Recipe

  • Family Recipe: Great Grandma Conklin’s Pecan Crescents

    This is a recipe we received from my husband’s side of the family and it is delicious!!!  The recipe comes from Great Grandma Conklin! It is a sweet crescent roll with a touch of pecan.

    Pecan Crescents:

    • 1 cup Butter
    • 1 1/3 cups pecans finely chopped
    • 6 tablespoons Confection Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
    • 2 cups Flour
    • 1/8 teaspoon Salt

    Blend all the ingredients well.  Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball and shape into a crescent.  Place on lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 20 minutes at 350.  Roll in confectioner sugar while warm.

    Photo by Neeta Lind

  • New Upromise eCoupons for July 2011

    Upromise has posted their new eCoupons for the month of July 2011.  Remember to activate your eCoupons to get additional savings.  If you have not yet signed up for Upromise you can get more information regarding on our experience or directly at the Upromise website.

    This month they have 28 coupons you can activate for bonus savings.  Once you activate your eCoupons all you have to do is scan your rewards card or purchase the items at the store and the cash will be added to your account.  You don’t even have to carry any coupons to get the rewards!

    You can go to their website for more information on the Upromise program, it’s free to join.

  • Fresh & Healthy: Our Garden – Leafy Lettuce, Zucchini, Summer Squash, Purple Beans, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Green Beans, Cabbage, and Cauliflower!!

    We are loving the fresh vegetables from our garden!  This week I did a little  better at taking pictures of the items our family picked.  Although I must say the strawberries didn’t get in most of the pictures, they were ate immediately after washing.   We were able to give some of the garden produce to friends and family this week so it is nice that the garden is producing extra to share with others.

    Here are some of the fresh veggies we were able to eat and share this week:

     

    Produce from the garden!

    We hadn’t been out in several days because of unexpected emergencies with friends and a busy week so we got quite a bit in this batch.  We had a whole bunch full of green beans and purple beans, 2 heads of cabbage, 2 heads of cauliflower, lots of cherry and roma tomatoes, leafy green lettuce, purple leaf lettuce, cucumbers and strawberries!

     

    Giant Zucchini and Summer Squash from the garden!

    The girls were VERY excited to pick these, as they called them, GIANT Vegetables!  We are hoping to get a couple more later in the week!

    What are you eating out of your garden this week?

  • Fresh & Healthy: Community Supported Agriculture (Week 5 & Week 6)

    It is our sixth week receiving fresh produce from our CSA!  Our family purchased a half of share and will be receiving fresh produce, local honey, eggs and more for 20 weeks.  I plan to give an update on the items we receive from week to week.  Jake picked up the fresh veggies this week, we got a full share this week since we were in Charleston during Week 5 and was not able to pick it up.  Our update is a little late from last week, we had a couple of unexpected activities come up.

    Week 5 and Week 6 of Fresh Goodies from our CSA!

     

    Fresh Vegetables from our CSA!

    Items in our Basket this Week:

     

    • Fresh Dill
    • 1 – Large Squash
    • 1 – Small Squash
    • 1 bag Red Okra
    • 1 bag Green Okra
    • 3 – Cucumbers
    • 1 bag Green Beans
    • 3 – Red Potatoes
    • 3 – White Potatoes
    • Dozen Fresh Eggs

    I am looking forward to eating these goodies this week!  Thanks everyone for the delicious Recipes!!!  We have eaten okra in the past but would love to hear if you have any amazing recipes to share that use Okra?

    To find out how you can be a part of a local CSA check out this post – Fresh & Healthy:  Community Supported Farms

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of June 29 – July 5, 2011

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.   There are a lot of great deals this week. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Fresh Ground Beef – $1.99 per lb

    Pork Spare Ribs – $1.88 per lb

    Chicken Leg Quarters – $0.59 per lb

    Sugardale Jumbo Hotdogs (3 lbs) – $2.99

    Holten Beef Patties (32 oz) – $3.99

    Sugardale Smoked Polish or Hot Sausage (40 oz to 48 oz) – $2.99

    Johnsonville Bratwurst and Italian Sausage – $3.79
    Use $0.75/1 coupon from magazine 4/20 Kroger’s My Way Magazine (Expires 7/31/11)
    Use $0.55/1 coupon from insert 4/17 Smart Source (Expires 6/30/11)
    As low as $3.04 after each coupon

    Schooner Tilipia, Whiting, Pollock Fillets (32 oz) – $5.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Buyer’s Best Crinkle Cut French Fries (5 lbs) – $1.99

    Minute Maid Orange Juice (64 oz) – $1.99
    Use $1.00/1 peelie coupon found on package (Expires 3/30/12)
    $0.99 each after coupon

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

    World’s Fair Red, White & Blue Pops – $0.99

    Jungle Jammers Twin Pops – $1.99

    World’s Fair Sundae Cups – $2.49

    World’s Fair Ice Cream (4 quart) – $3.99

    Reser’s Potato or Macaroni Salad – $2.99
    Use $1.00/1 printable coupon from Coupon
    $1.99 each after coupon

    Jungle Jammers Freezer Pops (24 Count) – $1.99

    Morning Delight Jumbo Biscuits – $1.39

    Morning Delight Frozen Buttermilk Waffles – $1.49

    Snack-A-Tizers Potato Skins – $1.99

    Mantia’s Pepperoni French Bread Pizza – $1.99

    Country Crock Spread – $2.99
    Use $1.00/1 coupon from May All You Magazine (Expires 7/15/11)
    $1.99 each after coupon

    Household

    Charmin Basic Bath Tissue (12 rolls) – $4.99
    Uses $2.50/2 coupon from insert 4/10 Red Plum (Expires 6/30/11)
    Use $0.25/1 coupon from insert 6/5 Proctor & Gamble (Expires 7/31/11)
    As low as $3.74 after each coupon

    Wrightware Napkins (250 Count) – $1.55

    Wrightware Foam Plates (40 count) – $1.19

    Solo Plastic Cups (20 count) – $0.99
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 6/19 Smart Source (Expires 8/31/11)
    $0.49 each after coupon

    Royal Oak Charcoal – $2.99

    Wisk Liquid Laundry Detergent (50 oz)- $3.99
    Use $2.00/1 coupon from insert 6/26 Red Plum (Expires 7/31/11)
    Use $2.00/1 coupon from insert 6/26 Red Plum (Expires 8/7/11)
    Use $1.00/1 printable coupon from Wisk Facebook Page
    As low as $1.99 each after coupon

    Produce

    Fresh Peaches, Plums and Nectarine – $0.89 per lb

    Seedless Watermelons – $3.49

    Hot House Tomatoes – $0.99 per lb

    Grocery

    Bubba Cola or Crisp Orange Soda (24 pack) – $3.99

    Herr’s Potato Chips – $1.67
    Use $1.00/1 printable coupon from Smart Source
    $0.67 each after coupon

    Cap’n Crunch Cereal – $1.59
    Use $0.50/1 coupon insert from 4/17 Red Plum (Expires 8/31/11)
    $1.09 each after coupon

    Domino Granulated Sugar (4 lb) – $2.39
    Use $0.50/1 coupon insert from 5/22 Red Plum (Expires 7/31/11)
    Use $0.50/1 coupon insert from 6/26 Red Plum (Expires 9/30/11)
    $1.89 each after coupon

    Kraft Miracle Whip Dressing (30 oz) – $2.49
    Use $1.00/1 coupon insert from 6/19 Smart Source (Expires 7/17/11)
    Use $0.75/1 coupon insert from 6/19 Smart Source (Expires 7/17/11)
    Use $1.00/2 coupon insert from 6/19 Smart Source (Expires 7/17/11)
    As low as $1.49 each after coupon

    World’s Fair Chocolate Syrup (24 oz) – $1.79

    Mrs. Richardson’s Hot Fudge Topping (16 oz)- $2.29

    World’s Fair Ice Cream Cones (24 count) – $1.59

    Maraschino Cherries – $1.29

    BBQ Sauce – $1.19

    Crystal Bottle Water (24 Pack) – $2.49

    Summerset Ice Tea Mix – $2.29

    McDaniel’s Classic Coffee (11.5 oz) – $2.69

    Morning Delight Syrup (24 oz) – $1.49

    Sunkist Solid White Tuna – $1.39

    Bay Mist Tropical or Berry Blend Splash (64 oz) – $1.79

    Spice Time Salt / Pepper Shaker Combo Pack– $1.59

    Ginger Evans Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix – $0.79

    Nature’s Grain Cinnamon Raisin Swirl – $2.49

    Nabisco Oreo Cookies – $2.99

    Cowboy Billy’s Baked Beans – $1.29

    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.

  • Recipe: No Bake Cookies

    I always loved it when my Mom made No Bake Cookies when I was a kid.  It has been fun making these cookies with my girls now.  I had some oatmeal and peanut butter I needed to use up recently so I made these cookies for one of our recent road trips and for a friend who had a baby.   These cookies are delicious and inexpensive to make.  The most important step of this entire recipe is making sure that once the first set ingredients is boiling to allow them to boil for 1 minute, if you do not let it boil for 1 minute the cookies will be runny and not set up well.  These cookies are a perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.

    No Bake Cookies:

    • 2 cups Sugar
    • 4 tablespoon Cocoa
    • 1 stick Butter
    • 1/2 cup Milk
    • 1 cup Peanut Butter
    • 1 tablespoon Vanilla
    • 3 cups Oatmeal

    In a heavy saucepan bring the sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk to a boil.  Let them boil for 1 minute.  Stir in peanut butter, vanilla, and oatmeal.  Lay out the wax paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonful and the cookies have cooled.  The cookies will harden as they cool.

    Photo by alibree

  • Summer Activities: Picnics on the Porch

    Brina and Karlie are having a "picnic" on the front porch. Skipper, the girls faithful outdoor friend, is nearby in case they drop any crumbs!

    A new favorite spot for the girls to eat their snacks, lunch, and goodies is on the front porch. A couple years ago my parents got me a glider for the front porch and it has been a huge hit with the entire family. The girls like to sit on the glider and eat because Skipper is not trying to snatch their food but they can still eat outside. Their drinks are usually on the table next to the glider whenever they are playing outside to help remind them to stay hydrated.

    I have a sneaking suspicion that Skipper gets her fair share of extra food from the girls.  On the hot days when the girls spend a lot of time outside all three of them (the kids and dog) crash by the evening.  One time after a full day of playing with the girls we watched Skipper walk up to the front door mat (where she enjoys napping) and literally flop over in exhaustion.  She’s enjoying all the attention but it wears her out too.

    Does your family have a favorite spot to eat picnics at home?

  • Fresh & Healthy: Our Garden – Leafy Lettuce, Zucchini, Summer Squash, Purple Beans, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Green Beans, and Snow Peas!

    We are loving the fresh vegetables from our garden!  This week I did better at taking pictures of the items our family picked.  We were traveling for a few day.  Hopefully my brother who was watching the house was able to get a few items out of the garden to use for their family.

    Here are some of the fresh veggies we were able to eat and share this week:

     

    Fresh from the Garden - Leafy Lettuce, Zucchini, Summer Squash, Cherry and Roma Tomatoes, Strawberries, Green Beans, and Purple Beans.

    We got two more big bags of leafy lettuce before we had to pull the stocks because they were flowering.  The zucchini and summer squash are starting to picking.  We’ve been getting a few strawberries and a couple handfuls of cherry tomatoes more regularly now.  We have both green and purple beans producing now in the garden.

     

    Big Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Purple Beans, Summer Squash, Leafy Green Lettuce, Snow Peas, Strawberry and Green Beans from the Garden

    The snow peas have been amazing and delicious to eat fresh for snacks and in baking, however, they are pretty much done producing.  The lettuce is slowing down too but we hope to get a few more salads in before it completely wraps up for the season.  On a more positive note the tomatoes, beans, and squash are still going pretty strong despite all the storms.

    We were able to share some of the veggies this week with family, friends and people at our church.  During the summer months our church does a “Corner Harvest” where people can share fresh produce from their garden.  It is neat to see what other families are growing and share our produce.

    What are you eating out of your garden this week?

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of June 22 – 28, 2011

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.   There are a lot of great deals that are continued this week at Save A Lot for $1.00. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Eckrich Hot Dogs or Bologna (16 oz) – $1.00

    Carolina Ground Turkey (16 oz ) – $1.00

    Butterball Turkey Bacon (6 oz) – $1.00
    Use $0.65/1 coupon from insert 5/22 Smart Source (Expires 7/10/11)
    $0.35 each after coupon

    Gwaltney Pork Sausage (12 oz) – $1.00

    Center Cut Beef Spare Ribs – $2.49 per lb

    Ground Beef (1 lb) – $2.49

    Sugardale Bratwurst – $1.99

    Smoked Sausage – $0.99

    Chicken Breast Strips – $0.99

    Meatballs (8 oz) – $0.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Oscar Mayer Lunchables – $1.00

    Reser’s Assorted Salads & Coleslaw – $1.00
    Use $1.00/1 printable coupon from Coupon Web
    Free after each coupon

    Minute Maid Lemonade or Fruit Punch – $1.00

    Tony’s Crispy Crust Pizza – $1.00
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from insert 5/22 Smart Source (Expires 7/31/11)
    Use $1.00/5 coupon from insert 4/17 Smart Source (Expires 7/9/11)
    Use $0.50/4 coupon from insert 5/22 Smart Source (Expires 8/13/11)
    As low as $0.67 each after coupon

    Totino’s Pizza Rolls – $1.00
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from insert 5/22 Smart Source (Expires 7/31/11)
    Use $0.50/4 coupon from insert 5/22 Smart Source (Expires 8/13/11)
    As low as $0.66 each after coupon

    Banquet Dinners – $1.00

    Fisher Boy Fish Sticks – $1.00
    $0.75/1 printable coupon Fisher Boy
    $0.25 each after coupon

    T. J. Farms Sweet Potato Fries – $1.00

    Party Treats Ice Cream Sandwiches (4 count) – $1.00

    World’s Fair Orange, Grape and Cherry Popsicles – $0.99

    Lemonade – $1.99

    Home Churned Squeeze Spread – $0.99

    Bright & Early Beverage Drink – $0.99

    Household

    Poly Steel Sandwich Zipper Bags (50 count) – $1.00

    Joy Dish Liquid – $1.00

    Produce

    Fresh Express Coleslaw (16 oz) – $1.00

    Fresh Express Salad Mix (12 oz) – $1.00

    Baby Carrots (16 oz) – $1.00

    California Cherries – $1.99 per lb

    Roma Tomatoes – $0.89 per lb

    Red & White Grapes – $1.29 per lb

    Grocery

    Knorr Side Dishes – $1.00

    Hamburger Helper Dinner – $1.00
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from insert 5/22 Smart Source (Expires 7/16/11)
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from insert 5/1 Smart Source (Expires 6/25/11)
    Use $0.75/3 coupon from insert 5/1 Smart Source (Expires 6/25/11)
    As low as $0.67 each after coupon

    Save A Lot Apple Juice (64 oz) – $1.00

    Sundia Fruit Cups (8 oz) – $1.00

    Red Gold Ketchup (40 oz) – $1.00
    Use $0.50/2 printable coupon from Red Gold
    $0.75 each after coupon

    Woeber’s Mustard (24 oz) – $1.00

    Kurtz Sweet Relish – $1.00

    Shasta Soda (4 pack) – $1.00

    Deer Park Spring Water (3 liter) – $1.00

    Crunch & Munch Butter Toffee – $1.00

    Dippables – $1.00

    Mantia’s Pasta Sauce – $1.00

    Shelby’s Grove Sliced Peaches – $1.00

    J Higgs Pretzels – $1.00

    Chicken of the Sea Chunk White Tuna – $1.00

    Allure Zero Calorie Sweetener – $1.00

    Jade Dragon Soy Sauce – $1.00

    Kraft BBQ Sauce – $0.88

    Bugles – $0.79

    Harvest Select Juice Cocktails – $0.99

    On the Go Powder Drink Sticks – $1.00

    Crisp Lemonade – $0.99

    Swift Mac – $0.75

    Toast Em Strawberry or Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Ups – $0.99

    Malt O Meal Cereal – $0.99

    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.

  • Fresh & Healthy: A Refreshing Twist to Ice Water

     

    Summer Time Favorite Drink - Ice Water with Fresh Lemon Slices!

    One of our favorite inexpensive, easy, and refreshing summer drinks we like to serve at our house is Ice Water with Fresh Lemon Slices!  Lemonade is delicious but can be a little too sweet at times.  Many times on the hot summer days the kids just want ice water so to add a little more to their drinks we will buy lemons when they are on sale, slice them up and add them to the water pitcher.  It is very refreshing!

    Refreshing and delicious - Cool lemon water on a hot day!

    I need to look for some more lemons on clearance!  The girls and I drink this a lot since we spend some time almost every day outside!