Labels: Food
September 30, 2008

Free online recipe book from Gold Medal -- you can access it here. Once the recipe book loads if you click on save, another screen will pop up allowing you to save it as a PDF file to your computer.
There are quite a few good recipes in it -- Snickerdoodles, Whole Wheat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Pizza, Berry Crisp! Yum!
Labels: Free Stuff
September 29, 2008

We did pretty well last week, although I didn't make a couple of things ... we just had more leftovers so no need to go out. My pantry and freezer are starting to go bare so I will have to start buying again, except for the little items. Red are food items I had to buy -- the rest are from the pantry.
Sunday -- Chicken, Homemade Mac & Cheese, Sweet Potato, Broccoli, Biscuits
Monday -- Tortellini Soup
Tuesday -- Grilled Chicken, Corn, Orzo (Need Marinade for chicken) Sweet Potato
Wednesday -- Jambalaya (Never made this last week-- out of Rice!)
Thursday -- Pork Steak on the grill, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Friday -- Homemade Pizza
We made homemade applesauce this weekend and ended up canning 6 quarts. This was our very first experience with canning. My husband and Stephen helped with peeling them! Interesting job -- I can't even imagine canning 40 or 50 quarts of just one food, let alone -- apples, corns, beans, jams and jellies .... ugh! We still have apples left that we need to process and not waste! We were given a HUGE sweet potato this week, I cooked it in the crock-pot. I will post a photo tonight. I was afraid it wouldn't be sweet but it was yummy! We used half of it for the one meal and still have 1/2 left.
Labels: Menu Plan Monday
September 27, 2008
With all the political issues adding to the crisis' of the world today -- one subject that has been on my heart lately is if we as Christians, should in fact vote? I plan on studying this out -- but I am leaning towards voting. How can we as Christians, not vote? I realize we should aways pray for our country, our leaders and I know that in fact God answers prayer ... sometimes He answers it where you can have no doubt that God did it alone miraculously, and then there are times where He uses the body of Christ(us!) to answer prayer and change the world ...
After seeing this, I am prayerfully considering how we can NOT vote?
After seeing this, I am prayerfully considering how we can NOT vote?
Labels: Thoughts
September 25, 2008
One of my favorite money saving idea blogs is Common Sense with Money -- there are always great ideas, posts about deals and other interesting tidbits. This week is her blogversary and she is having a giveaway for a Coupon Organizer. I so WANT one of those -- go visit for a chance and gain some super ideas!!


Labels: Contest
September 22, 2008

I had a menu last week but I just noticed I never posted it! Silly me.
Sunday -- Spaghetti with Homemade Sauce, Meatballs and Garlic Toast
Monday -- Double Easy Mexican Casserole
Tuesday -- Breakfast for Dinner (eggs, bacon and french toast)
Wednesday -- Crockpot Jambalya
Thursday -- Grilled BBQ Chicken, Coleslaw and Noodle Side (?) Orzo
Friday -- Mom works so leftovers for the men folk.
Labels: Menu Plan Monday
September 15, 2008
From one of my favorite "savings/deals" blog!! I'mm pretty excited about the tote bag -- I received the purple one from Earth's Bounty in the mail -- its huge! Works great for shopping any my huge bags of library books.

Free sample of Jergen's naturals from Walmart HERE
Free sample of Crest Whitening Expressions HERE
Free sample, coupon, and tote bag from Nature's Bounty HERE
Free sample of Pledge Multi-surface from Walmart HERE
Free sample of Calvin Klein's fragrance: Secret Obsession HERE
Free sample of Baby's Only Organic Formula HERE
Choose from Toddler Dairy or Soy Pediatric FormulaFree sample of Airborne HERE
Free sample of Kotex lightdays HERE
Free mini Mr. Clean Magic Eraser HERE
This one did not open up immediately for me - if it doesn't for you hit the refresh button.
Get a FREE Kashi Oatmeal and Dark Chocolate Cookie HERE
Sign up for the great Crayon Caper and get free crayons (pink and brown) and a coloring/activity book HERE
Free Rouge Magazine HEREThis magazine is a beauty publication from P&G and often contains coupons.
Several Arby's coupons HERE

Free sample of Jergen's naturals from Walmart HERE
Free sample of Crest Whitening Expressions HERE
Free sample, coupon, and tote bag from Nature's Bounty HERE
Free sample of Pledge Multi-surface from Walmart HERE
Free sample of Calvin Klein's fragrance: Secret Obsession HERE
Free sample of Baby's Only Organic Formula HERE
Choose from Toddler Dairy or Soy Pediatric FormulaFree sample of Airborne HERE
Free sample of Kotex lightdays HERE
Free mini Mr. Clean Magic Eraser HERE
This one did not open up immediately for me - if it doesn't for you hit the refresh button.
Get a FREE Kashi Oatmeal and Dark Chocolate Cookie HERE
Sign up for the great Crayon Caper and get free crayons (pink and brown) and a coloring/activity book HERE
Free Rouge Magazine HEREThis magazine is a beauty publication from P&G and often contains coupons.
Several Arby's coupons HERE
Labels: Free Stuff
I did a quick stir fry from one of the huge zucchini's from our small garden. It tasted so good.
Ingredients:
one (mammoth) zucchini or 3-4 small zucchini, chopped
one red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
salt, pepper, garlic powder and olive oil (1T)
Chop vegetables and saute in olive oil for about 10 minutes. Add seasonings to taste. I ate the rest for lunch today and enjoyed every bite!!
Ingredients:
one (mammoth) zucchini or 3-4 small zucchini, chopped
one red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
salt, pepper, garlic powder and olive oil (1T)
Chop vegetables and saute in olive oil for about 10 minutes. Add seasonings to taste. I ate the rest for lunch today and enjoyed every bite!!
Labels: Recipes

I did really well last week with the plan -- I swapped some days around but feel like I am back on track. It literally took me less than a minute to write out a plan for this week -- I don't shop for the week but rather shop sales and have food items on hand.
Sunday -- Roast, Cheesy Ranch Potatoes, Zucchini Stir Fry (so yummy!!), Mixed Veggies
Monday -- Pigs in a Blanket, Mac & Cheese (box), Leftover Veggies from Sunday
Tuesday -- Oriental Noodles, Rice (these noodles are from Aldi's -- 2.89 a pkg!)
Wednesday -- Beef Stew or Vegetable Beef Soup (from leftover roast)
Thursday -- Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts, Orzo, Broccoli
Friday -- Hamburgers on the grill, Oven Fries, Veggie
Saturday -- undecided (yard sale this weekend, if no rain!!)
Most of my menu is pantry or freezer items on hand. I did buy the pepper for the zucchini and the package of reduced-fat crescent rolls (56 cents) for this week and that is it! (My grocery budget for this week was slim to none!)
Sunday -- Roast, Cheesy Ranch Potatoes, Zucchini Stir Fry (so yummy!!), Mixed Veggies
Monday -- Pigs in a Blanket, Mac & Cheese (box), Leftover Veggies from Sunday
Tuesday -- Oriental Noodles, Rice (these noodles are from Aldi's -- 2.89 a pkg!)
Wednesday -- Beef Stew or Vegetable Beef Soup (from leftover roast)
Thursday -- Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts, Orzo, Broccoli
Friday -- Hamburgers on the grill, Oven Fries, Veggie
Saturday -- undecided (yard sale this weekend, if no rain!!)
Most of my menu is pantry or freezer items on hand. I did buy the pepper for the zucchini and the package of reduced-fat crescent rolls (56 cents) for this week and that is it! (My grocery budget for this week was slim to none!)
Labels: Menu Plan Monday
September 9, 2008
I stumbled across a few candy blogs today -- and there are some new and yummy looking fall candy! I love Autumn -- its my favorite season -- I love the colors and the weather.
Go visit - they both have some super candy reviews.
Candy Blog
Candy Enthusiast


Go visit - they both have some super candy reviews.
Candy Blog
Candy Enthusiast


Candy Corn Kisses -- how cool are these? They also have Pumpkin Spice Kisses and Caramel Apple Kisses. Yum!! Pumpkin Spice Lattes are so yummy -- I need to see if they are available.
Labels: Candy

Monday -- BLT Sandwiches and Watermelon
Tuesday -- Oriental Noodles with Chicken and Fried Rice
Wednesday -- Leftovers
Thursday -- Chicken Soft Tacos, Spanish Rice, Corn
Friday -- Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
I have been using a lot of the food items in my pantry and freezer. We defrosted the big freezer and there were some hidden gems in there. We did really well last week so I know menu plan Monday works for our family.
Labels: Menu Plan Monday
September 1, 2008
Monday - Brats, Dogs, Coleslaw, Corn on Cob and Beans (All Pantry Items) Watermelon
Tuesday - Soft Beef Tacos, Corn and Fidello
Wednesday - Noodles with Leftover Roast and Gravy (from freezer)
Thursday -- Dorito Casserole
Friday -- Oriental Noodles, Tilipia and Fried Rice
I "thought" if I started posting, I would do better. Its much better to have a menu plan than to scramble at the last minute. =)
Tuesday - Soft Beef Tacos, Corn and Fidello
Wednesday - Noodles with Leftover Roast and Gravy (from freezer)
Thursday -- Dorito Casserole
Friday -- Oriental Noodles, Tilipia and Fried Rice
I "thought" if I started posting, I would do better. Its much better to have a menu plan than to scramble at the last minute. =)
Labels: Menu Plan Monday