On Friday mornings I make meals for shut-ins, elderly, or those recovering from a medical procedure. I have a list of meals I choose from. Most of them are meals my family used to enjoy. However, our diets have changed so much that I end up making a totally different version of the meal for my family. It's amazing the differences I now see in foods. Food that I once considered home-made from scratch, I now laugh at because I know the difference. Here's an example:
The first picture is using canned soup mix. The second picture shows the same recipe, but made with a homemade soup mix, totally from scratch using dried herbs, seasonings, and almond milk.
Now for the good part! Below, I will share with you the recipe I make for my family. Enjoy!
Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground hamburger meat
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 1/3 cup DIY soup mix (see notes below)
- 1/4 cup almond milk (or water)
- 32 oz frozen tater tots
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Brown ground beef, season with salt and pepper.
- Add chopped onion, cook until tender.
- Meanwhile, mix soup mix with almond milk and set aside.
- In a 9x13 casserole dish, combine ground beef mixture and soup mix.
- Top mixture with tater tots.
- Bake, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes, until bubbly and tater tots are golden brown.
Note: If you are not dairy free, you can add cheese to the top and return to the oven to melt it.
You can find the soup mix recipe here.
🌸 From my homestead heart to yours —
If you’re walking this same journey of homemaking, decluttering, and creating a peaceful, faith-filled home, you’re not alone.
I’d love to share encouragement, simple living inspiration, and homestead wisdom with you — right to your inbox.
If you’re walking this same journey of homemaking, decluttering, and creating a peaceful, faith-filled home, you’re not alone.
I’d love to share encouragement, simple living inspiration, and homestead wisdom with you — right to your inbox.
– Amanda | The HomeGrown Mom 🌾
Did you know it's super easy to make a powerful foaming hand soap with just 3 ingredients?? What's even better is that you can make it have any scent you want! I, of course, use the Young Living Thieves blend in mine. I may switch it up a bit from time to time, but it's hard to beat Thieves!! This blend has Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary, giving it a rich, spicy aroma. Add it to some liquid Castile Soap and boom, a powerful cleaning combo!
Thieves Foaming Hand Soap - DIY
Ingredients
- 2 TBS Pure Castile Soap
- 8 oz Distilled Water
- 5 drops Thieves essential oil
Instructions
Combine into an 8 oz foaming soap bottle and gently shake.
Check out the video version here.
My family loves this soap! It doesn't dry out our hands (even though we are all being sure we properly wash them!), it smells wonderful, and it's an amazing combo for all sorts of goodness.
If you make this soap, please be sure to share with us your favorite essential oil combos to use.
Interested in more ways to stay healthy? Check out my FREE guide on ways adopting a more natural lifestyle can change your life. Bonus: Immune Boosting Rollerball Recipe!
🌸 From my homestead heart to yours —
If you’re walking this same journey of homemaking, decluttering, and creating a peaceful, faith-filled home, you’re not alone.
I’d love to share encouragement, simple living inspiration, and homestead wisdom with you — right to your inbox.
If you’re walking this same journey of homemaking, decluttering, and creating a peaceful, faith-filled home, you’re not alone.
I’d love to share encouragement, simple living inspiration, and homestead wisdom with you — right to your inbox.
– Amanda | The HomeGrown Mom 🌾
Germs...they are everywhere! It's fairly common to see some sort of sanitizing wipes everywhere you go to wipe down hands, shopping carts, everything! But, did you know that if there are yucky ingredients in those products, you may be weakening your immune system instead of helping it? Do yourself, and your loved ones, a favor and research the products you use.
I have done my research and found a product I not only trust, but it also works wonderfully, saves me money and is so versatile it can be used everywhere! So, what is this product? Thieves Household Cleaner...yep, it's amazing! I have used it EVERYwhere....dishwasher, laundry, bathroom, windows...the list goes on.
What's my favorite way to use it? I'm glad you asked! I love making thieves wipes. I usually make them disposable, however, I have used the same recipe with t-shirt squares for a washable option.
Thieves Wipes
Ingredients
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 capful thieves household cleaner
Instructions
Cut paper towels in half and remove the cardboard roll. Place paper towels into the container. Mix vinegar, water, and cleaner in measuring cup and pour over the paper towels. Place lid on to keep moisture in.
Pull paper towels out of the center.
You can also place some in a smaller container to keep in your car, bag, or anywhere!
Watch the DIY video here:
These are so convenient! I keep a container in the kitchen, each bathroom, and in my van.
Enjoy!
🌸 From my homestead heart to yours —
If you’re walking this same journey of homemaking, decluttering, and creating a peaceful, faith-filled home, you’re not alone.
I’d love to share encouragement, simple living inspiration, and homestead wisdom with you — right to your inbox.
If you’re walking this same journey of homemaking, decluttering, and creating a peaceful, faith-filled home, you’re not alone.
I’d love to share encouragement, simple living inspiration, and homestead wisdom with you — right to your inbox.
– Amanda | The HomeGrown Mom 🌾
