Homemade Almond Joy :O) Yummy

I found this recipe as well on www.allrecipe.com I found that if you mix the coconut batter first freeze the batter to make it hold together better then roll in the melted chocolate . I made the mix first tried to roll it it was VERY soft/gooey.

Chocolate Chip Cookie

Found this recipe on All Recipe.com for a quick cookie recipe I had all the ingredients and it went together quickly This however was my 2nd batch had to make more since the first batch was for Xmas and none were left The recipe yields 50 cookies depending on the size you make them.

Cookie Recipe

HARD AT WORK

Holiday Time

Currently been working on holiday gifts every year I make crochet kitchen tea towels for my mom. This is what my grandma use to make my mom every year. However years ago she passed away so I took up a crochet class just to learn to make this gift for my mom every year at Christmas time.

I am currently using this example pattern & instructions from Crochet Spot as the pattern book I purchased I have misplaced.

I also recently found another crochet pattern & instructions from another place & I have been working this concept out I had to change a few things but will post one of mine soon..but here is a link Cocoa Cream Craft Closet

I loved this idea and it was simple enough I could do it however I found that the ring got limp/stretches out too easy so with the assistance of a bracelet I was able to crochet around it and make this project really quick.

From Walmart I purchased 20 metal adult bangle bracelets that I got for $6.00= 30 cents a piece is not bad I don't think...

Menu for 24 Days

1. Burgers
2. BBQ Chicken & Grilled Cheese
3. Jiffy Jambalaya & Tuna Noodle
4. Cranberry Pork & Chicken Thighs
5. Spaghetti & Sausage
6. Pizza
7. Lasagna
8. Pork Meat & Tuna Noodle
9. Meatloaf w/ Stuffing
10. BBQ Shredded Chicken
11. Enchiladas Shredded Chicken
12. Rice Chicken Broccoli
13. Taco Soup with Shredded Chicken
14. Sloppy Joes
15. Burgers X 3
    
16. Ground Turkey X 5
    

The ground turkey can be made into any creative meal we decide later this month. Some days show 2 food items because I don't eat beef or pork and my family does.

Food Budget Deals

Got paid & hit the locals stores yes I said stores I have found around here hitting more then 1 get better deals on discounted items.

At Fry's this morning I got the following deals Saved $34.69

3 packages of 3 lbs each of ground Turkey for $2.79 each regularly $5.89 saved $9.30
4 packages of 4 burgers for $1.49 each regularly $5.89 saved $23.59
2 gallons of milk clearance for $1.29 each right now milk is $ 2.19 a gallon

Fry's also had a few good deals on their weekly ad...For a $1.00

• Brown sugar 16 oz
• Flour 4lb bag
• Chocolate Chips bags
  
• Sour Cream 8 oz
  

Save Some $$ with Coupons

Printable Coupon Linkies

Coupon Bug_ No software to download just click what you want & print

Coupon Cabin No software to download just click what you want & print

Freebie Blogger This site gives you information & links to other places

Red Plum Click and Print

I have used coupons on and off but I only use coupons on products we use I don't purchase things we wouldn't use. I take the extra money saved and put aside for extra things like Milk/ Bread/ Soda

Weekly Menu for 17 days

1. Layered Chicken Enchiladas w/ Rice & Beans
2. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
3. Jiffy Jambalaya w/Tuna Noodle
4. Cranberry Pork Pieces
   
5. Spaghetti w/ Turkey Sweet Italian Sausage
6. Homemade Pizza
   
7. Tacos w/ Rice & Beans
8. Lasagna
   
9. Beef & Chicken Rice Bowls
10. Pork Tenderloin & Leftovers for me
11. Turkey Days ( Being Cooked at Grandma's House) Making Dessert
    
12. Burgers & Mac & Cheese
    
13. BBQ Chicken Sandwich
14. Grilled Cheese w/ Soup
15. Meatloaf w/ Smashed Herb Potatoes
16. Meatloaf w/ Stuffing
17. Leftover Turkey Day Stuff
    

With this menu I can pick and choose when to have each meal which works best for my family some days I feel like making a big meal sometimes just something quick & simple.

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

I recently tried to make this recipe and followed it to the T
only change was I used a regular muffin Tin Tray with Liners.
However the Cakes had no flavor & were very SOFT textured
even after 2 day of refrigerating. I will be trying this again
along with maybe a different recipe but this one is the one I used..

Mini Pumpkin Cheese Cake Link

Weekly Menu

Sun- Leftovers BBQ Chicken & Spaghetti
Mon-Tuna Noodle Casserole & Leftover Spaghetti
Tue- Cranberry Pork Cubes & Spiced Pork Chops & Tuna Noodle
Wed-Baked Chicken & Mac & Cheese
Thu-Leftovers
Fri-Fix it yourself
Sat-Meatloaf and Smashed Herb Pototoes

Life Update

My car has been fixed I picked up yesterday.
I have decided that I need to clean my car out since having a rental I realize how bad my car really was until I got the rental and I only need 1 box to keep all my must have items in the car for both daily use at work and personal life.
Plus 1 extra item my trusty air compressor pump that comes in very handy
I have saved alot of people including myself time changing a tire by just pumping it up enough to get it to a repair shop quickly.

Over the last week I have been feeling under the weather & going to bed early trying to fight getting sick must be something going around. By 4-5 in the afternoon I am ready for bed so we have been eating early or doing quick meals since I have no desire to cook..

Addictive Sweet Potato Burritos from AR

Price $ 5.00 to make this meal since I had spice on hand

$1 - sweet potato
$1 - tortillas
$2- Shredded Cheese
$1 -can beans

I cut the recipe in 1/2 as it was only for me and I just wanted to make sure I liked it first before making a whole 12 servings and throwing it out..
I used 1 can of black beans only due to what I had in the house trying to make sure not to spend Extra $$ . To make 8 taco size mini burritos it cost me $1.00 for the sweet potato w/ about 8 more the same size if I had more Tortillas so I will freeze the mix for a later meal for me :O)

Verdict on the Recipe: LOVED IT!!!! Will be making this again soon

Here is the link to the site Addictive Sweet Potato Burritos

Weekly Menu

Sun- Jiffy Jambalaya & Tuna Noodle Casserole
Mon- Leftovers
Tue- Teriyaki Rice Bowls
Wed-Leftovers
Thu- Fix it yourself ( I was sick)
Fri-Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches & Tots
Sat-Spaghetti w/chicken & peppers with bread sticks

Weekly Menu

Sun-BBQ Chicken Sandwiches w/ Mac & Cheese
Mon-Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole
Tue- Skillet Enchiladas & Mexican Rice
Wed- Leftovers from above
Thu-Fix it yourself
Fri- Burgers & Mac & Cheese
Sat-Meat Loaf and Herb Baked Potatoes

I have not been feeling much for cooking as of late my work schedule changed and well I just get tired.. Will try better next week I have Grand plans LOL...

Look What Happens When Teenagers Don't Pay Attention

Kitty Update

Well over the last week the kitty has gotten really sick she lost 1 lb she only weighted 2.0 lbs. She had to stay over night Saturday at the vets for IV for fluids, check-up and to get a stool sample as she has really bad Diarrhea and slept 24/7.

Well we brought her home Sat w/ antibiotic/ parasite medicine and special vitamins and special kitty food. Well this morning she is getting sick again and is not drinking and she has bad Diarrhea again. They did say she may get sicker before she gets better.

We called the vet this am and off to the store to get her pedialyte and guess what Baby chicken food.She needs the liquid and the baby food to try and calm the stomach...

New Family Member

Needs a name....Got any Ideas?
She 2 months and just over 2 lbs she is very tiny... She is a baby for sure loves to cuddle and be right with you on your shoulder.

Happy B-Day Week......But I am sick

Sun- BBQ Chicken Sandwich
Mon- Skillet Chicken Enchiladas
Tue- 2 Step Chicken Broccoli Divan- Salad
B-Day- Crock-pot Divine Chicken Spaghetti Sauce with Bread Sticks
Thu- Leftovers
Fri-Boxed Noodles and Baked Beans
Sat-

My daughter thawed the homemade sauce I made a few weeks ago the mixed it with some quick cooked noodles & we stopped at Little Caesars to get bread sticks for $1.50 a bag. She is also planning to whip up a batch of brownies in a box. Plus she cleaned the Kitchen. :O)

Just found out I got the creep & crud AKA (bronchitis) and it is getting worse but I will be starting meds tonight..

Weekly Menu Oct 4th to Oct 10

Sun-Turkey Burgers/ Baked Beans/ Mac & Cheese or Cheesey Rice
Mon- Cheesy Canned Chicken/Broccoli/ Rice Casserole
Tue- Sloppy Joes and Mac & Cheese
Wed- Grilled Cheese & Soup
Thur-Fix it yourself
Fri- Turkey Burgers
Sat-Pork Chop for BF/ Chicken Breast for DD & Me

This weekend we are having a yard sale so since Wed we have been getting ready for it so moving boxes etc kept us busy so next week will be better I hope..:O)

EggPlant

I used the homegrown eggplants I got from my mom to try and make the above recipe from http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Eggplant-Au-Gratin/Detail.aspx . The only changes to the recipe was I cut and salted the eggplant to remove bitterness and moisture and I placed it in this larger bowl as I don't have ramekins. Plus who can get a meal out of a small ramekin?
I liked the recipe idea the only thing I didn't like as the seedy taste... it was like eating sunflower seeds in your Spaghetti :O)

HOMEMADE CROUTONS

I tried a new recipe yet again. I decided how hard is it to make homemade croutons? Since the cheapest bag of croutons at Wal-Mart is 98 cents.I figured for a $1.00 or less I can get 2 bags of croutons. Minus the additives and MSG.
Well after surfing the net I found this quick recipe from
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/croutons.htm I had purchased a day old bag of Bruschetta style bread cut them up placed in to a bowl with a lid dropped in the spice & oil and shaked well spread onto Parchment lined cookie sheet baked 20 mins and They turned out great even my picky daughter is eating them. She eats bags of croutons like people eat potato chips.

Update on OAMC MEALS

Well as life goes I got off track but was able to find a way to keep the concept working in a smaller idea for us since my budget got tighter.
I purchase meat on clearance and freeze it then plain meals around that but I will also purchase 2 lbs of Italian Ground turkey on clearance and then come home and quickly drop the items I keep on hand for making Spaghetti Sauce and will drop in the crockpot at noon with the browned me and freeze for later use or for dinner that night.
I freeze the leftovers (for next week or 2 weeks from now) That way we don't get over whelmed with Spaghetti back to back. I also will add extra stuff to the 2nd time for example I may add to plain Spaghetti noodles green onions and cheese and bake in the oven.

Recently I made 3lbs of Sloppy Joes had them with Mac & Cheese to allow for freezing the leftover Sloppy Joes for later use I have 4 cups for another quick dinner later in the month.

Weekly Menu

Sun Dinner- Cranberry Pork Roast w/ Mac & Cheese and leftovers for me
Mon Lunch- Work issues so had 2 Ritz Cheese Crackers
Mon- Leftovers
Tue Lunch-Shredded Green Chili Mini Burritos with Sour Cream & Salsa
Tue Dinner-Brown sugar meatloaf/Mac & Cheese/Garlic Toast
Wed-Leftovers
Thu- Fix it yourself
Fri-Turkey Burgers and Mac and Cheese
Sat-Eggplant Au Gratin and Sausage Spaghetti

Estate Sale Find

I hit an estate sale to day and look what I got I have been needing Small Mason Style jars as well as Small Jelly Jars for mixing my homemade spice recipe in for cooking as well as for sunflowers seeds I use on my salads. Got the whole box for $2.00.

I also picked up a few Corning-ware items as well for $3.00 ( 4 small rectangle chafing plates, 4 glass bowls about 1 cup size perfect for pudding, 2 white 2 cup size square bowls to go with the one I have already for my family of 3 it is perfect.)

Rice Cooker Lentils & White Rice

I surfed the net to see if anyone had tried to make lentils and rice in a rice cooker with out soaking everything. I was not able to find anyone who had. So tonight I got out my Rice cooker and whipped up this complete meal for lunches for the next 2 days. It quick easy and made under 30 mins from start to finish.
I took my Mexican rice recipe that I have posted about before dropped in with the lentils in the pot turned out and look what I got nice fluffy Rice and lentils.

Weekly Menu

Sun- Sloppy Joe's with Mac & Cheese froze 1/2 for later meal
Mon- Taco Salad Italian style ( long story)
Tue- Leftovers
Wed- Baked Chicken w/ Rice
Thu-Chicken Salad
Fri- French Bread Pizza
Sat- Shredded Chicken Enchiladas with Mexican Rice and Refried Beans

Creative Spice Rack

Due to lack of space and I use alot of spices. I was able to get more organized by doing this plus it is out of the way and when it is time to make out my grocery list all I need to do is open the door and check the pocket. Plus this will seriously STOP me from OVER purchasing stuff. I also was able to take all my packets of mixes and place them into a long box ( like a shoe box but longer which will allow me to stop buying this as well. You see every thing in my mobile home was in a zillion different places stuck in this little cabinet/ this shelf over the sink etc now ever this is Finding it's HOME.

Weekly Menu

Sun- Leftover BBQ Chicken Sandwiches/baked potato/ baked beans
Mon-Fix it yourself
Tue- Sausage Mexican Rice bowl
Wed- Leftover Sausage Mexican Rice bowl & Tuna Noodle Casserole
Thur- Baked Sesame Teriyaki Ginger Chicken & Rice Bowl
Fri- Leftovers
Sat- Baked Ziti with Bread stickes

Extra Storage in the Laundry Room

We also were able to put up to open face shelves above the washer/dryer. Someday I get around to removing the wall paper Sunflowers are not my thing but the house came with some color issues :O)

Spring Cleaning equals new pantry

Do to my mobile home having a few major storage issues.
I was able to take an unused clothes closet in the entrance and put shelves it to be able to have ALOT more space for Rices/Beans/Costco Size Cans/Spices will be moved here as well soon/ Sandwich Bags etc) and get rid of a small book shelf I was using for this plus I can now close the Door and not have too see it.

Sept Budget/ Spending Tracking

Walmart $ 20.26
Fry's $ 13.15
Fry's $ 83.91

TOTAL $ 117.32


Weekly Menu I forgot to post!!!

Wed- Homemade Baked Ziti

Thu- Take-out Mexican dinner my mom stopped over w/ it

Fri- Cooked 12 chicken breast in Crock-pot and shredded for 3 meals

Meal 1 Homemade Enchiladas/ homemade mexican rice/ homemade refried beans from the freezer

Sat- Meal 2 BBQ chicken sandwiches w/ Ranch Style beans

Homemade Baked Ziti

This was a very quick dinner for a couple reasons I can double the mix and freeze for later use. I would only need to pour it from gallon bag into the pan and top with cheese and bake.

Noon started the sauce in crockpot on low heat
245 Fried up the Turkey Sausage links after removing the casings
300 Boiled the Noodles
315 Mixed all together in large pot
320 Pouring into sprayed greased ( 9 X 13 pan ) topped with Cheese
330 Baked for 35 mins-45 mins for nice golden brown crunchy top

Recipe Box

This is my poor lonely recipe box where I keep all my printed out recipes in one happen little box. I keep the ones that I use daily/weekly loose in there and the other binder clipped together. I need to découpage it with some cool art sometime soon once I figure out what...

Weekly Menu

Sun- Turkey Burgers
Mon- Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls
Tue- Leftovers

I have been house cleaning so I have not be online much sorry for the delay ;O) Time for Spring Cleaning..

DEAL

On a recent trip to the dollar store I found boxes of Quaker Multi-Grain Oatmeal which normally runs $3.99 box I got for $1.00 a box.

Sept 23-Sept 29 Menu

Saturday prep items-Crockpot of Spaghetti Sauce 1/2 frozen for later use
Saturday Junk food- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies 2 batches 54 cookies
Sunday prep items- 5 boneless chicken breasts in the crock pot shredded

Sun- Homemade Shredded Chicken Enchiladas with Mexican Rice
Mon- Leftovers of Spaghetti from Saturday night
Tue- Homemade BBQ chicken Sandwiches with French Fries
Wen-Homemade BBQ chicken Sandwiches with French Fries
Thu-Leftovers of Spaghetti from Saturday night
Fri-Meatloaf & Mac and Cheese
Sat-Meatloaf & Mac and Cheese

This week was a double recipe week double with leftovers.

Food Budget Challenge

I am challenging myself to save money buy rewarding myself with something..I will work on that part later. The goal is to old use what is in my house now until next pay day. This started on Friday 22nd and will go until Sept 8th 2 weeks away with only purchasing bread/milk/cheese.

Trip 1 Walmart $26.13

Trip 2 Dollar Tree $18.95

Trip 3 Costco $5.59

Trip 4 Fry's $14.10

Trip 5 Walmart $1.52

Trip 6 Lee Lee $2.64

Trip 7 Smart & Final $ 26.83

Trip 8 Walmart $ 29.64

Trip 9 Fry's $12.92

Trip 10 Dollar Store $30.15

Trip 11 Sprouts $.040

Total $ 170.87

Homemade Oatmeal Choc Chip Cookies

Got this recipe for this recipe from All Recipe.com website Homemade Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies it turned out really well only made a few changes due to ingredients on had in the pantry.

1st change used 1/2 cup of margarine in place of shortening and only 1 cup of chocolate chips. They are a keeper. The recipe yielded 27 cookies 2 tsp of dough per cookie.

Purchased items this week

Ad Match item purchased at Wal mart today Bought a few other items spend total $26.13 (bleach /sliced cheese/bagels/black trash bags/hair ties ) and the items below.

• Bought 12 boxes of mac and cheese for 4 for $1.00 . Saved $5.00
  
• 3 cans of albcore Tuna for my DD @ .88 cents each for her Tuna Sandwiches for lunch as she is in school.
• 18 count eggs for 99 cents for baking saved .73 cents
  
• 1 gallon of milk ad matched for $1.39 saved .60 cents
• 2 heads of lettuce ad matched for .49 a pieces saved 51 cents each
• Bought 5 lunch ables for .97 each saved $1.40 however this is my monthly splurge for self & DD

Fry's Total $ 14.10

Canola oil for $2.49 this will last a month
Box of 4 Ranch Dressing mixes for $ 1.99 will last 1 month
2 bags of cereal $2.99 each
Parchment paper for baking cookies $3.19

Lee Lee's Oriental Supermarket 10 % discount on every order spent $2.64

2 bunches of green onions .49 cents each
1 tray of sweet basil .92 cents
1 bunch of parsley .49 cents
1 bunch of cilantro .49 cents

August 16-22 2009 Menu

Sunday- Brown sugar meatloaf /Ragu Mac & Cheese & salad or veggie

Monday- Leftovers from above

Tuesday- Homemade Chicken Rice Bowls with Salad

Wednesday- Taco Salad with Homemade Mexican Rice and Refried Beans

Thursday- Leftovers Homemade Chicken Rice Bowls with Salad

Friday- Leftovers Taco Salad/ Homemade Mexican Rice / Refried Beans

Saturday- Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with noodles and Salad

Spiced Sweet Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Spiced Sweet Roasted Red Pepper Hummus from All Recipes.com
I have attached the link to the recipe below

Spiced Sweet Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Recipe

Trying to make a few new lunch ideas and this the first idea.
It went together really quick the longest part was getting the ingredients together.

Thank-ful

Last week I had a life flashes before your eyes experience with a few co-workers we were almost hit by a truck who had got in an accident right next to our vehicle this caused the truck to spin and came right at us. We had to run to get out of the way. It got me thinking about lots of different things..

1. What would happen if I had got hurt?
2. Would my work cover this health costs?
3. What if I had been seriously hurt and couldn't move/walk?

We were very lucky however the lady in the truck was trapped in the vehicle and seriously injured. We learned later that the lady died at the hospital shortly after arriving there.

This got me thinking about alot of other things like what am I thankful for?

I had the best friend in the world even if it was only for a short time
I have a great daughter who is a senior this year
I have a fiancee' who loves me for me even when I am crazy or silly which he tells me I am all the time.

Pink Heals.Com

IT'S NOT EVERY DAY YOU SEE A PINK FIRE TRUCK IN PHOENIX,AZ..
I JUST HAD TO GET A PICTURE TO SHARE ON MY BLOG

Welcome to August and Back to School Time

As the back to school time planning has started I have been working on ideas for breakfast on the go/Lunches for school/Simple Dinners

With a Waffle or Pancake recipe and a little time on the weekend morning between 0500-0600 before the rest of the house gets up turn out 2-6 batches of them to freeze.
I made 2 batches this past weekend and that should last me to next Saturday however I realized if I have made more then I would only have to do it every other weekend which would save me time when I am busy on the other weekends.

This Classic Waffle Mix is very simple and quick you also could pre-make the dry ingredients in Ziploc bags & making up several bags for quick pour and whip up batches by just adding the wet ingredients.

Classic Waffle or Pancake Batter

2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons white sugar

2 eggs 1 1/2 cups warm milk 1/3 cup butter, melted 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat waffle iron to desired temperature.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla.
   
4. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture; beat until blended.
5. Ladle approximately 1/3 of a cup the batter into a preheated waffle iron.
6. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp. Serve immediately or allow to cool to freeze in Ziploc bags
   

2-Step Skillet Chicken Broccoli Divan

I have been trying to add a few new recipes to our list of dinner ideas.

2-Step Skillet Chicken Broccoli Divan

• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut up with scissors
  
• 3 cups fresh or frozen broccoli
  
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can Cream of Chicken Soup
  
• 1 soup can full of milk
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
  

1. Preheat oven to 375*F
   
2. Melt butter in skillet.
3. Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often.
4. Add broccoli, soup and milk. Cover and simmer 5 min.
   
5. Poured into a 9 x 13 baking pan.
   
6. Sprinkle with cheese and bread crumbs
7. Bake for 30+ to nicely brown casserole.

**Served it over Rice everyone loved it will be a keeper

Deals

• Fry's Grocery store has boneless chicken breast on sale for $1.67 lbs I purchased 6 packages for dinners been surfing the net for new recipes
  

• Clearance Product 20 cans of pumpkin for 10 cents each

• Clearance Product 4 cans of Bushes chili w/ beef 50 cent each
  

• Walgreen's has on sale Butterball Chicken broth 2 cans for $1.00.

Divine Spaghetti Sauce

I used it to make Lasagna!!



From AR http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Divine-Spaghetti-Sauce/Detail.aspx
I made the following recipe using what I had on hand in the house so here are the changes I made..

• No Mushrooms
• No Green Peppers
  
• No Bay Leaf
• Substituted Roasted Red Peppers & Piquin Peppers from jar about 3 huge Tbspfuls
• Added Ground Turkey with Italian seasoning

1. Use crushed tomatoes ran with celery/onion in food processor to smooth is out (Fiance's hates tomato/veggie chunks)
   
2. Fried the turkey dropped in Crockpot with remaining ingredients
3. Cooked in Crockpot for 5 hours.
   
4. Cooled sauce fridged over night layered Lasagna today baked for 1 hour as items were cold.

THIS WAS THE BEST SAUCE EVERYONE LOVED IT AND SUGGESTED TO USE IT AGAIN FOR DINNERS.