Homemade Oatmeal Packets

Homemade Oatmeal Packets

I've been getting into Pinterest more (my one sister can attest to that), and I love the money saving tips and tricks I come across, and this was one of them, since our family LOVES oatmeal.

Quick, easy, cheap, and filling too! Plus, we don't go through a gallon of milk a day if it were dry cereal.

I've found many different recipes and this is the one we come up with. Simple, easy, and cheap!

• ½C Quick Oats
• 1 tsp Powdered Milk or Powdered Creamer
• 2 Tbl Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 pinch Salt

We usually do an assembly line processes since we have so many hands so it goes kind of quick. But our canister of oats can make up to about 30 packets of oatmeal. I store them in a shoe box next to the microwave with the directions on the box JIC a kid forgets what to do.

To cook, add 1 packet into a bowl with at least ½C of Water Depending on the consistency you like you can add a couple of tablespoons more water for a thinner oatmeal. My kids vary, and it really doesn't matter. As long as it's about a 1:1 ratio of oats to water it should turn out fine. Adding extra water helps thin it out and I like mine a bit more thin compared the kids.

Place in the microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir, and add whatever extras you want - dried fruits, fresh fruits, nuts, honey, jams, jellies, etc etc etc - use your imagination.

My oats cost about $2.19, my brown sugar is $1.49. Creamer is cheaper than powdered milk, but I usually keep that in my house as a staple now, but factor in maybe $1-$2 for the added milk and I get 30 packets for $4.68-$5.68 which breaks down to .16¢ - .19¢ a packet, compared to the pre-packaged stuff for about $2.99-$3.99 and you only get 6 packets which = 50¢ - 67¢ a packet and you've just saved yourself a BUNCH of money. Especially if you are feeding a family of 10!

Taking the conservative numbers $4.68 for 30 packets vs $14.95 for 30 packets - store bought. You've saved $10.27!!

I can deal with that!

*Now some people have posted that they run their oats through a blender or food processor to make the oats more fine, but we have not had a problem with using straight from the canister.*

Super Simple Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 boxed spice cake mix
1 small can (15 ounces/425 g) pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin-pie filling)
1 bag (12 ounces/340 g) semisweet chocolate chips, regular- or mini-sized

Preheat the oven to 325˚F (163˚C).

Pour the cake mix into a large mixing bowl. Add the pumpkin, and mix until the two ingredients are combined.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Use a teaspoon to scoop a spoonful of batter. Use your finger to drop the batter onto a cookie sheet.

Bake the cookies for 20 minutes.

Potluck Chicken Casserole Recipe

8 C. cubed cooked chicken
2 cans (10-3/4 oz. each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 C. (8 oz.) sour cream
2 C. shredded cheese
1 C. Peas (drained) or Favorite canned veggie on hand
1 C. butter-flavored cracker crumbs (about 25 crackers)
2 T. butter or margarine, melted
1 t. celery seed
fresh parsley and sweet red pepper ring, optional

Combine chicken, soup, sour cream, cheese, and veggie; spread into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Combine crumbs, butter and celery seed; sprinkle over chicken mixture.

Bake, uncovered, at 350°F. for 30-35 minutes or until bubbly. Garnish with parsley and red pepper, if desired.

Makes 10-12 servings.

Black Bean Dip

1 15 ounce can black beans, undrained
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 drops hot pepper sauce
3/4 cup minced white onion
2 cloves minced garlic
4 ounces chopped green chiles, drained

Drain beans, reserving 2 tbls liquid. Combine beans chili powder, salt, black pepper, cumin, hot pepper sauce and 2 tbls reserved liquid in blender or food processor; process till smooth. Combine onion and garlic in nonstick skillet or saucepan, cover and cook over low heat till onion is soft and translucent. Uncover and cook until slightly browned. Add chilies and cook 3 minutes more. Add bean mixture and mix well.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Asiago Cheese Dip

1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese plus 1 tbsp
1/4 cup sun-dried julienne tomatoes
1/4 cup green onions sliced
1/4 cup mushrooms sliced

Reconstitute sun-dried tomatoes in hot water. Clean, rinse and slice green onions. Rinse and slice mushrooms. Squeeze all the water out of the tomatoes, then julienne into fine strips. Combine all ingredients except tomatoes, then add the sun-dried tomatoes.

Place into oven-proof container. Top with remaining 1 tbsp of Asiago cheese and bake at 350° F. for about 15 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve immediately with toasted bread or bagel chips.

Makes 3 1/4 cups

Hot Bacon Dip

16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
2 cups grated mild cheddar cheese
4 green onions, chopped
1 package thick slice bacon, fried and crumbled
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed

Blend cream cheese and mayonnaise. Stir in cheese, onions, and bacon. Spread in an 11x14 baking dish. Top with crackers and dot with butter.

Bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with corn chips.

BLT Dip Recipe

Quick, Easy -N- Fast BLT Dip Recipe

1 C. mayonnaise
1 C. sour cream
2 tomatoes, diced and drained
1 lb. bacon, fried crisp, drained and crumbled
shredded lettuce
1 pound loaf sourdough bread, cut into bite-sized chunks

In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, tomatoes and bacon. Spread on bottom of a pie plate or other small serving dish.

Top with shredded lettuce and serve with bread chunks.

Makes 3 cups.

Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

Wet Ingredients
2½ -Sticks Butter
¾C -Brown Sugar
½C -Sugar
1 -Egg
1 tsp -Vanilla

Dry Ingredients
1½C -Flour
1tsp -Baking Soda
1tsp -Salt
1tsp -Cinnamon
¼ tsp -Nutmeg

Oats & More
3C -Oats
1C -Craisins


In separate bowl combine the dry ingredients and set aside.

In another bowl combine all of the wet ingredients blend well.

Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixing in between.

Once all is blended well add the oats one cup at a time mixing after each addition.

Once the oats are mixed in add the craisins and nuts and whatever else.
Mix well.

Spoon onto a lined cookie sheet. You can fit about 20 cookies onto a sheet. A double batch yields over 100 cookies.

Bake at 350º for about 12-15mins or until golden brown.

Rainbow Cake

Well I've posted about the Rainbow (Tie-Dye) Cookies so now it's time for a Rainbow Cake!

My friend posted all the steps you need to know to make this beautifully FUN cake that even the kids can help you with!


Rainbow Cake

Chicken Asiago Orzo Pasta

Ingredients
2 cup water
2 (16-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
24 ounces skinned, boned chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
2 ½ cups uncooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
1 cup (4 ounces) grated Asiago cheese, divided
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried rosemary, basil, or oregano
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Preparation
Combine water and broth in a big pot; bring to a boil. Add chicken and pasta; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in peas, 1/4 cup cheese, salt, herbs, and pepper. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon cheese.

Click HERE to watch this dish be made by http://foodwishes.blogspot.com