Comments on: Cooking from Scratch: 4 Moms, 35 Kids

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:16:59 +0000

Hi Katie.

It still takes a good amount of time to make tortillas, but we have two cast iron griddles, each one fits over two eyes of the stove, so we can cook about 8-12 tortillas at one time.

We set up an assembly line when we’re making flour tortillas (corn tortillas are a little easier to make as they press beautifully with little effort in the press). One person makes the dough into balls, another person works the press, another person uses a rolling pin to press the tortillas flatter than they get in the press. Once we have all of them shaped one of those people starts putting them all on the griddle, they cook up very quickly.

We’ve just enjoyed the taste and cost savings of homemade tortillas that it’s worth it to us, but I completely understand avoiding making them. It does take time and makes a big mess, at least in our kitchen.

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:11:39 +0000

Hi Meloni. I hope that you are continuing to see progress with your son. I absolutely agree that some things are worth the cost. For healthy eating, we've really enjoyed Katie's blog Kitchen Stewardship and GNOWFGLINS. GNOWFGLINS offers weekly menu plans that include only whole foods, traditionally prepared. It makes cooking everything from scratch, including sour dough, soaking grains and fermented foods (vital for proper digestion) much easier. Blessings.

By: Katie

Katie — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:56:42 +0000

Hi! I have a question about making tortillas. We have a tortilla press and a great all ww recipe, but I have a hard time actually making them because it takes so long and we never have enough leftover to freeze! (By the way, freezing them in a ziploc without wax paper works just fine…just make sure they are completely cool first or they might stick together). So I find myself just avoiding meals that require tortillas. When you use your griddle, can you do more than one at a time or does it take you forever to make tortilla too?

By: meloni cutberth

meloni cutberth — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:49:38 +0000

I’m coming into this REALLY late but since I only have internet on my phone (not a smart phone) I can’t find how to say this anywhere else. long story-short, after praying long and hard for wisdom to control our outrageously angry and disobedient 12yo son, God revealed to me that he has food allergies!! NEVER crossed my mind! now we are doing our best to eliminate mostly artificial colorings but all additives. just learning this and after only 4 or 5 days, we have seen a drastic improvement!!!! Praise the LORD!!!! tho he is nowhere close to “perfect” he is soooo much better!! I would love to get a thread going on this subject and hopefully get lots more people interested in eating this way. it doesnt seem to be as expensive as I thought it would be and having 8 kids, I am all about low cost food. but some things are worth paying more. what do you think??

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:54:39 +0000

Thought I would share a link to my new favorite salad…easy, healthy and delicious

http://www.food.com/recipe/cranberry-feta-and-walnut-salad-59829

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:48:25 +0000

Oh forgot to say, I do buy a lot of frozen veggies for dinners!

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:47:03 +0000

Hi Tina! Our current shopping lists contain mostly breakfast and lunch foods since we freezer cook for most dinners.

We do purchase a lot of things in bulk like rice, beans, grains, honey, etc. and we purchase all of our beef from a friend who raises cows, so much of what we eat never shows up on a grocery list.

I’m not sure that is at all helpful. If you want our current shopping list that excludes most of our dinner main dishes I could give you that, but I’m not sure that is what you are looking for. Just let me know!

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:42:49 +0000

Yes! I will plan to post it this week.

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:41:45 +0000

Thank you for your sweet comment. I’m VERY tired at this point in my pregnancy and that combined with a busy company schedule, preparing for a new school year and regular duties, blogging time is taking a huge hit.

You’ll probably see things continue to stay slow for a while, baby is due July 11.

Thank you for your prayers!

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:38:04 +0000

Thank you, Joy!

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:37:50 +0000

Will post in the next few days!! It is one of the recipes from our ‘poor’ days and isn’t great for eating plain, but wonderful for using in recipes.

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:36:14 +0000

Yes about making cottage cheese. This was back in our ‘poor’ days and we made it with powdered milk. I wouldn’t recommend it plain, but perfect to use in recipes.

I’ll be posting the recipe because there has been some interest in that.

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:34:32 +0000

Yes, the cast iron is dry.

I would think they would freeze fine, but haven’t done that. I would experiment with the freezing because my guess would be that you wouldn’t need anything between, but I’d hate to have you waste a whole batch.

If you find out about freezing before me, will you let me know??

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:32:16 +0000

Ashley- thanks for this recipe. Honey Mustard is one of our favorites, so this is a must try.

By: Tina

Tina — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:49:13 +0000

Thankyou for the tips and recipes. Could you please give us an example of your shopping list?

By: AllieZirkle

AllieZirkle — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:45:49 +0000

Can you share your cottage cheese recipe?? I’d LOVE it!

Allie

By: Alene

Alene — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:37:37 +0000

Praying for you, Kimberly, and your family. Don’t know what 3 days of silence means, but the Father knows! You are being held before the throne of Grace.

By: Lorie

Lorie — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:32:37 +0000

I just want to say that I’m loving this series. Thanks for all the insight from you & the other moms.

By: Joy

Joy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:40:44 +0000

You’ve been nominated, friend!
http://girlygirlgiveaways.blogspot.com/2010/04/were-kreativ-blog.html

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:14:35 +0000

Thanks for the great tips! How do you make cottage cheese?

By: CookieMonsterKatrina

CookieMonsterKatrina — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:11:46 +0000

Wow, so much to think about. Thanks for sharing.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:31:00 +0000

Thanks for the various ideas of getting the scratch cooking done. I think I’m using a haphazard mish-mash of all of these, but will definitely be pondering some of your ideas in the near future.

Oh, and seriously? You can MAKE cottage cheese? I had no idea!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:20:18 +0000

Thanks for the wonderful tips. I know that this would be a great activity for our family to implement.

Blessings to you!

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:53:54 +0000

Hi – I was wondering if the tortillas freeze well? Is there a special method for storing them in the freezer – waxed paper in between or anything? Also, I am assuming that the cast iron griddle is dry – no oil or anything?

Thanks!

By: Ashley Stubbs

Ashley Stubbs — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:53:37 +0000

Thanks Kimberly. I always enjoy reading your blog. I am not a scheduler by nature, but have a husband who is… so I’m trying I’m also seeing the neccesity more with each kid and adding homeschooling. As far as homemade cooking I’m definitely still in the make it as you go stage for now, but I’m seeing the need to do more ahead of time as our life is getting busier.

I wanted to share a delicious honey mustard dressing recipe that is easy and also uses plain yogurt, so might work well for you guys. It is great for salads or with chicken.

3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup mayo (I have substitued all yogurt and it is still good)
2 T Dijon mustard (plain is fine too if that’s what you have)
2 T coarse grain mustard (again plain mustard works ok too)
1/4 cup honey
1 T cider vinegar
1/8 tsp ground red pepper