Target Trip

I used coupons for all the products except for the ricotta cheese, which I picked up because I forgot to get it at Hy-Vee last week. I went with the intent to get some diapers before the coupon runs out - the polka-dots on the Target brand 'sposies are so cute - but the size I was looking for was sold out. I got wipes instead. Total: $8.29 + tax

Pie Crust

I have made a good pie crust before. Every good pie crust I have made uses shortening.

Here are some pie crust recipes from around the blogosphere that don't require shortening. I would like to try making some of them...

Easy Pie Crust

Simple Pie Crust

What about using coconut oil in place of shortening in a classic recipe?

I tried an all butter recipe in the past and was not impressed.

I have heard good things about cream cheese crusts. Cream cheese makes anything good, right?

Thoughts?

P.S. Confession: When I made pies for the bake auction this past weekend, I bought my pie crusts because I didn't want to buy shortening since I never use it for anything else. And I was afraid to experiment (make pie crust without it) at other people's expense.

Menu Plan 11/23/09

Notes regarding last week's menu: We made some Apple Crisp and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (LOVE these) instead of the Blackberry Cobbler. We also didn't get to the Shepherd's Pie; we had pizza instead. So you might see that menu again soon, too.

Breakfasts:

Granola or Cheerios with Milk

Blueberry Muffins

Clementines

Lunches:

PB&J Sandwiches

Yogurt

Apples

Dinners:

Monday - Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti (cream soup recipe found here), Salad Greens

Tuesday - Leftovers

Wednesday - PW's Cowboy Calzones (from the new cookbook), Green Beans

Thursday - Leftovers (We are having Thanksgiving dinner over the weekend.)

Friday - Dinner with family

Saturday - Dinner with family

Sunday - Leftovers

Dessert:

Blackberry Cobbler with Vanillla Ice Cream

P.S. Since cream cheese is sometimes on sale this time of year, you might want to consider making this Apple Dip; it is superb! If needed, you can keep it super simple and simply mix cream cheese and brown sugar by themselves and it is still good with a nice tart, green apple.

This post is part of Menu Plan Monday.

FuzziBunz!

Look what came in the mail today!

These are for my son for nighttime. He has been wearing a disposable at night until now because the prefolds that he wears during the day do not hold out all night.

Groceries This Week

I am a nerd.

I think I am going to document my grocery purchases over the next month or so. Not because I have extra time floating around, because I don't. Just for my own fun because I want to. That's why it is nerdy. I am trying to plan ahead even more so that I can go to the store less frequently during this busy season.

Here's where I went this week: Costco, spent $77.43 plus tax.

Special treats: Stacy's chips and Starbucks frappucinos. I want to save the bottles to use them like this.

Used Costco coupons for the chips, Starbucks, and Folgers (for hubs).

Another day: Hy-Vee, spent $63.47 plus tax.

I could have spent less if I had divided this trip up between Hy-Vee and Aldi, but the savings wasn't worth the extra stop this time. I am trying some new recipes in the next few weeks, so the canned goods are for those. I don't usually buy individually packaged stuff, but the raisins and natural applesauce were inexpensive and are easy for packing my daughter's lunch. Plus she likes the small containers and so eats them well.

Deals of note: the take and bake pizzas were bogo, the bread, eggs, and flour were all 99 cents with store coupons from the ad, and the chocolate chips and butter were on sale with the ad coupons, too. The store brand diapers were $5.88 a package and we will use them during some upcoming travels.

I am totally bummed that Costco is not carrying the organic sugar that I like. I am still loving and nearly exclusively using coconut oil, but am not sure if it will work properly in one of the recipes I will be making. So since I need to bake for a bake sale this weekend, I got some more regular sugar and oil at Hy-Vee.

It was a big grocery shopping week for me. I am thankful for these provisions.

Stay tuned to see what appears on the menu plans over the next few weeks from this loot...

Creamy Crockpot Corn

This is a great side dish for a holiday meal doesn't take up room on the stove or in the oven.

8 oz. package cream cheese, cut up
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. water
2 T. sugar
2 to 3 lbs. frozen corn

Cook in crock pot on low 4-5 hours, stirring several times.

(I like to melt the butter and cream cheese beforehand and get everything mixed up really well from the start. It will still need stirring as it cooks, though.)

Menu Plan 11/16/09

We rearranged a few suppers this past week. We had an extra night of odds and ends and some quick quesadillas another night, so we didn't get to the soup. It is on the menu again for this week.

Breakfasts:

Cheerios or Granola with Milk

Bananas

Muffins

Smoothies

Lunches:

PB&J Sandwiches

Carrots and Dip

Fruit

Dinners:

Monday - Vegetable Beef Soup & Golden Sweet Cornbread

Tuesday - Leftovers

Wednesday - Italian Cream Cheese Chicken Dish

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Shepherd's Pie

Saturday - Sausage/Egg/Peppers/Cheese Breakfast Burritos

Sunday - Leftovers

On the side:

Organic Salad Greens

Dessert:

Blackberry Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Make:

Apple Pies for bake sale

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Hooded Baby Bath Towel

I did it!

This was my inspiration, but for the directions, I actually just winged it.

I used a wash cloth instead of 1/2 a hand towel for the hood.

After examining a hooded towel that someone made for my daughter, I just copied how it was sewn it together.

I loved adding the fleece embellishments. So easy to work with - no fraying!

The Week's Wrap Up

We made some pumpkin waffles this week. A fun change, but I wasn't too impressed. I still much prefer what I refer to as the homemade Eggos recipe. All other recipes I tried are just too soggy for my taste.

We had a butternut squash given to use that I didn't want to waste. I roasted and pureed it and froze it in cubes. I might try using some of them in place of oil in certain recipes, or break out some recipes from my Deceptively Delicious cookbook. Let me know if there are any recipes in there that you recommend that call for the squash, I've never had any squash puree on hand before.

Also, to simplify, I used my own favorite chocolate cake recipe for the chocolate beet cake. I just replaced the oil with beet puree. The puree was in the freezer from the summertime.

I went to W**M*** this morning. It wasn't even crowded at all (2 days before payday for many families, a good time to go, I think). I hope I don't need to go there again for a long time. I will leave it at that.

I turned in some Swagbucks for $10 in Amazon giftcards. Not much, but every little bit helps the Christmas budget. Earning points for my normal web browsing that can be redeemed for giftcards? Gotta love Swagbucks! (If you want to sign up, I'd really appreciate it if you click through the previous link or through one of the banners elsewhere on my blog. You'll start of with 3 free swagbucks. Full disclosure: I get extra points for refering friends. But you will to!)

Tonight I am working on a project that I am excited about. I hope to share it tomorrow or the next day... So now I really better get crackin' on it!

Have a great weekend!

Feelin Crafty

Here are a few things I've bookmarked and would like to make someday, somewhere, somehow...

Easy Hooded Bath Towel (I think I've mentioned this one before!)

Monogrammed Burlap Pillow (I love the texture that burlap adds.)

Pillowcase Dress (I've never sewn with elastic; it intimidates me, but I need to try it.)

And, I love these children's wall decals and am trying to think of a way to copy them for my daughter's room... any ideas? I don't really want to paint on the wall because that somewhat limits furniture arrangements. Perhaps I could incorporate them into the wall art project that I have yet to do?

I'll let you know if/when I get around to any of these items! :)

Green Toys

Another toy that I think is worth the money is this environmentally friendly tea party set. Our daughter got if for her 2 year old birthday. She loves the colors and that it is just her size. I like that it is made from recycled materials and is safe for her to put in her mouth (and even eat off of!)



We also have the sand play set. It is very durable.



Check out even more American-made, eco-friendly toys from Green Toys!

Menu Plan 11/9/09

Whew! Last week was a busy (but good) week with work and company at our house. Still trying to squeeze in some holiday shopping here and there, and stay on top of things at home, too, like the cleaning and cooking. Need to do a good cleaning early this week before (hopefully) putting up the decorations. I've been feeling crafty but haven't had any time for that lately. Not to mention I hope to get back on the running schedule. I've really fallen off in the past two weeks. Oh yes, and SLEEP. I need my sleep. Sheesh.

OK. Enough ranting. There's really nothing to complain about here. On to the menu.

A couple extra things we made last week were BBQ Meatballs and some Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake for church. This week we will make some Creamy Crockpot Corn for a luncheon.

Breakfasts:

Organic Raisin Bran or Cheerios with Milk

Bananas

Lunches:

PB&J Sandwiches

Yogurt

Carrots

Pears

Dinners:

Monday - Cheesy Chicken and Rice with Peas

Tuesday - Leftovers

Wednesday - Crustless Spinach Quiche, Toast

Thursday - Italian Roast Wraps, Green Beans

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Vegetable Beef Soup and Golden Sweet Cornbread

Sunday - Leftovers

Dessert:

Chocolate Beet Cake with Frosting

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Soda Pop is Not So Sweet to Me

A reminder to myself on why I don't (and don't want to) drink a lot of Coke!

...Never mind all the candy I consumed this past weekend. Bleh!

Menu Plan 11/2/09

Breakfasts:

Organic Raisin Bran with Milk

Bananas

Orange Juice

Lunches:

PB&J Sandwiches

Yogurt

Apples

Dessert

Dinners:

Monday - Quesadillas, Salad Greens

Tuesday - Taco Soup and Tortilla Chips

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Biscuits and Sausage Gravy (nitrate/nitrite free)

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - BBQ Chicken Stromboli (dough)

Sunday - Leftovers

Dessert/Snacks:

Halloween Candy

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins