About Me

Who Am I? Family of 3 adults plus 1 pet kitty on 1 income trying to live like I have an unlimited budget & I have to STOP!!!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Crockpot Meatloaf

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I have been hearing that meatloaf in the crockpot works fine well I started of not believing it and saying yeah RIGHT.....

Started off with these ingredients:

  • Ground Turkey
  • 2 eggs
  • Milk
  • Stuffing Mix
  • Lipton Onion Soup Mix
  • Garlic

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Well 6 hours later in my quick 2 qt crock pot it was done on low :O) YUMMY I will be making meatloaf in the Crock-pot from now on..

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Easy Granola Bars

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The second recipe of the day to us up ingredients I have in the house I tried was Easy Granola Bars from Recipe from Here!!!

  • 3 cups of oats
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup of coconut
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 cup of chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup of dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds
Just cut them shortly ago and waiting for them to cool to remove from pan and wrap :O) will update how they went over at work tomorrow

Melt In Your Mouth Shortbread

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I started of the day baking a few things for work tomorrow the first recipe I did was these shortbread cookies that call for only 4 ingredients...RECIPE HERE

  • 1 cup of butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup of corn starch
  • 1.5 cups of flour
I had all these ingredients on hand so I whipped up a batch..The were very dry (shortbready) I guess the term would be I think I need a cup of milk with these they are not very sweet and don't really have a buttery flavor. Next time I will try making these smaller is size for bite size pieces and use vanilla to add some flavor.. Dipped in choc may help as well :O)

Monday, January 24, 2011

Spending

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Got this product as well on clearance it use by date is Feb 1, 2011 hello that is over a week a way plus I saved $3.00 for a quick meals for my dd lunches

Coupons

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I hear this all the time Why use coupons? They don't save money! It's a waste of time!

Well Why I was wasting my time at the store I saw Pie Crust on Sale for 99 cents a box. So I grabbed 2 boxes to store in the freezer for use later in the month when I make another Chicken Pot Pie or a Southwestern Pot Pie
Then I saw a better deal !!!! Pie crust on clearance for .49 cents a box then I used the cute little pink coupon for a $1.00 off of on 2 boxes..
FREE!!!


Spring Cleaning?

Cleaning the blog up some so bare with me with all the changes while I make up my mind :O)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Homemade Meal-Tip 1

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1 package of turkey burgers $3.99- yields 4 meals
1 small bag of potatoes $1.00- yields 4 meals
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Total $4.99 plus tax Yields 4 meals So why making dinner at home COMMON SENSE!!!!!!!!!

Let's talk about the buns for the Burgers they are optional items for me. The only cost is what you see above. Dress the burger with household ingredients already on hand
Shredded Cheese/ Peperoncini & BBQ Sauce.

Potato Talk-Dressed these up as well from the house using half and half (need to use up)then topped it with some leftover spicy green chili salsa that (need to be used)and shredded cheese YUMMY!!!

So still all for under $6.00 Cheaper then McDonald's dollar menu....for 4 burgers and 4 small fries...I also had soda in the house to that was free too :O)

Don't get me wrong I go out for lunch once in awhile but it is always under $6.00.

Wendy's-Spicy Chicken Go Wrap/FRY/Soda-$5.50
Barros Pizza-2 slices and Soda with ranch for $4.50
Little Caesars-Bread-sticks and sauce for $2.50


Chicken & Lentils

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Yet again I went in search of a recipe that can be quickly made as well as having the ingredients usually around the house so I can just whip it up at anytime and this is what I came up with GET RECIPE HERE


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Ingredient List Used

  • Dry Basil- $.89 purchased this product due to not having any ( extra to use)
  • Rosemary-$.89 purchased this product due to not having any ( extra to use)
  • 1 cup Chicken Broth-Leftover from chicken in the crock pot
  • 1 8 oz can of tomato Sauce
  • Crushed Garlic
  • Dehydrated Onions-only have these or green onions on hand
  • 2 Chicken Breast
  • Minced Carrots

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Dice the chicken breasts up to fry some in oil on the stove as I prefer bite size pieces however next time I will diced them smaller as they were still to BIG when trying to eat them.


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I used 2 pans one to fry the chicken and the smaller pan to heat up the garlic and onions


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Why make chicken broth you may ask well for me it's a no brainer I just saved myself around $1.00 for a can. I also know what is in the broth as well be it veggies or spices that I may add...

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Pretty Picture of a meal that was nice however it was very bland even with all the spices and stuff so this is what I added to the recipe when completed & what I plan to add next time as regular ingredients so get a nice flavor.

  • Trader Joe's Everyday Seasoning-Sea Salt/Mustard Seed/Black Peppercorn/Coriander/Onion/Garlic/Paprika/Red Chili Peppers Flakes
  • Cumin

Verdict- Keeper with the extra ingredients SO MUCH BETTER !!!!!

Spending Jan 2011 part 4

Let's get the pay week started with an spending update...
This will help me I hope from spending too much this pay period by tracking it I can see where I go wrong
(beside spending it lol)

Friday- Walmart $7.30 got cash back of $40 used card
Sat-Lunch for my dd $6.60 used card
Sat-Fresh & Easy spent $4.50 used CASH

Sun- Bath & Meds- to stock up a deal $ 15.00 used CASH

Craft Spending

Spent $10.00 on yarn for 8 balls


Receiving Payments

Received $10.00 for one sweater



Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Crochet Bath Puff

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I decided I wanted to try my hand and Bath Puffs I found this pattern HERE and gave it a try it took me a few hours since I did this while watching a movie with my dd this evening.. Sorry My picture is not great (beige puff) from some scrap yarn I had laying around the house I can already see me making more of these for Family and Friends so SIMPLE...

As I get more done I will update this post with a few new pictures :O)

Update Pet Sweater



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Since I don't personally have a dog I had to use a Very Large Mason Jar that my sweater fit on I created for my mom's Dog pictured below in another post this sweater.
Here is the Dog Measurements

  • Neck- 10 in
  • Chest-13.5 in
  • Middle for belly Band- 14.0 in
  • Length from Neck to just 1 in above tail-12.5 in long


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I plan to create one that has a longer belly belt to assist in keeping the underbelly warm on the dog as well this will be Ok for little GIRL dogs but with a boy you will end up with a WET Sweater...

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Thanks for Viewing my Little Pet Sweaters...

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Crochet Doggie Sweater

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I originally crocheted this for a cat however it fits my mom's doggie Emma just fine so now I have to make Emma a sweater using the cat pattern as the doggie one is too big for her...I will be ripping out dog one and re-crocheting it yet again I have ripped it out 5 times now..trying to get it created just right... for her... (Emma has a little pink dress on under the sweater due to that was already on her when we tried this on over it and Emma right now is itching like crazy we think she has allergies so she must wear clothes to avoid scratching/ripping up her cutie little tummy.)

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Menu Jan 16-31

Sun 16-Leftover herb potatoes w/ cheese sauce
Mon 17-Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Tue 18-Leftover Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Wed 19-Chicken & Lentils over rice
Thu 20-Leftover Chicken & Lentils over rice
Fri 21-Leftover Chicken & Lentils over rice
Sat 22-Macaroni & Cheese w/ Rosemary Bread
Sun 23-Turkey Burger w/ Mashed Potatoes
Mon 24-Leftovers
Tue 25-Toss together Pot Pie
Wed 26-Leftovers
Thu 27-Mashed Potatoes
Fri 28-
Sat 29-
Sun 30
Mon 31-

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Crochet Cat Sweater

I have been working on pet sweaters for my mom's dog when I told my fiance he asked for one for a cat. Pet Sweater for a cat? OK off to locate a pattern first since all my patterns were for Dogs..

Cat Sweater Pattern



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For me this is the best I could do for trying to figure out the pattern & I will be making more for dogs trying this on my cat was a job all in it's self and SHE was not happy at all

Homemade Tortillas

I want to make homemade tortillas in various flavors for a cheaper price most flavors of tortillas around here run over $3 for 12.
  • Spinach
  • Cheesy Jalapeno
  • Garlic
  • Any other kinds I can think up
So I did a lot of research online viewing various places and various recipes I used 2 recipes to create mine these are the links to the recipes used as well as tips and tricks Spinach tortillas and Tortilla I..

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After reading so many recipes & reviews I decided to purchased a tortilla press for a great deal at a local thrift store.


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These are the instructions and as well as tips that came with my press


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The recipes I reviewed on the net used a few different ingredients in the (Fat area) I chose veggie oil due to 2 reasons I don't eat pork so bacon fat or Lard was not an option plus I never have butter on hand & I prefer to use items that are always in the house.
  • Veggie Oil
  • Lard
  • Bacon Grease
  • Butter


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Grabbed a large mixing bowl dropped in
  • 2 cups of all-purpose
  • A few shakes of salt
  • 1 tsp. of baking powder
  • 1 tsp. of veggie oil



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Some of the recipes use either water or very hot milk. I decided on the warm milk however DD is lactose intolerant so I also needed to use Lactaid milk in place of regular milk.

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Into the bowl w/ the flour mixture went the nice warm milk at this point it reminded me of Pancake batter

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This is what the mixture looks like when your trying to get it to hold a shape and mix together


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Turned it out on to Knead it for about 1-5 mins until it came together I then let it sit at rest for 10 mins

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I had wax paper in the house because me and plastic wrap don't work together so well I think we get together to wrestle.

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Golf ball size dough balls is what is suggested


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So the goal is to flatten the ball & get a round shape right? How about a little bigger these look like Dollar Pancakes right?


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I grabbed my rolling pin yes that nice wooden pin that has been in my house for years that never gets used it was my Nanny's.

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While I rolled the dough out I also got my electric skillet turn on to 250-350 *F with no oil in the pan just dry skillet.


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This is how they look while cooking. Yes I know tiny I was shooting for 8 in size like burritos but these are more like taco size which is fine for my first time. Being honest I wanted bigger :O)


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These are my pretty little tortillas :O) I used them to make layered shredded chicken enchiladas

Spending Jan 2011 part 4


Total 1-8-11 $81.83 from below

Update: 1-12-11

Fresh and Easy $18.20
Fry's $16.11
Quick Trip 4 gas $28.91
Quick Trip 4 cash & soda-$21.30
Orowheat Store $3.56
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Total 1-12-11 $69.88

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Pre-cooked Chicken

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How to use this product?

Chicken Mushroom Pizza
Honey Mustard Chicken Wraps
Shredded Chicken Enchiladas
Mini Shredded Chicken Sandwich

Pizza on a Budget

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Deals at Fresh & Easy yielded me a 2 cheese pizza on clearance for $2.19 each I was able to purchase 2 (I could have bought the other 4 and froze them for use later but had no extra freezer space) ** Need to use up more freezer (frozen food)

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Fry's clearance deals ( this is one of my FAVE deals) pre-cooked shredded chicken I picked up 3 containers for a total of $5.37 Now to purchase a whole chicken in the meat department uncooked for $5.00 Since I didn't need more fresh homemade broth ( from a rotisserie chicken)

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Hit your pantry grab a few extra ingredients garlic powder/Mushrooms/ Italian seasonings and the shredded chicken.


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My dd has issues eating Dairy products (She is lactose intolerant however she can eat small amounts of cheese ( less then 1/4 cup per meal)
First-I removed a lot of shredded cheese & transferred it to my pizza why waste it :O) then added all the extra ingredients..

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On my pizza I use green onions as well since I had a full mason jar

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Spending Jan 2011 part 3

I have to find my receipts and give an update here for the week of what I have spent... I may just post weekly my spending still trying to get this going for the new year..& help me really see how much I OVER spend....


Previous $24 from below...
Walgreens $14.44-$4.44 of misc and $10.00 cash back for small purchases out.


Walmart $4.63
- Ice cream

Dollar General $8.76- car cell phone charger

Walmart-$21.00-mini SD card for new cell phone

GoodWill- $9.00 misc with dd
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Total 1-8-11 $81.83 no more until Thur when I get gas for car.


Spending Jan 2011 part 2


Well my mom purchased me a new phone so I needed a new cell phone car charger which was not a planned expense however I shopped around before a just grabbed one off the shelf..
But I did I price comparison and think I got a good deal what you think?

Tmobile Store $24.99

Walmart-$14.95
Dollar Stores- None (sometimes I find things here for $1.00 )
Quick Trip Gas Stations-$11.99

Dollar General Store- $8.00


I grabbed one from Dollar General for $8.00 since my Big Lots was not open until 9 and I was out shopping around 7 am (since I had to work) sometimes Big Lots will have chargers for around $5.00 however I was off to work and since I was not sure if my phone (charge was enough since this was a new phone not sure how long it would be charged hour wise)


What I learned about my new cell phone OH Wait I forgot to tell you what kind I got :O) Samsung Gravity 3 - Marine Blue one of those cute (not so new any more style phone that was so in about 8m-1 year ago )keyboard phones for TEXTING. Love that part makes it so much easier for me at work. Since I text a lot while I am at work since I may not be (desire everyone to hear what I have to say) I can text my family & friends while people around me know NOTHING.... NOSY people... Here is a picture of it :O) ain't it cute as a button..