What's Cooking

  • Kids in the Kitchen: Ham & Pasta Casserole Recipe

    The girls made dinner for us this week.  They wanted to try a casserole so Jake found a recipe from Better Homes & Garden and adapted it for the girls.   They got the items out of the fridge and pantry, measured, and added them to the casserole. I did help with getting it in and out of the oven but otherwise they put the casserole together on their own.  It turned out really well!

    Ham & Pasta Casserole:

    • 1 1/2 cups Milk
    • 1 can Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (10 3/4 oz)
    • 2 cups diced cooked Ham
    • 1 cup dried Elbow Macaroni
    • 1 can sliced Mushrooms (4 oz)
    • 1/2 cup chopped Onions
    • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

    Grease a 8 x 8  pyrex dish and preheat oven for 375 degrees.  Mix the milk and cream of chicken soup.  Stir in the ham, macaroni, mushrooms, and onions.  Cover the casserole and bake for 40 minutes or until the noodles are tender.  Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the casserole and bake uncovered for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.  Let stand for 10 minutes prior to serving.

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of May 30 – June 5, 2012

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.  It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals.  Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Ground Beef – $1.99 lb

    Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – $1.69

    Grilling Steaks – $6.99

    Assorted Pork Chops – $1.69

    Eckrich Bologna or Frank (12 or 16 oz) – $1.00
    Use $0.55/1 printable coupon from Eckrich
    $0.45 each after coupon

    Butterball Turkey Bacon (6 oz) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from June All You Magazine (Expires 8/5/12)
    $0.50 each after coupon

    John Morrell Sausage or Links (9 oz) – $1.00

    Carolina Ground Turkey (12 oz) – $1.00

    Fairgrounds Hot Dogs (12 oz) – $1.00

    Boston Butt – $1.69 lb

    Chicken Drumsticks & Thighs – $0.99

    Hickory Springs Bacon (12 oz) – $1.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more.  Here are a few of the specials they have going on with the Pick 5 for $19.99 this week (each item approximately $3.99):

    Fridge and Freezer

    Oscar Mayer Lunchables (4 oz) – $1.00

    Reser’s Potato or Macaroni Salad (16 oz) – $1.00

    Totino Pizza Rolls (15 count) – $1.00

    Fisher Boy Fish Sticks or Shrimp Poppers (4 – 6 oz) – $1.00

    Minute Maid Lemonade and Fruit Punch (59 oz) – $1.00

    Popsicle Novelties (13 oz) – $1.00

    Tony’s Crispy Crust Pizza – $1.00

    Blue Bonnet Spread (15 oz) – $1.00

    Buyer’s Best Crinkle Cut French Fries (32 oz) – $1.00

    World’s Fair Ice Cream (56 oz) – $1.99

    Eggs (dozen) – $0.99

    Mantia’s Pizza – $1.99

    Produce

    Head Lettuce – $0.79

    Vine Ripened Tomatoes – $0.69

    Red or Yellow Peppers – $1.00

    Avocados – $1.00

    Mini Carrots (1 pound)- $1.00

    Cabbage – $0.25 lb

    Cucumbers – $0.29 each

    Green Peppers – $0.39 each

    Onions (3 pounds) – $0.99

    Strawberries (1 pound) – $1.99

    Whole Seedless Watermelon – $3.99

    Russet Potato (8 pounds) – $2.29

    Assorted Apples – $0.99 lb

    Grocery

    Crystal Drinking Water (24 pack) – $1.99

    Hormel Sandwich Sliced Pepperoni or Hard Salomi (3.5 oz) – $1.00

    Sundia Fruit Cups – $1.00

    Pringles Potato Crisps (4 oz) – $1.00

    Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta (14 – 15 oz) – $1.00

     Kurtz Ketchup (32 oz) – $1.00

    Woeber’s Yellow Mustard (24 oz) – $1.00

    Hunt’s Manwich Sloppy Joes (15 oz) – $1.00

    Sunflower Seeds (8 oz) – $1.00

    Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding Cups (4 count) – $1.00

    Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper – $1.00

    TGI Friday Snacks (3 – 4 oz) – $1.00

    Duke’s Mayonnaise (32 oz) – $1.00

    Save A Lot Soft Drinks (12 count) – $1.99

    O Day’s Mac n’ Cheese – $0.39

    Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbeque Sauce (24 oz) – $1.69

    Ginger Evans Sugar (4 pounds) – $1.99

    Kraft Salad Dressing (8 oz) – $0.88

    Ginger Evans Flour (5 pounds) – $1.69

    Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese or Velveeta Shells & Cheese – $1.99

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.  For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.Save A Lot: Deals for the week of May 16 – 22, 2012

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Our family had an opportunity to spend Memorial Weekend with some great friends.  I am so thankful for the chance to catch up and have a fun time.  My goals this week (for the most part) are the same as last week to keep it simple and moving forward.

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    2. Schedule a Date Night with Jake
    3. Prep for our upcoming Family Trip
    4. Read at least one book to the girls every day – missed a couple of days over the weekend
    5. Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day – the weekend was pretty busy so skipped a couple of days
    6. Plan & go on at least one family Adventure
    7. Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Review my upcoming goals
    3. Finish reading  Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst – working on it
    4. Finish reading No One to Call Me Home by Rev James J. Close – almost done

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Work on Spring / Deep Cleaning the House
    3. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
    4. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk – missed a couple days with the Memorial weekend activities
    4. Work on upcoming speaking engagement – didn’t get to it this week

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Be a blessing to a total stranger this week
    3. Email the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Group – didn’t send out the email last week

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – made some headway
    3. Save money for upcoming trips – working on it
    4. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – starting to put more aside
    5. Save money for upcoming home projects – on hold temporarily

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    2. Prep for Summer Break
    3. Read at least one book to the girls every day
    4. Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
    5. Plan & go on at least one family Adventure
    6. Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Review my upcoming goals
    3. Finish reading  Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst
    4. Finish reading No One to Call Me Home by Rev James J. Close

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Work on Spring / Deep Cleaning the House
    3. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
    4. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk
    4. Work on upcoming speaking engagement

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Be a blessing to a total stranger this week
    3. Email the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Group

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses (we finished saving up for a 3 month emergency fund so now we are working hard on getting our 6 month emergency fund established, the yard sale this past weekend was a good boost for us)
    3. Save money for upcoming trips
    4. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes
    5. Save money for upcoming home projects

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results

  • Recipe: Cake Batter Rice Krispies

    Cake Batter Rice Krispies

    These rice krispies are tasty and add an extra twist to the regular recipe!  The recipe was inspired by How Sweet It Is and has been a hit at our house.  Our family loves rice krispies and sprinkles so these have been a lot of fun to make and share.

    • 3 tablespoons Butter
    • 1 (10 oz.) bag of Marshmallows
    • 1/4 cup dry Yellow Cake Mix
    • 6 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
    • 1 (1.75 oz.) container of Sprinkles

    Melt butter in microwavable safe bowl, add marshmallows, and cook until marshmallows are melted (approximately 1 to 2 minutes). Add the dry cake mix to the marshmallow mixture. Stir in cereal so it is completely coated with marshmallow mixture. Add in half of the sprinkles and mix. Press into a 9 x 13 baking dish and top with remaining sprinkles. Let it sit for a few minutes before cutting and enjoy!

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of May 23 – 29, 2012

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.  It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals.  Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Picnic Pork Roast – $0.88 lb

    T-Bone Steaks – $6.99 lb

    Johnsonville Brats or Italian Sausage (19 oz) – $3.49
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 5/6 Smart Source (Expires 6/15/12)
    $2.99 each after coupon

    Hickory Springs Sliced Bacon (12 oz) – $2.50

    Sugardale Jumbo Dogs (3 pounds) – $2.99

    Holten Extra Value Beef Patties (24 oz) – $1.99

    Fairgrounds Hot Dogs (12 oz) – $0.79

    Fresh Chicken Wings – $1.99 lb

    Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops – $1.99 lb

    Frozen Pork Spare Ribs – $1.99 lb

    Fresh Ground Chuck Beef Patties – $3.49 lb

    Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs – $0.99 lb

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more.  Here are a few of the specials they have going on with the Pick 5 for $19.99 this week (each item approximately $3.99):

    Fridge and Freezer

    Coburn Farms Grade A Large Eggs (1 dozen) – $0.88

    Hungry Man Dinners (16 oz) – $1.99

    Green Giant Vegetables in Sauce (8 – 10 oz) – $1.00

    Tree Ripe Lemonade (59 oz) – $1.99

    Produce

    Vine Ripened Tomatoes – $0.88 lb

    Fresh Cucumbers – $0.50

    Seedless Whole Watermelon – $3.99

    Fresh Corn on the Cob – 3 for $1.00

    Parker’s Baking Potatoes (10 pounds) – $3.99

    Yellow Onions (3 pounds) – $1.29

    Dole Coleslaw Mix (14 oz) – $0.99

    Household

    Solo Liquid Laundry Detergent (50 oz) – $1.79

    Grocery

    King Thin Sandwich Bread (20 oz) – $1.79

    Tony’s Original Crust Pizza – $1.88

    Tony’s Mega Pouches, Pepperoni Pizza or Bacon Breakfast  (6.5 oz) – $0.99

    El Monterey’s XXL Burritos (10 oz) – $0.99

     Welch’s Juice Cocktail (64 oz) – $1.99
    Use $1.00/1 coupon from insert 2/12 Red Plum (Expires 5/31/12)
    Use $0.75/1 coupon from insert 4/29 Red Plum (Expires 6/20/12)
    As low as $0.99 each after coupon

    Cloverhill Danish, Apple or Cheese (3 count)  – $1.00

    Tony Chachere’s Creole Rice Dinner Mixes – $0.89

    Herr’s Cheese Curls (7 – 8 oz) – $1.79

    Brim’s Premium Popcorn, Cheese or Butter (14 oz) – $1.88

    A1 Steak Sauce (10 oz) – $2.99

    Frank’s Original Red Hot Sauce (12 oz) – $1.79

    Specialty Baker’s Dessert Shells (5 oz) – $0.99

    Jello No Bake Desserts (12- 17 oz) – $2.49

    Sundance Fruit Drinks (16 oz) – $0.50

    Very Fine Juice Drinks (32 oz) – $1.00

    Hawaiian Punch Fruit Drink Mix (makes 12 quarts) – $2.49

    Kurtz Mustard (14 oz) – $0.69

    Kurtz Ketchup (24 oz) – $0.99

    Baumann’s BBQ Sauce (18 oz) – $1.39

    Kurtz Sweet Relish (16 oz) – $1.69

    Crystal Drinking Water (24 pack) – $2.99

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.  For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.Save A Lot: Deals for the week of May 16 – 22, 2012

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    It is a little different week for our family because we have some special plans for the Memorial weekend!  I look forward to sharing our fun adventures with you soon.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Homemade Hamburger & Vegetarian Pizza, Cesear Salad
    • Tuesday (Seafood or Pork Entree):  Sesame Teriyaki, Asian Noodles
    • Wednesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Brina & Karlie’s Night to Cook Dinner
    • Thursday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):  Special Event
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Memorial Weekend Celebrations! 🙂

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or pasta entree, Tuesday a seafood or pork entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    We finished having our family yard sale this past weekend, it was nice getting rid of some extra items that the girls have outgrown or things we no longer use.  Now I am gearing up for a busy week with work, events, and an upcoming family adventure over Memorial Day weekend (the kids are super excited)!  I am looking forward to sharing with you the fun details of our adventure soon!

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    2. Schedule a Date Night with Jake got a date night on the calendar!
    3. Prep for upcoming Family Trip – need to finish up the final details this week
    4. Schedule a Family Game & Fun Night
    5. Read at least one book to the girls every day
    6. Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
    7. Family Yard Saledid this on Saturday!

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – not doing so well with this one
    2. Review my upcoming goals
    3. Finish reading  How We Love Our Kids by Milan & Kay Yerkovich – still have not found this book (I think it got lost on my India or Charleston trip) so I switched and started focusing on another one this week

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Work on Spring / Deep Cleaning the House – got some of it done, hope to get more next week now that the yard sale is done
    3. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
    4. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
    5. Prepare for our upcoming Yard Sale

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk
    4. Work on upcoming speaking engagement

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Be a blessing to a total stranger this week
    3. Email the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Group – this one slipped through the cracks this week

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – soooo excited to have this one done!
    3. Put money aside for upcoming trips – starting setting aside a little bit
    4. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – started adding to the college fund

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    2. Schedule a Date Night with Jake
    3. Prep for our upcoming Family Trip
    4. Read at least one book to the girls every day
    5. Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
    6. Plan & go on at least one family Adventure
    7. Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Review my upcoming goals
    3. Finish reading  Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst
    4. Finish reading No One to Call Me Home by Rev James J. Close

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Work on Spring / Deep Cleaning the House
    3. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
    4. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk
    4. Work on upcoming speaking engagement

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Be a blessing to a total stranger this week
    3. Email the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Group

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses (we finished saving up for a 3 month emergency fund so now we are working hard on getting our 6 month emergency fund established, the yard sale this past weekend was a good boost for us)
    3. Save money for upcoming trips
    4. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes
    5. Save money for upcoming home projects

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results

  • Recipe: 30 Minute Dinner Rolls

    I found this recipe a few months ago from Your Homebased Mom.  The first time I made these rolls was for our Thanksgiving dinner and several times since then.  I like that these rolls are homemade, fairly quick, and easy to make since I often don’t have time to spend several hours in the kitchen making dinner for my family.  These rolls are a little denser than most dinner rolls but that is due to the shorter rising time.  If you are looking for a tasty dinner roll option that you can make in less time try this recipe!

    30 Minute Dinner Rolls

    • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoon Warm Water
    • 1/3 cup Oil
    • 2 tablespoon Yeast
    • 1/4 cup Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 1 Egg
    • 3 1/2 cups Flour

    Grease an 9×13 pyrex dish.  Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix the water, oil, yeast and sugar together then allow it to rest for 15 minutes.  With your dough hook, mix in the salt, egg, and flour.  Knead with hook until the dough is soft and smooth. (takes only a couple of minutes).  Form dough into 12 balls and allow to rest for 10 minutes.  Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees or until golden brown.

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of May 16 – 22, 2012

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.  It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals.  Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Picnic Pork Roast – $0.88 lb

    T-Bone Steaks – $6.99 lb

    Johnsonville Brats or Italian Sausage (19 oz) – $3.49
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 5/6 Smart Source (Expires 6/15/12)
    $2.99 each after coupon

    Hickory Springs Sliced Bacon (12 oz) – $2.50

    Sugardale Jumbo Dogs (3 pounds) – $2.99

    Holten Extra Value Beef Patties (24 oz) – $1.99

    Fairgrounds Hot Dogs (12 oz) – $0.79

    Fresh Chicken Wings – $1.99 lb

    Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops – $1.99 lb

    Frozen Pork Spare Ribs – $1.99 lb

    Fresh Ground Chuck Beef Patties – $3.49 lb

    Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs – $0.99 lb

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more.  Here are a few of the specials they have going on with the Pick 5 for $19.99 this week (each item approximately $3.99):

    Fridge and Freezer

    Coburn Farms Grade A Large Eggs (1 dozen) – $0.88

    Hungry Man Dinners (16 oz) – $1.99

    Green Giant Vegetables in Sauce (8 – 10 oz) – $1.00

    Tree Ripe Lemonade (59 oz) – $1.99

    Produce

    Vine Ripened Tomatoes – $0.88 lb

    Fresh Cucumbers – $0.50

    Seedless Whole Watermelon – $3.99

    Fresh Corn on the Cob – 3 for $1.00

    Parker’s Baking Potatoes (10 pounds) – $3.99

    Yellow Onions (3 pounds) – $1.29

    Dole Coleslaw Mix (14 oz) – $0.99

    Household

    Solo Liquid Laundry Detergent (50 oz) – $1.79

    Grocery

    King Thin Sandwich Bread (20 oz) – $1.79

    Tony’s Original Crust Pizza – $1.88

    Tony’s Mega Pouches, Pepperoni Pizza or Bacon Breakfast  (6.5 oz) – $0.99

    El Monterey’s XXL Burritos (10 oz) – $0.99

     Welch’s Juice Cocktail (64 oz) – $1.99
    Use $1.00/1 coupon from insert 2/12 Red Plum (Expires 5/31/12)
    Use $0.75/1 coupon from insert 4/29 Red Plum (Expires 6/20/12)
    As low as $0.99 each after coupon

    Cloverhill Danish, Apple or Cheese (3 count)  – $1.00

    Tony Chachere’s Creole Rice Dinner Mixes – $0.89

    Herr’s Cheese Curls (7 – 8 oz) – $1.79

    Brim’s Premium Popcorn, Cheese or Butter (14 oz) – $1.88

    A1 Steak Sauce (10 oz) – $2.99

    Frank’s Original Red Hot Sauce (12 oz) – $1.79

    Specialty Baker’s Dessert Shells (5 oz) – $0.99

    Jello No Bake Desserts (12- 17 oz) – $2.49

    Sundance Fruit Drinks (16 oz) – $0.50

    Very Fine Juice Drinks (32 oz) – $1.00

    Hawaiian Punch Fruit Drink Mix (makes 12 quarts) – $2.49

    Kurtz Mustard (14 oz) – $0.69

    Kurtz Ketchup (24 oz) – $0.99

    Baumann’s BBQ Sauce (18 oz) – $1.39

    Kurtz Sweet Relish (16 oz) – $1.69

    Crystal Drinking Water (24 pack) – $2.99

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.  For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    I am excited to announce that the menu has been altered a little bit this week.  Since the girls already help and love creating goodies with us in the kitchen I have decided to do a trial run and let them be in charge of dinner on Thursday night.  The girls are now seven years old and have been putting together most of their school lunches so I think they should be able to come up with a few fun items to make for family dinner.  I look forward to seeing what the two of them come up with to eat!  I will be in the kitchen to assist and help when called upon but for the most part I want them to do as much as of it as they can on their own.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Lasagna, French Bread
    • Tuesday (Seafood or Pork Entree):  Spicy Citrus Glazed Shrimp, Angel Hair Pasta
    • Wednesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Brina & Karlie’s Night to Cook Dinner
    • Thursday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):  Special Event – Around The World
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or pasta entree, Tuesday a seafood or pork entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz