Adulting 101 cooking list

We recently started a class that is teaching basic life skills to anyone in the community wants to come. We’ve only done two classes but it has been so much fun!

The first class was held in January, so we had someone teach plumbing. They taught how to fix a leaky faucet, install a shower head, repair a broken water line, take care of your plumbing, tools and glues needed. It was so informative! We will have other classes coming up – budgeting, auto maintenance, staying healthy, applying for jobs, sewing, tools, cleaning, etc. Just whatever we come up with that helps or are requested to teach.

The class we taught last night was a cooking class. I’m not a pro. I’ve cooked daily for my family for 17+ years, other times for large events feeding up to 200 and usually do it on the cheap, so I shared what I know. That’s all this is about. People sharing what they know with someone who doesn’t! A lot goes into “adulting” and many are surprised to find how many adults – both young and old – didn’t learn or have someone to teach them the things that seemed common place 30 years ago.

Is there something you didn’t learn and wish you would have before striking out on your own? Is there something you learned that has helped you to live less stressed because you know how to handle a situation when it arises? Let me know in the comments!

For this class I bought $67 worth of groceries. We talked about meal prep, cooking ahead and freezing meals to avoid eating out. We cooked all our protein at once and made the following in about 2 hours. (Minus the rise time for the bread, my daughter made that so we could let it rise ahead of time) We also could have cooked the protein with different seasonings and changed a few things on the list to make enchiladas, chicken tortilla soup, Chicken Tacos, BBQ chicken pizza and other things just as easily. I may get around to posting that last and menu plan.

Chicken Salad
Chicken and rice casserole
Chicken noodle soup
Chicken and dumplings
Fresh Bread
Berry topping/Pie filling
Whipped Cream

Other things that could have still been made with the same $67 worth of groceries. We shared recipes and tips for most of those as well:

Pizza dough
Pie crust
Biscuits
White gravy
Chicken spaghetti
Deviled eggs
Egg salad
Grilled chicken with side of rice and broccoli – or Broccoli and rice casserole
Biscuits with egg and cheese
Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken and Broccoli Quiche

What I had on hand to start was only seasonings, chicken bullion and cornstarch. Here is the $67 list of what I bought at HEB. (Prices will be different across the country, I found some items on sale and I bought the cheapest I could. But these sales and cheap buys aren’t uncommon! No coupons were used)

Groceries $67

Chicken things with bone and skin
Chicken breast with bone, skin and rib meat

Celery
Lemons
Berries

Canned 2 each:
Carrots
Green Beans
Corn
Cream of mushroom
Cream of chicken

Frozen Broccoli

Pickles
3 pack dry yeast
Dry Milk
Flour
Sugar
Baking powder
Vegetable Oil
Rice
Spaghetti Noodles
Egg noodles

Dairy:
Eggs
Unsalted Butter
Shredded cheese
Heavy whipping Cream

Next time we will use ground beef and make a different menu.

I’m most excited about this class to have people come together, get to know one another and create an environment where people can ask questions and share what they’ve learned through life with others. Looking forward to next month!

Here’s that easy bread recipe all fancy and handwritten. Lol.

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?”

This popped up in a Facebook memory today for 2018. I love when a good story shows up in my memories that I had forgotten all about. God is ALWAYS faithful.

I went to bed last night defeated, overwhelmed, unambitious, complacent and so so tired. Ben said, “well do you trust God or don’t you?” Honestly? I didn’t. It had been over a week of one inconvenience, problem or disaster after another. Yes. God’s good…all the time!
..but I felt I had somehow fallen out of the scope of His vision for now. I was on my own and had to deal with the mess on my own.

I woke up this morning and said God, I’m done looking at the problems, I’m looking at you. A few hours later someone obeyed God in a really big, faith stretching way and blessed our family. I’ve had God tell me a few times to do something but I’ve never been the one to hear “God told me to do this.” He has ALWAYS come through one way or another and I have been so blessed by so many people, but this was specific. This was an undenyable finger of mercy pointed in my face from someone who had no clue a need existed beyond what God told them.

Tonight I’m at peace. I’m excited. I’m reminded that He is watching me, caring for me, is intimately acquainted with my every need and that there is nothing beyond the scope of His power. My faith is reignited and I have hope. I’m also convicted and have a vivid reminder of how petty I can be. My words, my actions, my attitudes…P.E.T. T.Y. This is God that I doubt sometimes. Not my neighbor, friend or husband…GOD. Who do I think I am? I’m reminded of God’s response to Job. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!” I need to go on ahead and get over myself. Haha.

Giving was always fun and exciting (almost always) but after being a recipient and seeing the other side of this thing….I CANNOT WAIT for an opportunity to obey God again. What he asks of me or you might stretch our faith but He’s using it to build another’s in ways we never imagined.