Ro-Tel Chicken

Simple recipe. Versatile recipe. Pretty healthy recipe, too. An old stand-by for me.

Place about 2 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crock-pot. (About 3-4 large breasts or enough to cover the bottom of my large crock-pot.) No need to thaw. Pour one entire can of Ro-Tel over top. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. That's it.

This is what I like to do with it: at hour 8 or 9 or whenever the chicken is done, shred the chicken in the crock pot with two forks (shreds very easily because of the acidic tomatoes) and add a can of drained black beans for 1 more hour or so. Then serve in flour tortillas. For toppings, I like cheese and/or sour cream.

Other possibilities:

This also makes a good filling for quesadillas.

Add spicy shredded chicken to a warm dip.

Could also use plain diced tomatoes (without the green chilis) if you don't like it spicy.

If you wanted to be more frugal, you could stretch this even further by mixing it with rice before serving in tortillas.

Thanks to Megan, my ol' teaching buddy, for this recipe. She used to bring a dish of it with tortillas and eat it for lunch.

Visit A Latte Talk for more simple recipes and Crystal's blog for more simple and frugal ideas from the past week!

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

This is a nostalgic recipe for me. It was a tradition for Abbe's mom to make this when we used to have sleepovers. She graciously shared the recipe with all us girls, now off on our own. It is a sweet, dense cake with crumbly topping, filled with gooey chocolate chips. The combo of chocolate chips, cinnamon, and brown sugar is yummy. I made it once for my little sister and she later requested it for her graduation brunch. This week I made it for a dessert for my husband and me.

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

3 cups flour

1 T. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup brown sugar

12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips

1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream butter. Gradually add sugar. Add eggs one at a time, and beat after each. In a separate bowl, combine four, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Alternately add flour mixture and sour cream to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.* In a separate bowl, combine chocolate chips, cinnamon, and brown sugar.

In a greased 9x13 pan, layer half the batter, then half the chocolate chip mixuture, then remaining batter, and the remaining chocolate chip mix. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Do not overbake.

*Do it like the recipe says and add things one at a time, etc.

Breastfeeding Aid

Any males, you probably don’t want to read any further – unless you have a newborn at home.

Yeah, I used props. Nipple shields. I have heard so many people give these a bad rap, that I just had to come to their defense.

My daughter was early and was not able to latch on to breastfeed. Since it was critical that she maintain her weight she received supplemental bottles from the beginning at the hospital. As beneficial as this was, it made latching on even more difficult.

I really wanted to breastfeed her, but had it not been for my mother researching, going out and buying these, and insisting that I try them, I probably would have given up.

Thank goodness for mom!

I used them exclusively for the first 2 months. Yes, they were a annoying to use, but I was just so glad to be able to breastfeed. One day, when my daughter was 2 months old, I tried without, and she nursed on, no problem. I happily put the nipple shields away, but they still hold a special place in my heart. They worked wonders for me. So don’t go dissing them!

Visit Rocks in my Dryer for more Works for Me Wednesday tips!

Minivan

Anyone need a minivan? One for sale...
(Just tryin' to "help a brother out".)

Substitutions Save the Day

They often do, for me. Whether it saves a trip to the store, saves from spending extra for that one special ingredient, or is an attempt to make a recipe healthier, I use substitutions frequently. The recipes usually turn out just fine, but you can't be afraid to experiment. And experiments don't always turn out as you plan.

Lately, I have been experimenting with ground flax seed as a substitute for eggs or oil, following the directions on the side of the flax seed box. So far, it has worked well in cornbread, pancakes, and spice cake.

I also have made really good use out of the "Emergency Substitutions" chart at the back of my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. I recommend that as a staple cookbook to have on hand. It was my first cookbook, from my mom at one of my wedding showers. Here is a similar list that you can reference, though there are a few differences in the items listed.

Another thing I want to mention, is that I sometimes omit ingredients completely - when I have no substitute and I know they are just for flavoring purposes. I wouldn't recommend it when baking, but mostly just for other dishes. I will occasionally leave out spices that I don't have on hand and rarely use.

Visit Tammy's Recipes for more kitchen tips!

Bread in 5 Minutes?

If you read this post, you are aware of my dilemma: I want to make homemade bread, but just don't have the time. Maybe this book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, will help! I read this article that got me interested by explaining how it is done. I'm excited to hopefully try it sometime soon. Maybe it will be my no-bread-maker, non-kneading, but-wanna-be-bread-making saving grace. I admit, I am skeptical that it can work for bread we would actually eat...

Menu Plan 5/26/08

Easy meals this week...

M – hamburgers & potato salad
T – pizza
W – black bean/cheese quesadillas & corn casserole
Th – leftovers
F – pork tenderloin, green beans, rice
S – chicken fried rice

We might go out one night (w/ a giftcard!), so this is not set in stone.

For desserts: Abbe's chocolate chip coffee cake (recipe to come)

Visit Menu Plan Monday for more ideas!

Appeal for Liturgy

I appreciated this post on the benefits liturgy. Personally, I find liturgy meaningful and beautiful.

Healthier Spice Cake

I made a spice cake this weekend, and it was almost demolished in 2 days (by 2 people). I didn't want to use up my eggs, so this is what I did... I followed this recipe for chocolate cake but with the following modifications.

• No cocoa
• Added 2 t. cinnamon
• Added 1 t. nutmeg
• Added 1/4 t. cloves

Other substitutions:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour & 1 cup white flour (3 cups total as called for)
• measured 3/4 cup oil (as called for), removed 1 T. of the oil and replaced it with 3 T. ground flax seed. This was the suggested substitution on the flax seed box (1 T. oil = 3 T. flax seed).

Here is the recipe for the spice icing.

4 T. butter
1 lb. (2 cups) confectioner's sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 cup milk

I also added some vanilla.

Cream butter and sugar. Mix in spices. Add milk and beat until frosting is smooth.

This is by no means a completely healthy cake. If so, it wouldn't be cake would it? It has just as much sugar as it does without the substitutions. But it does taste healthier with the whole wheat flour and flax, and we liked it!

My Price Chopper Trip

(not pictured: TEN bratwursts)

Last Sunday...

8 Belfonte yogurt $.29 each
2.5 lb Honeysuckle ground turkey $1.19/lb.
10 bratwursts $.50 each
3 bags frozen vegetables $.60 each
5 lb. bag potatoes $1.19
1 Peter Pan peanut butter $1.69
5 candy bars $.20 each
4 lb. bag sugar $1.29
10 Koolaid packets $.10 each*

Total (including tax) = $19.61
Store savings of $19.82

Over 50% savings with no coupons is okay with me.

(The bummer was Price Chopper and then the Dollar General next door were both completely wiped out of hot dog buns and we had an impromptu get together with some friends so I had to run to Wal-Mart for those. Crazy how any extra mile down the road seems to take like an extra hour. It was worth it though. It’s not like I had the time or ingredients to make my own. Plus I wouldn’t want to experiment on making them for the first time for someone else.)

I am going to go a little over the grocery budget this month due to some extra allergy medicines (which fall under the grocery category for us) and entertaining AND mostly because Price Chopper has had such amazing anniversary sales that I am trying to stock up on some stuff that I am pretty sure won’t be this price again for the rest of the summer.

*I did not grow up with Koolaid and am still not a huge fan because of the artificial colors/flavors, but it is what we have as a fun summer drink, especially after working outside – it is cheaper than soft drinks and probably about the same health wise I am guessing. Although, have you seen the Koolaid Invisibles? No artificial color at least. The candy bars were a cheap treat.

Visit Crystal's Super Savings Saturday to see the deals that others got this past week!

Picnic Fare

Following this week's theme, I must link back to my Menu Plan from Monday which includes my favorite potato salad recipe*, compliments of my husband's mother. Be sure to scroll down below the menu to find the recipe. Simple, pretty frugal, and tasty! (Makes a large amount. Onion is optional.)

Visit Foody Friday for more links to picnic fare recipes, just in time for Memorial Day!

*Since this recipe ends up being very similar to Jenny's (for which I apologize), I will add a different dish if I think of one...

No Clothesline...

In our neighborhood, it would be considered tacky by some to hang your clothes outside to dry on a clothesline. Actually, I don't even know if it is allowed. I know that is snobbish, and it is not like our neighborhood is high-class, don't be fooled. But still, that's what I'm thinking.

I'm not usually one who cares about this sort of stuff, especially if what I am doing is saving money and better for the environment. I happen to think clotheslines are quaint and a reminder of a simpler time. I am actually a little bit jealous of you if you use one.

But back to the point. Our backyard is not very private. As in more than just our immediate neighbors view it. That is the main reason I don't have a clothesline.

However, I like to put the cloth diapers out in the sun to dry (when it is warm outside) to help whiten them up. So, what to do? No clothesline, no clothes tree... aha! I do have a drying rack! It gets used indoors for drip drying clothes. I'll just set it outside!

(Sometimes clothespins are needed this time of year.)

Pretty proud of myself for using what I already have... and a little less consipicuous than a clothesline strung across the yard. I like to think I am setting an example, albeit a small one.

I'm thinking you could do this even with no yard - as long as you have a small porch or balcony.

That's my frugal and earth-friendly tidbit for the week. (See also how to keep your shower clean on a daily basis without using chemicals.)

Visit Crystal's blog and read about some more frugal ideas!

Mexican Lasagna Review

I loved this! My husband thought it was just ordinary. Alterations I made: used some cooked corn, no carrot, ground turkey, and whole wheat tortillas. The rest of the ingredients were the same as in the recipe. We liked it served with sour cream. The tortillas got soft, like noodles, so in that way it was like lasagna. It was not spicy, but had a Mexican flair because of the ingredients. My nearly 11 month old liked it, too! I will be making it again. (FYI – 2 adults ate ½ the pan for dinner. Our only side dish was cooked carrots, though.)

Amish Friendship Bread Flop

Everyone I know loves Amish friendship bread. I do, too – when other people make it. It seems like every time I make it, something goes wrong and it doesn’t turn out right. I don’t know why.

This last time, I got some starter from my neighbor, Tami. She is health conscious and had added some whole wheat flour to it, which I was excited about. (Something I would have done, too!)

I followed all the directions correctly, but when it came to take out the “starter” and place it into bags to give away to friends, I did one bag too few. Which means I had one cup extra of the liquid mix in my own mix when I made my bread. No wonder it turned out moist and heavy!

I just thought it was because of the whole wheat and didn’t realize my mistake until like 3 days after I made the bread.

Squeegee It!

I love/hate to squeegee. It was my husband's idea. We do it after every shower (or whoever showers last) on the shower walls and doors. It was a pain at first, but now I am used to it, and it is SO worth it. The soap scum doesn't build up, so it hardly gets dirty. I can go longer between cleanings, and since I don't have to scrub at all, I don't dread the cleanings anymore.

We have a fiberglass shower stall (or something like that) with glass doors. Our friends who have tile do it, too.

This is when I am glad my husband is a bit of a neat freak. The 30 second squeegee is one of my favorite housekeeping rules - one that actually works for me.

Try it, and be sure to be consistent!

For more practical thoughts, visit Works for Me Wednesday!

Just for the record, I thought I should clarify that we don't use any shower spray with these daily squeegeeings, we just wipe down the water and soap that is already there - sorry if that was confusing! (Cheaper and more earth-friendly this way!)

Cookie Jar

Yesterday, I decided to use a pasta container as a cookie jar. I like how the cookies look stacked in there. I got my idea after seeing this picture. The downfall is that they are not “out of sight, out of mind.” I want to eat them now.

Visit Tammy's Recipes for more kitchen tips and ideas!

Favorite Chocolate Cake

I first had this cake in high school German class. We had to translate the recipe, then got to make and eat the cake. I loved it and saved the recipe. My mother-in-law says it is commonly known as Depression Cake – from the Great Depression. It is pretty frugal to make since it has no butter or eggs.

It is what I make when we are out of most baking supplies but wanting some chocolate dessert. It is so moist, I actually like it best without frosting. And you can make it all in one pan. No dirty dishes, yay! Here is the recipe if you have never made it before:

Chocolate Cake

One needs:

3 C. flour
2 t. baking soda
2 C. sugar
1/3 C. cocoa
1 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
2 T. vinegar
¾ C. oil
2 C. water

Mix dry ingredients in a 9x13 pan. Make 3 holes. Put vanilla, vinegar, and oil each in 1 hole. Pour water over the whole thing. Mix everything together. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

If you have a good money-saving-by-making-it-yourself idea, or just want to read about some, visit Thrifty Florida Mama!

Slow Food

This article on the Google homepage caught my eye. I have heard about the Slow Food Movement before. What do you think? I think the principles are good. But it is stuff I try to do anyways, without joining a "movement". I guess it could be benenficial to call it a movement, though, in order to gain attention and also to give people direction and motivation.

Menu Plan 5/19/08

Breakfasts:
granola
bananas

Lunches:
Sandwiches
Fruit
Yogurt
Chocolate chip cookies (I still need to make them! They've been on the plan for like 3 weeks but I haven't made them yet.)

Snacks:
Fruit juice
Caramel popcorn

Dinners:
M – Mexican lasagna*
T – Leftovers
W –Barbequed Chicken and Potato Salad*
Th – Leftovers
F – Homemade macaroni & cheese* and peas
S – Leftovers
S – Frozen pizza

*Recipes follow:

Mexican Lasagna
(I found this recipe via one of the Menu Plan post links on Organizing Junkie that took me here.)
Serves 8

1 lb. lean ground beef (90% or higher)
1 large carrot, shredded (about 1 cup)
One 16-ounce jar salsa
One 15 1/2-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
Five 8-inch flour tortillas, cut in half
One 16-ounce container lowfat cottage cheese
1 1/2 cups preshredded reduced fat Cheddar cheese

1. Cook the meat and carrot in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the large pieces, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
3. Add the salsa, black beans, corn (I guess there is supposed to be corn on the list), chili powder, and cumin to the skillet and stir to combine.
4. To assemble the lasagna, arrange a third (about 2 cups) of the meat mixture in a 9x13-inch baking pan. Layer half the tortillas over the meat, allowing them to overlap. Spoon half of the cottage cheese and 1/2 cup of the Cheddar cheese over the tortillas and spread evenly.
5. Place 2 more cups of meat mixture over the cottage cheese. Layer with the remaining tortillas and cottage cheese. End with the meat mixture.
6. Top with the remaining Cheddar cheese and bake uncovered until the cheese melts and the lasagna is heated through, about 25 minutes.

Potato Salad

5 lbs. potatoes

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1 dozen eggs

1 quart miracle whip

Peel (if desired), quarter, and slice potatoes in 1/8 inch slices and cook in water with some salt added, til tender, then drain water and pour out onto a cookies sheet to cool. Sprinkle chopped/diced onion over the warm potatoes, and gently toess. Let the potatoes completely cool.

Cover eggs with cold water, bring to a boil, cover pan, turn off heat. Let them sit for 11-12 minutes. This cooks the eggs without the yokes having a grey edge to them. Peel and chop.

In a large bowl, mix potatoes, onion, and eggs with miracle whip. Add mustard to taste and color, and add some ground black pepper. Chill.

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
(I like to double this in a 9x13 pan.)

2 cups macaroni
1 and 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 cup milk, cream, or evaporated milk

Cook macaroni. Drain. Grease 1 and 1/2 quart casserole pan. Put in half the macaroni and top with half the cheese. Put remaining macaroni on top of the first layer of cheese and top with the remaining cheese. Pour 3/4 cup of milk over the macaroni until you can see the milk. Bake until golden brown in a 350 oven about 30 minutes. Yields 4-6 side dish servings.

Visit I'm an Organizing Junkie to view all the menu madness!

Spring Landscaping Projects

My husband has been doing a lot with with the landscaping over the past few weeks... new plants and lighting. I like to pretend I am a photographer... but you probably know by now our camera is not the greatest, nor are my skills. Oh well, it's fun.

(A boulder)

I really liked how this one turned out (above).

The pergola he built over the patio.

Marinated Pork Tenderloin

It's Foody Friday! The theme is grilling. We don't have many special recipes for that, but here is one...

This is my favorite recipe for a pork tenderloin marinade for the grill. Read the reviews for some good suggestions... there is lots of room for tweaking to your personal taste. I have also left out various ingredients and still liked it!

Cook-Off

We attend a relatively new and youthful church. It is filled with generous and caring, but very busy, people. A lot of the families do not have the luxury of a parent that stays home full time. So, when those of us on the meal team have to prepare meals for families in need, especially on weekdays, we have to plan in advance and strategize. Here’s what we do (and I think it is great, that’s why I’m sharing!) to ease the burden of the meal prep: we do a cook-off!

About every 3 months the meal team gets together for an evening of making meals. We make 4 different freezer friendly main dishes. Each team member brings the meat to make one of each dish. We then chip in about $6 per dish for the other ingredients which the leader purchases ahead of time. We make all the dishes, which are stored (uncooked) in freezer bags and store them in the church freezer. So we aren't really "cooking" them yet, just putting the meals together.

When we are notified that someone needs a meal, the leader emails out and when it is your turn – you go take one of the freezer meals, throw in a bagged lettuce salad kit (or other side item) and a dessert item with it, and deliver. (By the way, I love Wal-mart’s cherry turnovers on the day old bakery rack for 6 for $1.50! Really good for you, too.)

So if I buy meat at $2/lb. x 4 meals x 2 lbs. per meal = $16 on meat
And $6 for other ingredients x 4 meals = $24
So $16 + $24 = $40 for 4 casserole sized main dishes (9x13 pans)

I’m sure I could do it cheaper on my own, but for the ease of it, it works out pretty well! Plus, it is fun! And, since we know what is stocked in the freezer, the families receiving the meals sometimes get a choice of what they prefer. So all in all, fairly frugal with the money, but especially with the time and energy spent! Check out Frugal Friday at Crystal's blog for more money saving ideas!

Some Favorite Books

These are a few of my favorite non-fiction books. (Some are controversial.)

The List:

Love and Respect (the relationship book)

The Act of Marriage (the sex book)

The Shrewd Christian (the money book)

A Generous Orthodoxy and The Velvet Elvis (the faith books)

On Becoming Babywise and What to Expect the First Year (the baby books)

New Header

I am slowly taking steps to make the homepage page look more interesting. I really don't want it to look "busy" though - I'd rather it look too plain. What do you think of the new picture as the header? I wasn't sure what would go along well with the general theme of the blog, but I kind of like this one. Let me know any suggestions you have.

What's Good at Aldi?

When people ask me about shopping at Aldi, I sometimes have a hard time saying off the top of my head what is worth getting from there. So I decided to make a list since I love lists. Keep in mind, this is all just my opinion.

Better at Aldi (I prefer to get these things there):
Chocolate chips
Brownie mix
Skim milk (I don’t know if it is r-bgh free.)
Chocolate ice cream
Frozen thin crust pepperoni pizza

Kind of funny there are 3 chocolate things on that list! :)

Just as good at Aldi (I notice no difference):
Baking supplies (flour, sugar, oil, cake, pudding, marshmallows, etc.)
Condiments
Eggs
Sour cream
Butter
Cheese
Rice
Canned vegetables
Canned soups
Mandarin oranges
Canned pineapple
Cherry pie filling
Bread
Frozen chicken breasts (3 lb. bag)
Frozen real grape juice
Large can tomato juice
Frozen fruit
Whipped topping
Allergy medicine
Immunity booster (like Airborne)

Things that might not be quite as good, but are still worth getting there (because of the price):
Chips
Salsa
Cereal
Produce
Frozen vegetables

There are also other things that I occasionally get at Aldi, these are just the highlights – the things that really work for me!

The only thing I have really NOT liked that I have tried from Aldi was the boxed mac’n’cheese. But I don’t buy much of that anywhere anyways anymore. Oh, and also the chocolate syrup. Stick with the Hershey’s.

What is your experience with Aldi products? What else have you tried from their store? What works for you?

Visit Rocks in my Dryer for more tips and ideas!

Slow Cooker Baby Food

Here's a helpful tip for those who make home-made baby food. If you are making a large amount of one kind of food, or if you really need to soften fruit, veggies, or meat before pureeing them, cook them in the crock-pot. Add a little bit of water and cook for a few hours or so. (Length of time depends on amount being cooked.) The will be super tender and easy to puree! I have tried this with pears, apples, chicken, and sweet potatoes. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on the fruit while it is cooking and your house will smell wonderful! For more ideas visit Tammy's Recipes!

Menu Plan 5/12/08

Nothing brand new this week... but wait til next, I've got stuff planned already! :)

Breakfasts:

Kashi Cereal

Homemade Granola

Lunches:

PB&J

Lettuce Salad

Carrot Sticks

Cottage Cheese

Apples

Oranges

Desserts:

Birthday Cake w/ strawberries

Ice Cream

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dinners:

M - Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

T - Leftovers

W - Spanish Rice*

T - Leftovers

F - ?? Undecided (from the pantry)

S - Leftovers

S - frozen pizza

*We didn't get to have this as planned last week because we went out of town. I am hoping the cilantro is still ok to use...?

For more menu ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday!

Catching Up

We were gone nearly the entire weekend, I work a partial day tomorrow (Monday), and it is my husband's birthday and we are having company for dinner. I need to buckle down and get busy.

Here's my to-do list for Monday:

Cook chicken in the crock-pot
Make enchiladas
Make the cake icing
Ice the cake
Fold the laundry
Dust the furniture
Vaccum the floors
Wrap the presents
Make a card

I have something I want to post for Make-It-Yourself Monday over at ThriftyFloridaMama, but I might not get to it until later tomorrow night. (I like to do a lot of writing on Sunday afternoon, but since we were gone, I didn't this week.) Ok, now off to revise the menu plan...

Happy Mother's Day

To all the ladies who have "mothered" any child along the way... thank you for touching a life. Have a blessed day!

Pineapple-Pepperjack Chicken

Um, the name pretty much says it all. Oh, except for step one, which is really important. Ok, so here.

1. Marinate boneless, skinless chicken breasts in Italian salad dressing.

2. Grill the chicken.

3. Toward the end, top each piece of chicken with a ring of pineapple. You can grill the pineapple first if you wish. (Use fresh or canned.)

4. Then on top of the pineapple layer a big slice of pepperjack cheese and melt it. This gives the kick.

Amazing combo of flavors. This is the only way my friend Christa will eat grilled chicken.

Will also work by baking the chicken in the oven. Can also substitute sauteed mushrooms for the pineapple. For more recipes with some kick/zip/punch/zing/wow factor, visit Foody Friday!

Quick Menu Review

See this week's menu plan for the recipes.

The Chicken Wraps were good. We prefered them with miracle whip and salsa as opposed to one of the salad dressings.



The Chili Cornbread Salad (see picture) is delish. Very fresh tasting. I went ahead and made the whole thing at once instead of in two parts. We are eating it the second day now and I actually like it better day 2 - the cornbread is moist but not soggy (ew).

I used 1 cup Kraft Ranch dressing (no msg) instead of the 1 cup mayo and ranch seasoning packet (msg).

Favorite Baby Bottles

My recommendation on baby bottles: Evenflo Clear Glass Nurser

(My first choice is breastfeeding, but I have used these bottles a lot, too... so they have been put to the test in our household - for what that's worth!)

Why I like them:
1. Glass = no hormone disruptor worries.
2. More earth friendly than plastic.

3. No extra parts = easy to wash
4. Looks squeaky clean (if it’s foggy, well, then, you probably should wash it…)
5. Looks kind of cool and retro (and it’s all about the look you know)
6. From reviews, they say they are good for kids w/ gas issues, reflux, etc.
7. Easy to find, standard width nipples.
8. Durable, longer lasting. Looks the same after years of use. (Though the nipples and caps will need replacing.)
9. ***Great price. Major bang for your buck.***
10. Everything just tastes better out of glass, remember?

I dropped one of mine on the tile floor at church and it survived. I’m pretty sure they are tempered glass, so they don’t shatter if dropped.

The only drawback I can think of is that they weigh more.

Not as frugal as nursing, but at less than $2 a pop, still pretty darn frugal for a simple, durable, earth-friendly bottle!

Baking Bread vs Wal-Mart Bread

I wish I liked to bake my own bread. I want to like to bake my own bread. I’ve tried to like to bake my own bread. But I just don’t.

I have attempted a handful of highly rated recipes. One turned out good. But I’m lazy and it was too much work for me to do it every week. Or too much time, I should say. And my husband has not been crazy about the results of any of my attempts.

So, I buy my 100% whole wheat bread at Wal-Mart. For $1.48 a loaf. And that works for me.

3 things I say to justify it:

We eat sandwiches everyday for lunch. We don’t usually eat bread at any other time. From what I’ve read, many people that bake their own bread still buy their sandwich bread.

I don’t have a bread maker or a spot for it.

For whole wheat bread, I don’t think I could make it for much cheaper.

What I still feel guilty about:

The store bought bread has sugar or high fructose corn syrup in it and supporting Wal-Mart (not a huge fan).

To hear more about what DOESN'T work for people, visit Rocks in my Dryer!

(Hiding) The Inevitable Kitchen Clutter

It always feels like I come home with so much to unload from the car at the end of the day. The last thing I feel like doing is put it all away because it feels like it takes 1/2 an hour... but I usually try to do it because well, it has to be done, and no one else is going to do it!

1. bring my daughter inside and put her down for her nap (usually)

2. bring in diaper bag, lunch bag, and any grocery sacks from errands on the way home (this often takes me mutiple trips)

3. let the dog out, then wipe his feet

4. get the mail

5. open, sort the mail, and put it away

6. unpack the dirty cloth diapers from the diaper bag

7. refill sippee cup and snack container

8. unpack lunch bag and wash containers

9. put any receipts away, plug cell phone in

10. unpack any groceries and put away

Ok, this is not hard stuff, so I don't know why it can seem like a chore to me, but it can. Maybe I'm just a wimp. Probably so. Anyways. Here are are 2 rules that keep me on task and organized when unpacking and reorganizing at the end of the day.

1. Don't multi-task. (Wastes energy.) Use the one-touch rule. The first time you touch it is the last time - take it where it needs to go and put it away immediately.

2. No piles. Everything has a place to go.

This is the corner of the kitchen closest to where we come in the house. This is where one finds 2 storage spots that keep the counters clear of clutter (ignore the radio in the middle).

1. The basket holds cell phones and chargers, pocket change, etc.

2. The gold flowerpot holds paperwork that is in use - planners, work info, coupons, etc. If it gets too full, I dump it out and go through it.

I feel like these two things - the basket for little clutter/wires and the flowerpot for papers - really help to keep the kitchen counters neat looking.

Now, if I could just get some help with dishes in the sink and the laundry in the baskets....

Disclaimer:

Ok, now I don't have children in elementary school, so I don't have all that stuff coming home to deal with (though I used to teach so I know the papers/projects/fliers that fill the backpacks). I will have to add to the system when that needs to be addressed.

Visit Tammy's Recipes for more kitchen tips!

Menu Plan 5/5/08

Here's what's on our menu this week. I am looking forward to these main dish recipes much more than last week's :)

Breakfasts:
Cereal
Granola

Lunches:
PB&J w/ side, fruit, and dessert

Dinners:
M- Chicken Club Wraps*
T- Wraps again
W- Chili Cornbread Salad**
Th- Chili Cornbread salad again
F- Spanish Rice
S- Spanish Rice again
S- Frozen Pizza

Sides/Dessert:
Fruit: bananas, apples, oranges
Fresh Asparagus (free from the in-laws)
Fresh Green Beans
Cottage Cheese
Chips
Ice Cream (cookies’n’cream and rocky road)
Chocolate Chip Cookies

* Chicken Club wrap ingredients: cold shredded chicken (pre-cooked in the crock-pot), cheddar cheese, avocado, tomato, lettuce, dressing (bacon thousand island or ranch), and whole wheat tortillas.

** On the Chili Cornbread Salad, I think I will assemble ½ for the first night, and then save the ingredients and assemble ½ on the second night so that it doesn’t get soggy.

For more meal plans and recipes, visit Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

Popcorn on the Stove

Here’s a snack my husband taught me how to make right after we got married… I'd never known you could make popcorn without a popcorn popper or the microwave! Not only is it cheaper, it is healthier than the alternative, too. (And to think I used to not even like popcorn…)

Popcorn – Stovetop Style:
(aka super cheap snack)

Use a medium size saucepan/pot with a lid.
Put in ¼ cup oil (should cover the bottom) and 3 popcorn kernels.
Cover with lid.
Heat over medium to medium-high heat.
Listen for the kernels to pop.
When all 3 have popped, you know the oil is the right hotness.

Pour in 1/3 cup popcorn kernels.
Swirl pan so nearly all kernels are in the oil. Recover with lid.
When the kernels start popping, shake the pan nearly continuously, while keeping it on the heat, so that un-popped kernels fall to the bottom of the pan to pop.
When the popping slows, remove from heat and pour into a bowl.
It is better to remove from the heat a little too early and have a few old maids (un-popped kernels) than to have burnt popcorn.

(If you do this often, you will get the hang of it easily and know just when to take the pan off the heat. But if you overcook a batch while learning, oh well, it costs only pennies!)

Salt to taste.

Good job!
Fresh popcorn, free of artificial colorings and flavorings.
It only takes a few minutes – hardly any longer than microwave.

Other flavor choices:
-Shake parmesan cheese over top of popped popcorn.
-Add sugar to the oil after the kernels to make kettle corn.
-Pour melted butter over it.
-Here’s a link if you want to make it caramel.

Go visit Make-It-Yourself Monday for more money saving ideas. Don’t forget to post your own recipe that you use and leave a link to it there if you wish!

Encouragement

I enjoy reading Lindsay's writings... and thought this one was particularly good and worth sharing. In her post Hope in a Slowing Economy, she writes about living simply, joyfully, and most importantly, faithfully.

Garage Sale and Black Bean Salsa

We had a garage sale with my sister-in-law’s family at their house yesterday. It was pretty successful – we had things super cheap. We figured “Let’s get rid of it so we have less to clean up and haul to the donation center!”

Anyways, I wanted to share a recipe with you. I made this and took it over for everyone to munch on as a snack since we were there all day. My sister-in-law asked if I would post the recipe…

Black Bean Salsa

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans white shoepeg corn, rinsed and drained
6 T. lime juice (I use more.)
6 T. olive oil (I was out so used canola.)
1 ½ t. cumin
½ c. chopped red onion
¼ - ½ c. chopped cilantro
½ t. salt
1 c. chopped tomatoes (Take the seeds and pulp out first.)

Combine everything except tomatoes.
Refrigerate overnight, and then add tomatoes the next day.
Serve with tortilla chips or eat as a side.

I first ate this in the teachers’ lounge a few years back and couldn’t get enough.
I hadn’t had anything like it since I had lived in Texas!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Click here for the link to one of my favorite easy dessert recipes. They taste like Reece's cups to me :) Hmm, I need to make them again, soon.... Go visit Foody Friday for more dessert ideas and to join in the fun!

If you get your ingredients at Aldi (you'd have to blend the graham crackers into crumbs) I figure it takes about $4 to make a 9x13 pan. Pretty frugal for a quick dessert with lots of flavor that is presentable enough to take to a party! For more frugal tips, visit Crystal's blog.

Today's Grocery Shopping Trip

2 ½ hours, 4 stores, furthest store 10 miles
More items than I can list.
Had to hurry and put away and feed my daughter lunch – hence, no picture.
I wish I did. I know that would make it a lot more interesting.

The tally:
Price Chopper: $34.42 on groceries (saved $38.17)
Walmart: $21.22 on groceries and household, plus $39.07 on allergy and skin medicine (those kill the budget)
Aldi: $87.94 on groceries
Walgreens $15.55 on vitamins (saved $19.58 - they were BOGO, plus got $4.50 back in credit)

Total spent: $198.20
Saved w/ store specials and 5 coupons: $62.25
(I don't clip coupons, I just occasionally print them from the internet.)

I have a trip to Hyvee planned for this weekend. Should spend about $50.

After that, we should be good for the rest of the month except for replacing fruit, milk, and a few odds and ends for recipes. I replaced a lot of staples on the trips today.

Sheesh. $250 used to be more than enough for the whole month! Now, $300 (our grocery and household budget) is really pushing it. We do have 3 eaters now, though. And 8 lbs of chicken and meat that I bought is not for us. I still feel like this is a lot of $$ to spend, but I know it would be even more if I didn’t plan it out!

This next week we will be having lots of Mexican recipes – a lot of stuff was on sale for Cinco de Mayo. I hope to post and review at least 3 new recipes!

My favorite purchase of the day: 49 cent avocados at Aldi! Yum!!!!!