Mean Ol' Mama made fresh wheat bread and the yummiest "made-up" cookie recipe yet, which she named Brownie Mint Oatmeal Bites. Mmmmm...Mean Ol' Mama....mmmm....Why are there laundry baskets in the kitchen? Oh, they're for the potatoes (from the boys' gardens when available; from the store when not in season) and sweet potatoes, lovingly gleaned by Teresa, Levi, and Stennes from a near-by farm. We love sweet potatoes; they're high in nutrients, deliciously sweet, and come with a hard-to-beat price: FREE for the gleaning!
Lunch was also a concoction of "made-up". When we are alone as a family, we try to follow a Third World food mentality: high nutrient value, low price, and thrift/availability. Our goal is to remain under $5.00 per meal for our family of 8. We choose not to eat meat during the noon meal for two basic reasons: (1) the Third World food system doesn't often include meat, and (2) some of the kids really like meat and don't prefer the Third World foods system. Yep, that's a good enough reason to keep denying ourselves the meat. Self-denial is always a good thing...Are we suffering? Nope. Just look at this beautiful "make-do miracle" we enjoyed for lunch (in the photo below). Leftover, almost stale tortillas, layered with leftover refried beans, leftover rice to stretch the beans, 3 chopped up sausage patties that were hiding in the fridge, all flavored with delicious spices and fried onions, then doused with a good tomato sauce. Cheese slices were also hidden here and there amidst the leftovers. This was baked until bubbly and enjoyed until it was all gone. The kids were scraping their plates! Truly, thrift and sensible eating is so under-rated. Those 3 sausage patties really encouraged the meat eaters...
As a special treat with lunch, Mean Ol' Mama made really good Sweet Potato Crisp Muffins, using leftover sweet potatoes that were hiding in the fridge (with the rice, beans, and old tortillas). And let's not forget the 3 sausage patties, folks !! There's a method to our eating madness, and Mean Ol' Mama highly recommends it: Give thanks for what you have and be mindful of those who don't have. 
Okay, kids, you each get one Brownie Mint Oatmeal Bite. Ready, set, GO!
Nos gustan tanto, Mami!! We really, really like them!!
And for supper tonight when everyone comes over? Ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, lima beans, and a tray full of whole wheat buns, freshly baked. Plenty of desserts, too. We think we'll survive...
As a special treat with lunch, Mean Ol' Mama made really good Sweet Potato Crisp Muffins, using leftover sweet potatoes that were hiding in the fridge (with the rice, beans, and old tortillas). And let's not forget the 3 sausage patties, folks !! There's a method to our eating madness, and Mean Ol' Mama highly recommends it: Give thanks for what you have and be mindful of those who don't have. 
Okay, kids, you each get one Brownie Mint Oatmeal Bite. Ready, set, GO!
Nos gustan tanto, Mami!! We really, really like them!!
And for supper tonight when everyone comes over? Ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, lima beans, and a tray full of whole wheat buns, freshly baked. Plenty of desserts, too. We think we'll survive... 
