Help for Money-Wise Meals

Christmas is just around the corner and soon, we'll all busier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, so....

I want to share some ideas to inspire you to help you with your food 'management'/meal planning. I will be sharing some awesome recipes soon too, but for now...

 

Coupon, coupon, coupon! If you've followed my blog for long, you'll know I LOVE coupons, and often get to save 60%+ of the total price I spend, because I stick with purchasing sale items, and use coupons also. Clip weekly from the newspaper (hint: some of the coupons in the file that I always carry in my purse - will be thrown out if I don't find the item on sale). Ask a friend who doesn't use coupons, if they'd be willing to share theirs with you. It's a great way to save big $$.

 

Shop your pantry - use what you have. If you stock up on weekly sales, you can learn to cook with what you already have. Keep vegetables, soups, broths, beans, etc. on hand - and have a system in your pantry so everything doesn't get lost, and you don't know what you really have. Ex: keep soups together with labels facing the front - use tubs to group some items and/or smaller items together.

 

Shop bulk sections - Go for grains, nuts, dried fruit, cereal and more. You can buy as much, or as little, as you want, and prices tend to be more reasonable because you're not having to pay for name brands or fancy packaging. I love to buy powdered milk there, as it isn't something I use often, or much of, but it's so handy to have a little bit when I want it.

Make your own 100-calorie packs - It's so much more economical to make your own. Separate chips, cookies, etc. into resealable plastic bags and it'll be easy for kids to grab a quick snack and you'll have things ready and on hand to pack in lunches.

 

HAPPY SHOPPING & COOKING TOO!!!!

Crockpot Beans 'n' Kraut Stew

Some of you have been waiting for this recipe...

WAIT NO MORE!!

Oh I think you're gonna love this dish. 

(even if you're one of those people who thinks they don't like sauerkraut!)

It's very simple to put together and is deliciously wonderful.

A good friend, Joan, brought her crockpot full of this delectable dish to a recent Sunday School Class potluck.

Joan got there late because she had a plumbing problem, Everyone had finished eating, but still they all had to have some of Joan's stew because the first taste testers were raving!

This recipe is very similar to my own Kraut 'n' Beans recipe here at my blog.  This is just a little different with potatoes and pork and beans added. 

And since I had everything on hand, I made it a day later. 

CROCKPOT BEAN N KRAUT STEW

2 cups diced raw potatoes

2# sauerkraut, undrained

1# kielbasa, sliced or diced

1/4 c. water

1 - 15 ozs. can northern beans, slightly drained

1 - 15 ozs. can pork and beans, undrained

2 Tb. brown sugar

(or more if desired)

In 4 or 5 qt. crockpot, layer potatoes, sauerkraut, water, kielbasa, then beans. Sprinkle brown sugar over all.

Cover; cook on high for 3 - 4 hours, or until potatoes are done. Stir a few times during cooking.

DEEEE-LISH-OUS!!

(Trust me on this one Brandie=)

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Octoberfest
Ingredient Spotlight

Meet Penny - Beans & Rice Foodie Friends Friday   Keep Calm & Cook On: Crockpot Recipes Weekend Potluck  Whatcha Crockin Wednesday  Meal Plan Monday

Painting the World PINK for a Day...

My blogging buddy, Lark, of Lark's Country Heart shared this idea with me and I'm 'Paying it Forward'.....

Today is a single day project dedicated to Breast Cancer. A Fun Day Of PINK. A host of bloggers dedicating the day to this cause(ALL PINK ACROSS THE BOARD!)  A day simply dedicated to the cause will totally be more than enough. Every inch adds on to milestones of helping spread awareness and standing to fight for this cause. I know everyone’s knee deep in Halloween projects, but I thought it’ll be fun to switch off a day and see PINK EVERYWHERE!!!

 COME ON GIRLS --- LETS ROCK THIS TOGETHER!!!

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I am proud to be participating in the Part of Being the Best is Doing Good program, helping to spread the word about the Eggland's Best Eggs/Susan G. Komen partnership and “pink ribbon” eggs.

On Friday I went to our local high school (where I graduated...oh what emotions run through me to walk those halls again!) and gave presentations to two high school Home Ec (Healthy Foods) classes.

I shared this info about EBE's...

Eggland's Best Eggs have, when compared to 'ordinary' eggs, 25% less Saturated Fat, 10 times more Vitamin E, and double the amount of Omega 3s (for more related nutrition facts, click here).

And also read facts about Breast Cancer Awareness shared at the Susan G. Komen website.

I did a scrambled egg demonstration and made breakfast quesadillas, with the help of a student in each class.  A simple, but versatile recipe they can make themselves. The kids seemed to love them. I also gave them copies of 3 easy egg recipes to take home. 

I also served them PINK Poke Cake, inspired by Lisa at
Flour Me With Love.

The teens LOVED it!

One gal said it was the best cake she'd ever eaten! =)
That's always nice to hear.
I was thrilled when another said she was going to find my Facebook page & "like" me.  Yahoooie!

Many dressed up for Halloween...the kid in the orange was a 'pumpkin pie'! Clever huh?  It was nice to see him smiling at me during the presentation.

I HAD to take a closeup of the gal with the pink wig...after all, we ARE  "Painting the World PINK" today! She was doing that on Friday.


The kids were pleased with their coupons from Eggland Eggs for a free dozen eggs.  We also had a giveaway in each class - one teen from each group received an EBE apron and whisk, provided by Eggland's Best Eggs. 

THANK YOU EGGLAND'S BEST FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT SUSAN G. KOMEN AND BREAST CANCER AWARENESS!

Spooky Witches Fingers and more Scary Stuff....

Oh how fun to make something 'spooky' to eat & to share...
(and to make me giggle...)

I found this cute recipe idea at allrecipes.com.
They are fairly simple to make and oh-so cute! 

SPOOKY WITCHES FINGERS
 1 c. butter, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 - 2/3 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. whole almonds
1 (.75 ozs) tube red decorating gel

Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease baking sheets.

Remove dough from fridge in small amounts. Using 1 TB. at a time, roll onto a piece of waxed paper, shaping into a thin finger-shaped cookie. Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give appearance of long fingernail. Squeeze cookie near tip and again near the center of each to give the impression of knuckles. You may also cut into the dough with a sharp knife at the same points to help give a more finger-like appearance. Arrange shaped cookies on prepared baking sheets.

 Bake in oven until slightly golden in color, about 20 minutes.

Remove almond from the end of each cookie; squeeze a small amount of red decorating gel into the cavity; replace almond to cause the gel to ooze out around tip of the cookie.
Yield: about 40 fingers
(the recipe called for using 1 heaping TEAspoon of dough.  I found those to be too small for the almonds, so I used a TABLEspoonful instead.





Linked at Farm Girl Friday
Michelle's Tasty Creations Halloween/Fall Party
Full Plate Thursday
Meal Plan Monday

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I just had to share these darling foodie ideas from Mommy's Kitchen.  She has so many of them!  Tina's done much to make things fun and easy this time of year.


Combine butter, sugar, egg, almond and vanilla extracts in a mixing bowl. Beat together with electric mixer; gradually add the flour, baking powder and salt; continue beating until smooth. Cover and refrigerate 20 - 30 minutes.

Halloween Popcorn Mix

Mummy Dogs

Pumpkin-Shaped Sugar Cookies

Trick or Treat Brownie Cupcakes & Nutter Butter Ghosts

Halloween Cookie Bars

ENJOY A FUN AND SAFE WEEKEND!!!

Nutella/PB-Banana-Oatmeal Smoothie

I have thought about this recipe soooooo much since seeing the recipe at Grandma Loy's Kitchen

I woke up thinking about this the day I finally made it for the first time. 

Sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do right? 

In fact, I made it TWICE the first day I tried it!!!

Loy and I crossed paths a few weeks ago and have become good email buds, sharing many things in common. 

She fits into the 'grandma' category with me and hasn't been blogging long.  I think that's just so cool and know her grandkids have to be bustin' their buttons over all she does.

She also has a part time job as a quilter! 

Very talented too!

We share very similar tastes in our kitchens. It's so fun to connect with someone who thinks like you do, isn't it?

I appreciate all the 'DIY' recipes she shares at her blog.  Always GREAT ideas. Check out her recipe for Homemade Cake Mix. Please pay her a visit and show her some love.

This is a recipe I will enjoy again and again.  It's quick, easy and nutritious.

Just in case you're not familiar with Nutella, it is a chocolate-hazelnut spread. The texture is similar to peanut butter, and oh so satisfying!

Enjoying this smoothie is a great way to begin the day or as a pick me up in the afternoon!  Bedtime snack anyone???

I'd read somewhere (sorry - I don't recall what blog?) about blending dry oatmeal into a powder to use in a smoothie.  I really liked that idea, and so that's the only change I made to this delicious treat.

Can't go wrong adding more 'healthy' eh?

(I used MORE nutella the second time around, can you tell?=)

NUTELLA/PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA-OATMEAL SMOOTHIE

1/4 cup oats

2 bananas, sliced and frozen

1/4 cup nutella (or peanut butter)

3/4 cup milk

(I used skim)

Put oats in blender and blend until powder-y. Add remaining ingredients and blend until there are no more chunks of frozen banana. Garnish with fresh banana slices if desired.

Yield: 2 servings

Linked to Made it on Monday
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Recipe of the Week
Weekend Potluck
Ingredient Spotlight
 Ingredient Spotlight - Peanut Butter
     Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Smoothies