Crochet Project Baby Beanie Hats

I made this quick baby hats I used an F hook as instructed to by the pattern the blue one is using regular sized yarn and the purple smaller one is using baby yarn..:O) they worked up quickly..

Microwave Strawberry Jam

I have been surfing the net for weeks reading recipes for microwave jam. I also wanted to find one that didn't need lots of ingredient as well as no specialty products just basic ingredients I have found one & decided what the heck lets try it here is the Microwave Strawberry Jam


YOU MUST HAVE A 2 QUART OR LARGE MICROWAVE BOWL!!

I was able to grab this one for under $8.00 a walmart the other day as I wanted badly to make jam or better yet I couldn't get the jam idea out of my mind..it was driving me crazy



Place a plate in the freezer for your test plate to see if the jam has reached the setting point. I forgot to snap a picture so I did it on the fly.



You will also need Mason jar to store your finish product in I was not sure how much it would yield per batch so I grabbed 6 jars & lids just to be sure I had enough.



Per batch you will need the following items in my picture I have enough for 2 batches

500 grams (2 cups) = 1 pound or 16 oz of strawberries, washed, hulled and chopped
375 grams (1 1/2 cups) of white sugar
Juice from 1 large lemon



I read you didn't need to dice the fruit as it will mash down however I prefer not so huge of pieces in my jam (mashed down or not) so I sliced them up into the measuring cup added less sugar as I also don't want too sweet of jam (3/4 cup)of sugar and 1/2 of a lemon for the juice.





I popped it in the microwave on on high for 4 mins ( Watch it can cover it with wax paper to avoid it boiling/rising over the top) This is a picture at this point. I stirred it and back into microwave for 15 mins more




The next step is making sure your jam has set well from experience with this batch what you are looking for is most of the liquid to have evaporated you don't want super soup mix it should be thick.. If you place a tablespoon of mixture on the plate wait 10 seconds and run your finger threw the jam and the area you ran your finger threw has merger back together ( so you wouldn't see where you put your finger threw it is not ready) if it goes back super slowly then it is set.They call this the wrinkle test.




You can process them in a water bath (have to try this next time to store them on pantry shelf)

Fill your jars the picture is what I got after completing 2 batches :O)I allowed them to cool and placed them into the refrigerate to set more ( they were not thick as I preferred next time I will cook longer but Damn it was great on toasted English muffin

Verdict: Can't wait for the next batch with different fruit!!

Banana Bread 4 Grandma

While I was shopping at the fresh & Easy I called grandma and asked if she wanted anything from the store she tells me to pick up 4 banana as she will pick them up after work by the time I got home I was now assigned to make banana bread for her since she works late due to her job & she needed the banana bread for work the next day.



I prefer smaller loaves of bread to work with you run less the risk this type of bread not cooking in the center if you use smaller loaf pans and splinting the batter between them.So I grabbed 2 and greased them well so the batter when done won't stick.Turn the toaster oven on 350 *F


I gathered all the wet ingredients into a large bowl I used

1 egg
1/2 cup of yogurt in place of 1/4 cup oleo= margarine
4 bananas
1 cup sugar


In another bowl mix together the following ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp salt



Dice up the bananas w/ sugar mix together well w/ a potato masher to mash well I don't prefer to eat huge pieces of banana in my breads.



I prefer to use my hand mixer to make sure then wet ingredients are blended well before adding the dry ingredients.



Make sure you scramble the egg before adding it incorporate easier into the sugar/banana mixture.



Slowly sift 1/2 cup of the dry ingredients into the wet and mix well don't forget to scrap down sided as well as from the bottom for some reason the dry ingredients love to stick to the bottom when stirring and you notice it only when you pour the batter at the end

At this point if you desire to add nuts or chocolate chips use
only 1/2 cup & mix in well

I forgot to take a picture before popping them into the toaster oven on 350 *F for 1 hour or until tooth pick comes out dry/clean however here is the after picture... Nicely awaiting grandma to pick them up.

Fresh & Easy Closing Store Sale

My Fresh Easy store closest to me was closing :O( due to loss of sales I am very sad since the next closes stores are not close at all or on my way any where so I will not be shopping them as much any more only on my day's off from work when I can since they are over 5 miles away in a direction I never go :O) But I was able to grab a lot of deals yesterday as they were having a 50 % off everything sale!!!!
To me this means stock up on things you wouldn't normally purchase for their full prices!!

Total Spend at Fresh & Easy was $41.99 plus tax came to $51.00




Pita Chip for dd who is able to eat these Cheese type of chips with no Dairy issues so I had to grab 2 bags regular price was $2.98 a bag for 2= $5.96 then 50 % off Price was $2.98 for 2 bags :O)

2 bags of bagels $1.99 each normal however they were marked down to $1.29 each total before 50 % off deal so I got 2 bags for $1.49 these went quickly into the freezer after I sliced them and placed them into sandwich baggies for quick grab & go.

1 loaf of Sour dough bread for $1.99 50 % off got it for 99 cents
1 bag of English muffins for $1.99 50 % off go it for 99 cents


Total spend $7.94 plus tax



6 boxes of Vanilla Jell-o Pudding for $7.74-50 %=3.87 for 6 boxes
1 jar of Dijon Mustard regular price $1.49-50 % off =.74 cents
2 jar of New Mexico Salsa regular price $1.99 -50%= $1.99 for 2 jars
2 bottle of Teriyaki sauce regular price $4.99-50%=4.99 for 2 jars
2 bottle of caramel topping regular priced $1.29-50 %= $1.29 for 2 jars
2 bottles of hot fudge topping $1.29-50 %=$1.29 for 2 jars
3 boxes of Madress Lentils for $1.28 -50 %=$1.92 for 3
4 jar of pasta sauce $ 1.59-50 %=$3.18 for 4 jars



Total price spent=$19.72






4 bananas 19 cents each-50 % off =$.38
2 green peppers $1.00 each -50 % off =$1.00
1 bag of shredded lettuce on clearance was $.64-50% =$.32 cents
1 bag of lemons $1.29-50 % off =$.64 cents

Total Price spent=$2.34





2 boxes of Soy creamer on clearance was .97 cents each-50%=$.97
1 bottle of OJ was .99 cents- 50 % off = .49 cents


Total Price Spent= $1.46






1 gallon of milk on clearance was .99 cents- 50 % off =.49 cents
3 packages of precooked chicken breasts $2.50 each- 50 % off -$3.75
2 packages of chicken breasts $5.00 each- 50 % =$5.00
2 sour cream for $1.29-50 %=$1.29

Total Price Spent=$10.53

Wacky Cake Mix

Dairy free and Egg Free Cake Mix

As most people know dd has been troubled w/ what she can and can't eat due to Dairy Product(cow milk)hiding out in almost everything my mom use to make this cake all the time when we were growing up since it didn't need milk or egg which were hard to get in the winter time if you got snowed in. However it was not one I wrote down I needed to ask mom for it again however I just jumped online to my fave cooking site because I know someone would have posted this type of recipe by now and I was right here it is
Wacky Cake Recipe


I decided to pre-make the mix up in a dry kit which will allow dd to just add the wet ingredients when she is ready to use it.

So I grabbed a quart size freezer bag and started measuring out the following dry ingredients.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup white sugar

4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients that need to be added when ready to make the cake

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Pour dry mix baggie into an 8x8 inch ungreased cake pan. Make three depressions. Pour oil into one well, vinegar into second, and vanilla into third well. Pour water over all, and stir well with fork.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Frost with your favorite icing.

DD Layered Chicken Enchiladas

This is a picture of the layered enchiladas dd make for dinner the other night she is getting great at cooking :O) these were YUMMY...
She made this on Monday Oct 18th after school for dinner.

Step 1

1 packet of enchilada sauce
1 can of tomato sauce
3 cups water

Mix this and heat to a boil & simmer in pan on stove.

Step 2

Grease a 8 x 8 pan or a loaf pan and turn the toaster oven on 350*F

Step 3

If using a using loaf pan cut the tortillas usually about 6-8 in half this will allow them to fit into the loaf pan easier if using 8 x 8 pan leave whole

Step 4

Gather whatever ingredients you prefer in your enchiladas we used shredded cheese and shredded chicken only.

Step 5

Layered sauce on bottom enough to lightly coat the bottom then tortilla/ then shredded chicken/then enchiladas sauce / then cheese & repeat until done.

Step 6

Place in toaster oven on a cookie sheet in case it bubbles over for 45 mins then remove let sit for 15 mins before cutting/serving.

Yielded 4 portions

Fresh & Easy Discounts 10-18

I stopped at my local Fresh & Easy to see what awaited me on discount on Oct 18th yes I am a few days behind on blogging I decided to just chill for the last week or so. Any way I picked up a few 6 bags of 2 green peppers each to dice up to use in meals. I was able to get these on sale for a great deal

1 bag of 2 peppers for 34 cents each purchased 6 bags total price $2.08 original price would have been $5.88 saved $3.80


This is what I did with all the peppers!!!!




Started this at 2:15 pm

Step 1 - Removed the tops and bottoms of the green peppers set them aside don't toss then I diced the remaining pieces into usable sizes :O)




Step 2 - DON'T WASTE THEM!
Dropped in a larger food processor the tops and bottoms




Step 3 Quickly spun the processor to mince those pieces up for use in meatloaves and spaghetti sauces.



Ending at 2:45 pm so only 30 mins of time for 5 bags..

Into Freezer Ziploc baggies all the diced/minced up green peppers went.

3 bags of diced green peppers
2 bags of minced green peppers

Had I tossed out the tops/bottoms I wouldn't have those 2 bags of usable product...

Shout of 4 Celery

I picked up 3 bunches of celery as stated below in my blog post to dice & freeze to use in soups as well as for the holiday I will be freezing more as I see it on discounts.

The question most people say why dice it yourself ?? Just stop in the freezer area of the store and purchase it for $1.00 PLUS a bag...but my question to myself was does it take that much longer to chop it up yourself?

Well I got up for work early (got a wrong number call) and since I was awake 30 mins early I said to myself do the celery NOW don't wait another day..

815am-845am

So into the kitchen I went to get out the cutting board and large chopping knife... I diced up the 3 bunches of celery but as I was doing this I remember someone on one of those Food Network cooking shows chop up the celery top as well. I put them into a bowl while I kept dicing away thinking to myself

(Me chop those up well yeah right they were very leafy and must be hard to chop up since I had never does this) but I keep chopping up the celery and filling the freezer containers but then it got me thinking....



I thought well maybe in the food processor?? I grabbed my food processor and dropped all those nice leaf tops into the processor so I wouldn't waste any of the celery. I was shocked to see those tops yield 2 cups.



Just stuff them in their :O) that part was easy and fun...no right or
wrong way to do it....(My kind of task)






I was also rewarded with a nice diced product....

2 (2 cups) baggies of celery
1 (1 cups) baggie of celery
1 (2 cups) baggie of celery tops

I even had time to wash the dishes a well before I got dressed for work :O) So yes it was worth the 30mins it took me to do this task....which will yield my family well.

Fresh & Easy Discounts

3 bunches of celery to diced a freeze for soups original price $1.49($4.47) discount price .49 cents ($1.47)savings $3.00

2 Macaroni & Cheese original price $1.99 ($3.98) discount price $1.29 ($2.58) savings $1.40


Break down=>>>Price Spent $4.05 Original Cost $8.45 Savings $4.40

Fresh & Easy /Fry's Discounts

I have been noticing lots of veggie going on discount at my local Fresh & Easy to me that means $avings for me....& lots of soups for the winter time cheaper..Sometimes it's not just veggie but meals as well as seeds or nuts. It doesn't matter to me what the deals are as long as it is food we will use....

I just picked up the following items today

3 bags of sunflower seeds expired March 2012 for $.50 a bag $1.50 total regularly $.99 savings $1.50

1 bag of pumpkin seeds for $ .69 cents regularly $1.38 savings $.69 cents

25 bags of Enchilada Sauce $.30 cents regularly $.59 however in bigger store chains it has been costing me $1.50 a packet so this was a great discount I will be using this during the holiday for Buffet table !! 14.75-$7.50=$7.25 but in the store savings was $37.50

4 bags of shredded carrots for $ .52 cents each regular price $1.49 savings was $2.08- 5.96 =$3.88

Sara Lee Bites I picked up at Fry's for get this $1.00 each I purchased 5 the regular price was $5.99 each savings was $$$$ $29.95- $24.95

Break down=>>>Price Spent $16.52 Original Cost $77.76 Savings $61.24

Fresh & Easy Discounts

Purchased one bag to try of the Red Pepper Cheese Cheetos Chips regular priced $1.59 discount price $.80
Purchased 4 cans of Mission Pride Canned Applesauce for baking regular priced .49 cents discount price $.25

Break down=>>>Price Spent $1.80 Original Cost $3.55 Savings $1.75

Yes I know I shop a lot however I am right by the store 4 times a week & the discounts really do save my family LOTS!! plus it allows us food we wouldn't normally be able to afford due to the regular prices.

Savers Deals

2 canning jars priced .49 cents each 50 % off due to their daily color tag discount so for 50 cents I got to nice jars to use for spice mixes. :O) I love Mason jars

Arizona Storm Damage

will update w/ more pictures

Fresh & Easy Clearance Deals

Picking up clearance deals is great and for my family cuts the budget alot. Sometime you have to be patient and wait for what you desire to be on mark down but it's worth it for us.

Today I stopped at my local Fresh & Easy since I was going to be in the area to see what clearance deals they had and this is what we got today.

3 -10 oz pre-diced onions for .52 cents each regular price $1.49
1-12 oz container of guacamole for $1.40 regular price $3.99
1-12 oz container of 4 cheese pasta $1.29 regular price would be near $3.99
1-18 oz BBQ Pasta for $1.05 regular price is $2.99
Plus I got $2.00 off due to the onions being 2 for $2.00 :O)

I paid $4.40 but would have spent $15.44 saved $11.04

The 4 cheese pasta was split for 2 side dishes for me for work Sat & Sun
The 3 containers of onions got popped into the freezer for use later in meals.
The BBQ Pasta Dear Daughter will eat some for dinner Saturday & Sunday
The guacamole will be my treat on Sunday w/ chips.

Craft Yard Sale Update

UPDATE!!! yard sale was today set up from 7 am-9am to start saw 5 cars drive by...one person stopped sold zero!! So I have a lot of stuff!!!! I need to see about getting rid of of them.....

• 30 pairs of baby booties
• 30 pairs of Towel Rings
• 10 pairs of Towels & Towel Rings Sets