Cookbook Recipe: Fully Loaded Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

It's the age-old question: what's for dinner? 

In my house, this question is often followed by: what's for dessert? If I haven't done my meal planning and shopping for the week, instead of a real answer, you will get a blank stare from me.

Problem solved!

The Tater Tot Casserole Cookbook can be purchased in print for just $7.99 (free shipping with Amazon Prime!)* so you can hold it in your hot little hands and keep it on your bookshelf for easy reference. I have even included a chapter on Meal Planning, so you can figure out which night of the week will be the very best one to serve one of my 35 tater tot casserole options (and 13 desserts!).

This cookbook is a unique holiday gift or birthday gift, so you not only get a fun resource for your own kitchen, but you can at the same time make someone else very happy with a fun present!

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: A Guide to Low-Barrier Food Resources in KC

We all hit seasons where life gets a little too heavy. Whether it’s an unexpected bill, a gap between paychecks, or just a really tough month, knowing where to find a little extra support shouldn’t be a source of stress.

In Kansas City, we are lucky to have a community that believes in looking out for one another. But I know that sometimes the biggest hurdle to getting help is the paperwork. The idea of standing in a long line or having to prove your need can feel daunting when you're already exhausted.

That’s why I’ve gathered this list of low-barrier food resources around the metro. These are places where you can "pick up and go" with:

• No personal ID required

• No lengthy applications

• No appointments needed

From 24/7 "little free pantries" tucked into neighborhood sidewalks to efficient drive-thru distributions, these spots prioritize your privacy and your time. If you or someone you know could use a hand this week, please know these resources are here for you—no explanations necessary.

Pop-Up & Drive-Thru Distribution

These events are designed for high volume and low friction. Most only ask for the number of people in your household for their own statistics, not for your personal identity.

Bridge Over Troubled Water Food Pantry Bus: They have Summer Snack Packs for families and each family can receive one snack pack per child, every week for free. Each snack pack contains 8-10 snacks and fresh fruit. No sign-up or registration required. For more information or to help provide healthy food for kids this summer, please visit their website at www.mofamilyresource.org.

Mission Community Food Pantry: They explicitly state that no ID is required and there are no qualifications. They operate on trust and only ask for a last name and household count for tracking purposes. 

Salem Lutheran Church: Their pantry requires no ID and is open on Thursday mornings and evenings to accommodate different work schedules.

Santa Fe Waystation Food Pantry: This is a drive-thru pantry that requires no documentation. It’s a great "pick up and go" option on Mondays during their morning or evening sessions. 6422 Santa Fe Drive, Mission, KS at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.

Coronation of Our Lady Catholic Church in Grandview, MO has a food pantry, but even though my family attends services there, I'm ashamed to say I don't know how it works. I'm not sure if those attending need to drive around back or need to come inside.

No-Appointment Walk-Ins

If you need fresh items like bread or dairy, these locations allow walk-ins without the typical multi-step registration process.

Harvesters — The Community Food Network: While Harvesters is a large hub, they maintain a searchable map on their website that specifically allows you to filter for "Mobile Pantries," which are almost always paperwork-free.

Shawnee Community Services: They offer fresh bread and bakery items Monday through Saturday on a walk-in basis with no appointment, no application, and no ID required.

The "Little Free Pantry" Movement

These are essentially oversized birdhouses for food. They are open 24/7, scattered throughout neighborhoods, and operate on a "take what you need, leave what you can" basis with zero interaction required.

Little Free Pantry: (NW Waukomis Dr): This location is open 24 hours a day for non-perishable food items and basic necessities.

The Little Pantry at New City Church at 8711 Wornall Road in Kansas City, MO. Located in an urban suburb, this neighborhood pantry is easily accessible from the sidewalk.

Tiny Pantry Times: (Overland Park): Unlike some church-based pantries, this one is located outside the building and is accessible daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM without an appointment.

School Summer Lunch Programs

Please come back to find out more about these free resources.

A Final Thought on Community

If you found this list helpful, please consider bookmarking it or sharing it with a friend. You never know who might be quietly struggling or looking for a way to bridge the gap this month.

For those who are currently in a position to give back, many of these little free pantries rely entirely on neighbors helping neighbors. Dropping off a few non-perishable items—like canned proteins, pasta, or even basic toiletries—is a simple, jargon-free way to keep this vital infrastructure running.

We’re all in this together, Kansas City. Let’s keep looking out for one another.

Help Me Grow This Resource

If you represent a church, a neighborhood group, or a community center in the Kansas City area that hosts a low-barrier food pantry or a little free pantry, I would love to include you on this list. My goal is to keep this resource as up-to-date and comprehensive as possible for our neighbors in need.

Please reach out to me at thekerrieshow@gmail.com with your location, hours, and any specific details about your distribution process. Together, we can make sure no one in our community has to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

Julie's Chocolate Euphoria Recipe

I made this for Eva’s first birthday party along with a strawberry cake. We also had three ice cream choices (all Edy’s): Espresso Chip (my favorite!), Vanilla and Double Fudge Brownie.

This recipe can also be found in my book The Tater Tot Casserole Cookbook on Amazon!

Julie's Chocolate Euphoria

You will need:

1 box Devil's food cake mix (including the ingredients needed: eggs, oil, water)
12 oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoons butter

Bake cake according to directions. Let cool completely.

Ganache:
Place chocolate chips in a medium-sized bowl.
In saucepan, heat cream and butter until mixture boils.
Pour mixture over chocolate chips and let stand for 30 seconds.
Whisk until smooth.
Let cool for 15-20 minutes

Cake:
Crumble cooled cake into small pieces and put into a large bowl.
Add half the ganache mixture and mix well (it should resemble fudge).
Place in prepared cake pan, press down, and smooth the top.
Freeze for one hour.

Remove cake from freezer, cover top with remaining ganache.

You can put berries on it to make it look pretty or just dig in! 

Make provisions for your small children if you have some still living at home because you will go into a chocolate coma and might be unavailable for a few hours!

A birthday FYI: I did a PowerPoint slideshow for Eva’s birthday with EMF’s song “UnbeliEVAble” (available on request). I also do a birthday letter for each kid for their birthday every single year. I put a copy in a binder, a copy in our fireproof box for the kids to have someday and a copy in my scrapbook.

2026 update: Yeah, I don't do any of that birthday stuff anymore because it got very overwhelming. Be careful what traditions you choose to start when your kids are little because they will come to expect them. And if you have a large family, and if you started having kids when you were older like I did, your brain will start to glitch and you will forget some of the traditions, you'll go into a guilt-spiral, etc. and we don't need that happening!

Originally published 12/8/2008

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Christmas Baking: Heavenly Coconut Chocolate Bars

It's never too early to make your Christmas Baking Plan! These little gems go fast in my house when I make them, and they are so easy that now the kids can make them too. They are the perfect dessert for someone who has just had a baby, and they are certainly always on my list for a food gift to give during any holiday!

Here's the recipe for these sinful bars I like to bake and gift as Christmas goodies. Then I bake a batch just for me and snack on them out of the fridge because they are better cold. They rock.

12+ Ways You Can Save or Make Money Today

Finding Dave Ramsey back in 2015 was very inspirational for my family. Money had been flying out of our home in the form of co-op fees, sports fees, doctor and hospital fees, a vehicle payment and the higher gas and insurance and tags that went along with that, etc. Then we moved to a larger home but still had some debt plus grocery costs are soaring! 

1. Be a safe driver. Stop speeding and observe traffic rules and you won't have to worry about a costly ticket. I am being super careful on my errands today and when I am driving around town in general. You can even save money on your car insurance if you get an app that tracks your driving (probably something like Life360 where it can track your quick acceleration and hard braking).
2. Buckle up and make sure your passengers are also properly buckled. This applies to making sure your kids are buckled properly in your vehicle. In my state, it can be $60 per ticket plus court costs if your kid is not in the proper booster or car seat so make sure you know the rules.
3. Get the Ibotta app! You get cash back in the form of PayPal cash or gift cards when you buy specific products! I recently received a Pillsbury pie crust to bake a pie and take a survey and there was $15 in my account! Check out my post here.

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Meal Prep Containers

Meal prepping is a great way to save time and money and can also help you eat healthier meals. However, you need the correct containers to prepare your meals effectively. With the market flooded with many types of meal prep containers, it can take time to get the best. Here's a guide on what to check when buying the containers.

Durable and Reusable

Buying durable and reusable meal prep containers is best for the environment because containers are a source of pollution. In addition, a GoodCook durable container is hard to break or crack, which can lead to food waste. In the long run, a durable container will save you money because you will not have to purchase containers frequently. Check out better containers and enjoy long-lasting meal prep containers.

Consider Size

Always consider the size and shape of the meal prep containers for convenience. You require containers that are easy to use and store. Big containers can be cumbersome and take up a lot of space in your freezer or fridge, depending on their size.

2023 Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day Dress Like a Cow Day Free Food!

2023 update: Not only is it Cow Appreciation Day on July 11, 2023, but it's also 7-11's Free Slurpee Day!

This is a post I wrote in 2012 about doing our family's first Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day, and here are some photos, both vintage and from last year!

Tuesday, July 11, 2017 is the day/night to go THIS YEAR ...

This year I took 8 kids plus my husband and myself and we spent $8.47 on fries only :-)

Please check out the details here first ... they stop serving this free deal at 7 p.m. and you don't get an entire free meal anymore ...

     

Bottom line is YOU GOTTA DO THIS! When we do this with our entire family it amounts to $60 in free food for dinner alone. I thought that was awesome. However, my friend Liz can always do me one better! She says you can go for ALL THREE MEALS OF THE DAY!

Are you going? So easy to toss together an outfit that resembles a cow (just think black and white, brown and white, spots, ears, tail, nose -- they aren't too picky as long as you give it a shot). Now for the vintage 2012 photos I promised you!

Getting ready to pull out my udder for my little calf

Grumpy calf donning ballet shoes

Eva was Karate Kow

Getting ready

July 11: Free Slurpees ALL DAY at 7-11

2023 Update: We forgot to go last year! This year we have to go! Sam has a basketball game that night plus it's Chick-fil-A's Cow Appreciation Day as well, so we're going to be busy! Maybe we'll see you at 7-11 or Chick-fil-A!

2020 Update: I'm wondering what Free Slurpee Day is going to look like with social distancing requirements in place all over the country. We moved in the fall of 2017, so I don't remember doing this in 2018, but last year we hit a couple of 7-11 stores in Grandview, Missouri and had a blast doing it.

ORIGINAL POST:
Today is July 11, 2012, and you can find my family at the local 7-11 convenience store filling cup after cup with FREE SLURPEES. We go before lunch then again before dinner! It's from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. So mark your calendar for July 11 = free Slurpees. Then July 12 = Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day!

photo courtesy of 7-eleven.com

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5 Reasons to Eat More Mushrooms

 

Image credit

Mushrooms are the little white veggies that can be a perfect accompaniment to many dishes. Mushrooms have quite a complex taste to describe and can leave behind an aftertaste that people characterize differently. But there is no denying their versatility as an ingredient in many dishes.

There are many ways to cook mushrooms and many dishes you can add them to, but far from being simply another ingredient to prepare, they come with massive health benefits too. Read on to learn more.

Reduced Risk of Cancer

That's right, eating just 2 medium-sized mushrooms per day can reduce your risk of getting cancer. While they might not be your top choice for ask, you can eat this fungus raw or cooked; they will serve you well if you include them daily. Mushrooms contain ergothioneine that slows or prevents cellular damage. Some mushrooms have higher quantities of ergothioneine than others. Make sure you eat a range of mushrooms for maximum benefits.

How to Encourage Your Children to Try New Foods

It is safe to say that as a parent, you have had to endure the stress of trying to introduce your little one to new foods. Getting your child to try new foods can frustrate both you and your child. You want your child to have a healthy diet; however, for your child, the thought of trying something new and unfamiliar triggers their fear responses, causing them to refuse these foods. This leaves parents in a predicament about introducing these new foods to their children. If you're trying to figure this out, you're in the right place. Here are three practical and effective ways to encourage your children to try new foods.

Let them join you in the kitchen

There are several benefits of letting your children join you in the kitchen. For instance, you bond with them and teach them healthier eating habits. Cooking with your children also encourages adventurous eating. As your children participate in preparing meals, they are exposed to new foods in a positive light. This encourages them to try it! As mentioned earlier, children usually refuse new foods because they are unfamiliar. Helping you prepare the meals fosters some familiarity and makes them more comfortable. When your child begins to engage in adventurous eating, encourage them to use their other senses, such as feel and smell, to further explore and familiarize themselves with them. 

Lose Weight Drinking a Chocolate Fat-Stripping Frappa

I posted about the Trim Healthy Mama Orange Creamsicle Shake that I make when I'm feeling run-down or like I'm eating too much junk. Just maintaining my weight right now is important to me as I focus on physical therapy for my hip/knee (just a lot of muscle work), so I'm not actively trying to lose weight but I do want to FEEL GOOD!

I got some good responses to that post ... some women are really losing weight just by making a simple change of replacing one crappy fast food meal a day with this shake. It really can be breakfast and lunch because it makes a lot. Then snack on veggies or fruit or almonds and you're good until dinner.

*Bonus: you aren't running to Starbucks for their mocha frappuccino light that I always get and pay 5 bucks for. Save money and gas and do it at home.

So here is the other shake I like to make when I'm sick of the orange situation or craving chocolate. I have modified it from the Trim Healthy Mama original.

Every Kid Loves #TaterTotCasserole and Campbell's Soup #EasyDinners

I've been blogging here for nearly 12 years, so it's important to me to go back and update old blog posts so you can see how the kids are changing and how my family is changing. This post was written originally on December 3, 2013, and was begging for an update! Enjoy!

I don't know why I thought that when I had kids they would all be the same, or at least very similar. Turns out all five are extremely different, and that goes for their taste in food as well. Here's how they shake out:

• Joel is 12 and will eat anything. His taste in food has changed a lot over the years, and he appreciates food with onions, tomatoes, and any veggie these days. He likes to try new things and likes it spicy quite often. (Now he's 18 and loves everything, but especially healthy things. He cooks for himself often.)
• Michael is 10, and we've always joked that he's our vegetarian. (Now he's 16 and cooks for himself and loves everything.)
• Callie is 8 and can be picky, but has always loved things like broccoli, asparagus and any green veggie! (Now she's 14 and still loves veggies and eats just about everything.)
• Eva is almost 6 and is super picky because she would eat sweets all day if she could. Isn't a cookie/fruit pizza a meal, after all? She will eat green beans all day long if you let her, though! (Now Eva is 12 and loves chocolate milk most of all.)
• Samuel is 4 and will shovel anything in simply because it's fuel for his energy streak that is nonstop. (Now Sam is 10 and still eats anything that isn't nailed down and still has that nonstop energy.)

Mealtime at my house this past summer of 2013. Party of 9 on this particular evening. Yes, we do eat in our swimsuits sometimes!

I like to use a lot of soups in my cooking because they are kid friendly. I use 'cream of' soups to make gravies and sauces. They go great in a slow cooker with some chicken and rice and veggies. And, of course, you have my famous Tater Tot Casserole, which I know how to make 35 ways! I love Campbell's soups because they have so many varieties of cream soups that really help me to make my cooking creative and varied. And the kids eat it, which is significant!

Cooking with Taste and Health in Mind: The Essential Guide

 

via Pexels

Cooking food that not only dances on your taste buds but also delivers all the nutrients and minerals you need is a must if you want to keep operating at an optimal level. Your family will enjoy the tasty, wholesome meals you can make with the correct equipment, supplies, and methods. This manual offers practical advice for quickly preparing recipes that are both tasty and well-balanced. This manual has all the information you require to start the road to better eating, from stocking the kitchen with fresh food to mastering basic cooking methods!

1) Choose Natural and Fresh Components

Fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, and proteins are all key components of a delicious meal. For example, using fresh vegetables in salads or stir-fries will provide more nutrients than canned varieties and result in more flavourful dishes. Also, proteins like fish or chicken should be cooked as soon as possible after purchase for optimal taste and texture.

Furthermore, when shopping for produce, it's important to select items that look vibrant in color; this indicates the presence of beneficial phytonutrients. Finally, to ensure food safety and optimal flavor, use your fresh ingredients within a few days of buying them. With these tips in mind, cooking with fresh ingredients not only boosts the health benefits of a meal but elevates the flavor as well!

Helping Our Children Eat Healthier for Little Extra Money

All parents want the best for their children. But of course, it’s not always feasible (or sometimes truly necessary) to give ‘the best’ in all things. For instance, it might be that goose eggs are some of the tastiest and largest eggs you can buy, but instead of finding the right purveyor to order them from, odds are you’re happy with free-range chicken eggs to fry and place on toast for them in the morning. This isn’t ‘the best,’ as a pedantic person might point out, but it’s certainly good enough.

This makes us wonder - especially as it relates to food - could we ensure our children eat better and more healthily at home without overextending ourselves in the kitchen, or spending that much more on our grocery bill? Times are tough for many people at the moment, so spending more on a higher quality supermarket may not be feasible, nor may purchasing or growing everything fresh be a realistic part of our lifestyle.

While that kind of best may not be available, you can certainly do the best you can. Let’s see how to go about that:

How to Save Money on Groceries by Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

I love the Internet. It would be so easy to feel a little isolated as a work-at-home mom who also homeschools and is way too busy to have many meaningful in-person interactions. But with the Internet, I have met a lot of writing moms from other states and even call quite a few of them friends! Tiffany Doerr Guerzon is one such writing mom. We met in a group of regional parenting magazine writers and found we had a lot in common. Then she said she had written a book on Amazon and I was like MORE in common! So I checked out her book and left the following review:

As a mom of 5 and honorary "foster mom" to tons more kids in the summer, I found this book to be full of tips, smarts, and humor. I found some great new things to try, including apps to download to save money and put recipes together for me, as well as blogs to check out and much more. The recipes in the back were a nice surprise!

Here is the book description on Amazon and the purchase link is here!

How to save money on groceries is a popular topic. This is because, within most family budgets, there isn't a lot of wiggle room. You can't usually change the dollar amount of your mortgage, rent, or car payment. The weekly grocery bill is one of the few places a person can save a few dollars. But how? Food costs have increased in recent years and many families have food allergies or intolerances that require the purchase of more expensive food products. In this book, I share what I have learned about saving money on groceries through years of trial and error. I have found that a “back to basics” approach works best for me. Many of these cost-saving methods—such as buying in bulk, stocking up, cooking from scratch, buying on sale, and planning meals—are probably strategies our grandparents used. By going back to basics, I can save significantly, without clipping coupons or driving to several stores each week. I also include information on saving apps, batch cooking, alternative buying methods such as food co-ops, and how to read price labels at the store to decipher the best deal. I also include tasty, nutritious recipes. 

While I can't promise you will save a certain percentage on your grocery bill, I can say that by following even some of the saving methods in this book, you can gain control over your grocery spending.

Some Great Ideas for What to Feed Your Guests

 When you have guests over, food is always going to be one of the most important parts of the experience, something that you have to ensure that you get right as best as you can. There are a lot of things you might want to consider here, but one of the most essential is that you know what kinds of foods you are going to want to prepare which will go down well with those staying with you. In this post, we are going to take a look at some ideas for meals which generally go down well with all kinds of guests.

Image Credit - CCO License

Cobb Salad

If you are looking for something quite simple and yet delicious, or something which you can add as a side to another meal, then you might want to consider making your guests a cobb salad. This contains bacon, chicken breast, avocado, tomato, hard-boiled egg, chives, and plenty of romaine lettuce, so there is lots in there that you can enjoy, and you should find it is surprisingly filling for your guests as well. It’s a simple thing to throw together that has amazing results, so that is something to think about when you have guests.

How to Raise Your Kids in a Healthier Way

 As a parent, you’ll want to do everything possible to raise your kids in the healthiest way possible; there’s no doubt about that. It’s the task that every good parent sets for themselves. But it’s not always easy to make healthy decisions and to know exactly what your kids need, but we’ve got some ideas to talk about today that should help you to stay on the right track. So read on now and find out more.

Set Boundaries for Screen Time

It’s a good idea to stay on top of screen time from a young age. Of course, watching TV and playing video games aren’t bad in themselves. But when they’re doing things at the expense of getting outdoors and doing healthy and active things, that’s when it becomes a problem. Boundaries and limits on screen time can help prevent that from becoming a problem.

Make Outdoor Activities Normal

Getting outdoors and doing things that enable you and the kids to be active and also connect with nature can only be positive. It’s something that you should work hard to normalize because for many kids and their parents, getting outside and enjoying nature is not something that’s normal or part of their regular routines at all.

Reasons Why Seafoods Restaurants Are Popular

 There are several reasons why seafood restaurants are popular: Creative menus, Sustainable certifications, Celebrities' visits, and the freshness of the seafood. If you're in the mood for a delicious seafood dinner. You might be pleasantly surprised! This article will give you an inside scoop on the seafood restaurants in San Francisco. So, why are they so popular? Read on and discover the reasons behind their success.

Sustainable seafood certifications

The sustainability of seafood has become an increasingly important issue for consumers, and food businesses are enacting mandatory sustainable seafood certifications. These certifications measure the practices of fisheries and their chain of custody against internationally recognized standards. These are given by accredited certifiers, which provide valuable assistance to fisheries and their chains of custody.

What Kind of Wine is a Zinfandel?

 

If you've wondered, "What kind of wine is a Zinfandel?" then you're not alone. The grape variety is a favorite among California wine lovers. Primitivo, also known as Zinfandel, is a grape variety native to the region of Puglia, which lies in south-eastern Italy. Its hot climate makes it a perfect choice for making fruity wines. When yields are carefully controlled, high-quality Primitivo is made. In Italy, Primitivo is often blended with Negroamaro.

Red

If you're looking for a red wine that pairs well with food, consider Red Zinfandel. It pairs well with meat dishes with moderate spice. Try pairing Zinfandel with a spicy curry to give it an extra kick.

Surprise Treats That Will Delight Your Wife During Pregnancy

 

Pregnancy can be a beautiful and awe-inspiring experience for many families. The reality is that while both parents are preparing, it can take a more significant toll on the person who is pregnant. This can leave many expecting fathers with a desire to do more. While you cannot take over the pregnancy process, there are many things to do to support her. If you want to give your wife some pampering during pregnancy and show her how much you care, here are a few ideas.

At-Home Spa Day

The pregnancy experience can have intense physical symptoms. Whether she has muscle aches, back pain or is just tired, consider creating an at-home spa experience for her. Draw a warm bath with her favorite candles, book a massage appointment Chicago IL and give her a foot rub. With this kind of pampering, you will give her a bit of me-time that she likely needs.