Fried Oatmeal is divine

Ok, so the fried oatmeal worked out well. It is a cross between french toast and oatmeal, as the outsides get crispy and buttery, and the inside part is warm and oatmeal-y. I put a little syrup on it and boy-o-boy it was good. You have got to try it. Plus, it is very cheap. I think the total for the whole thing was about $.75. Can't beat that!

Ok, so I am going to go get some apples from a church friend so I can make applesauce. We are currently cruising through about a jar every week, and it costs about $3 a jar. Hoping I can cut out that expense! 

I went shopping and here is what I discovered: I have been buying too expensive cuts of meat. I bought some chicken thighs at .99 cents a pound. So, eating around the bone has it's advantages. I have been long sold on chicken breasts from Costco for ease of use since they are separately frozen in the bag, but I see myself moving back to whole chickens again for stock and soups and the like. Although, I still contend that making beef broth is not worth the effort. Chicken stock, YES, beef stock- no. It takes about a million bones and a hours upon hours of cooking, roasting and the like to get some broth. Plus, I rarely use beef broth, so for the once a year use I will just buy the box.

You know what else? Junk food costs a lot of money now. Yeah, even just some cookies cost well over $3 a package. Forget that folks, I am back to buying raw ingredients and making it from scratch. Thankfully, my little guy is out of his touch the stove phase and I can get back to using the oven without a heart attack. 

Ok- cheap recipe of the day: Sourdough Pancakes for Dinner (Cost $1-2 depending on syrup)

Sourdough starter (get one from a friend, or make your own like I did- Google it, it's simple, if you need tips keeping it alive, let me know and I will post them)

2-3 C flour

water

salt- to taste

oil 3 Tbs any oil you like will do except olive

sugar 1 Tbs

2-3 eggs

butter -however much you use for the pancakes

baking soda -1 Tbs

The morning of take your sourdough starter out and put it in a large glass bowl. Now add equal parts flour and water. Mix with a wooden spoon until mixed. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it work on the counter for about 8 hours. Now, take out about 1/2 cup and put it back in a glass jar with a vented lid and put back in the fridge for next time. Add eggs, oil, sugar, and salt. Mix well in the bowl. If it is too thick at this point, add a Tbs of milk to thin it out. Now, as you are about to start the griddling of cakes, add the baking soda. Stir and let sit for about 2 min. It should foam up a bit. Now cook the cakes (1/4 C at a time) on a griddle at 350 +/- 25 degrees until bubbles form. Now flip and cook a bit more. You know how you like them. Now, put butter and real maple syrup on, serve with fruit, and YOU HAVE DINNER! 

Recipe by Tom Parks, my father, the best pancake maker in the west.