Thursday, September 11, 2008

Frugal Friday: Cheap Dinner on the Farm

Sometimes...I really just don't know what to make for dinner. The kids usually aren't even hungry until after 7:00 because they've indulged in too many after school snacks and sometimes I find that I haven't even THOUGHT about what to make for dinner until after 6:30. There...for those few who have mentioned that perhaps I am supermom, the myth is debunked.

This scenario occurred a few evenings ago and the kids noticed the struggle I was enduring as I stood staring into the open refrigerator. The 13-year-old girl came to the rescue when she said, "Hey Mom! Can I make pancakes and eggs for dinner?"

"Yes! Why not?!?" I shouted and quickly gathered the middle kids together to go gather the eggs. Here is where they went...


And a close-up of the little egg factories. I'm so grateful to them!


That white one you see in the middle is the rooster. The chickens were laying eggs fine without him, but for some reason my brother-in-law decided that THIS boy...


...needed to have a rooster for his birthday. I remember the day clearly. Landon came running into the house with a HUGE smile on his face holding the flapping rooster upside down by the feet. His uncle came in after him, grinning slyly, and said, "Here, I thought Landy Lou might need a rooster for his chickens...and I thought you might could use an alarm clock, too." He then walked out of the house to his decades-old truck...laughing.

Anyway, as I was taking these pictures of our chickens and rooster, I noticed how the chickens just followed the rooster where ever he went. Why? They hadn't needed anyone to follow before HE got there? What was so special about HIM? He kind of annoyed me actually. He was just so cocky with his chest stuck out and his head jutting back and forth. I just don't see what they saw in him.

Before I had gone up to do the chicken photo shoot, I had asked the 16-year-old boy to babysit and when I returned, he was doing this...


I know it looks like he's strangling the puppy, but really, they're just playing. I promise. Isn't he going to make a fine father?

But I digress. After frying up the eggs, I checked on Kyla's pancake progress. She was having way too much fun!



Here's how she made the letters...


...she just poked a hole in a Ziploc bag and squeezed the batter out like she was frosting a cake. It was quite intriguing!

So in the end, Kyla got to express her creativity, I got to ponder on the roles of males and females and we all got to eat a cheap, easy and filling dinner! You can't beat farm living!



I am pleased to list this post at...


Click the pic to check out other great ideas on how to save money!


If you liked this post and would like to join me here on a regular basis via email or other reader, please...
Subscribe
(You'll be helping to pay for at least one of the nine kid's college tuition.)
OR... bookmark or share this post by clicking the little beauty below... Thank you for your visit!

29 comments:

The Farmer's Wife said...

I agree Farm Livin is the life! We sure love our little chickens for all the work they do for us...I love hearing the crow of the Rooster...but not so much the fertile eggs...good luck with the man of the coop!

The Farmer's Wife said...

Hey Jen...I recently read this book called "Animal Vegetable Miracle" about our lives (only times a million) These people ate only what they grew in it's season...it is an amazing book, I think you would like it...are your going to the game today???

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...

I can't say that I have chickens, but we love breakfast anytime of the day. Love how you spelled out letters with the bag. I'm going to try that neat idea. :D Have a great Frugal Friday!

American Homemaker said...

We love breakfast for dinner. It's cheap and easy :)

laurice. said...

What great pancakes! Oh and about that future great husband I have a little sister for him! She's only almost 15 now but in the future we have to play match maker!

Rachelle Vernon Jones said...

i love the pancake writing idea! that's a cute easy way to do it. gotta love breakfast for dinner!

Anonymous said...

Every time I see someone else's chickens, I want my own! Maybe someday... Sounds like you've got lots of great helpers at your house. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Great looking pancakes, kids! That breakfast looks as if you're cooking for a football team! Can I make a suggestion? The light blue text is hard to read. Maybe it's just me gettin' old and goin' blind!
Love ya.

Shannon said...

Hello- thanks for visiting my blog and your nice compliments! I put your button on my sidebar and would love to be added to your homemaking blog list.

Have a great day!

AmyK said...

Wow, definitely didn't occur to me to make letters using pancake batter! Awesome idea; Kyla's creative!

Linda said...

We love having breakfast for dinner. My 17 yo son doesn't have any baby siblings, but we have a puppy that he totally babies. He'll make a good dad too. I enjoyed the post.

Anonymous said...

Neat post. I like those breakfast dinners

Amanda B. said...

I love breakfast for dinner- we do that sometimes too! :) How nice to have a constant supply of fresh eggs- awesome! :)

Connie said...

AND every face probably had a smile on it...YIPPEE for life's simple pleasures...including breakfast in the P.M.

Jarmeg Family said...

I love breakfast for dinner, so fast, easy and yummy- wish i had some extra cooks in the kitchen, love the letters

Kathleen W. said...

Yum! i love breakfast for dinner, especially on crazy hectic days.

You're daughter is a good cook, or should I say a good artist?

Anonymous said...

What a great post. Thank you so much for sharing, and for creating such a fun read.

Amanda said...

Great post! We love Mel!

Rhonda said...

We've never spelled words with our pancakes but we do make animal shapes to make it more exciting for the kids to eat whole wheat pancakes. hehe Mickey's the easiest but we've also done cats and various others.

Chickens are cool but the rooster? Does he wake everyone up wayyyy early?!

danette said...

I love the pancakes! We're going to have to try that here sometime :)

Anonymous said...

great! I wish I could do that, I would love some chickens, I am trying the pancake squeezing idea this morning, my kids'll love it!

Love the picture of the babies and the big boy, absolutely gorgeous

nice blog, I don't know how I got here, just blog surfing lol!

Sarah

Bobbi said...

Yum, that looks good. I bet you wanted to beat your brother for getting your son that rooster. What time does he crow? I like your little chicken coop! Cute pictures.

Anonymous said...

What a cool idea! She is very innovative!

GranthamLynn said...

What a cute story. Hard to decide the best part but that boy babysitter you got. How sweet.
I love chickens too and haven't been able to talk my cowboy into getting any.
Maybe some day. I just found your blog and I will definately come back.
Blessings,
Sherry

Bobbi said...

I love Pancakes and Waffles for dinner. Come to think of it, Lunch to, maybe even just a an afternoon snack. Whenever! Great idea!

Penelope said...

Awesome! I love that you made words with the pancake mix; I've never thought of that!

Anonymous said...

The pancake writing is such a cute idea! I'll have to try it one day. Breakfast for dinner is something we do now and then, it's quick and easy and very frugal too!

Manuela

CJ, The Purple Diva said...

I LOVE THIS POST! THE CHICKENS FOLLOWING THE ROOSTER IS THE BEST...NO WAIT...the 16 year babysitting is the best!
I LOVE ME SOME PANCAKES and her artwork is so creative!

Barb J. said...

We have breakfast for dinner two or three times a month... it helps use up all those eggs from the coop, lol. I am impressed with your daughter's creativity. We'll have to try that sometime.