In my kitchen

recipes, tips,and knowledge gleaned over years of preparing thousands of meals

large family food idea dinner calico beans and sauerkraut and kielbasa

/



This is a large family food idea that we enjoy eating it is very simple and cheap to make for a big crowd.  I like to make this meal for the days that we are away running errands.  I can put my oven on a low temperature and let it simmer all day long and when I return home, exhausted, dinner is all warmed and ready to eat.

Calico beans for a large family

036

 

  • 2 cans lima beans, drained
  • 1 can kidney beans, drained
  • 4 cans pork and beans (15oz)
  • 1/2 bag of bacon bits
  • 3/4 c brown sugar
  • 2 t salt
  • 1 t mustard
  • 1 T minced garlic
  • 1/2 c vinegar
  • 1/2 c ketchup
  • 1 small onion chopped

Mix all together and place in oven or crock pot and let simmer.  If you have a larger crowd, just add a few more cans of beans.

Sauerkraut and kielbasa

038

Take however much kielbasa your family will eat and sliced it small chunks. Place in your pan or pot, depending upon how you are cooking it.  Take your bag of sauerkraut and rinse it a few times.  Let drain and then add that to your kielbasa.  I add about 1 -2 Tablespoons of chicken bouillon to help take some of that “tart” flavor away.  Try it, you will enjoy it.

Bake these alongside one another in your oven while you are out doing errands and when you come home you will have a delicious tasting dinner all ready to eat.  Serve with a side of cornbread.

 

 

large family food idea snacks granola bars

/

Around our household, Wednesday is Kitchen Day.  On kitchen day, we usually spend the day baking and preparing foods for the week.  I try and choose at least 2 snacks to make for the week for us to enjoy.  This was one that was on my list to try and so we did.  It is now part of our rotation in our Master snacks list.

This past year, I have been trying to build my large family food idea lists.  I want foods that are easy to make and that my family enjoys.  We have tried numerous granola bar recipes over the years and many have failed.  This is one given to me by a dear friend and it is delicious.

  • 2-20 oz pkg mini marshmallows
  • 1 1/2 c butter
  • 1/2 c oil
  • 1/2 c honey
  • 1/2 c peanut butter
  • 10 c oatmeal
  • 9 c Rice Krispies
  • 2 pkg graham crackers, crushed
  • 1 pkg chocolate chips

 

Melt the first 5 ingredients until just melted over med low heat006

In a large mixing bowl, mix the oatmeal, Rice Krispies, graham crackers , and chocolate chips.008Pour the melted mixture over top of the dry mixture009Stir until combined010Press into a greased, jelly style roll pan011

Let cool and then cut into bars.  Keep extra bars covered in a container.  You will get 2 large jelly style pans from this recipe.026Recipe for the “smaller” families

  • 20 oz mini marshmallows
  • 3/4 c butter
  • 1/4 c oil
  • 1/4 c honey
  • 1/4 c peanut butter
  • 5 c oatmeal
  • 4 1/2 c Rice Krispies
  • 1 pkg graham crackers crushed
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

 

Scroll to Top