I was SO touched by your comment about why you give them a cup of espresso. Such a thoughtful mom. AND, to any negative commentors, trust me, it's not going to hurt them at all ;-) Rather, it shows them that their parents understand the effort they willingly put in. It will be a fond memory later in life.
I totally agree. My mom actually used to make me espressos as a young teen when I had a ton of homework or a big test to study for. Best mamas in the world.
My mom gave me coffee that was mostly milk when i was 4 because i wanted to be like her. :) I'm 5'11. We ate mostly out of our garden so i figure that makes up for it.
When I was young, my mother and I would visit an elderly woman. She had very little money and would save every little bit of food that she had left after a meal, even just a bite of something. When we came to visit she would bring out everything from her fridge, even if it was just a little bit of each thing, she would fill the table with pretty little dishes . It was like a real life tea party. Only with coffee!! She was the only one who would give me a cup of coffee (of, course more milk than coffee), making me feel so grown up. Mrs. Illinger was a concentration camp survivor, my mother once told me when I asked about the mark on her arm and that was why she always had kept little bits of food. I didn't understand really what that meant until as a teenager I learned about the Holocaust in school and did alot of reading about it. My heart breaks to think of that kind, loving woman having to go through that horror. I remember her so well and the way she made me feel so grown up and special by just the simple act of pouring me coffee in a pretty little cup. So, yes, the boys will remember. They will also remember mom's loving words.
As a treat my granny would give me half coffee, have milk in one of her beautiful special tea cups and have butter cookies from a tin and those where such special times for me as a child!!!
I personally love that you allow your babies on your counter and that you allow your older children to help in the kitchen and that you are fostering Davids love for baking and allow him to experiment. That's how kids learn.
Please dont ever feel like you have to apologize for the littles on the counter or for anything. We as parents do our best and you know what works for your family. Love that you include the kiddos in making your meals. You are a great mama!
I feel like I’m pretty invested in the beet kraut saga at this point. 😂 the REAL pantry challenge will be seeing if you can finish that off by the end of February!
I started a new job recently and several people are giving me a hard time about being "soft spoken" (ie, not being loud? Aggressive? I'm not sure). I was feeling pretty bad about myself, but watching this video helped me so much. I have so much respect and gratitude for you, Jessica, for how you run your home so capably. I would consider you soft spoken! I would also consider you capable, knowledgeable, kind, and a guide and leader in your family. Thank you for showing me that being soft spoken is not a bad thing!
Soft-spoken speaking is wonderful! I am loud and don't intend to be, but that's just my personality. It didn't dawn on me when I would play with my boys and yell and hoop and hollar that I was teaching them to be loud also. Then years later the loudness just drove me crazy! I wish I was soft-spoken. It is very peaceful.
They gave you hard time for it?! Wow! As a naturally loud and explosivr person coming from a loud family.. I am working on being softer every day. So treasure your softness. It is absolutely a gift.
I want to thank you, I am a new subscriber from New Hampshire! I am now a grandparent and I have raised five home educated contributing citizens to our society. I am very proud of this accomplishment! I now have six grandchildren.
I for one love that your babes are up on the counter “helping”! They are learning so many things as they get their hands into things! My kids and grads all have had their turns up on Oma’s counter and they loved the experience and the now adult children who have kids do the same thing….it’s all about teaching them from the start. Love your channel! You are a joy to watch and listen to.
Ditto! I had my little guy up on the counter a lot when I was in the kitchen as well. It was just easier for me as well! He enjoyed helping me cook and still does and he's about to be 5!
Me too I love having my kids up on the counter "helping" and talking while I get things done and they learn so much from watching and interacting, I think we need to involve our children more instead of trying to keep them out of the way all the time!
I love that you treat your boys like young men-so many people want kids to walk talk act work like an adult but then treat them like a toddler-respect goes both ways. Great idea-save freeze kale stems! I dehydrate all my surplus kale but-the crunch of stems🙌🏻
I think it’s sad that someone that chooses to watch your videos would make a negative comment. We need to accept people for who they are and stop judging! I love your videos!
I really admire you cooking from scratch, it’s so refreshing to see a young mom cooking so healthy. Have you thought about creating a cookbook? Kudos to you and your beautiful family:)
‘Food is my love language’ resonates so deeply within me! My husband is very self sufficient as well as chronically I’ll (not that you would notice looking at him). He also has the highest metabolism I have ever seen and needs about 3000 calories a day just to keep his weight without any exercise or activity so I cook for him. I can’t do a lot of things to make him feel better but he loves to eat and I love to hear ‘your food tastes better than any restaurant food’! 💜
My granddaughter lived with us and she spent most of her time on the counter watching Grandma or Grandpa cook. It worked for us and today she is a wonderful cook. I just wanted to say Jessica you have the most beautiful skin. So flawless. You're channel is my favorite. I look forward to Sundays just for your video. Also your children are adorable and so well behaved. ❤❤❤❤❤️
I can't believe someone would have a problem! I grew up sitting on the counter every evening as my mom cooked. I actually think it is some of my best memories from childhood. My son doesn't sit on counter but has a "helper stand" he stands in and helps me. So much to learn and great times! Love your channel!
I was thinking the same thing, it’s not their household. And I’m sure she’s watching to make sure that they don’t fall. She does a wonderful job in every way. I love this channel.
I am all about kids in the kitchen from the time they can walk BUT I am not now or ever about kids feets and bottoms (or anyones) on the counters where food is prepared, same with ANY animals on the counters or the furniture, or beds etc, most people disagree with me, but I am fine with it, the kids can learn juuuust fine on a chair at your side.
@@chrisfry436 my post mentions that my son uses a helper stand not on the counter but everyone has their opinion and can run their house to their choosing.
The espresso thing is such a cute memory for you guys to share! It wont harm them either if they’re not going crazy on it (but that goes for anyone!) how wholesome 💖
I'm not really doing the challenge but it has made me more cognizant of things I need to use. A scoop of protein powder I didnt like got thrown into an oatmeal bake. Chicken that was slightly freezer burned is in a pot for chicken soup. Other things too.
Same here, especially those random cans I get from a good subscription every month. Just made amazing pasta with tuna and tomato sauce. The plan is to go through my cans drawer and have it half empty in a couple of weeks. (Last week I used up 6 cans plus random pasta we don’t really like.)
I found your channel almost a year ago and really enjoy your videos. I learn a lot. I love to can and try all kind of ways to preserve our food. My family help a lot of the time. We’ve tried a lot of the same things you do.
I love them on the countertop and close by. They absorb the information and keeps them busy they will all be useful in the kitchen and be awesome at food conservation and preparation.
I posted on the challenge for just one day. Several of my friends, who never heard of you or the challenge joined up. Then I was watching some other RU-vid channels I'm subscribed for gardening and other stuff, and you came up. Several people in the RU-vid community are following the Three Rivers Challenge. Honey, this is spreading like wild fire. Pretty good thing you are doing. And we are really enjoying it too. Aw, your babies... Hugs!!!!
My 3 year old granddaughter enjoys cooking with me UP ON THE COUNTER. Best way to teach them. One reason why they’re good eaters. I grew up with my dad and we would dip buttered toast into hot chocolate with marshmallows. So good. Love your love language, cooking from the heart.
My kitchen is in the middle of the house. It definitely is the centre of all activities. Even though most of my kids have moved out and starting their own families,when they come home they tend to all gather and sit around the kitchen benches. It’s always loud and fun and love how they all interact while I cook and joke around with them. A bonus is that they can’t help themselves and join in the cooking with me.
Your little one is adorable. I love how he wants to feed himself like everyone else. They seem to grow up faster when they have older siblings to learn from, before you know it he will be getting espresso like the older boys. Nice family!!
We have raised 9 kids and it was like watching those times all over. It takes so much work and planning to feed a large family. And the dishes! Oh my. This is going to be a fast season in your life. Keep enjoying and dont take that baby down. He makes everything you cook look even more delicious!
We are a family of six and we all have allergies to dairy, gluten, and egg. We can definitely relate! I also prefer doing leftovers for breakfast over a more traditional breakfast meal😉💕
Hi Jessica! Thank you for sharing all of this. I am a young mama, learning to preserve and steward our food well. It is so helpful to see how you do this and inspires me to keep trying! I just found your channel and am excited to go back through your videos. Blessings!
I'm from a place where this kind of frugality doesn't exist, food waste is common, healthy eating isn't necessarily the norm, which is sad because famine is in our recent history and still shapes our culture to this day, and we have amazing quality food! So I'm learning from you and planning how I can provide for my family when its my turn to be frugal and provide! Edit: Also learning from Beckie the Queen of food preservation who sent me here in the first place! Beckie
I just found your channel and I am so inspired! I just had my first child (she is 3 weeks) it's so hard but seeing you raise 7 children with such love and care is such an inspiration that I can do this!!
My best memories are sitting up on the kitchen counter chatting and helping my mama. 💙💙 I’m in my 30s now and I know not to climb up on the counter, but I certainly let my children climb up and help me!!
Happy Birthday Jessica!! We share the same birth month as well as my newest grandson who just turned 1. My chickens have just started laying also and what a blessing! Aren't moms the best!! They always seem to know just when and just what is going to be a joy to everyone. Babies on the counter, full bellies and happy faces is what makes a happy home. You are pure joy and wow have you inspired a lot of women to cook what's in their pantries!! Thanks for sharing a little piece of your life!
I think it is beautiful your little men jump up on the counter and become part of making the meal. Such a better way to raise a child than just dumping them in front of television. They learn so much more that's not even mentioning the quality time they have with you.
That expresso comment that you made truly was the most beautiful thing I've heard today. So lovely to see young men being treated like men. Love your channel, it has been a blessing to watch.
You don't waste anything by using leftovers into soup or pot pie. My family doesn't like most leftovers so am always trying to find ways to use them up. You are so organized, multi-tasking and planning all the time, amazing!
You've earned a new subscriber! I am allergic to soy so love the use of coconut aminos and recipes without soy. Love the "work like a man get espresso like a man", what a cool treat for them!
I always let my kids and grandkids sit on the counter while I was cooking or held them with one arm on my hip when they were too little to stand on a chair by the countertop. Most moms can cook, wash dishes, and vacuum one handed. I talked to them the whole time I was cooking and explained what I was doing. Both my daughters grew up to be amazing cooks and reminisce fondly about how I would let them do anything they wanted in the kitchen when they got big enough to try things themselves. I did the same with my grandkids when they were babies and when they got big enough to stand up I bought a thing called a mothers helper for my daughter’s house that allows a toddler to safely stand at the counter. Of course…when they came to Mimi’s house I just stood them on a chair and kept them close enough to grab if they looked unsteady. I think it’s wonderful that your children have learned so much from getting great early training. You can’t learn if you can’t see it so the counter works. Plus…you can always throw that phone down and grab him fast if he makes a quick move in an unsafe direction.
Love that your son was up there with you. My children were always on the counter when I cooked as well. Kept them with me, and gave them an opportunity to watch, learn and help
Thank you for saying those are the rules in your home! I wish more people would respect everyone’s rules and traditions! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVELY FAMILY!
I’m always impressed with all the meals you make on a regular basis! They always look so tasty and nutritious!! “Must go” meals are a weekly staple in our home, as we also try not to waste any food. Thanks again for another lovely video!
I loved it that you gave on one of the videos a little bit of coffee to dip dip the fancy French whatever they're called that looks so yummy that David makes into the coffee makes him feel good I still have beautiful memories about my granny Bailey making me coffee milk because I always did the dishes for cuz she did all that cook and I thought that was the least I could do and she gave me that to make me feel special and I'm 69 years old and I still feel loving and memories from that beautiful sweet Christian woman God's blessings to you and yours also Jessica you're such a great mom 💜🙏🏻🏄🏼♂️🐱🥰🌹💜🙏🏻💯
I love watching you. The love you have for your family is amazing. You are such a beautiful soul.. Thank you for sharing your life 🙏. You are so smart with all the things you do. You are teaching me a lot about healthy cooking. Thank you for all you do.
Happy Birthday! How sweet of your mom to bring you a full meal and of your husband to make you a cake 🎂 Can’t wait to see what’s on the menu for next week.
my children loved working with me. its one of their fond memories. cooking with me. that sat on the counter with me. glad to see some one else does this,
Hey… if you need a kid or two on the counter to make a meal for your family so be it! You do you girl! No one wants kids climbing on everything like a cat but this is different in my opinion.. he is sitting right next to you! Like you said you can get things done and he gets to be curious and learn! Sounds like a win to me!! God bless!
I always like a good "using up food" challenge. I liked your ideas on how to substitute ingredients you didn't have, especially the vegan cheese sauce. Your cupcake freezing technique is super smart. I loved how you are cooking for many children and yet they don't all get exactly the same and can choose the topping or jam they want to use with their food.
I don't know if you realize this or not but the still image you chose for this video with you and your son in the kitchen is a perfect Norman Rockwell painting.
Humans will ALWAYS find something to be snooty about. I was glad to hear you say (so kindly) "good for you". I have a teeny, tiny family but get some great ideas from you. Always learning. Love the channel. Thanks.
I spent many years in my work at a restaurant, and in foodservice for another business dealing with the health dept, and I DO realize your home is different than your work, but I have never found it acceptable for littles or the cat or dog or bird whatever! to be on the counters and tables.....little kids pet the dog, go potty without washing, pick their noses, run barefoot outside and then back inside, cats use the litter box and on and on, why would that be "snooty" to not want that to happen in your own kitchen?? and you certainly never ever want it to happen outside your home, I dont like to go to peoples houses and see two cat butts on the counter where they are making salad, or a kid that just used bathroom and then wants to sit up there, or a baby with a messy diaper getting changed on counter, (have seen it happen and why????) cats being fed on end of counter "because dog wont leave their food alone".... or how about eating out in public, do you want to eat after the young workers in the back have sat on the counters or are getting off work and have changed and sitting there with bare feet brushing their hair?? I definitely do agree this Mother can do as she sees fit in her home, and I have no say in it, I am merely replying to some of the other comments and I am stating why I myself find it unacceptable, no one has to agree with me, and a lot have said "I grew up (fill in the blank)" and they live how they want, we did not do this at my home either, or working daycare for others or when my children were growing up.
Wow, I love this video. I thoroughly enjoy scratch cooking for my family. I've learned a lot from your channel. Thank you for that. Just a little tip, when making your biscuits, if you don't twist the biscuit cutter and instead just press down, your biscuits will rise higher. The twisting action actually seals the sides and prevents that night high rise. God bless
You are a very busy lady. You have some wonderful kids. I remember as a kid we had days where we ate just leftovers, excellent way to get stuff ate and not waste.
The chicken pot pie looks amazing. Happy late Birthday. This wAs a great menu week. I can't imagine cooking that much. It's just me and my husband. I want a food freeze dryer now watching all this. Thank you Jessica.
Glad to have found your channel. I’m going back to see your challenge videos. Great ideas, not just for big families but for two grand parents too! I’ve started making egg casseroles as an easy go to each morning. Thank you!
What a blessing you are to your children and all of us. I enjoyed the snapshot into your life and how you incorporate parenting, children, cooking skills and stewardship of the blessing of healthy food for your busy family.
You gotta do what works for you and your family 🥰 when my daughter was young (like under 2), I would cook with her on my hip. Your doing a wonderful job mom.
I just heard about your challenge via Living Traditions. I was sick ( not COVID) most of January and I'm finally getting back into things. My husband just asked about eating our freezer foods. I'm excited!!! Just starting today... so let's see what I can make and use for 30 days. Thank you so much for inspiring me.
TO KEEP the potatoes from sprouting, use old pantyhose that are clean. Place to potatoes in the leg of the hose one at a time tying a knot between each potato. Store in a dry cool and dark place for months at a time. This method was used by my grandmother and works beautifully 😍
Hey 👋🏻 Jessica 🌹 Your videos give me SOOOO MANY ideas and SOOOO MUCH PEACE ❤️ Thank you for all of the work you put into videos for we, your viewers enjoy ✨❤️
Using leftover baked potatoes as base for the egg casserole was inspired. I actually used up some older potatoes last night and baked a couple of extra to make a breakfast casserole this morning. Thank you!!!
Hi, 🤗, Three Rivers Homestead, I saw you pic what it was about & so I watched it but it's not this one video. It's a different one. And I liked. So, I checked out your site. And I tend to like long playlist cause then I can watch all ones & not in order. So, I liked it & now I'm a Subscriber. Your stuff you talked about is just sooo interesting to me even though I don't do that stuff. Cause, it's just me. So, Thank you. For making this site. And you are not too fast or slow in speaking that I like. It's just right. And some of your meals I might make for myself cause, I have some ingredients but others got to go to the store for. But, it's not a lot. I like meal that are simple. 🆒. You made my day. Blessings to you & your Family. Sincerely, Elsa R. 63 yrs. young/old woman. From out in California. + Stay Safe All of of you guys. 🆗🙄👍👍👍👋...This is me..🧓. 👋. Sorry, this message was sooo Long, too.
