Rachael Eliker's Blog, page 77

Poor Man's Pasta

Any meal that's quick, inexpensive, delicious, filling and makes for good leftovers (even when frozen!) is a winner at our house!
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef or turkey1 Tablespoon olive oil2 teaspoons minced garlic1 large onion, sliced1 cup water4 (8 ounce) tomato sauceSalt and pepper to taste12 ounces pasta, uncookedParmesan cheese, fresh herbs as garnish (optional) 
In a large skillet with a lid, heat olive oil and cook garlic and onion until translucent. Add beef and brown (draining...

The Cowboy

Starting with groundwork.Jack came home about a month ago to find me sobbing in the middle of the paddock while Dancer pranced arrogantly around me, as she'd been doing for the last two hours. Crying while pregnant comes as natural as breathing and our mare's shenanigans finally tipped me over the edge (that day, anyway). She wouldn't let me catch her, which led to our battle of wills for two hours and me eventually giving up because I couldn't spend all day taming the beast. Then I beca...

Two Is Better Than One

Two is better than one.Well, those darn bees went ahead and died this winter. Instead of freezing to death like the bees we pulled out of our house did during the uncommonly cold Arctic blast we had a few winters ago, these bees seemed to have had too much moisture in their hive (or at least that's the most educated guess we could make). For creatures that can be so fiery and angry when upset, they sure are fickle about hive conditions. Maybe that's why bees are more Jack's thing than mi...

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

This recipe is quick to assemble and pretty versatile. It's always a winner when the kids like it too!
Ingredients:
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts2 cloves garlic, minced1/2 cup chopped onion1/4 cup honey1/4 cup molasses1/2 cup teriyaki sauce1/4 cup white vinegar1 teaspoon ginger1/8 teaspoon pepper1/4 cup cold water3 Tablespoons cornstarchChopped green onions, toasted sesame seeds as garnish (optional)
Lay chicken on the bottom of the crock pot. Whisk together all other ingredients e...

Mothers

The flower boxes Jack and the girls put up.Another Mother's Day has come and gone and with it, has come a chance to reflect on the special day of honor for women. It's kind of like Christmas or Easter to me--those certainly aren't the only days of the year I think about the Savior's birth or His Atonement and Resurrection, but they're special nonetheless. Mother's Day is a chance for us to reflect on and be grateful for all of the influential women in our lives, whether they are our literal m...

Creamy Crock Pot Mexican Chicken

Even the girls loved it! After being convinced to TRY it first, haha!We love crock pot meals just about any time of the year, especially in the heat because the slow cookers don't contribute to heating up the kitchen. This meal has it all too--it's flavorful, filling, inexpensive and quick to assemble. After a few short hours cooking in the crock pot, it's ready to be served tucked in a warm tortilla, over a bed of lettuce, with steamed rice or as a chip dip.

Ingredients:

Two pounds boneless, s...

Finding Fuel

Found a tree and getting ready to chop it into movable pieces.Though we've just finished up with another chilly winter, we're already planning for the next one. We love our new wood burning stove (especially now that I've figured out how to light a fire) but since it was our first year using fire to keep warm, we underestimated the amount we'd need. We won't be making the same mistake again. So, we're already on the prowl. Kate had the easiest job of all.You'd think that Indiana has...

Heath Cake

Jack requested this rich, sweet heath cake for his 30th birthday. This should not be confused with health cake--that'd be a bit dishonest. But, when you're entering a new decade of life, a bit of decadence is appropriate. It was not only easy to make, it was delicious. I think we ate it in two days.

Yeah, it's that good.
Ingredients:
1 box chocolate cake mix1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (if you're out, here's a substitute)1 (8 ounce) jar caramel topping (or b...

Boy at Heart

Aging with Jack has been a lot of fun. Though he continues to joke about me robbing the cradle (fourteen months apart and he loves to tell people I'm waaaaay older than him), it has been a blessing to know him as a scrawny, fun-loving sixteen year old that was constantly running his cars into things to now, a mature, fun-loving husband and father who runs his cars into things with less frequency and really, is still a mischievous boy at heart.
Jack makes EVERYTHING fun, especially if...

June Bug

Giving her new friend a tickle on the tummy.Claire has never been shy with bugs so when I pointed out a plump June bug who'd flown into the window and ended up on its backside, she was the first to run outside, pick it up and make friends.. She's had plenty of practice with spiders, praying mantises, stick bugs, slugs...you name it. Kate, though, is a little less enthusiastic. See?The June Bug
When Claire makes her sister scream bloody murder after putting a bug on her, she always remedies it...