Ask a mother of 14 continued

Question/ comment: Barbara, I love this advice! A lot of the things I already do, but I like the last one especially. Sometimes I have to remember that the kids will really remember the time you spend with them doing simple things, rather than the time you spend scrubbing floors or watching t.v.

Question: Barbara, Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. I am a mom of a large family like you. My question is what are you best tips for making a great dinner for your family while homeschooling. I am teaching five of my eight children this year and dinner is my biggest challenge.Do you have any favorite recipes to share as well.

Answer: I agree that dinner is the hardest part of the day. You are tired of thinking by then! The kids are hungry, the house needs put back in order, hubby is going to walk in the door and want your attention! So what is a mom to do?

Start supper right after breakfast. I really think that is my #1 best advice. Get in that freezer, or pantry and plan what you are having. Cooking is not really the hard part- it is THINKING that late in the day. :)I like to use my crockpot or roaster quite a bit. Start beans, or soup, or a roast ( if you eat meat), or baked potatoes after breakfast. Add seasonings and stir a few times during the day and supper makes itself.

Or if I am doing something like lasagna I put it together in the morning. It does not hurt it to sit there all day. Then pop it in the oven an hour before you want to eat. Your hands are free then!Learn to double up- thereby cutting your work in half. So, if you are making something like lasagna- make two. One to eat, one to freeze. It only takes minutes more to make two, once everything is out anyway. Then freeze it and next week- take it out first thing in the morning. It will be thawed out and ready to bake by an hour before supper. Easy meal! If you did that for every meal you made over two weeks- then the next two weeks you would never have to prepare a meal- just bake it. :)

Or if you make a big pot of beans one day to eat as soup, make twice as much as you need. Drain the liquid off the leftover beans, add taco seasoning. Roll those beans and some shredded cheese inside flour tortillas. Cover with enchilada sauce. Now you have the next days meal made. Put it in the frig till you are ready to pop it in the oven for an hour. two meals- completely different with only one prep time!

Walk through the frozen food section. Any meal THEY can freeze- YOU can freeze! It will be cheaper and taste better if you make it yourself though! Look at your own recipes and think of what you would need to do to make them ahead. If you only double each recipe, you are making TIME for other things. TIME is you most valuable resource! Hugs, Barbara