As the cooler temperatures roll in, I thought it might be fun to share some ‘from scratch’ meals we have been enjoying. Some are slow cooker inspiration, others are quick stove-top faves, and they can all include some long fermenting sourdough if that floats your boat.

Skillet Dinner

For this yummy supper, I cut some raw, thawed chicken off the bone into similar sized cubes and sautéed in bacon grease using my favorite cast iron skillet. I added some chopped squash that my ten year old cut up for me and let them cook. As it cooked, I would add water and catch the steam under the lid as needed. Meanwhile, my oldest son got some bow tie pasta cooking. Once it was al dente, we drained it and added it to the simmering chicken/squash. Always add salt (you’re cooking from scratch!) and pepper to taste. Finally, the heat being now on low, I added about a cup (maybe 1 and 1/2 cups) of fresh cream to the skillet and let is deglaze the pan, stirring as needed. This was a yummy, warming meal. Complete the meal with raw kraut and applesauce.

Crock Pot Soup

As I have said before, I like doing slow cooker suppers on Mondays, as we are usually gone most of the day to our homeschool group. And, as I have also mentioned before, I don’t have really any soup recipes. I have a sort of formula, as I talked about in a recent ‘from scratch’ post. Begin with what veggies you have onhand. I had forgotten I wanted to add butternut squash to this one… oh well. Carrots, greens powder, and (starch) potatoes. Next, I added some diced previously cooked chicken. Pearled barley was our main starch, followed by cumin, garlic, and S/P. Finally, I added bone broth and let it cook on low all day. Boy, did it smell good when we drove into the garage.

Breakfast for Lunch

This particular day was a nice protein boost with breakfast for lunch. Fresh eggs, local bacon, baked french toast made with some leftover sourdough (not pictured), and yogurt parfaits. Wow… quick and delish!

Korean Beef & Goat Cheese Rice

I don’t have a very good photo for this meal, but I wanted to show you this homemade soy sauce. We do not eat soy if I can help it and so I like making our own sauce if I am out of the substitute coconut aminos. It is a quick and basic recipe, the ingredients you should already have in your kitchen. Cheap. NO additives. And, no soy.

For the rice, I cook 1.5 cups of organic rice in 3 cups of bone broth. Add 1/2 tsp. onion powder, S/P, and garlic if preferred. Once it has cooked, add a block of goat cheese (4 ounces). Oh… man. The beef I had frozen a while back, already cooked with beef liver added in. No one can taste it and our nutrition has received an amazing boost with this organ meat. I used this delish recipe. This meal is a family favorite.

Sloppy Joes

Another simple ‘go to’, this meal is a nice one to take and share with others. Simplistic ingredients include: ketchup, mustard, garlic, and brown sugar. My Sweet Husband and kiddos enjoyed it while I was out with some fellow homeschooling mamas for a wee date! They ate it with kraut and leftover homemade macaroni and cheese.

Ham, Green Beans, & Cheesy Potatoes

This final meal fell on another Monday. The ham was a hormone free, precut find. The green beans and potatoes were homegrown. I just ‘threw’ the beans and ham into a smaller slow cooker. The potatoes I sliced in 1/2 inch slices and layered in the larger slow cooker. On top I poured bone broth, added S/P and onion powder, and topped with a block of cream cheese. Once I got home, I found it should have had a bit more liquid so I added some milk and stirred. It was a hit!

I hope these simple meals have been helpful! All it takes is a few whole ingredients, some favorite spices, and the pots and pans you like cooking with! From Scratch does not need to be scary. Be encouraged!