t vanilla extract
¼ t salt
2 c powdered sugar

How to Make Easy 4th of July Cookie Bars

First you want to preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Grab a large mixing bowl and combine the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer set on a medium speed. You can use your standing mixer if you want. The cream cheese and butter should come together into a creamy smooth mixture.

Slowly add in the sugar and continue to mix using medium speed.

Add in all of the eggs. Add in the vanilla. Keep mixing to combine. Set aside.

In another bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Turn your mixer back on and slowly over a low to low/medium speed add the flour mixture into the butter and cream cheese mixture.

Continue to mix until it forms into a dough-like texture.

Turn off the mixer and grab a rubber spatula.

Gently fold in the red and blue sprinkles.

Next grab your 9×13 pan and line it with a piece of parchment paper. I like these pre-cut parchment paper sheets.

Once the parchment paper is placed in the baking pan lightly spray it with non-stick cooking spray.

Doesn’t that look yummy!

Pop it in the oven for 30 – 35 minutes or until a knife or toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the baking dish.

Remove from oven and let cool completely.

While it is cooling, let’s make the icing.

How to Make Cookie Bar Icing

Using a large mixing bowl add the butter and vanilla and mix using a low speed.

Add in the salt.

Slowly pour in the powdered sugar continuing to mix using a low speed.

If the speed of your mixer is too high it will cause powdered sugar to fly all over your kitchen. What a mess!

Now let’s ice the bars.

Once the cookie is cooled, remove from baking dish which will be easy because of the parchment paper.

Garnish with more red and blue sprinkles and cut into squares or bars.

Don’t they look delicious and easy?!?!

Celebrating Military Families with Johnsonville

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 19 Comments

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Johnsonville. The opinions and text are all mine.

My mom is child number nine out of ten children. They were a military family, her father was a Master Sargent in the United States Air Force. Her father retired when my mother was 11, but she spent most of her childhood traveling from state to state. From Arizona to Texas then to Alaska, then back to Arizona, to Oklahoma and then finally landing permanently in Texas.

My mother has many memories of growing up living on base and her parents entertaining other families. She remembers that being one of my grandmother’s favorite things to do- specifically having friends over to play penuckle.

My mom said one of her favorite memories as a child was going to the commissary to buy groceries. My mother said one time she told a stranger, as they were on the dog food aisle, that her mama fed them Gravy Train for dinner. She said my grandmother wanted to crawl under a rock.

Three of my mothers five brothers went on to make careers in the Marines. They all fought in Vietnam War.

One of my cousins went on to join the Marine Corps as well and experienced the Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan and is now also a military veteran just like his uncles.

Another cousin has gone on to be a recruiter for the Army after being in the National Guards.

As you can see, the armed forces run deep in our family.

I have been a long time fan of Johnsonville and when I found out they wanted to show appreciation to local San Antonio spouses and families for the sacrifices, I knew I wanted to be a part of this. Did you know the Friday before Mother’s Day is always Military Spouse Appreciation Day?

I had the pleasure of attending an event at Fort Sam Houston here in San Antonio last week where Johnsonville fed hundreds of family members using their 65 foot Big Taste Grill. They travel all over the US feeding people and giving back each year.

I love the heart they have for this country. And they are right, you can’t spell sausage without USA!

On one end they were grilling bratwursts and on the other end the Bush’s Baked Beans folks were sharing their beans… but not the family recipe. (wink wink)

And guess who I had the pleasure of meeting… “roll that beautiful bean footage”.

His name, as you likely know, is Duke. He is the Bush’s family dog and is the sweetest!

I loved seeing all of the comradely with the families. Some of them lived there on base and some of them lived within the city.

And you won’t believe who else was there!

Let me just say, in San Antonio the Spurs are a big deal.

Do you remember the now retired David Robinson? He spent his entire NBA career playing for the San Antonio Spurs. He is known here as the “Admiral” based on his reputation for being a former service as a Navy officer.

Showing his appreciation to the families was very important to him as he was also raised as a military child, his father also being in the Navy. He knows the sacrifice of military life and what each family is doing to make that happen for this country.

He spent time with the families and signed endless autographs. I love his heart for giving back to those who serve! Such an awesome man.

He also shared with us his favorite Johnsonville sausage…. it’s my favorite too.

He loves the Italian sausage and if you follow me over on my Get Dinner on the Table Facebook group, you have seen me cook with their Italian sausage many times when I make homemade spaghetti. I love the spicy version.

I love that Johnsonville is family owned with strong family values. That means a lot to me when I am choosing the brands I want to bring into my home.

I also love that over the last 25 years they have given back to the community over $4 million in charities.

If you have a family gathering this summer, or pop the tent at the camp grounds, throw some Johnsonville bratwursts on the grill. You will have smiles for days.

And remember, May is Military Appreciation Month. Thank your soldiers for their service!

Cheap Easy Meals on a Budget

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

If you are on the hunt for cheap easy meals on a budget for your family, you’ve come to the right place.

Each week I am feeding a family of eight. Six growing boys, myself and my husband.

For years I have implement large family meal planning strategies to feed our ever growing family without breaking the bank.

This week we are cooking three meatless meals, we are using chicken breasts we bought in bulk for $1.88 a pound and using a slow cooker or electric skillet to prepare most of these meals.

Ready for the recipes?

Meatless Meals that are Comfort Food

Beans are an awesome alternative to meat. They can be used in so many different ways. We bought 12 pounds of dry pinto beans in bulk from Sam’s a few weeks ago. Honestly, for a family of eight, 12 pounds won’t last long, but they are great to have on hand for dinner options.

Beans and legumes are an excellent source of fiber, protein, B vitamins and many other important vitamins and minerals. There are studies that show beans can help reduce blood sugar (that is awesome!), improve cholesterol levels and help maintain a healthy gut! It’s worth looking into. My family likes beans, so I don’t mind serving them as a protein replacement here and there.

You will see one of the night below on our menu we are having beans and rice. I also bought 50 pounds of white rice from Sam’s on that same trip. This bag of rice will last us a long time. I wish I could find 50 pounds of brown rice locally. I know there are places I can order online, I just don’t want to pay for shipping.

Another bean that we like to eat is lentils. You can do so much with them. You can see one of our personal favorite below.

Cheap Easy Meals on a Budget

Broccoli Chicken Pasta– this is a recipe I’ve been making for a while and we love it! A great way to use broccoli up. I took the bulk package of chicken breasts I bought at Sam’s and divided it up. I used 3 of the large breasts to make this recipe, doubling it. I love that this recipe includes creating your own oil and vinegar based dressing to go over it. So good!!

Quick Spaghetti for a Crowd– this is always a go to at our house! I use Italian pork sausage (mild or spicy). Here is a video of how I make homemade spaghetti. It is in my Get Dinner on the Table group, so you will need to request to join. But once you’re added you can watch me cook it!

Sweet Potato Hash– this is a vegetarian recipe and it’s amazing! I served it with chips and avocado slices. Five to six sweet potatoes can go a long way. And, they are high in carotene, vitamin C and magnesium! You add beans for additional protein. So good! This will be made in my large electric skillet. Makes dinnertime so easy!

Instant Pot Black Bean Chicken Bowls– we love this recipe. You can cook it in the Instant Pot or the slow cooker. Both ways come out great! I am using up the other half of the chicken breasts I bought at Sam’s to make this meal. We already have rice on hand and I have salsa. Super easy dinner. You could use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead if that is what you have on hand.

Slow Cooker Lentil Tacos– lentils are an amazing alternative to ground beef. Here is the digital programable slow cooker I love. Just FYI, I have a ton of slow cookers and I love how easy they make the daily task of making dinner for a large family.

Alaska Pollock– my husband found these frozen and on clearance. We will either bake or grill them. I will serve with side dishes like a salad and another fresh vegetable.

Pinto Beans and Rice– a cheap meal that is super filling. I like to add sour cream, cheese and salsa to mine. If you don’t want rice, serve it with cornbread instead. I grew up eating beans, my mom made a pot in her slow cooker almost once a week. You can add onions, garlic, salt, pepper and cilantro when you cook them, or you can do what I did this time and keep it simple with just salt. I encourage you to use the leftover beans to make something else with the leftovers (like nachos or burritos) or freeze them to use for another meal later.

How to Cook Dry Pinto Beans

If you’ve never made dry beans before, don’t be intimidated. The slow cooker or your Instant Pot are the best ways to cook them. Personally, I prefer the slow cooker.

First, I always out the dry beans in a large bowl, cover them in water and stick them in the fridge over night.

The next morning I take them out of the fridge and drain the water and rinse them really good. I go handful by handful (this is how my mother taught me) checking for bad beans and rocks. As they are inspected I dump the handful into the slow cooker.

Then I cover them in water, add some salt and pop the lid on.

Here are my best tips for cooking in the slow cooker.

Black Magnetic Dry Erase Menu Planner for Your Fridge

For years and years when we lived in Dallas, I had a white, small dry erase board that I kept on my fridge and it displayed my weekly meal plan. My friend Kim bought it for me. She had found it in the dollar spot at Target. I loved that thing!

When we moved I lost it and miss displaying my menu on my fridge.

So I bought this black magnetic dry erase menu for the fridge and these neon dry erase markers.

Now, you know me, I do not actually identify what we are having by day of the week. That is really not important to me. But, this menu is labeled Sunday-Saturday, but I just pick and choose as I go.

If you struggle with meal planning I really encourage you to gran our How to Meal Plan guide. It walks you through planning and succeeding at dinner every single night!

More Cheap Meal Ideas

Since we are a homeschool family and eat three meals a day at home, here is a look at what we are eating for breakfast and lunch.

Lunch Ideas on a Budget

pasta salad
pb j sandwiches
turkey sandwiches
leftovers- we always have leftover. Use the beans to make nachos for lunch or burritos, for example.
Ramen noodles… or as Luke Henry calls them Robin noodles. lol

Cheap Easy Meals for Breakfast

Breakfast Smoothie- a great way to use up fruit!
Bacon and Eggs- always easy!
Cereal- we buy in bulk at Sams
Pancakes- we buy 10 pound bags of pancake mix at Sams, but you can also make homemade buttermilk pancakes which are awesome!!
Waffles- use the pancake mix to make waffles instead.

If you are struggling with recipe ideas I encourage you to take a look at our 31 slow cooker recipes for busy moms in our instant download. It’s convenient and it’s food my family love!

What is on your menu this week?

Blueberry Velvet Cheesecake Smoothie

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 1 Comment

I am on a roll right now trying out tons of different smoothie recipes.

This one will have you begging for more! And it uses fresh fruit and Jello pudding mix, which is unique.

This blueberry velvet cheesecake smoothie is one that you will want to have every single morning when you get out of bed!

Ready for this recipe?

First let’s gather up our ingredients.

This one is really easy to make, but does have some unique ingredients in it.

Ingredients for a Blueberry Velvet Cheesecake Smoothie:

2 c of almond milk
1 c vanilla yogurt (you can use greek yogurt if you want)
2 T raw honey
1 t of vanilla extract
1 t butter extract
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
4 T Cheesecake Instant Pudding Mix
1/2 c to 1 c ice (depending on how thick you like your smoothie)
1/2 c of fresh blueberries

How to Make a Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie

How you layer the smoothie is very important.

First you’re going to start with your liquids, so add the almond milk and extracts to the bottom of the blender.

Next add your protein powder, honey and Jello pudding mix.

Then add the yogurt.

Finally add your ice.

Pop the lid on it and blend on high until smooth.

Take lid off and add the blueberries. Gently blend… you can use the pulse feature if you have it.

Pour it up into two mason jars.

Top each one with fresh blueberries.

And enjoy!

Look at how amazing this is. It is perfect for breakfast, lunch, a midday snack or even dessert.

Could This Be Made Into a Blueberry Smoothie Bowl?

Yes! Instead of putting this into two mason jars, you could do bowls instead.

Top each bowl with fresh blueberries and some graham cracker crumbs.

You could even add a scoop of peanut butter to the top of the bowl if you like. That will add a little more protein too!

Blueberry Smoothie with Almond Milk

As you likely noticed, this smoothie calls for almond milk. It’s a great protein milk option that keeps the smoothie creamy without adding lots of extra fats. It also has fatty acids and omega-3.

You can certainly sub it out for a different milk, like cow milk, coconut, etc., but almond is a great choice.

Can You Under Blend a Smoothie?

Yes. You want to ensure you blend your smoothie until all of the lumps are out and it is smooth.

Aim for about 2 minutes of blending time.

Could You Use Dried Blueberries Instead of Fresh?

If dried blueberries is what you have in hand and you want to use them up, go right ahead. Fresh gives it an amazing taste, but you could certainly use dried if you wanted.

If you love blueberry smoothies, try our blueberry morning smoothie. So good!

Looking for something with more of a tropical taste? Give our strawberry mango smoothie a try.

Strawberry Mango Smoothie

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

Since having to kick my morning coffee because of kidney stones I am on a smoothie kick. I need something that will help me get my morning started and in turn I am falling in love with smoothie recipes like this one! And, it’s a great healthy breakfast option!

Grab some strawberries and some mango because we are going to make a strawberry mango smoothie. It’s an awesome fruity combination.

Ready for the recipe?

First gather up your ingredients. This us a very simple recipe and is likely things you already have on hand.

Ingredients for a Strawberry Mango Smoothie:

1 c frozen strawberries
1 c frozen mango
1 c your favorite orange juice
5.3 ounces of vanilla yogurt

Do You Defrost the Fruit Before Making a Smoothie?

No! Add it right to the blender frozen. It will not hurt your blender and the frozen fruit is part of what gives the smoothie it thick icy texture.

Frozen is perfect and ideal!

How to Layer The Smoothie in the Blender

Anytime you’re making a smoothie, this is the order you want to add everything to the blender for the best recipes.

First, add the liquids. So in this case that would be the orange juice.

Next, if you are using a protein powder, you would add it after the liquids. We are not using one in this recipe but if you want to add a bit, you would add it now. For more of a vanilla flavor you might want to try this one from Primal Kitchen.

Now is when you will add your soft protein, such as the yogurt we are using in this recipe.

If you’re using nuts or seeds you would add them next, but we are not using any in this recipe.

Finally, add the frozen fruits.

Hit the blend button and let everything combine until it is smooth.

You might want to stop the blender every 15 seconds or so to scrape the sides and ensure everything is coming together well. I like to use a rubber scrapper when I do this.

Pour it up into your favorite glass.

Add a straw or use a spoon.

Look at how delicious this is!

This topical smoothie flavor is one you will love!

How to Make a Smoothie Without Milk

If you are out of milk you can still make a smoothie!

There are so many alternatives for protein. We love to use yogurt, almond milk, coconut milk. You can even use ice cream… but then it becomes more of a dessert than a breakfast. (wink wink)

In this recipe we used vanilla yogurt and it was so good. Feel free to switch out your milk-like protein based on what you have on hand.

Can You Use Fruit Juice in a Homemade Smoothie

Yes! You certainly can! Apple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice, etc. The sky is the limit. Fruit juice is an awesome alternative or addition for any smoothie!

In this recipe we used orange juice because we wanted to add some citrus flavor.

What is the Best Smoothie Blender

My favorite smoothie blender is this Ninja Blender/Food Processor. I really like the compactness of it and how easy it is to store. It is also easy to clean and I run it through the dishwasher when I am done.

My mother-in-law surprised me with it and I love it!

If you are looking for more smoothies for your morning routine, try our blueberry morning smoothie.

Blueberry Morning Smoothie

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 5 Comments

I am guilty of not getting enough fruits and vegetables in my diet on a daily basis.

That said, smoothies are a great way to not only help you get your daily intake of fruits and vegetables, but because you’re eating things that are good for you there is additional value with fiber, antioxidants, as long as you choose wisely when you make your smoothie.

Here is my recipe for a Blueberry Morning Smoothie that is perfect for busy moms, like myself, chasing kids and doing all the mom things. I am loving this smoothie.

One way to ensure you’re limiting as much sugar in your smoothie as possible is to avoid adding fruit juice to your smoothie recipe.

Instead add protein like yogurt (Greek yogurt), milk and even plant based milks like almond.

Also consider adding things like oats and seeds to increase the benefits of this all in one breakfast.

Ready to make your blueberry smoothie? Let’s gather up the ingredients.

Grab your favorite blender. I love this Ninja blender my mother-in-law bought for me. I am pretty sure she got it on QVC. I love it! Super handy and compact. Does not take up a lot of storage space in the cabinet.

Ingredients:

1 c frozen strawberries

1/2 c frozen blueberries

1/3 cup raw oats

1 T chia seeds

1 cup almond milk (or coconut milk)

1 T honey

Directions:

Add all of the ingredients to your blender.

Pop the lid on it and blend until smooth.

Pour it into your favorite glass and top with fruit.

I like to drink it through a straw or if it’s super thick, eat it with a spoon.

Super easy and super delicious.

Using frozen fruits will make it smooth and thick, which is how I like it.

I have ditched my morning coffee for a smoothie after being diagnosed with kidney stones.

I feel like a healthy smoothie like this is much better for my body than a cup of coffee.

Are Smoothies Good for You?

As long as you limit the sweet fruits smoothies are good for you.

If you pack a smoothie with things like bananas, apples, pineapple only, it is very likely to increase your blood sugar and potentially cause weight gain instead.

Add in some vegetables like spinach, avocado and kale to balance out the sweetness.

Also, including things like chia seeds, flax seed and oats are a great way to add nutritional value to your smoothie.

Can Smoothies be Made in a Food Processor?

If you do not have a blender you can use a food processor, but understand that the blades of the food processor are larger and it does not chop things the same way as a blender.

A blender is made specifically for blending liquids, which is why using a blender is ideal for a smoothie.

A food processor is ideally made for chopping solid foods like vegetables.

If the only thing you have is a food processor, it’s fine to use it, it will get the job done, it just won’t be as smooth.

Why Smoothies are Good for Breakfast

Smoothies make a great breakfast option when you’re looking for something that will fill you up and can be whipped together fast and requires no cooking.

Busy mamas love the no cooking part, right?

Smoothies are also a great way to get in more fruits and vegetables, just remember your smoothie does not have to be fruits only. Don’t limit yourself there.

I love being able to give my kiddos as many fruits and vegetables in a day as a can and a smoothie is a great way to make that happen. It can be a sneaky way to hide veggies they may not eat independently, too!

Want more blueberry recipes? I have tons of ways to use them up here on my site!

Want more of a tropical flavor breakfast smoothie? Take a look at our Strawberry Mango Smoothie. It’s amazing!

Decluttering Your House Before You Sell It

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 15 Comments

Are you getting ready to put your house on the market but you know you have too much stuff?

Does the clutter overwhelm you?

Is it hard to keep your house tidy?

Decluttering your home will help you in more ways than you might realize, both in selling and in moving!

I have a list of areas you want to declutter. I also have solutions for what you need to do with the things as you tidy up your house and get it ready to be listed on the market.

Remember, we moved over 300 miles across Texas, less than a year ago. This is all fresh on my mind and something my large blended family of eight had to experience.

This post was written by me through an activation with HireInfluence on behalf of Simply Self Storage. Although I received compensation for participating in the campaign, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Depersonalize Your Home

I know, I know. These are your memories, your pictures, your decorating style, etc.

You’re likely very proud of your home and want to the potential buyers to see your beautiful family.

But here is the deal, the potential buyers have to be able to visualize this as THEIR home. Not your home.

They want to envision their decorating style, their beautiful family pictures and their personal touch making this home the perfect home for them.

The home we bought, I did not step foot inside until weeks before we closed. Crazy, right?

I fell in love with the home simply by the images from the online listing and by having someone else who lived local go and look at the home for me. We lived too far away to hop in the car every time I found a house online that I liked.

The images were stunning. They sellers had removed all personal items making it very easy for me to see MY FAMILY in this home. The previous family only kept items in the home that were perfect for home staging. So smart!

So, what do you do with all of your stuff?

Pack it up and send it to the storage space! Your decor, your family pictures, anything that will not be kept for staging purposes.

Don’t worry, if you choose a storage facility like Simply Self Storage, you can choose a climate control option to ensure your family pictures and heirlooms do not get damaged from extreme weather conditions- like the Texas heat.

Create a Welcoming Entry Way

Your foyer or entry area is another area you are going to remove personal items from and keep in very, very simple.

But, you need to be able to make it welcoming and inviting, without over doing it. Selling your home does not have to be hard.

Remember, less is more!

This also includes ensuring all walk areas and hallways are completely 100% free of clutter. Cluttering up hallways not only makes your home look smaller but it will turn potential buyers off!

Again, pack up the personal stuff and take it to the storage unit!

And you know what, in a few months when you’ve sold your home and you’re settling into your new home, most of the stuff that you’ve sent to storage and have not used in months, you might realize was really just cluttering up your life.

Don’t Forget the Closets!

While sometimes we focus too much on whether or not the colors on the wall are on trend, we overlook areas like the closets!

I can tell you, with six kids still at home, I was super concerned about everyone having their own space. We have all boys. The family who lived in our house before us had two girls and two boys.

I could get past the fact that one of the rooms was painted a pink- purple color and was used by one of their high school aged girls. It was perfect for three of our boys to use as their sleeping room, since they have a triple bunk. After all, repainting is easy! The previous owner had been very creative utilizing space in the closets as well as placing beds perfectly to maximize the room size. This helped me be creative too.

The same three boys use the adjoining bedroom as their game/playing room. Understanding what the closet space looked like for each bedroom really helped me in deciding how we were going to set up bedrooms.

My takeaway: ensure closets are decluttered and tidy as well. Even if you utilize a closet to store a dresser, that is ok! Just make sure it’s all tidy, practical and not just thrown together. Mama’s are going to open those closet doors!

Purge the Toys!

Our two youngest are 4 and 2 years old. They have lots of toys!

This is another area you want to purge if you’re selling.

The toys can get out of hand and kind of take over!

Utilize creating shelving, like this shelving we purchased as used on Facebook Marketplace. Literally paid $50 for the shelf with the baskets. It’s a great way to help keep out of site.

The remaining toys can be boxed up and sent to storage until you’re ready for your move.

Choose just one or two small items to keep sitting out so that things are not too personal and not cluttered.

Completely bare might be too clinical looking.

Mama is Going to Focus on the Kitchen

Let’s not forget one of the first places most mama’s are going to check when trying to decide if your home is the home they want to buy… the kitchen!

Because we are in our kitchen so much we sometimes get immune to what is in this space.

We don’t realize that the Kitchen Aid mixer takes up so much counter top space. Or all of those items on our “coffee bar” looks like clutter too.

As you’re preparing to sell, pack up all of those large appliances and any clutter that is taking up space on your countertop and send them to storage.

Don’t worry, if you decide a week from now you want to make a homemade cake and need the Kitchen Aid for mixing, you can always make a trip to the storage building. Leave the things you *might need* close to the front of the storage building when loading it up. Or, just use the hand mixer.

Also, we don’t realize the little dust bunnies that accumulate next to the fridge or the fact that our kitchen cabinets need to be wiped down. Grab your favorite duster and your favorite wood cleaner and give it a good cleaning. Trust me, mama’s are going to pay close attention to the kitchen. We kind of end up spending most of our time there! Make it a kitchen that she can envision as hers!

Getting your home ready for the best open house possible can easily be a success by storing the items causing clutter! Simply Self Storage has some great solutions for all your storage needs.

Meal Planning for a Crowd on a Budget

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

We have had a week of crowds at our house and eating out is just too expensive. In one week we have hosted two large (25+ people) gatherings at our house as well as hosted out of town guests staying over two nights.

We love hosting in our home and I genuinely enjoy serving people, so it’s been an amazing week but it has been busy and fast moving for sure!

Large family meal planning is something that saves us money and keeps us on budget even when the week has multiple celebrations and a houseful of kids and adults.

We are so grateful to be able to use our home to love on others and enjoy time together with friends and family. Meal planning for a crowd does not have to be overwhelming nor does it have to break the bank!

A Meal Plan That Will Feed a Large Crowd

Easter Dinner– we had 28 people in our home for Easter. I knew I would need a large amount of food prepared in advance. Here is how I did it.

I cooked a ham in one slow cooker, green bean casserole in another slow cooker. I started them early in the morning on low before we left for church. I also prepared two desserts in the morning and popped them in the fridge; banana pudding and mandarin orange cake.

When we got home from church my husband did some burgers and hot dogs on the grill and I made mashed potatoes on the stove and broccoli cheese rice casserole in the oven.

Others brought pasta casserole, corn, a large cooked turkey, rolls, chips, etc. We had enough food for a feast. It was delicious and everything came together perfectly.

Chili Stuffed Baked Potato Bar– one of my childhood friends (we’ve known each other since we were both 11 years old) came to San Antonio to visit my family. She has six children and a few years ago her and her husband moved their family to Waco. This means she is only about three hours from San Antonio.

Only three of her children were able to travel with her as her older kids have jobs outside of the home (as well as her husband) or are on mission trips. My friend and one of her sons are gluten free. I have never had to cook GF before so I had to read up as much as possible to ensure I was on point. I knew there had to be options that would feed a large group yet not use overly unique ingredients.

I decided on a baked potato bar and chili for the first night. I used two slow cookers to prepare 9 pounds of organic russet potatoes. I washed each potato and then rubbed them down with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. I cooked them on high for 6 hours. I used one 7 quart Crock Pot and one 6 quart slow cooker.

I used a third slow cooker (yes, I have six or seven slow cookers in my house, plus a large roaster and an Instant Pot) to put on a pot of dry pinto beans. I let them soak in the fridge the night before, ensured they were clean and removed any bad beans and rocks. I put them in the crock, covered in water and added some sea salt. You want to ensure you do not fill the slow cooker more than two thirds of the way full or it will take double the amount of time to cook. Here are my top ten slow cooker tips.

About 30 minutes before we were ready to eat I prepared other toppings like onions, shredded cheese, sour cream and butter. I also made a pot of chili on the stove using the pinto beans and about two pounds of ground beef I had in the freezer. I like more beans in my chili, what about you?

The chili came together in thirty minutes. If you want to see the FB Live of us cooking this, you can join our Get Dinner on the Table Group and then watch the video once I approve you for the group. Once you’re in the group, our cooking video is here.

If you prefer to read the recipe, here is my 30 Minute Meat and Bean Chili recipe. It’s super good and reliable!

Slow Cooker Street Tacos– this is a great recipe that can be done in the slow cooker or in the Instant Pot. I’ve done both and made them more than once for a crowd. This week I used them as our second dinner for our sleep over guests. The corn tortillas were perfect for the gluten free needs. I love these tacos, they use beef stew meat and you cook them in a salsa base as well as some fresh veggies, herbs and seasonings. It tenderizes the meat so well.

This recipe can also be prepped ahead of time and made into a freezer meal. Then all you have to do is defrost and toss in the slow cooker or pressure cooker.

Nacho Bar– this week we also celebrated three birthdays in our home on one night! Nachos are another great idea when you cook for a crowd!

My mother-in-law’s brother turned 78 years old. Our grandson Christian (he calls me G Lo) celebrated his 8th birthday. And David, Christian’s Dad, celebrated his 39th birthday. Not sure if you remember our story and how our family changed a year ago when my husband learned he has a grown daughter. We learned about her in February 2018. We moved to be near her and my in laws (San Antonio) in September 2018. It’s been amazing being close enough to them and celebrating birthdays and holidays with them that we’ve missed out on over the years not knowing she existed. So, in turn, I have a son-in-law who is just three years younger than me. A step-daughter who is nine years younger than me. And two grand children who are the ages of some of my youngest kiddos. Isn’t it amazing how God’s plan for your life just unfolds? No matter the plans you have for yourself…. His plans are greater! So needless to say we hosted about 22 people in our home to celebrate these three birthdays and it was an amazing blessing.

I had a 6 qt slow cooker going with nacho cheese. I used my 16×12 electric skillet to cook five pounds of ground taco beef and keep it warm. Chips and toppings were bought in mass quantity at Sam’s. We also had strawberries and watermelon and three delicious cakes for celebrating. It was a beautiful evening.

Leftover Spaghetti– I had about 4 different frozen containers of leftover spaghetti sauce in the freezer. I defrosted them all and mixed them together to make a big batch of sauce and then boiled some noodles. It was easy peasy! I consider this a free dinner and it was perfect for our family on a night when we had no guests.

Glorified Bean Burritos– this is an easy go to dinner that is meatless and very filling. I’ve made it many times as a freezer meal as well and is great for those busy night you just want to pull things from the freezer and heat them up. Or, make it the night of. Again, I use my large electric skillet for mixing all the beans and filling together. Heat the tortillas up on a flat electric griddle.

Leftovers– there was so much food leftover that we were able to have a night of cleaning out the fridge and eating up as many of the leftovers so they did not go to waste! That is a win, win!

How Online Grocery Shopping Keeps me on Budget

One way that I stay on budget with my grocery bill is to do as much grocery shopping online as I can.

As you add things to your cart there is no need to carry a calculator around the store, it tracks your spending as you go.

I love that there is not getting in the way of other people as I try to determine which item is the best fit for my budget- just search for it on the store websites.

I love that online grocery shopping allows me to streamline my meal planning. I do not have to spend an hour in the store running around gathering up the things I need to feed my family. The way I see it, someone else gets to have a job so that this area of my responsibilities can be outsourced.

As a busy mom with six kids at home, I place my order, pull up at my designated time and they load it up in my car. No need to get all of my children out of the car at all. For a busy mama that is golden!!

If you’ve never tried Walmart’s online grocery shopping, give it a try the next time you meal plan. You can get $10 off your first order if you use my link (aff).

Learn How to Meal Plan

Do you struggle with getting dinner on the table? I get it. Years ago when I only had four kids at home and my twins were baby (13 years ago) I began the journey of understanding the importance of meal planning. If I do not plan my dinners out, we are left eating out, over spending or being very ill prepared.

If you want to learn how to meal plan in five easy steps, I teach moms how to do that in my meal planning guide!

More Meal Ideas and Side Dishes When Your Feeding a Crowd

Black Beans– instead of pinto. Same concept, make them in your slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Potato Salad– this always feeds a crowd and you can get potatoes for cheap.
Green Salad– I mean you just can’t go wrong with this! Add as many fresh vegetables as you want or keep it as simple as you want. I always recommend using up what you have in the fridge!
Pulled Pork– buy a pork roast and toss it in the slow cooker. Cook it slow and low. Add BBQ sauce if you want. Pull the pork and serve it in tortillas. Crowd pleaser!

Large Family Meal Planning on a Budget

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

What are you feeding your family this week?

As you guys know we do large family meal planning around here. There are eight of us- my husband, myself, and six boys ranging from 18 years old to 2 years old. That is lots of kids.

We homeschool, so I need to prepare all meals each day at home for my family.

Large family meal planning on a budget can be done. I am proof of this!

Let me show you what we are having for dinner this week and how I create my menu while keeping my pocketbook in mind.

Batch Cooking Taco Meat and Freezing It

Three months ago I batch cooked about 12 pounds of ground beef that I turned into taco meat. I used my electric skillet and it all came together really quickly.

I froze it all into 1 pound portions so that I could pull it out as needed for making tacos… which is something my family loves to eat multiple times a month.

You can watch the video here on how I batch cooked all of that taco meat. You will need to join the Facebook group in order to watch the video. The group is my Get Dinner on the table community where I share daily with moms to help them with their dinner struggles.

This week I am wanting to cook on a budget and shop my pantry, freezer and fridge before ordering things from the grocery store. This is a great way to save money. It made sense to add tacos to my meal plan.

Another way that I save money on my shopping list is to buy things in bulk.

I buy brown rice, white rice, jasmine rice, bastami rice all in 20-25 pound bags. When I do this I am paying minimal prices per unit. This is a huge budget saver long term. It also means I always have rice on hand.

I also buy different boullions in bulk. I use this tomato boullion with the white rice and some water to make super easy homemade Spanish rice. This brand is Knorr and you get it at Walmart for less than $4 for 35 ounces. I can make rice for days with this stuff.

One thing I did buy this week is fresh, homemade tortillas from HEB. They make them fresh in their bakery. So good!

I heat them up on my electric griddle when I make tacos for dinner. (Sometimes I give this job to one of my teens.)

Large Family Meal Plan

Here is what’s on my menu for this week.

Beef Soft Tacos– using the taco meat that is in the freezer. Making the Spanish rice I talked about above and canned pinto beans. Super filling and super yummy!

Baked Salmon– my husband loves to bake fresh salmon. We have some family in town and salmon is something that will feed a crowd and something he loves to make. We will cook up some asparagus, mashed potatoes, and salad to go along with it.

Chicken Thigh Sheet Pan Dinner– for the sheet pan we will do thighs and then a variety of veggies like brussel sprouts, onion, bell pepper and sweet potatoes. Such an easy dinner! See the picture below. Healthy meals like this always make mama happy!

Skillet Lasagna– I made this last month and froze it. It’s part of our Skillet Recipe ecookbook.

Spaghetti for a Crowd– Thursday is my mother-in-laws birthday. I am making spaghetti for 16 people. I will serve garlic bread and salad with it. You could certainly make your sauce and let it simmer in the slow cooker all day long. Talk about flavor!!

Cheesy Chicken Salsa Pasta– this is a go to for me that is super fast to make. I already have bulk pasta and salsa on hand. I also have canned corn and frozen chicken breasts. No money spent to make this meal.

Leftovers- use em up! If there are not a ton of leftovers I will take all the odds and ends and make soup out of it. I have a ton of frozen odds and end leftovers that can be added to. Yum! Leftover soup is not only a budget friendly meal but all you’re doing is heating things up, adding broth or water and some canned or frozen veggies. Dinner will be done in 15 minutes.

(Look at those two sweet boys snacking on kettle corn in the background.)

Six Weeks Freezer Meal Plan

I know that coming up with new recipes can be hard. Sometimes we feel like we make the same things over and over again. We are also busy and during the week it can be really hard to get dinner done and on the table.

What if you could preassemble six weeks worth of dinners and store them away in your freezer?

Or, maybe freezer meals overwhelm you and you just need some new recipe ideas. These recipes can help make dinner time easy and you. And the next time your hungry kids ask, “What’s for dinner?”, you already have the answer!

Grab your six weeks worth of recipes!

Meal Planning Book

I understand that meal planning is hard. It can be very overwhelming. That is how I felt thirteen years ago when I first started meal planning.

If you break it down into easy steps you can wrap your head around it and you can get dinner on the table stress free.

Here is the meal planning book I wrote that breaks meal planning down into five simple steps with all the resources and solutions to make it possible!

Limit the Convenience Food

When you’re on a budget convenience foods can break the bank. Avoid them as much as possible.

Shop in bulk where you can to spend less per unit.

Grocery Shop Online to Stay on Budget

Avoid the temptations of impulse shopping by doing all of your grocery shopping online.

Also, no more carrying a calculator around the store with you to make sure you don’t over-spend. Online grocery shopping keeps a running tally of the cost of what is in your cart before you even check out.

Meal Planning Pinterest Boards

Are you on the hut for more recipes? I have two awesome board you will want to follow over on Pinterest that are all about meal planning.

Large Family Meal Planning Pinterest Board

Meal Planning for Busy Moms Pinterest Board

Do you have a big family? How do you stay on budget and feed your family well at the same time? Tell me what’s on your meal plan this week!

How Homeschooling Allows Us to Foster Our Childrens’ Gifts

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

Soon we will enter our seventh year of homeschooling. It has been an amazing journey that we have never once looked back on.

This comes from a mama who was not so sure about her ability to homeschool when we first started all those years ago.

Obviously homeschooling allows us to be a part of all of our boys’ every day learning. We see each milestone as they hit them and we watch them grow in ways we never imagined. Those are all huge benefits of being your children’s teacher.

That said, one of the benefits that is near and dear to my heart is the fact that we get to foster their gifts by homeschooling. As homeschooling parents this is such a blessing to me!

How Homeschooling Allows us To Find Our Childs’ Gifts

By being the parent that manages their learning, I am able to gear their education towards their needs and towards their individual love and interests.

Anthony has just started his senior year of high school. (Yes, when most kids are wrapping up the last 90 days of school, our oldest at home is starting his senior year. We get to do this because it works for him and it works for our family. We follow our own schedule. This is not something we could do in public school.)

Anthony is very hands-on and the mechanical industry is something that is very intriguing to him. Not only is he embarking on World History and Worldview Studies with some British Literature, he also gets to work with his Dad in our family owned business. My husband is adamant that our boys all learn at least two trades. Anthony is learning about refrigeration part of the week and also learning about World History. At this age working on cars is also something that Anthony really loves to learn about. This means we give him opportunities to do things like help replace an engine in one of our work vehicles, change the oil and alternator on the family car, change the breaks on Grandpa’s car, etc.

We believe we are raising well rounded children who will be well equipped with life skills they can use to support themselves but also be thriving adults who have so much to offer society.

Luke is our son who has a passion for music. Neither my husband nor myself are musically inclined, but different artistic skills run on both sides of our families.

Luke struggled before becoming a teenager with anxiety and depression. One day he picked up a guitar and so much changed for him. While I had always longed for my boys to learn musical instrument, his passion and desire really came out of no where for us. Learning to play guitar became something he was very driven to learn and we encouraged and fostered his passion. Being that we homeschool we allow Luke to spend as much of his time in a day that he wants practicing and learning new music. As time has gone playing music in our home has become a way of life. People walk in the door and usually hear a guitar playing- acoustic or electric. And there is likely an amp in our living room- which I love.

Luke is also an avid reader. Between books and music his heart is so happy and as a mother that brings me so much joy. And Sonlight allows us to not only foster his love for music but also his love for reading since it is a literature based curriculum.

While Nick is very intrigued by US History and learning about the story of our country, he is a child who can teach himself anything.

Over the last few years he has taught himself how to create stop motion movies online. He created his own YouTube channel and loves making videos that tell a storyline using his huge collection of Legos that he has spent years building.

This is something he is so passionate about. I don’t have to ask him if he has made a new movie lately, he loves doing it and wakes up each day wanting to do it.

These are skills that will serve him well as he grows up and becomes an adult.

I believe homeschooling allows us to support and foster each of our children’s passions. As a mother, that is just beautiful to me.

I love seeing my boys learn traditional subjects like literature, math and science, but I also love seeing them pursue the life skills they love. These are the skills that are shaping them as they soon become adults.

Sonlight Offer Electives

Sonlight offers homeschool curriculum and a great selection of electives that you children will love. Electives play a huge part in helping a child learn where their gifts are and I really encourage you to check out what they have to offer.

If you’re stuck and not sure what curriculum is best for your family, I encourage you to read more about why we have been using Sonlight for almost seven years!

As a mama who was scared to teach my boys to read, afraid I would fail them, frightened that I could never teach them complex techniques, I look back on our journey and just feel so proud of where my boys are today!